Sep 06

Vacuum Configurations

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Vacuum cleaners are devices that use an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dirt and dust, normally from carpeted floors.  Most homes that have carpet floors have a vacuum for cleaning.  The dirt that is pulled up from the carpet is collected by a filtering system or even a cyclone for later disposal.

There are several type of configurations possible for vacuum cleaners.

Upright
Upright vacuums have the pump mounted directly above the suction intake, with the bag mounted directly on the handle, which will rise to waist height or so. The upright type designs normally employ mechanical beaters which often rotate brushes, to help disturb dust enough to be vacuumed up.  These beaters are normally driven by a belt that is attached to the vacuum motor.

Canister
Also known as cylinder vacuums, the canister type designs have the motor and bag in a seperate canister unit that connects to the vacuum head by a flexible hose.  Even though upright units have been tested as being more effective, the lighter and more maneuverable heads of the canister models are quite popular.  Some models have power heads, which contain the same type of mechanical beaters found it upright units, although they are driven by a seperate electric motor.

Wet vacs/dry vacs
These types a specialized form of the canister vacuum and they can be used to clean up wet or liquid spills as well.  They will commonly accomodate both wet and dry soilage, with some being equipped with a switch or exhaust port that reverses the flow of air.  This is a very useful function for everything from clearing clogged hoses to blowing dust into a corner for easy collecting.

Back pack vac
These types of vacuums are commonly used for commercial cleaning, as they allow you to move about quickly and efficiently in a large area.  They are basically canister vacuum cleaners, except for the fact that straps are used to carry the canister on your back.

Built in or central
These types of vacuum cleaners will move the suction motor and bag to a central location in the building and provide vacuum inlets at strategic places throughout the entire building.  You only need to carry the hose and pickup head from room to room, while the hose is normally 25 foot long and allows a large range of movement without changing vacuum inlets.

The plastic piping will connect vacuum inlets to the central unit.  The vacuum can either be unpowered or have beaters that are operated by an electric motor or an air driven motor.  The bag in the central vacuum system is normally so big that emptying it or changing needs to be done less as often, sometimes only once a year.

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Jul 24

Dyson D15

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Unlike the use of wheels that most vacuums have, the Dyson DC15 upright vacuum has a large yellow ball that will allow the vacuum to pivot and roll with the greatest of ease.  With the DC15, you simply turn your wrist and the entire vacuum cleaner will change direction.  The ability to maneuver this easily is something that is commonly associated with canister style vacuum cleaners.

In addition to the unique yet innovative ball design, the Dyson DC15 also offers quite an interesting filtration system.  No matter what you may think or hear, Dyson vacuums don’t use filters in the way that most vacuum cleaners do.

With the Dyson DC15, the air and dirt are sucked into the container where the outer cyclone removes large particles such as food, hair, and even fibers.  The air will then move into the shroud and inner cyclone where it is rotated with a higher velocity to drop fine particles of dust out of the air.

From the inner cyclone, the air will move about through a washable inner foam pre filter where a majority of the particles will remain trapped. This feature helps the DC15 to keep dirt and debris trapped inside and out of the motor.

The last step in the system after moving through the motor is the trip through the final HEPA filter.  The DC15 has a very strict filter system, which will prevent 99.9% of bacteria and mold from getting to your home.  The vacuum will suck it up and keep it inside of the vacuum where it belongs.

Even though they aren’t very well known, Dyson has been around for many years.  They aren’t as popular or as well known as the bigger companies such as Hoover, although they offer you great quality and performance with their vacuum cleaners.  Unlike Hoover, Dyson works to improve on their own products as well as the competition with each product they release.

The Dyson DC15 is truly a great vacuum to hit the market, as it is the first and only vacuum cleaner to feature the very unique ball.  Even though robotic vacuum cleaners are becoming the most popular types of vacuum cleaners, the DC15 is ideal for housewives who want a traditional vacuum cleaner with a twist.

The Dyson DC15 is also known for its suction power and attachments as well.  With the ball assembly, using attachments are a breeze.  The only problem you may have, is getting the hang of things.

The attachment wand is stored inside of the handle of the vacuum and is always attached. To use it, you lock the handle in the upright position then push a button on the front of the handle that will allow you to telescope the wand for use.

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Jul 20

Vacuum Cleaner Buyers Guide

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Deep cleaning vacuums
The typical features with these types of vacuums include rotating brushes that agitate the carpet pile and loosen the dirt for better clean.  There are some models that offer a handy automatic tool conversion button or switch that you can push or flip as you move from carpet to hardwood floor.

Hand held vacuums
Hand held vacuums are light weight, can be corded or cordless, and you can even mount most of them on the wall if you prefer.  The performance of the cordless models will depend on the charge of the battery, as the battery power drops, so will the suction power.

The two types of hand held vacuums include straight suction and suction with a power brush.  If you are considering a hand held vacuum cleaner, you should consider its primary purpose, if you plan to use it on a regular basis or occasionally on smaller jobs.

Broom vacuums
Stick or broom vacuums are great for smaller type apartments, quick clean ups in the kitchen, or a family room.  The benefit of a broom vacuum is the light weight.  If you have trouble pushing your heavier upright around, the broom vacuum may come as a relief.  You’ll also have the option of getting your vacuum corded or cordless.

They usually weight 2 – 7 lbs. and allow you to easily store them in the closet, as they take up a minimum amount of space.  For quick disposal of the dirt and debris, most models are also bagless  as well.

Wet or Dry vacuums
The wet/dry vacuum combination may very well be the most versatile vacuum cleaner on the market today, with numerous attachments and functions it is a  very handy machine to have around your home.  The canister types can vary from the smaller 6 gallon sizes to the larger 22 gallon sizes.

The HP ranges as well, from 2 to 10 HP.  You should always try to match the size of the unit to the size of the job and frequency of use.

Upright vacuums
One of the most popular features of an upright vacuum cleaner is the bagless system.  In addition to the increased performance, there is no need  to purchase any bags.  Emptying the canister can be a little dusty, although it’s still better than messing with bags.

Most upright models come with a standard set of attachments that may even include an upholstery tool, a crevice tool, and even an extension wand. A retractable cord and manual or automatic pile adjustments are other common features.  A HEPA filter is another common and popular feature found with most upright vacuums.

Canister vacuums
Canister vacuum cleaners normally include retractable cords.  Considering the fact that most cords are around 25 foot in length, this feature will prevent you from having to drag the cord around and possibly damage furniture.  A push of a button or a slight tug on the cord will retract it into the canister of the vacuum.

The nozzle can be one of two types, nozzle or power nozzle.  To get your carpet as clean as possible, it is recommended that you use the power nozzle, which will agitate the carpet and loosen up the dirt for deeper cleaning.

Another feature worth looking for is a suction control switch, as this allows you to adjust the flow of air for cleaning delicate material such as upholstery  and drapery.

When choosing your vacuum cleaner, you should always choose the one you like best.  The best vacuum for the job is the one you should choose, as things will work out much better that way.

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Jul 11

How Vacuum Cleaners Work

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Even though it may appear to be a very complicated machine, the conventional vacuum cleaner is actually made up of six essential components:  intake port,
exhaust port, electric motor, fan, porous bag, and a housing that stores all of the other components.

When you plug the vacuum cleaner into the outlet and turn it on, the following happens:
1.  First of all, the electric current will operate the motor, which is attached to the fan, which resembles an airplane propeller.
2.  As the blades begin to turn, they will force the air upwards, towards the exhaust port.
3.  When the air particles are driven forwards, the density of the particles will increase in front of the fan and therefore decrease behind it.

The pressure drop that occurs behind the fan is similar to the pressure drop when you take a drink through a straw.  The pressure level in the area that is behind the fan will drop below the pressure level that is outside of the vacuum cleaner.

This will create a suction inside of the vacuum cleaner.  The ambient air will push itself into the vacuum cleaner through the intake port because the air pressure that is inside of the vacuum cleaner is much lower than the pressure on the outside.

Picking the dirt up
The stream of air that the vacuum generates is just like a stream of water.  The air particles that move will rub against any loose dust or debris and if it is light enough, the friction will carry the material around the inside of the vacuum cleaner.

As the dirt continues on to the exhaust port, it will pass through the cleaner bag.  They tiny holes in the vacuum cleaner bag are large enough to let the air pass through, although too small for the dust particles to fit through.  Therefore, when the air current gets into the bag, the dirt and debris will be collected there.

You can stick the bag anywhere along the path between the intake tube and the exhaust port, just as long as the air current passes through.

Suction
The power of a vacuum cleaner’s suction will depend on several factors.  The suction can be stronger or weaker depending on:
1.  Fan power – In order to generate a strong suction, the motor needs to turn at a good speed.
2.  Air passageway – When a lot of debris builds up in the bag, the air will face a greater level of resistance on the way out.  Each particle of air  will move slowly due to the increase in drag.  This is the reason why a vacuum cleaner works much better once you’ve replaced the bag than when you have been using it for a while.
3.  Size of the intake port – With the speed of the vacuum fan being constant, the amount of air that passes through the vacuum cleaner per second is  also constant.

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Jul 06

Essential Parts of Vacuum

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There are many places that you can use to find parts for a vacuum cleaner that is broken, providing you have someone around that is handy enough with tools to take a swing at fixing it.  The part that breaks the most on most less expensive vacuum cleaners is the drive belt.  It’s the rubberized belt that is around 6 inches long, that when stretched out turns the brushes on the bottom of the vacuum.

When you take the vacuum over objects that don’t belong in the vacuum cleaner, such as pieces of rope or a cat’s tail and the unit comes to a screeching halt, the burning smell that will soon fill up the air is your drive belt slowly melting away.

Luckily, the drive belt is available at several locations, so many in fact that your local drug store may even carry them!  They are cheap to buy and a snap  to replace with a screwdriver and a bit of common sense.  For other types of problems that you may encounter, there are a lot of resources at your disposal just in case you decide to tackle the problem on your own.

You should never forget that when you buy parts for your vacuum cleaner, most of the parts you’ll need are going to be specifically made for your particular brand name and model.  With the exception of basic items such as drive belts and most bags, most parts aren’t interchangeable between brands and between different models of the same brand.

The first thing to try when you need a part for your vacuum cleaner is the local Yellow Pages book.  Inside of the Yellow Pages, you’ll find many listings for appliance parts and suppliers. You’ll have to call each one of the individually to find out if they carry parts for your model and brand.  In the rare event that they don’t carry what you need, they can normally order it for you quickly and easily.  If that fails, you can always call the company direct that manufactured your model of vacuum cleaner and order the part that way.

Most of the time, you won’t have any problem getting your hands on a part for your vacuum cleaner, unless it is a more intricate part that isn’t readily available.  Parts such as the intake or exhaust port are very tricky to replace, and you will probably want to have a professional fix these types of problems.

Drive belts, vacuum bags, and little problems such as these are a snap to replace.  With the older style of vacuum cleaners, you don’t have to be an expert to fix a majority of the problems.  The newer models however, require quite a bit of skill and technique.

One of the most common problems that will happen is clogging.  If your vacuum stops picking up dirt and dust, chances are it has become clogged, which is normally not a parts problem.  All you need to do to fix it is take the front assembly off, then manually clean out the agitators and the housing where the dirt makes its way upwards through the vacuum cleaner.  This is very easy to do, and won’t take you but a couple of minutes.

Anytime you encounter a parts problem with your vacuum cleaner, you should always take things one step at a time and don’t rush.  You can almost always get a hold of a part.  If the part is more expensive than you anticipated, you can always scrap the vacuum cleaner and buy yourself a  better one – which will save you a lot of time and headache in the long run.

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Jun 27

Hand Held Vacuum Cleaner

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All of us have a special tool lying around the house that we simply cannot live without.  A tool or gadget that makes life a lot easier because it exists.  For many people, this tool or gadget is the hand held vacuum cleaner.  When it comes to cleaning house, this tool is something many people couldn’t live without.

Regardless of the type of home you have, a hand held vacuum cleaner can make life a lot easier.  Whether it’s a tiny apartment or a large mansion, these small cleaners are the perfect way to cope with unexpected spills and not have to worry about dragging a vacuum cleaner around.  Anyone who has messy kids or a messy spouse, hand held vacuum cleaners can help you keep your home spick and span without having to lose your mind in the process.

The truth remains that few of us do housework just for the sake of doing it.  There are a few dedicated souls out there who enjoy all the stretching and exercise that cleaning involves, although the rest of us just go for the results.

A clean and tidy home is very nice, relaxing, and nothing in the world is more frustrating than achieving one only to see all of your hard work being shattered by the falling of crumbs or the spilling of liquid on your freshly vacuumed floor.

The hand held vacuum cleaner will allow you to enjoy the same results without having to do any of the hard work.  Many of us who find peace and tranquility in an organized home will normally hide tools we use to create it out of sight.  Then, when it comes time to clean house, dragging the vacuum out of it’s hiding place can be a chore in its own rights.

For small messes and spills, a pint sized cleaner can help you retain your sense of peace simply because it will help you to realize that the small stuff is just that – small stuff – and nothing more. The tools used to perform common household tasks should be the things you love to use, as this is actually the best way to ensure that the housework will actually get done.

Small portable cleaning devices are the ultimate in friendly cleaning equipment, as they can clean up small messes before they get bigger.  You also don’t have to work all the time either to achieve the clean home you want, you simply need the right tools for the job.

The first time you pick up a handheld vacuum cleaner, you’ll see how something so small in size can make a world of difference.  You’ll cut your vacuum time in half and ensure that your home stays clean all the time – spill free.

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Jun 25

Vacuum Configurations

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Vacuum cleaners are devices that use an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dirt and dust, normally from carpeted floors.  Most homes that have carpet floors have a vacuum for cleaning.  The dirt that is pulled up from the carpet is collected by a filtering system or even a cyclone for later disposal.

There are several type of configurations possible for vacuum cleaners.

Upright
Upright vacuums have the pump mounted directly above the suction intake, with the bag mounted directly on the handle, which will rise to waist height or so. The upright type designs normally employ mechanical beaters which often rotate brushes, to help disturb dust enough to be vacuumed up.  These beaters are
normally driven by a belt that is attached to the vacuum motor.

Canister
Also known as cylinder vacuums, the canister type designs have the motor and bag in a seperate canister unit that connects to the vacuum head by a flexible hose.  Even though upright units have been tested as being more effective, the lighter and more maneuverable heads of the canister models are quite popular.  Some models have power heads, which contain the same type of mechanical beaters found it upright units, although they are driven by a seperate electric motor.

Wet vacs/dry vacs
These types a specialized form of the canister vacuum and they can be used to clean up wet or liquid spills as well.  They will commonly accomodate both wet and dry soilage, with some being equipped with a switch or exhaust port that reverses the flow of air.  This is a very useful function for everything from clearing clogged hoses to blowing dust into a corner for easy collecting.

Back pack vac
These types of vacuums are commonly used for commercial cleaning, as they allow you to move about quickly and efficiently in a large area.  They are basically canister vacuum cleaners, except for the fact that straps are used to carry the canister on your back.

Built in or central
These types of vacuum cleaners will move the suction motor and bag to a central location in the building and provide vacuum inlets at strategic places throughout the entire building.  You only need to carry the hose and pickup head from room to room, while the hose is normally 25 foot long and allows a large range of movement without changing vacuum inlets.

The plastic piping will connect vacuum inlets to the central unit.  The vacuum can either be unpowered or have beaters that are operated by an electric motor or an air driven motor.  The bag in the central vacuum system is normally so big that emptying it or changing needs to be done less as often, sometimes only once a year.

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Jun 20

Vacuum`s Belts And Performance

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The belts for vacuum cleaners can come in many styles and hundreds of different sizes.  Normally, vacuums use a belt to drive an agitation device, which is also known as a brush roller.  With very few exceptions, most vacuums will use either a flat belt, round belt, or a geared style belt.

The type of belt that your vacuum uses is very important, not only for durability, but performance as well.  The condition and type of belt your vacuum uses will have a lot of impact on the systems ability to clean carpet.  The proper use of agitation is almost 70% of the cleaning ability of a vacuum cleaner.

Suction is also very important.  The suction is what pulls the dirt that is removed from the carpet into the collection area of the vacuum.  The suction, or airflow, is the key when cleaning hard surfaces or when using attachments.  Without suction, a vacuum cleaner could only bring more dirt to the surface of carpet.  Even though both agitation and suction are important with vacuuming, the agitation is what actually cleans them.

Almost all manufacturers use brush rollers that are made of wood, metal, or even plastic that is driven by a suction or brush motor through the use of three different kinds of belts – round, geared, or flat.

The round belts are the earliest type as they were easy to produce and easy to engineer.  The round style, unfortunately, is normally run in the same space as vacuumed dirt.  What this means, is that almost all of the dirt, staples, and hair you vacuum up will pass around the belt; cutting, nicking, or even scratching it along the way.

Vacuum cleaner belts have to stretch quite a long way, placing even more stress on the roller and the motor bearings.  The round belt is still common, and used even today. The flat style of belts are most often run in a circular fashion as well, unlike the twisted route the round belt takes to deliver the performance in the proper direction.

The style allow manufacturers to run the belt off of one side of the brush roller, instead of the center where all of the dirt is.  This is truly a great innovation, as you can eliminate premature failure due to the soil and dirt in the belt path.

The latest belt design is considered to be the best in the industry.  Even though there are many variations out there, the geared belt is the most efficient means to drive a brush.  The geared belt is also known as a positive brush system because the energy of the brush motor is transmitted directly to the brush.

Both the brush and the motor are locked by fixed teeth to each other through a cogged belt without tension.  The resulting direct connection results in higher cleaning efficiency because the brush can be driven at a faster speed regardless of the age of the belt.

The flat style can stretch as they become warm, which will cause them to lose tension.  When you use your vacuum, the belt is always going to stretch.  Believe it or not, it will lose it’s tension the moment you put it up to rest in the closet.

There is however, one real drawback to geared belts – the cost of the vacuum.  Geared belts are normally used on two motor vacuums.  Not only does this require a separate suction and brush motor, but it also requires electronic sensory systems to tell you when something is wrong with the brush.

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