How to Compare Bagless Upright Vacuums
If you have carpet in your home, you may benefit from a bagless vacuum cleaner. Bagless vacuum cleaners create very little waste because they do not require bags. The bagless system also helps reduce your ongoing vacuum costs. Many differences do exist among bagless vacuum cleaners. Knowing what to look for in a bagless vacuum cleaner can help you select the right one for your specfic needs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Examine the disposal bin. Bagless vacuum cleaners collect dirt in a catch pan. The catch pan usually consists of a plastic bucket with a handle. To empty the basin, you simply remove it and dump the dirt. Some disposal bins, however, come with clip-on lids. Clip-on lids can help reduce allergies because the lids prevents dirt and dust from dispersing on the way to the trash.
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Examine the dust chute. The dust chute consists of the hose connecting the mouth of the vacuum to the disposal bin. Top-connecting chutes feed into the top of the disposal bins. When you remove the disposal bin, some dust and dirt can remain collected inside the chute. When you pull the basin free, the dust might fall out all over the place. Look for a side-connecting chute instead of a top-connecting chute.
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Compare motor strength. Manufacturers rate motor strength by watts. Higher-wattage vacuums offer more suction power. To calculate watts, multiply amperage by volts. For example, if motor operates at 10 amps and 120 volts, the wattage equals 1200. Look for 1,000 to 1,500 watt upright vacuum cleaners.
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Compare air watts. Air watts indicate how much air the machine can pull through the vacuum. Manufacturers calculate air watts by multiplying the cubic feet per minute of air flow through the vacuum. They then divide this total by 8.5. For shallow carpets, basic upright vacuums work well at 100 air watts. For thicker carpets, look for a vacuum cleaner with 350 to 450 air watts.
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Compare features. Vacuum cleaners offer additional options like long hoses and different shapes of connectors that get into small crevices and corners. Additional features include variable height settings that help you vacuum on different types of carpets or floors.
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Compare prices. Low-watt vacuums cost $59 to $99. Mid-watt models cost $100 to $200. High-watt vacuums cost $200 to $600. Name brand models often cost more, but similar models can provide years of cleaning at less than half the cost. Shop different retailers, because even a 10% savings can save you $10 to $60.
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Compare warranties. Most warranties offer a one year manufacturer's warranty. Some more expensive models, however, offer lifetime warranties.
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