Midway Vac & Sew

Vacuum Cleaner Repair:
Fix it or Replace it?

The question on a lot of peoples minds is “to repair or not to repair ?” The answer has a lot to do with the product you own. Most of the big box store vacuum cleaners today are made to be disposable. It seems that the average life is about three years for most homeowners and it is back to the store for yet another vacuum cleaner.

It fits the return customer profile that is very profitable for these stores but the question is just how good of a deal is it for the consumer ? If you look at larger companies who have professional management and who’s companies livelihood’s depends on “clean” you will find that they do not subscribe to the lower price throw away vacuum cleaner mentality.

When I deal with most larger hotel chains such as Hilton’s , Marriott’s , Sheraton’s , or airports and other government agencies I never run across Vacuum cleaners that were purchased from the big box store.

Why is that you may ask ? The reason is cost , when you add up the cost of the product and just how long it last it isn’t a bargain at all in fact it is the anti bargain. Also the cleaning effectiveness of the product in comparison to better built machines leaves a lot to be desired.

For example if you purchase a vacuum cleaner and spend $149.95. In three years your back at the store and if the price doesn’t go up or if the quality doesn’t go down and your able to purchase the same vacuum cleaner for the same price you will have spent $299.90. On most vacuum cleaners today bags and or filters will run you on average another $60.00 to $80.00 per year if you follow the manufacturers recommendation’s on bag , belt and filter changes of course few people follow those recommendation’s and the poor cleaning results are what fuels the carpet ” steam cleaning” industry along with more frequent carpet replacement . Now when adding up our purchase price of the vacuum cleaner and the supplies needed to operate the machine $299.90 + $180.00 to $240.00 we can see that in fact our three year expense comes to $480.00 - $540.00 dollars . Not factoring in the shorter carpet life or added profesional carpet cleaning expenses or personal steam cleaner purchases.

That is a lot more money than meets the eye at first blush. On the other hand most commercial vacuum cleaners and a lot of better home or residential vacuums come with longer warranty’s 5 years compared to 1 year as well as lower cost better supplies ( bags filters). The heart of every vacuum is the motor and it is always the most expensive part to replace. Low cost vacuum cleaners use motors with less copper smaller suction fans and cheaper bearings or bushings. Most also use a slip belt design to power the brush roll unit which plays the major role in cleaning your carpet. Better quality vacuum cleaners have better motors larger suction fans better belt drive systems.

The cheaper vacuums use slip belts that stretch out and need to be replaced about every six months in some cases more often depending on use. The belts are not very expensive in most cases around $2.50 to $5.00 it is more the aggravation or the simple lack of knowledge by the consumer as few read the instruction books and most of the vacuum cleaners do require the use of tools in order to facilitate the belt change. Better quality vacuum cleaners have belt designs that are easier to replace or in some cases never or very seldom need belt changing as they employee gear cogged fiberglass reinforced belts that come with their own warranties in some cases twenty five years to the life of the machine!

Bottom line faster brush roll speed means better agitation and deeper cleaning which will keep your carpet looking better and lasting longer and promotes a healthier home environment which is why most of us clean. Ask yourself this question .

If I went to the hotel to stay a week end and the carpet looked dirty would I spend my money to stay there ? The hospitality industry knows most peoples answer and that is also a major reason why they use better cleaning equipment.

Vacuum cleaners pick up filth that we track in and dust that we generate from the skin we shed along with hair that we lose. All of this is multiplied when we have pets. As a result I recommend the vacuum cleaner be cleaned with a anti bacterial agent wash and the brush roll or distributor unit be completely serviced every year to eighteen months. Most vacuum cleaners have motor filters and pre motor filters that should be cleaned or replaced so that the motor will run cooler and as a result last longer and clean better.

The exhaust filters should be cleaned and or replaced which is often done at the time of the vacuum cleaner being serviced and on some vacuum cleaners it is also a good time to replace that belt.

The cost will vary depending on the model of vacuum cleaner but most vacuum cleaner service stores will take care of the service in a day or two and the expense is nominal as most stores charge 29.95 to 59.95 labor plus parts. Remember a clean home is a healthy home. In the case of commercial use the better cleaning vacuum cleaner translates to longer carpet life . It has been estimated that carpet life can be extended 30% to 40% longer with proper cleaning. Most carpets are replaced not due to the carpet becoming thread bare but rather due to the carpet ”uglying” out.

Dirt cup vacuums have become very popular in the past few years and most consumers purchase these machines with the idea that they will avoid bag replacement cost and inconvenience. The flip side is that most have filters that require replacement so in fact the convenience is lost and the vacuum cleaners tend to leak more dust than their bagged cousins. One should also factor in that most people do not empty the vacuum after every use and while most bagged vacuums are treated with anti fungal anti bacteria growth agents the bag less vacuums are not. I can tell you based on working on bag-less vacuums all will have a issue with bacteria , along with in some cases mold /fungi growth. I don’t care what any one advertises I do not believe that bag-less vacuums are good vacuums in regards to indoor air quality especially when Asama or allergies are in play.

As a general rule on cost of repair most professionals buyers or purchasing agents I have dealt with believe that if you can repair a commercial or quality vacuum cleaner for 50% or less of its replacement cost it is worth it in most cases.

Ron Mancil President - Carolina Forest Vacuum

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Vacuum Cleaner Repair: Fix it or Replace it?

Ron Mancil President - Carolina Forest Vacuum

Carolina Forest Vacuum

Vacuum Cleaner Repair:
Fix it or Replace it?