5 Things to Consider When Looking For a Vaccum Too Heavy: If you have to carry a vacuum upstairs, weight may become a consideration. It can also become precarious to balance a vacuum while cleaning the carpet on the stairs. There are vacuums specifically designed to be used on stairs. Sometimes it makes sense to have one vacuum upstairs and one downstairs. There are full size vacuums on the market that weigh as little as 8 pounds. Keep in mind that it should be a major concern not a minor one. Generally, lighter weight vacuums make compromises for being lightweight. We offer some terrific lightweight vacuums but ask your vacuum professional if these tradeoffs affect your situation.     Too Dusty: This is the area where most people make a major mistake in purchasing a vacuum. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) is a standard that hospitals use for air quality. Don’t be fooled thinking that just because a vacuum has a HEPA filter in it that the vacuum has been tested for HEPA filtration. Very few of them are. Just because the packaging says HEPA, does not ensure that HEPA standards have been met. But beyond dust, did you ever wonder how many dust mites are in your house? A high filtration vacuum will help lower the dust mites and other contaminates that your family breathes every day. Have Area Rugs: You need professional advice if you have area rugs. Getting the highest suction isn’t necessarily the best choice. The type of rug will determine how aggressive your brush roll has to be. Too high suction or brush roll action can ruin your rugs. Too low will not clean. Either way, the wrong vacuum will shorten the life of your carpet. If you have fringe, ask us how to correctly vacuum it. Above Floor Cleaning (Attachments): Do you want to be able to pick up that little dust bunny while you are vacuuming? Purchasing a machine that has tools that easily detach will make your cleaning job easier. Keep in mind that tools onboard will add weight to your vacuum. To properly clean a home you should start from the top down. First, turn on your air purifier. Next, do all of your above floor cleaning and dusting with your attachments. Finally, do the floors. Do you want your new vacuum to do your dusting? Too Noisy: Do you want your vacuum to be as noisy as a jack hammer or a rock concert? If you have a pet or person in the house that is highly sensitive to noise, make sure you try out your new vacuum before you buy it so that you can hear how loud it is. Some vacuums are extremely quiet. Your next vacuum doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Small children are sensitive to noise and crawl on the ground. It must be clean! They also have a tendency to leave small objects around. Some vacuums are designed to handle those problems without damaging your vacuum. Vacuums have a dirty job to do! They are also the most replaced appliance in your home. Again, because vacuums are used so often to pick up dirt, all manufacturers recommend service once a year. Before you buy, ask your store what you have to do if you need service or if there is a problem with your new vacuum. If they say you have to take it somewhere else to be repaired or serviced, you might want to buy it from the original source in the first place. Back to Articles