How do you choose a durable hoover

Nobody (or almost nobody) likes vacuuming, yet we spend almost 200 days of our entire lives doing it! It's best if the vacuum cleaner is durable, i.e. reliable and repairable.

How does a vacuum cleaner work? Both simple and complex, the operating principle of bagged and bagless hoovers is identical. An electric motor is coupled to a turbine, generating a vacuum. This creates a flow of air that sucks in at the entrance to your hose, passes through the hose, passes through the collector, the filters and out again.

If the rest of this article seems a little complex, simply put your trust in the LONGTIME® label. A canister hoover with bag was recently awarded the label after being evaluated on our 41 critères de durabilité de façon indépendante. And what's more, he's French!

Canister vacuum cleaners with bag, bagless, upright... How to choose?

Invented in 1901, the hoover is constantly diversifying. Vacuuming dust or liquids, battery or mains powered, manual or robotic... each type of hoover has its own advantages and limitations. So it's important that it's adapted to your use, efficient, robust and repairable.

Canister vacuum with bag vs. bagless vacuum :

L’aspirateur traîneau avec sac is a must. Its technologie est simple, robuste et mature, just like its use. Overall, they're more compact and quieter than bagless hoovers, but they're also easier to use. considérés comme étant plus hygiéniques. The other strong point of bagged hoovers is their ability to capacité de stockage des poussières. Higher than bagless hoovers, the "oil changes" will be spread out over time.

Concerning the filtration de l’airWith bag vacuum cleaners, it's hard to tell the difference between the two technologies. In the case of hoovers with bags, the quality of the filters and, above all, the bags themselves will have a major impact on filtration.

For theefficacité de l’aspiration, the bagless hoover has the edge. In fact, as the bag fills up over time, the hoover loses power.
This disadvantage can be slightly offset by choosing quality bags or by innovations found on certain models.

Fromcôté du tarif, c’est match nul, Bagged and bagless hoovers both have an average selling price of around €120. However, the cost of consumables for hoovers with a bag is higher.

Vacuum cleaner diagram

Canister vacuum cleaners (with or without bag) all follow a similar design scheme.

For each of the elements below, a wide range of industrial choices is available. The technical choices made by the manufacturer influence the performance, lifespan and price of your hoover.

Its job is to generate the flow of air that enters through your hose, passes through the bag and exits through the filters. It is combined with a turbine to create the vacuum (necessary for suction), an electronic board and electrical components.

The electric motor is one of the central elements of the hoover. Unlike traditional electric motors, those used in hoovers are equipped with a turbine to generate the air flow needed for the vacuum and therefore the suction. The qualité de ce moteur influe évidemment sur la durée de vie de l’aspirateur et sur son prix.

Check electrical and power ratings of vacuum cleaners

The motor's electrical power will only partly determine the suction power of your hoover. Electrical power is expressed in watts. In the European Union, it may not exceed 900 watts.
The useful power is the result of the electrical power minus the losses (tightness of the suction circuit, air friction, heat dispersion from the motor). The useful power will therefore always be less than the electrical power.

We recommend that you don't really rely on electrical power, but rather on the vacuum cleaner's useful power.

Check vacuum measurement and air flow on vacuum cleaners

Mesure de dépression : Expressed in K/PA, this measurement reflects your hoover's ability to lift dust off the floor. The higher the vacuum, the deeper it sucks.

Airflow measurement: Expressed in dm3/s, this measurement reflects your vacuum cleaner's ability to carry the dust extracted from the floor to the bag or collector.

The perfect combo? A vacuum cleaner with low electrical power, high power output and good K/PA and dm3/S measurements.

If you find this complicated, take a look at the LONGTIME® label...

Motor brushes

The electric motors used in hoovers are, for the most part, of the moteurs qui fonctionnent avec des charbons. However, the relatively short duration of the suction sessions means that it is less frequent to change the carbon than with other electrical appliances.

Carbon brushes are relatively easy to change, provided the vacuum cleaner's electric motor is easily accessible.

The electronic board is the brain of your vacuum cleaner.
The electronics start the motor, vary its power, and indicate how full the bag is and/or how dirty the filters are. It is combined with safety components to cut power to your hoover in the event of overheating.

Lhe electronic board and the other components are éléments sensibles. Ils entrent fortement en jeu sur la durabilité of your hoover. Low-cost components, an undersized power supply or capacitors and your product will only last a few years.

The suction bowl is a key part of your vacuum cleaner. It corresponds to the compartment in which you place the vacuum cleaner bag. The more airtight it is, the more efficient your vacuum will be.
The cover that closes the suction bowl must also be of high quality. In fact, the cover allows you to open the bowl to change the bag, and also acts as an interface between the outer suction hose and the inner suction bag. Be careful with the hood hinges, which can be sensitive parts.

The bag holder located in the bowl must allow optimum positioning of the bags. The less dust escapes from the bag, the greater the protection of the suction bowl and filter.
The filter in this compartment must be of the highest quality to keep the engine as dust-free as possible.

It allows you to store the power cable inside the vacuum cleaner in a single gesture. The automatic power cable winder is now found on the vast majority of canister vacuum cleaners. This accessory stores the cable in the vacuum cleaner in a single movement. However, they come in a wide variety of qualities, with the return spring being the predominant element.

Don't hesitate to test the winder and trust its perceived quality. You should also ask about theaccessibility of this part in the event of a breakdown, as winders are often put to the test.

This is the external part of your vacuum cleaner, and corresponds to both the chassis of a car and its bodywork. It may seem trivial, but the chassis is important. Canister vacuums are bound to take a beating: furniture legs and wall angles are just some of the obstacles it will encounter in use.
The plastic of the chassis must therefore be resistant and exude quality. If your vacuum cleaner is bumper-equipped, it's even better. These mini-bumpers protect your chassis.

They direct the incoming airflow to suck up your targets (no, not spiders) and carry them to the collector (bag). Tubes and hoses are elements that need to be robust. Hoses in particular must be able to withstand bending and crushing. In the event of holes and air leaks, your suction power will be greatly reduced.

The good news is that these parts are easy to replace in case of damage or if your dog attacks your hose!

They protect your engine as the air flows through it. The bag acts as the main filter. The quality of the filtration is important, as it limits the release of dust and allergens into the ambient air. Canister vacuums (with or without bag) all have filters. It's important to respect maintenance intervals to ensure the best possible vacuuming conditions.

Bag filtration for vacuum cleaners

The first filter on a vacuum cleaner with bag is... the bag!
The best-quality bags let very little dust through, while others, which are much more porous, are less effective.

In addition to the bag, canister vacuums generally have two additional filters:

• Front engine filter: usually made of foam, it protects the engine from all particles and acts as a barrier in the event of bag failure.
• Air outlet filter: this is almost always a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. From HEPA 9 to HEPA 13, these filters provide an optimum level of filtration and are capable of retaining up to 99.99% of allergens, ideal for allergy sufferers.

Filtration for bagless vacuum cleaners

There's no bag here for initial filtration: the cyclonic or multicyclonic system takes care of that. This mechanical filtration is based on centrifugal force. This force separates the dust from the air very efficiently.

Like bagged vacuum cleaners, bagless vacuum cleaners also feature a pre-motor filter and an air outlet filter.

How can you make your vacuum cleaner last as long as possible?

As with any product, to get the most out of your vacuum cleaner, certain recommendations for use and maintenance are essential:

• Read the instructions! Yes, nobody does, and that's a shame. With this type of appliance, it's important to be aware of the recommendations for use and, above all, maintenance. And if something isn't clear enough, ask the dealer or manufacturer.
• Follow maintenance recommendations. This is essential for maximum suction performance, hygienic vacuuming and motor protection. Change the bag or drain the collector, clean or change the filters as soon as necessary.
• Don't vacuum anything it's not designed for. A domestic vacuum cleaner is not a construction vacuum cleaner. Very fine dust (plaster, ashes), liquids or small rubble must be vacuumed with a suitable device.
• Don't vacuum up food residues after meals, or beware of bad smells.
• Don't pull like a brute on the cable reel, especially when it's fully unwound.
• Choose a repairable vacuum cleaner. Even with reliable products, breakdowns and accidents do happen, so check the availability of spare parts for your product. LONGTIME®-labeled vacuum cleaners must respect a 10-year parts availability.

Repairing your vacuum cleaner

Vacuum cleaners are simple appliances that should be easy to repair in the event of a breakdown. When it comes to durability, it's essential to make sure that the manufacturer of your vacuum cleaner has a high-quality after-sales service, and that spare parts for your product are readily available.

All LONGTIME®-labeled products are repairable, so don't throw them away if they break down.

Here's what to do in each situation:

1- Your vacuum cleaner won't start or sucks insufficiently

• The first thing to do is make sure the problem is not with your electrical network or simply your plug. Test it by plugging it into several sockets.
• Afterwards, remember to check the efficiency of your filters and the fill level of your bag or collector.
• Also check that your pipe isn't simply blocked.
• The electronics may be to blame: capacitor, thermal fuse...

2- Your vacuum cleaner starts, then stops

• Check the condition of your filters. If your filters or bag are at the end of their life, your vacuum cleaner may overheat and cut out. Perform the necessary maintenance, let it cool down, then try to restart it.

3- Your vacuum cleaner starts but the motor makes an abnormal noise or doesn't reach full power

• Your motor may be dirty or damaged. Check the condition of your filters and, if possible, give the engine a good blowdown.

Once you've ruled out these first options, and in the event of a proven breakdown, check that your vacuum cleaner is still covered by the legal guarantee of conformity (24 months in France). If this is the case, contact your vendor, who is responsible for proposing a solution.

Si votre appareil n’est plus sous garantieThere are several options available to you:

• In all cases, first contact the after-sales service of your product brand, using the model identification. All products bearing the LONGTIME® label must include product identification. (e.g.: serial number, model, technical reference...). The after-sales service will be able to check with you and suggest an approved network if one is available.

• You can also contact a professional repairer listed in the Répar'acteurs directory, for example. For the record, outside the legal warranty of conformity, you are free to choose your repairer.

• You can also opt for DIY (self-repair) or call on RépairCafé, but be careful: as with all electrical or electronic products, make sure you have a solid grounding so you can intervene in complete safety and avoid damaging the safety of the device.

• Define your needs and priorities when choosing a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner.
• Find out about the quality of the electric motor and check the ratio of electrical power to effective power.
• Make surepriority parts are accessible: electric motor, electronic board, automatic cable winder, etc.
• Find out about the quality of all the vacuum cleaner's electronics.
• Choose a vacuum cleaner with a bumper and good perceived plastic quality.
• Choose brands with a véritable support technique and check the spare parts availability policy before you buy.

Would you like to buy a canister vacuum cleaner with bag without having to take an engineering degree in research and development or scour 15 blogs and 4 consumer magazines?

Take a look at our product directory and you're sure to find what you're looking for!