Who Makes These Vacuums?

[neptunebob]

If you ever worked cleaning in a commercial setting, you will want a commercial quality vacuum in your own home too. I always had the Windsor models when the employer provided the vacuum. For other places I worked I often would bring in my vacuums that I were used by my extended family (and the employer was too cheap to provide a good vacuum) and they did not last long, although one of the "toughest" vacuums I had was a Eureka The Boss, but they don't make that anymore. When it came time to replace our central vacuum attachments I bought a SEBO power nozzle and it has always worked well. One will never see Shark or any bagless vacuum in a commercial setting. So buy the SEBO from a dealer and you won't have any trouble with your vacuum and it will be one thing in your life that makes you happy, and it seems like you could use more happiness.

 

[panasonicvac]

Wait, the SEBO X4 has the fan before the bag or am I mixing things up? Can the SEBO swallow paper clips? I know my Intution can suck up anything and everything hard as long as it is not to big and not damage the vaccuum.

The Big Green appears to come with a bag, and if I ever do go that route I'll choose that over the Sanitaire.

Interesting how everything is so different and varied with Vaccuums.

The SEBO is a "clean air" or a "bypass" design so that means all the dirt is going directly into the bag before the motor. You should check out this review video where you'll notice this guy would suck up things that you shouldn't like screws or bolts and it will not damage the machine. I wouldn't do that with either a Sanitaire or a Bissell because they'll easily break the fan. The Bissell should have a metal motor, because it's being made by a separate company out in China. Sanitaires are made in Mexico. Sounds confusing because Bissell owns Sanitaire, Bissell is only licensing the brand to a company that makes the Big Green commercial machines.

 

[Chetlaham]

Marvelous!

Thank you for all the knowledge. I can't thank you enough. I owe you.

And thank you for exposing me to the Bissell and Sanitaire. While they might not be for me entirely due tot he lack of hardwood floor cleaning and removable hose they are certainly fascinating designs.

The Kenmore has a brushed main motor, correct? And switched across the line, no electronics? Does the same hold true for the SEBO? I notice a circuit board, obviously in part for the auto life adjust but it makes me wonder what else is being controlled.

I looked for the non reversing Kenmore upright on Amazon but it seems it is not available at the moment.

 

[phillymatt53]

That SEBO vac is in several ways similar to the Hoover WindTunnel bagless that I also have.
It also has impressive suction that pulls in dirt when it gets near.
And a jiffy dirt container that empties in a flash.
But without the "electronics" and high price.

 

[panasonicvac]

There's actually two motors in the brushroll. Yours only has one. That's why I mentioned you'd be getting a downgrade if you got that Kenmore cause it's an extra thing that can go wrong. Looks like you missed your chance on the other Kenmore cause it appears it's already been discontinued. The whole point of a direct drive brushroll is you'd never have to replace a belt again. Well, the SEBO has a geared belt that's design to last a lifetime so you'd never have to replace the belt at all. But, you have a lifetime warranty on the belt should it ever break. I've honestly never seen one break on a SEBO but I have in fact seen the direct drive brushrolls fail. Yes the SEBO has a circuit board but if you hadn't watched the other review video, I'll break it down to you of why it does. Not only it senses the height adjuster but it also senses the brushroll and the bag. If the brushroll is worn out, the brushroll light will come on letting you know it needs replacing. Or if something got caught in the brushroll, it'd shut the vacuum off and the red light will start flashing to let you know that something is stuck. If the bag is full or if there's a clog, the bag light will come on. Or if the bag light stays on for 30 seconds while the machine is running, it'd shut the vacuum down to prevent from overheating. Even though it's electronic, it's very simple and has a track record of being extremely reliable. That's why these are so popular for commercial use. Here's something you'd really like on the SEBO, not only the brushroll is so easy to remove but SEBO also advertises that the brushrolls are dishwasher safe. In fact, I've washed so many SEBO parts in the dishwasher without any problems.

 

[Chetlaham]

That SEBO vac is in several ways similar to the Hoover WindTunnel bagless that I also have.
It also has impressive suction that pulls in dirt when it gets near.
And a jiffy dirt container that empties in a flash.
But without the "electronics" and high price.

I tried bag-less around 2011. I returned the vacuum promptly and ran to Sears for the Intuition. Emptying out the container was a desert dust storm and the vacuum lost suction rapidly. The filter would get dirty fast. It was one of those Model T moments of "never again"

Forgive my crass / negative reply

 

[Chetlaham]

There's actually two motors in the brushroll. Yours only has one. That's why I mentioned you'd be getting a downgrade if you got that Kenmore cause it's an extra thing that can go wrong. Looks like you missed your chance on the other Kenmore cause it appears it's already been discontinued. The whole point of a direct drive brushroll is you'd never have to replace a belt again. Well, the SEBO has a geared belt that's design to last a lifetime so you'd never have to replace the belt at all. But, you have a lifetime warranty on the belt should it ever break. I've honestly never seen one break on a SEBO but I have in fact seen the direct drive brushrolls fail. Yes the SEBO has a circuit board but if you hadn't watched the other review video, I'll break it down to you of why it does. Not only it senses the height adjuster but it also senses the brushroll and the bag. If the brushroll is worn out, the brushroll light will come on letting you know it needs replacing. Or if something got caught in the brushroll, it'd shut the vacuum off and the red light will start flashing to let you know that something is stuck. If the bag is full or if there's a clog, the bag light will come on. Or if the bag light stays on for 30 seconds while the machine is running, it'd shut the vacuum down to prevent from overheating. Even though it's electronic, it's very simple and has a track record of being extremely reliable. That's why these are so popular for commercial use. Here's something you'd really like on the SEBO, not only the brushroll is so easy to remove but SEBO also advertises that the brushrolls are dishwasher safe. In fact, I've washed so many SEBO parts in the dishwasher without any problems.

Good, but I still don't like the drive motor being controlled by anything other than a switch. The Kenmore also has a bag light that is controlled via a pressure switch and neon light, at least the old model. The Kenmore has a bi-metal breaker in series with the brush roll motor that pops out if something gets caught underneath, at least the old one did.

I see two belts on the SEBO, at least in the model you showed, it appears power is transferred to some type of yellow cylinder, and then over to the roller. Further it appears that one motor drives the lift and the brush in addition to the suction.

Personally I like having one motor for the suction and another for the drive roller.

 

[panasonicvac]

Then you may want to look into the FELIX. It's a dual motor upright, one for suction and one for the brushroll. They also make a DART model which is similar but doesn't have the extra features that comes with the FELIX such as a swivel neck for the power nozzle, variable speed controller, telescoping handle, the barefloor tool, and the switch to turn the brushroll off when using the hose. Or what I'd recommend instead is the K3 since those have more advantages being a canister design like reaching underneath the beds, no tilting over when using the hose, maneuverable to use on barefloors, etc.



That yellow part is the sensor for the brushroll. It's used to indicate the height and indicate if the brushroll is worn or gets jammed. It's also being used on the MECHANICAL models if you just only specifically want to keep it simple since there's no electronics on those but it's only single motor like the X4 (if you're not counting the transmission for the height adjuster since that's being controlled by a small motor).

 

[Chetlaham]

Alright, you've given me a lot to think about here. At some point I think I will be buying a second vacuum in addition to the one I am order now.

SEBO, Kenmore and Sanitaire all catch my eyes.

The Bissell and Santaire are particularly smittening due to their extreme simplicity and few parts. And they have a vintage "look" to them.

I notice that there are a lot of similar looking Sanitaire and Bissell Vacuums. Obviously its the same design. What is the build quality difference between the two brands, if any? I know you mentioned the Bissell having a metal motor and the Santaire a plastic motor.

https://www.sanitairecommercial.com/collections/upright-vacuums

https://www.bissellcommercial.com/vacuums/upright-vacuums/page/2/


In so far I see a few things options for each brand:

1) 12 and 16 inch wide

2) shake out bag, dirt cup and replaceable paper bag.

3) One model has a 500 hour motor the others have a 2000 hour motor.

4) Some say their fan blade is indestructible.

5) Some have their motor listed at 5.5 amps, others at 870 watts. So I am guessing one motor is 660 watts the other 870 watts.

I am eyeing a 12 inch model unless the 16 is somehow better. It will be used exclusively upstairs where its carpeted.

I saw the springs holding the cover in place in the video. Truly a made to service vacuum.

Is there anything else I should consider or know about the Bissell and Sanitaire?

 

[Chetlaham]

As an example, the SC888N and SC688B seem identical and I can't figure out what is the difference between them.

https://www.sanitairecommercial.com...ums/products/tradition™-upright-vacuum-sc688b

https://www.sanitairecommercial.com...ums/products/tradition™-upright-vacuum-sc888n