Help me buy a good but inexpensive vacuum

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jasonl

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Jan 19, 2024
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Location
Cookeville, TN
Helen and I need a vacuum and while the Connie is what I really want, we need something now.

I'm zeroing in on the Eureka Boss smartvac as a best buy from Consumer Reports. I've also looked at a green Kenmore canister vac ($150). I need to be under $200 or maybe a little over.

Any ideas?
 
Kenmore

Hey Jason I would go with the kenmore because the Eurekas made today really don't last at all but the kenmores really do or even a panasonic is also a good choice

Skip...
 
Jason

Yes that is in fact a good purchase the eurekas I was referring to are the ones from Walmart but yes that Eureka will give you years of good service

Skip...
 
Carpet, floors, or ?

What are you looking to clean?

If carpets are the thing, then I like the idea of a fan-first Eureka or Sanitaire upright. The metal-hood commercial models can be found for $200 (link.) Also about the same for a Hoover Guardsman. But they have no tools.

For mostly floors and tools, I think a Kenmore canister would be a good option.

Those Eureka SmartVacs are convenient and clean well, but the belt tensioner/brushroll stop mechanism tends to get noisy and slip. It doesn't really affect operation, but gets annoying.

http://www.vcdiscounter.com/eusasccoup.html
 
the old-style Panasonic canisters are available for CHEEP on ebay, and NEW! the red one is a good choice. the commercial eureka is an excellent cleaner, but beware pennies or hard objects on floor. the super-cheap Hoover Tempo is an economical upright that kicks ass on carpet. the panasonic canister has nice attachments. ive wondered how the newer-series of Panasonic canisters compares to the time-tested models?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-CANIS...1QQihZ015QQcategoryZ20615QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
That fan-first Eureka would be great. Our Sam's club has those much cheaper than the Best Buy price. If you have one nearby check. I think they are only like $140 here in GA. I happen to like the Panasonic upright style better though. You can get those pretty cheap too on e-bay. Just make sure you get one with the metal handle, not plastic. You could also search for Simplicity/Riccar vacuums of the same style. And finally, Kenmore makes a decent upright vacuum. Would stay away from the plastic Eurekas and Hoovers. Tim
 
Or, if

there is a vac shop near you, stop in and see if there are any unclaimed repair units. After 90 days, (in most states), unclaimed repair units can be sold.

You could get an excellent renewed vacuum for very little.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
great vac deal at Sears

Hey Jason
I just bought an inexpensive upright at Sears for our housekeeper (I won't let her near the Kirby or my vintage vacs). It is Galaxy brand, made by Panasonic. Clearance price is only $39.88! It runs quiet and has great suction. For an inexpensive machine it has a lot of features - micro filtration, headlight, quick release cord holder, onboard tools with swivel hose, pile height adjustment, and use paper bags...yay! I don't like those dusty dirt cups.
I'm really pleased with this for the money. If the housekeeper destroys it in a year or two, I'm only out 40 bucks. This would work for you until you get the Connie. Check it out.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...PPL&subcat=Upright+Vacuums&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
 
What do you think about what Maytagbear suggested

When first I saw this query, I was thinking like Maytagbear (Lawrence) that if you have a vac shop nearby, stop in. Maybe kick around some of the comments left here. Anyone else have a comment about this approach?
 
Hi Jason,

I saw some of the suggestions on here and agree 100%. If you really want the Constellation, why not wait for it to go on sale, and stop by a used vac shop to see what they have to offer instead of spending a lot on something new that probably won't last long. You might find a good used Kirby or Royal for a decent price. I've seen older Eurekas and Hoover Convertibles at certain shops as well. Might be something to consider.

--Austin
 
used vacs

good idea for someone who knows what to look for. do remember, vac shop owners are first and foremost SALESMEN. the prices at vac shops are also kinda high for used vacs, esp to what you can get on ebay.
 
Sanitaire Blue line S647

These are on ebay for $145 right now. Excellent machines!
Even if you do get a connie, you'll need a good upright too
 
Brett-

You do have a point about vac shop guys being salesmen, but also, the vac shop nearest me is honest, and I am supporting a locally owned business.

Also, sometimes, any ebay savings are eaten up by transit costs.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Panasonic

I saw some good comments on Panasonic. I'll add my true story.
I have an old Panasonic upright from the late 1980s. I was buying my new Oreck for the new house and no longer needed the old Panasonic. So before I moved I decided to clean the old house's garage floor with the Panasonic as an experiment.
Well I was picking up stones, twigs, screws and other crap and that machine just took it all in. At times the thing sounded like a garbage disposal, but it still works!
After that I couldn't part with the machine and I still have it to vacuum the basement floor. Good engineering! Don't try this at home. We are what you call EXPERT technicians :)
 
The reasons for the panasonic beeing able to pick up just about anything are that it uses a "clean air" system, which means that the drit the vacuum picks up goes directly to the bag, not thru the motor. Don't try picking up things like that with A Kirby or Sanitaire. The bottom plate and brushroll on the panasonic are also metal, so they can take more abuse that a all plastic vacuum. When I vacuum with a clean air vacuum, I usually just vacuum up whatever is on the floor.

For a good low cost vacuum, I would go for the Panasonic canister, or a Carpet Pro upright. I wouldn't get any Eureka or other cheap Wal-Mart type vacuum. Besides the fact that they break easily, I find them very frustrating to use with things like loud screaming motors, short hoses or annoying stretchy hoses, cheesy attachments, and the list just continues.

Also, I heard that Hoover is going to add a Constellation with a powernozzle, is this true?
 
Warning-even if the vac has a clean air system-it is abuse to expect it to pick up hard items.Even though the stuff picked up won't go thru the fan-you can crack or break the floor nozzle housing-then you have an EXPENSIVE repair.I have seen many clean air vacuums waiting in vac shops waiting for repairs becuase someone tried it and broke the nozzle housing.The repairs were going to be at least half that of a new machine-I guess go ahead and do it to a machine you are going to junk.
 
I have never seen that happen. But I usually don't pick thing that big up. The biggest thing i have picked up was a pack os 2 screws for haning blings, that was accedental, we needed those screws. That happened with the Windsor Versamatic. What usually ends up going thru the vacuum are things like pop can tabs (little brother), paper clips, and other things like that.
 
Pop top tabs,paper clips are not a problem.Larger harder things like screws,coins,nails,and large pebbles can break clean air vac housings.The roller brush can throw these against the housing with lots of force-enough to break or crack it.
 
What kinds (brands/models) of vacuums have you seen this hpped to. I would think most good quality vacuums wuld be built with be built with thick enough plastic to take it.
 
The ones I have seen were Sharp,and Panasonic Tri-force models.Its possible that it could happen to any of them-esp if the item is allowed to clatter around underneath for awhile-A good thing to try if you must pick up a hard item-try to run over it with the side of the nozzle that has the suction hose on it-that way the object is picked up quickly without much clattering around in the rollerbrush.I have never seen a metal housing-nozzle vac get damaged this way from a hard object.The Bernina vacuums have a replaceable nozzle liner in case the hard object damage occurs-that way the vac technicain has to replace only the nozzle liner-not the whole base assembly.I beleive the "Cirrus" line of vacs is similar to the Bernina models.Don't know if those have the liner-I have two Bernina vacs in my collection that have the nozzle liner.also the Bernina vacs have a magnet at the bag intake to trap pins,tacks,etc before they go into the bag.You would be amazed how much magnetic debris the vac picks up-lots of the dirt is actually magnetic!weird.Its a good idea to check the magnet each time you use the vac-if large pins get on the magnet-could cause clogs if not removed.Its the only vac I have seen that has it-but the Bernina vacs are quite expensive-reatail for around $400 I beleive.They are nice machines.They also have a metal floor shoe and brush roll with replaceable brush strips.and you can disengage the beater bar roll when using the hose-and the brush roll stops when you put the handlebar upright while the motor is going-has a clutch to disengage the roll.
 
Hey Reggie-

Re: Constellation with a power nozzle...

I have heard that rumor flying around from other vac club members, but have not heard anything about it from within the company. I was told that they wouldn't introduce it right away because they wanted to make sure the cleaner was a hit--selling well--before they added other features to it which may or may not include a powerhead, variable speed motor, or cord rewinder. But if I hear anything I'll gladly let everyone know.

We still haven't gotten the OK to order them yet, and I asked again yesterday... Still no word on when we will be able to. *sigh*

**Being very patient**

~Fred
 
Hoover Constellation............

I'm wondering if this will be what Hoover offers as their 100th anniversary model.
 
Temporary?

Jason,

For what you want and the fact that its temporary, I'd get a Panasonic or one of those cheaper Hoover bagged uprights. The Hoovers will be in Kmart or Wally Mart. The Panasonics would be at vac shops. They should be between $50 and $90, maybe less. The Eureka upright you linked to is a wonderful cleaner, but if you need tools, they are not tool friendly. I'm not sure Eureka offers tool kits with them anymore.

I fix vacs on the side and the Cheap Hoover and Panasonics seem to hold up for the money. The cheaper, plastic Eurekas seem to melt brushrolls and their tools are flimsey.

For temporary situations, don't go over $100. Save the rest and put the money towards what you really want and that's the Connie!

Joe
 
Upright or Canister??

Hi Jason, if you can get by without tools, I'd go for a Sanitaire, or the commercial Eureka from Sam's. They're a little loud but have a great brushroll, long cords, and really deep clean a carpet. Since you'll later have the Connie, it would be nice to have an upright for quick clean ups. If you need tools, I'd go with the Hoover bagged Tempo, they're a very decent machine, and available from vac suppliers for under 50.00, I'm not sure what they are in the stores. I'm sure your head is spinning by now with all the suggestions, but they're all good, just up to you to make the choice. Good luck!!

Rick
 
Hey Jason...

If you would want a Bagged Hoover Tempo (Windtunnel in disguise)--model U5144-900, E-mail me and I can get you a deal on one... and ship it to you.

~Fred
 

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