Reports From A Vacuum Repair Shop

HOME | What's NEW | CONTACT US | PRIVACY

Reports From A Vacuum Repair Shop

by Len
(Weed, CA, US)

I run a vacuum repair shop, and can truthfully say that bagless vacuums keep us in business. They are the worst thing that has happened to the industry that I can think of. Who wants to have to dump a dirt cup, or beat out filters in clouds of choking dust? They have gotten a little better, but not much.

The Dyson is the biggest lie going right now, and at a pricey $400 or so. ALL bagless vacuums begin to clog as soon as you turn them on. Dyson has merely figured out a way to postpone the process a little.

What's easier than removing a bag every other month or so, pop a fresh one on, and dispose of the old one in a sanitary way?

Yet, I get people in the shop every day with some choked clogged piece of bagless junk that won't pick up, telling me how much they love the thing. Go figure.

Comments for
Reports From A Vacuum Repair Shop

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 22, 2010
Rating

Don't Like the Bags
by: Vicki

I just bought another bagless vacuum cleaner yesterday. I think either way your having to deal with dust. With the vacuum bags, it seems that as you vacuum the dust comes up off the floor but some of it blows out the back of the bag, and I'm behind it breathing it in. Also, after a few cleanings, the bag smells when you first turn on the vacuum, and I think that's disgusting. I use to take my vacuum outside, turn it on, and let it run for a while before I brought it into the house to clean. That is more of a burden to me then having to empty a canister each time I clean. (At least it doesn't smell.) And cleaning the filters monthly is a small price to pay for maintenance when you can eliminate the other problems that a vacuum bag leaves behind.

Jul 17, 2010
Rating

Fantom Lightning
by: Mary

Just had to add to the discussion -- I've had mine for THIRTEEN YEARS -- and today is the first time ANYTHING went wrong -- the main switch. So what? I have two cats in a townhome, vacuum once a week (mostly :-), and it does a GREAT job. Sure, I have to empty the bin...big deal. Up end the bin into a paper grocery bag, bang it a couple of times on the floor to dislodge the light, silt-like dust, done. I bought replacement filters online a few years ago, no problem, and not that expensive. In addition, it was GREAT after the fires here in Southern California -- we had silt/ash coming into our houses for months -- perfect job.

I also have a Hoover Floor Max, which was highly rated at the time, and the Fantom picks up after it, as if I hadn't vacuumed at all. Apparently it doesn't like cat hair.

I would buy it again, but fixing a switch shouldn't be a problem. We'll see.

May 25, 2010
Rating

cleaning conundrum
by: Melissa

Why is it such a big deal to empty a bagless into a bin? It's hardly a tragedy, even if a little dust does fly up. Our does a little, and yes it is mildly annoying, but I would rather empty the dust into our compost than stick bags into landfill. It's just another example of a consumer generation who would prefer disposables for some sort of misguided convenience. At the risk of a bad pun: suck it up.

Mar 20, 2010
Rating

oh my god
by: Anonymous

anyone who says that bagless is good then u need to buy or try a bagged vacuum!!!!! bagless iss horrible filters and what not are tragically expensive and a pain in the ass to clean! if u are looking for a good vacuum just remember sanataire,hoover,royal,eureka,and kirby thats all their is to it and remeber i am a proffessional vacuum repair man and own my own business which is extremely successful very rich, then realize that every brand makes some kind of mistake sooner or later down the road i for one hate bissell and dyson the most!!!!!!!!!! and yes you can still buy heavy metal and quality machines look a bit!!!!! you have to admit though its good that their are some real stupid shity brands out their because thats one big thing that helps keep me in business, that and i sell top grade secondhand vacuums with big warranties and deals if anyone here wants quality for a great ass freaking price call me the vacuum man!!!!!!! #480-760-3330

Mar 12, 2010
Rating

Not True
by: Dustfree

I have used a Dyson bagless for 5 years. When I clean the hepa filter, I do not get any dust. I just rinse under the faucet. When I empty out the canister, I place the canister in the bottom of the tras can, release the lever, and the dust has never puffed out into a cloud. It will if you are careless.

I would never go back to bagged vacuum cleaners. As soon as a bag fills up less than half it loses 50% of it's suction. Bags break and throw out the dust in the air. Messy, messy and on going expense to buy the bags.

There are bagless vacuum cleaners that are not designed well but the Dyson is the cream of the crop. It is a great investment

Mar 04, 2010
Rating

HELP........
by: Anonymous

Thank you for all your comments they are proving extremely useful. Everyone goes on about how good Dysons are but I see lots of dysons being repaired when I pass the repair shop. I too need a new vacuum and have decided to stick to one which collects the dust in a bag. How simple it is to dispose of the bag without any fuss and mess. The problem is now there are so many vacuums on the market I really don't know where to start. We now have wooden floors (rather laminate) and carpet in one bedroom only, the landing and stairs so which one should I buy. I don't want to spend more than £100, also being a pensioner (just) but still young at heart I would prefer a cleaner which I can carry upstairs easily. I hope you will be able to help me. Thank you.

Oct 11, 2009
Rating

Hoover windtunnel
by: Anonymous

The worst vacuum I ever bought, I buy 5 belts at a time. The vacuum always clogs and you need to take the machine apart to clean the tubes out, granted I have 2 cats but I think the windtunnel is garbage.

Aug 01, 2009
Rating

Best Brand
by: Anonymous

Pretty cool website, since I own a Vacuum Repair shop myself. Just curious though why you dont have the best vacuum brand on the market listed on your menu. Riccar.

Have a good one.

Apr 11, 2009
Rating

You are SOOOO Right!!!!
by: Anonymous

Who was the idiot who decided that all vacuum cleaners should be bagless??? What a disgusting MESS it is to empty one - it doesn't matter what brand or how expensive they are. Who wants to dump one out?? Even if you gently tap it against the garbage can, the dust (and no doubt the dust mites) fly into your face. Then there's no way it all comes out with a gentle tap, so you have to get your hands into all the hair and crap that's in there and dig it out.

I still kept my old vacuum with a bag and thank goodness I can still get bags for it. I threw my "bagless" on in the garbage the first time we had to clean it out.

I hope EVERY vacuum manufacturer reads your comments and mine - they all need to spend an afternoon cleaning out one of their vacuums. I wish I had a picture of my husband's hands and arms the first and only time he cleaned ours!

Mar 15, 2009
Rating

Don't want to waste big $$
by: Anonymous

Hi,
Thank you for the information on, "Reports From a Vacuum Repair Shop". I need a new vacuum and am in a the process of reading all the reports I can find. This is the first I've seen on bag versuc bagless. I currently have an upright Bissell bagless and completely agree that the cleaning process is disgusting. I am looking for a canister vacuum now. What would you say are the better canister vacuums. I'm concerned with getting lots of suction, large capacity holding container, quiet, and staying power because I don't want to have to purchase another one anytime soon.
Thank you for any information you could provide!

Nov 07, 2008
Rating

Dyson/Phantom is the same design
by: Hoover Forever

The British Dyson licensed their same design to a US distributor- who had the product made in black with purple accents- this was the Fantom. just like all the other vacuum machines- only it cost a bit more. It didn’t sell- no-one was interested in emptying a cannister every time you vacuumed - plus cleaning to the filters regularly. Then Dyson pulled the agreement, came to the US with their signature yellow and gray machine- with simple graphics, hiked the price, did classy ads- and now everybody wants one.

So its not the Fantom went out of business - but they didn't have the license anymore to produce the vacuum cleaner. Mr Dyson took it back for himself - and with a VERY good PR company relaunched the Dyson range (at a stupid price)

Nov 17, 2007
Rating

DYSON IS A FANTOM
by: KC

WHATS REALLY FUNNY IS MENTION "FANTOM VACUUM". PEOPLE SAY ,JUNK, THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY WERE UNRELIABLE!
MENTION DYSON, "THEY ARE FANTASTIC, BEST THING EVER"..
IF THEY ONLY KNEW THE TRUTH,LOL...
LOOK AT THEM BOTH REAL CLOSE PEOPLE. THEY ARE THE SAME SWEEPER BUILT BY THE SAME PEOPLE!
WHEN FANTOM WENT UNDER,DYSON EMURGED. HUMMM?
I'VE HAD PEOPLE COMPARE DYSON TO A KIRBY..OH MY GOD! THEY NEVER HAD A KIRBY.
NEXT TIME YOUR FANTOM,I MEAN DYSON IS IN THE SHOP, ASK THEM ABOUT THE FANTOM/DYSON RESEMBLANCE? SAME MAN DESIGNED BOTH,DOUBLED THE PRICE AND "BAM"...I OWNED FANTOMS FOR 11 YRS. I' KNOW WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE.

Nov 06, 2007
Rating

HEARHEAR
by: Anonymous

I agree!

Oct 12, 2007
Rating

Professional Experience
by: Tomaz

Hi Len and thanks for your submission.

Reports from someone who deals daily with vacuum cleaner repair and has experience with bagless and bagged models are extremely valuable to customers who are researching which model to buy.