Want a vacuum cleaning system that will clean and last as long as your Mom's did? There are only a few quality brands left and they're not who you think!

by Norm Himebaugh

To get a clear picture of what's happening in today's marketing frenzy of vacuum cleaners we have to go back in time to about 1985 or so. Back then you could buy a vacuum cleaner for about $100 that would do a decent cleaning job. It would be good at the filtration of dust and last about 8 years or so. Then one of the major manufacturers came out with what everyone wanted. An upright that had attachments built right onto the back that could vacuum off the furniture. It certainly was no secret that Americans wanted convenience and speed in their cleaning. For years they wanted an upright that would do both the hard floor and the carpet. Since this particular manufacturer had a lot of money to spend on advertising, the "Big Box Stores" bought in heavily.

They stacked their shelves and isles with tons of this New Concept. The fact that it didn't last long or clean very well wasn't evident for about 18 months or so. Just long enough to last the warranty period and short enough to make people mad. The company then started getting them back from the "Big Box Stores". They didn't have enough replacements for all the customers that wanted a new one. All manufacturers then started a new policy of, "Don't return this to the Mass Retail Store", if you have a problem. You should search out a warranty station for repair. There were two major ripple effects of this new marketing:

#1. Since the Big Retailers bought so much of this one brand, other brands started loosing huge amounts of money. Soon they all scrambled to make a very similar product at a similar price to maintain their presence in all the Big Stores. Without much focus on performance or longevity, they gave birth to our now incredibly disposable market.

#2. Many independent vacuum cleaner stores who were Nationwide Service Centers for these big name vacuum cleaner companies, couldn't keep up with the number of repairs. So in many cases, they dropped their "Service Center Status" (making it more difficult to obtain service for Big Box Store customers). Many became self servicing dealers, repairing under warranty only what they sold.

We (Himebaugh's) were a Nationwide Service Warranty Station for approximately 9 different brands of vacuum cleaners. Today we only accept 1 brand for Nationwide Service Warranty and do Warranty Service for the rest of our customers as a self servicing dealer.

OK, what does all this really mean? That the vacuum cleaner industry is even more buyer beware than before! Today's useless terms of measuring power and visual demonstrations, like lifting a bowling ball, don't mean a thing when it comes to cleaning your home. As a matter of fact, when the bowling ball is sealed to the funnel like attachment, the air stops moving altogether. How much dirt can you pick up when air stops moving? (Correct answer, NONE!)

The most recent new addition to the media blitz are the new bagless vacuums. Remember your Grandmother's or Great Grandmother's old time vac that had a bag that had to be shaken to remove the dirt? It is unhealthy to leave dirt inside a bag for long periods of time. Because of the bacterial growth that occurs and the breeding of germs. Many studies have been done and prove that some of the worst kind of germs grow in a vacuum bag. I recommend changing the bag every two weeks for optimum dust control and cleaning ability. It will also make your vacuum cleaner last much longer because the motor runs cooler with a fresh bag. You also delay the growth of germs and bacteria by not giving it a chance to

start. Today's allergy type paper bags are about $2.00 each. So for $4 a month, or $48 a year, you can make an incredible difference in the air you breath. Also the cleanliness of your home and even have a healthier family. You save money over the bagless type because most of the filters used in those types cost about $30 each. They should also be changed every 6 months.

Why you loose suction in a cheaper system so fast is that too much dirt is allowed through the cup. That chokes off the air trying to leave the vacuum. This, of course, slows down the incoming air (or suction) which is responsible for bringing in the dirt from the spinning brush area on the carpet. The lack of air flow allows the newly loosened dust to become airborne in front of the vacuum cleaner. The dust now rebroadcasts all over your home. The dust also clings to the outside of your vacuum,s plastic body housing because of static electricity.

The big mass retail stores account for roughly 95% of all vacuum cleaner sales per year. If you look at the vacuum cleaner industry from a business viewpoint only, the major players have succeeded in squeezing out the small stores. They have almost all the market and took a home appliance from lasting 10 to 20 years (depending on usage) and now have a 3 to 5 year life span no matter how much you spend and no one really seems to care.

The problem with this situation is obvious. When only a few companies are in control and they all start running their business the same way and say similar things in there advertising, what they say is accepted as fact. Whether its true or not. Many people try to do research about vacuum cleaner systems in the various consumer magazines. I have agreed with some of their ratings. Looking at the tests they do, I can see how they come to their conclusions. What they don't accurately portray is how long your vacuum cleaner stays effective in a house with 3 girls with long hair, 2 cats and an average use of 2 times a week! Toss in a cleaning lady who does the vacuuming and your buying a new one every other year!

One day a gentleman came into our store and said, "OK, I've spent $500 on vacuum cleaners in the past 4 years. What have I got to do to get a good vacuum cleaner?" Jokingly, I told him, "Spend the $500 at one time". After analyzing his flooring, square footage, likes and dislikes and the type of dirt he was dealing with, he left with a system for about $350. Which will last him many years with proper care.

A new service we provide at Himebaugh's (for our customers) is free labor for changing the belt and doing a full service to the brush roll. We charge $40 to do that same service to vacuums not purchased at our store. We also provide 100% free labor during the manufacturer's warranty period. Even if the problem is caused by accident and is truly not a warranty defect.

Our family has been in this business since 1916 or so. We have seen all the different "New and Improved" vacuum cleaners come and go. The one issue that has become the main focus is, of course, dust control. Every vacuum cleaner box in every mass retail store from every manufacturer boasts about how good they are at controlling dust. Mainly because they have a HEPA filter on the exhaust port of their vacuum cleaner. However, that is only one of the aspects of a good vacuum cleaner. I believe how the vacuum is designed in terms of maximizing its air flow at the point of cleaning and how good it handles the first 2 stages of filtration are more important than just using a good final filter.

Many designs today bend the dirt path so much that they are constantly clogging. Others use an open type bearing in the spinning brush so when hair wraps in it, the ends of the roller heat up and melts. The plastic housing that holds it also melts. After just a couple years, they get tossed. Some use such small air fans that they hardly have any suction at the floor level at all but still can lift a bowling ball!

In the entire industry of vacuum cleaners only 2 motor concepts are used. One style pushes dirt into the bag and the other pulls the dirt into the bag. The first style produces very good air flow for deep cleaning carpet. It was designed for an upright style vacuum and when turned on, the bag inflates. (This first style motor is never used in a canister design.) It is wonderful for deep cleaning carpets. However, it does not have high suction for using a hose and set of attachments. The second type of motor produces high suction and was designed for dusting and doing hard surfaces. When turned on, the bag will not inflate unless the hard cover lid is closed over the bag. This motor is found in both uprights and canister type vacuum cleaners. It's the better design for someone who wants an all-in-one concept, but depending on your flooring, house size and environment, it may not be the best choice for your carpet.

So the million dollar question everyone wants to know is, which style is the best? Upright or canister? Which one should I buy? The answer is actually found in identifying the flooring in your home and looking at the majority. If its mostly a cut pile type of wall to wall carpet the upright style with a large air fan does the best job. This style has no attachment hose because the motor was made to move a lot of air through a "wide" opening not a small hose-like opening. So a companion canister type, to do all the bare floors and dusting is a perfect match. As a canister style , central vacuum systems are rated most effective because 100% of the dust you vacuum up is exhausted away from

your living space. If you have mostly a low, tightly woven style carpet and also have bare floors (stone, wood, marble), a central vacuum with a motorized power nozzle, the two machine concept or a high end Riccar Canister are your best options. Many people will choose the all-in-one style over the two machine option for reasons of storage space. Or a feeling of being overwhelmed by pulling out a different vacuum to dust with.

The difference of actual cleaning between the two different motor designs varies. Mostly due to the air fan size used, straightness of air path, filtration media, the spinning brush, the dirt storage area, and so on.

One air flow test I love is a simple one that can be done with any vacuum cleaner. You simply stop the spinning brush by taking the belt off the vacuum. Some have a lever that will stop it for you. Then put the bottom plate back on and leave the vacuum upside down. Now when you turn on the vacuum, the belt is disconnected and you can safely place your hands over the brush opening. Feeling the air flow see how much is there.

Also, look at the spinning brush, is its core made of metal with brush strips that can be replaced? Many are plastic and wood cores. They have pressed in brush strips so you purchase the entire roller. (Some wood core types are great, most are not. Many use very low grade bearings.) With normal use, the bristles get soft and no longer comb through the rug. After 4 years or so they crush and fold under the weight of the vacuum cleaner. Many a vacuum cleaner has been tossed in the trash simply because it needed new brush strips. and a belt!

If you rate your house as having too much dust you need a better vacuum cleaner. I am always amazed at why people think their house is dusty. The blame ranges from being in a new hous

ing development, being in an old house, the type of carpet, to the air vents needing to be cleaned. If this is you and you want to figure out what is causing your dust problem, go right now to the closet. Look at your vacuum cleaner. If the outside is dusty and the bottom of it is filthy, you are looking at your problem.

If you are buying a new vacuum cleaner every 3 years or so for $150 or so, that's high cost. Compare that to a $300 vacuum that really controls dust and lasts for over 15 years!

At Himebaugh's we listen. Then analyze what you want, then suggest a system. We also have a free trial period. If we miss the mark with our first recommendation, you can bring it back for an exchange or a refund. We can also finance your purchase from 90 days to 12 months same as cash (on approved credit). We also have free service loaners for our customers.

They are cleaned and disinfected regularly and always leave our store with a new paper liner and belt.