Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy an upright or a canister?

This is a question that we often get in our store. The answer is not a simple yes or no. Each has advantages and disadvantages. While uprights are a one piece cleaning system, if the brush roll can not be shut off when vacuuming bare floors the spinning can blow loose dirt away from the vacuum intake. Canisters ussuually do not have this problem, but they require a motor unit, hose and wand set with nozzle. This question will be explored in more depth in our section on how to choose a vacuum cleaner.

These terms are commonly associated with appliances including vacuum cleaners. Horsepower suggests an appliance's ability to do work. Wattage relates to the energy consumed by an appliance while it is in operation. Amperage is a measurement of electricity used by an appliance.

These and other electrical terms can be confusing and difficult to deal with for someone without basic education of electric fundamental principles. It would seem intiuttive that a 12 amp vacuum should out perform a 10 or 8.3 amp vacuum. This however is not always the case. If two vacuums are otherwise identical then yes the one with a higher amperage will have more suction. There are however well designed 8.3 amp vacuums that have better suction than some poorly designed and constructed 10 or 12 amp machines. The same can be said for horsepower or wattage.

When buyimg a refrigerator or especially an air-conditioner we are advised that at any given BTU level the unit using the least amperage or wattage is the better choice. Obviously less watts means a lower electric bill. In the case of a vacuum cleaner the time of usage is far less and performance is the overiding concern. The real question then should be; How do we evaluate the performance of a vacuum cleaner?

CFM's? Water Lift?

CFM's Cubic feet per minute and Water Lift are the two most reliable measures of a vacuum cleaners ability to perform the job we require of it. CFM stands for cubic feet per minute of air flow. This is a term used with vacuums, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. As it applies to vacuums it is a measure of how much air it can move thru the cleaner. More total air is obviously more effective. Water Lift is a measure of how high a column of water a vacuum can hold up in a tube. a more powerful vacuum motor will hold up more water despite the added weight of the liquid.

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