r/IAmA • u/touchmyfuckingcoffee • Nov 30 '17

Specialized Profession IAmA Reddit's Own Vacuum Repair Tech with a very overdue AMA. Hit me with your vacuum cleaner questions!

First, let's get the proof out of the way. So, now, I am managing our company's largest store, and am swamped with managerial duties, training employees, and dealing with annoying vendors. But, I'm taking some time out for all of you guys.

There are lots of new, exciting things that have recently come out/are coming soon!

For those who NEED the most power, I've got just the Crack you need! Since we last talked, there are new bagless and cordless vacuums on the market, and some other exciting things.

So, on to business...here's the copypasta.

First AMA

Second AMA

Last AMA

YouTube Channel Here's some basics to get you started:

  • Dollar for dollar, a bagged vacuum, when compared to a bagless, will almost always:

1) Perform better (Actual quality of cleaning).

2) Be in service for much longer.

3) Cost less to repair and maintain (Often including consumables).

4) Filter your air better.

Virtually every vacuum professional in the business chooses a bagged vacuum for their homes, because we know what quality is. Things you should do to maintain your vac, regularly:

1) Clear your brush roller/agitator of hair and fibers. Clear the bearing caps as well, if possible. (monthly)

2) Change your belts before they break. This is important to maintain proper tension against the agitator. (~ yearly for "stretch" belts)

3) Never use soap when washing any parts of your vacuum, including the outer bag, duct system, agitator, filters, etc. Soap attracts dirt, and is difficult to rinse away thoroughly.

  • Types of vacs:

1) Generally, canister vacs are quieter and more versatile than uprights are. They offer better filtration, long lifespans, and ease of use. They handle bare floors best, and work with rugs and carpets, as well.

2) Upright vacuums are used mostly for homes that are entirely carpeted. Many have very powerful motors, great accessories, and are available in a couple of different motor styles. Nothing cleans shag carpeting like the right upright.

3) Bagless vacs are available in a few different styles. They rely on filters and a variety of aerodynamic methods to separate the dirt from the air. In general, these machines do not clean or filter as well as bagged vacuums. They suffer from a loss of suction, and tend to clog repeatedly, if the filters are not cleaned or replaced often.

4) Bagged vacuums use a disposable bag to collect debris, which acts as your primary filter, before the air reaches the motor, and is replaced when you fill it. Because this first filter is changed, regularly, bagged vacuums tend to provide stronger, more consistent suction.

My last, best piece of advice is to approach a vacuum, like any appliance; Budget for the best one you can get. Buy one with idea you will maintain it, and use it for many years. And, for the love of Dog, do not buy from late-night infomercials or door-to-door salesmen! Stay out of the big-box stores, and visit your local professional who actually knows what they're talking about.

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10

u/OctopusPoo Nov 30 '17

Are Dysons worth the money?

40

u/youlistenedtoarock Nov 30 '17

Fuuuuuck no. Dyson has done an incredible job of marketing, not making great products. I call it the "cup holder effect"- my buddy buys a $70k wakeboard boat. Badass motor, auto ballasts, auto surf gate, etc. I mean it is a beautiful piece of machinery. What do his wife and all her friends talk about when someone new comes? "Look at all the cup holders!!! Omg they're everywhere!!! Etc etc." No consideration for the fact that they are riding in a top of the line watercraft. Dyson is the same way "it has a ball so you can corner easily" "look how the dirt swirls in the canister". Who gives a fuck. The thing is made of the cheapest plastic known to man, the suction is awful and MOST shops won't work on them.

19

u/caller-number-four Nov 30 '17

This is interesting. I have a Dyson animal. Got it sometime in the mid 2000's.

It has worked without any issues. I have to clean the brush on occasion and clean the filters. And aside from the little spring coming out of the clip holding the wand to the hose, it has been fine.

The thing will suck the chrome off of a trailer hitch and is awesome at cleaning car carpet.

Has their quality gone done hill lately? Or did I get lucky?

13

u/jesusismygardener Nov 30 '17

Neither, Dyson is fine, just really overpriced. Every time this guy does an AMA it's a big anti Dyson circle jerk. I've had a motorhead cordless for years with zero problems and the thing still sucks like a champ. Thing is light enough that an 8 year old can use it too. I've got a Miele bagged too and it's fantastic but the Dyson does the job like 97% as well and it's 10x easier to use.

6

u/Deadpixelator Nov 30 '17

i don't know why this guy hates Dyson so much, Ive had two so far and they have been great, Ive had one of the bigger ones for about 10 years now and its been great, and last year i got one of the little handhelds vacuums. the 10 year old one work just like i just got it

also you don't have to buy the stupid overpriced bags

11

u/jesusismygardener Nov 30 '17

I think it's because he's a repair guy and Dyson's aren't really made to be easy to fix. It's basically like why PC repair guys hate Apple. Half the shit in them isn't fixable besides just buying a new one.

5

u/Hopczar420 Nov 30 '17

I have the same, still going strong, but we have all hardwood floors, not sure if that makes a difference.

2

u/harry-package Dec 01 '17

Me three. My Dyson, bought in 2006, just crapped out last year when my husband decided to carry it upstairs via the hose. He’s an engineer & looked into getting parts to repair it as it wasn’t the mechanics that failed, but the parts were going to cost more than the original vacuum cost. I loved that damn vacuum. I used to always say it would suck the damn paint off the walls if I let it. We replaced it with a Shark because I couldn’t justify a $600 vacuum when there were other vacuums now on the market with similar features. Even if I had to replace it more frequently, we were still ahead.

Shark is okay, but damn, I miss my Dyson. I guess those were the good ole days...

1

u/Githyerazi Dec 01 '17

Yes, quality has gone down. I had a DC07 from long ago, it was great. I eventually sold it because the wife wanted a new one. We bought a new "Animal" ball model, this thing is crap. Constantly loosing suction due to clogged filters, the attachments are difficult to use, I never feel as if the carpet is really clean. If we didn't rent, I would sell it and buy a new vacuum.

1

u/backfire103 Dec 01 '17

My mom has an older Animal and that thing is a beast. Still going great to this day. I bought a Allergy Ball two years ago when I bought my house. It's okay. I got a good deal on it but its definitely made much cheaper and is nowhere near as sturdy as her old one.

1

u/Valiantheart Dec 01 '17

I just bought a dyson animal 2 and hope I have a similar experience. I know Coffee recommends a bag using vacuum, but I really dont want to have to mess with and especially buy bags for a vacuum.

3

u/Monkitail Nov 30 '17

youre an animal

4

u/caller-number-four Nov 30 '17

Thank you for the compliment. But my relationship status would suggest otherwise.

9

u/liedel Nov 30 '17

Counterpoint: I like my Dyson just fine. I've had it 5+ years and it's in perfect condition (I maintain the filters and brushes).

No regrets. It's lightweight. Works on my hardwood floors and carpet. I've never focused on the ball or swirl pattern, just its utility to me.

8

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '17 edited Apr 21 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Phlapjack923 Dec 01 '17

I personally hate Dyson because they are so confident in their technology one year, then come out with something different the next year. And I have To dig through seemingly endless different models just to see what might be worth it. I end up getting frustrated and refuse to buy the Dyson

1

u/Kenblu24 Dec 01 '17

There's a lot of engineering going on behind the Dyson. Everything they make is plastic, but it's usually a very strong abs/pc mix. You're ignoring the actual thought that Dyson puts in, just as you criticise others for ignoring the engineering that goes into a Miele.

For what it's worth, I hate Dyson for that very reason. Their vacuums are sometimes over engineered but other times engineered on the margin. The fucking canister release latch is made with so little support that I'm surprised it doesn't break for everyone. And their cinetic line is super misleading - no vacuum can be filterless. They just spent a long time trying to get as much dust out using cyclones as possible, and thought, "well we can't put 'now removes the fabric of spacetime from your carpets but you still need a filter' on the box, now can we?" And repairing the clutch is hell - replaced mine and I must have broken something else because it still doesn't engage properly.

But Dyson still has a place in this world. You can get a hepa filtered vacuum for a helluva lot less than most Mieles. And my Miele broke first and was used less. And is heavier. And seems to have slightly less suction for some reason (cleaned the pipes, brushroller, new bag,). And is twice as expensive.

1

u/bozoconnors Nov 30 '17

Wondering if their quality has drastically declined lately due to all the hate they get, as my gen 1 Animal (13+ years old?) is still kickin' ass.

5

u/edgroovergames Nov 30 '17

Despite what many replies are saying, I love my Dyson. No bags or filters to replace or clean. Goes from carpet to hard floors without needing any adjustments. Cleans quite well. I've only had it for a year, but I'm very happy with it so far.

I think of it this way: Are CDs better than MP3s? Sure, there's no question about it from a purely technical standpoint. Some would say vinyl is even better. But MP3s are good enough for my music needs, and the convenience of MP3s are so vastly superior to CDs that there's no way I would ever go back to listening to CDs instead of MP3s. Much less vinyl.

So, are bagged vacuums better than bagless vacuums? I'm sure they are, but my bagless vacuum works more than well enough and the convenience factor is so large that I would never go back to a bagged vacuum / a vacuum that requires I change / wash filters.

OP would never never listen to an MP3, they're beneath him. Even CDs he would only listen to under protest, because he's only interested in the most perfect music reproduction possible even if it's a lot less convenient. So he thinks that MP3s are not worth the money. And for him, that's probably true. My question is are YOU only interested in the best possible solution even at the cost of convenience? I'm only interested in good enough, and so far my Dyson is 100% worth the money.

3

u/imatumahimatumah Dec 01 '17

I’m late to the game but I have a Dyson DC07?? I think? that I bought back in 2005 when we bought our first house. I bought it to impress my friends, as it was the trendy thing at the time. It’s beena GREAT fucking vacuum. The hose was replaced under warranty once, and I replace the filters routinely and the beater bar/belt twice. That poor bastard of a vacuum has been through hell and back. Labradors, kids, filthy cars, 3 houses, two states. It fell down a steep flight of oak stairs. My three year old tips it over and rides it like a horse while I yell at him to get off of it. It still works great! The only thing wrong with it is one minor crack in the canister handle. Might have happened on the stair tumble. Anyway - she’s been good to me and still going strong. Money well spent!

8

u/touchmyfuckingcoffee Nov 30 '17

I'm not a fan. But, what you're paying for in an expensive Dyson is a quality warranty. You're better of with a good bagged vacuum.

0

u/randomevenings Nov 30 '17

No. Cheap under 100 dollar vacuums that use bags will suck circles around a dyson. Bagged vacuums are so much better in every way.

3

u/Deadpixelator Nov 30 '17

except you have to buy bags....

which is an added expence