Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Upright Vacuum, Self-Propelled, Bagged, U6485900
by Hoover
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Upright Vacuum, Self-Propelled, Bagged, U6485900
Customer Review: LOVE this vacuum!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this vacuum from Amazon after I had just gotten a Bissell Momentum. I thought I would like the Bissell because it was bagless, but I soon discovered what a mess it would make every time I had to empty the canister. I finally got tired of getting fine particles of dirt all over the place and decided to go back to a bagged vacuum. I chose this vacuum based on the Consumer Reports review. I did about 3 weeks worth of research prior to deciding on this particular model. I also looked at the other two Hoovers (bagged models) recommended by Consumer Reports -- the Tempo Widepath U5140-900 and the cheaper WindTunnel Anniversary U5491-900. I came very close to getting the cheaper WindTunnel when I downloaded the user's manual from Hoover and discovered the placement of the hose relative to the cord hooks. It appears as though the cord has to be wound from a high point on the handle of the vacuum to a low point at the base of the vacuum at a diagonal angle. Additionally, the cord is situated so that it crosses over the hose, which looked like an entanglement problem waiting to happen. And I did recall another reviewer having this same problem and also mentioning the awkward placement of the tools on the back of the vacuum. So, I decided to take a look at the Tempo, which has hundreds of awesome reviews. I almost went with it, except for the fact that it lacked some of the features I wanted, like a bag-full indicator light, edge cleaning, and non-marring wheels. I also discovered that the Tempo appears to be a discontinued model which even Hoover is selling at a discounted price. I didn't want to risk the potential for needing a part that might not be manufactured anymore. So I decided to go with the U6485-900 model and here is what I've found:
PROS: The hose is placed at the side of the vacuum, so there's no struggling with trying to get it back in place after removing it for cleaning;
The power cord hooks are situated in the back of the vacuum at a reasonable distance from each other, so you don't have to bend down really low to wrap the cord;
The power cord and the hose are distinctly separated from each other, so there are no entanglement issues;
The cleaning tools are perfectly placed so that they're easy to get to and do not interfere with the power cord or hose;
When the vacuum is on and locked in an upright position, the brush roll automatically stops rotating. This is such a handy feature because I'll often leave the vacuum running and propped up to go retrieve something in another room, or to use the tools to vacuum something up high. This prevents the brush roll from needlessly rotating and damaging the carpet;
The self-propel feature is awesome! I didn't purchase the vacuum for this particular feature, but I have found that I really like it! It can be turned on or off, and it feels as though the vacuum is 10 lbs. lighter when pushing it forward or pulling it backwards;
The bag-full indicator light takes the guessing out of when to change the bag. I was also surprised at the high quality of the bag -- it almost feels like thick cloth;
The vacuum came entirely assembled with the exception of the handle, which just required two screws. All of the accessory parts and bag/filters were installed, so there was no guesswork about where the cleaning tools are supposed to be stored;
Lastly, it performs fantastically! The suction power is great and the brush roll spins so fast, that I had to look twice to see if it was even moving (there's a small clear window where you can actually see the brush roll).
CONS: The way it was shipped was not typical of Amazon. There was a big gash in the side of the box and I was concerned that something could have been damaged in the shipping process. However, as long as it works, I could care less about the appearance of the box;
The self-propel feature is a little jerky. It could be that I'm not used to it yet, but it seemed to suddenly jerk backwards as you're pulling the vacuum toward your body;
This vacuum is a little heavier than I would prefer, approximately 21 lbs. However, the self-propel feature seems to negate the weight while vacuuming and you can always remove some of the onboard tools;
The hose is indeed short. I noticed that other reviewers had mentioned the same thing, but I didn't pay much attention to it, since it appears that an extension hose is available for purchase. But it does seem shorter than most other upright vacuums.
Overall, this is a great vacuum. I had done several weeks of research prior to settling on this vacuum, particularly with regards to finding a good price. I looked at all of the online retailers and only found 1 that was selling it for $10 cheaper than Amazon. However, when you tack on the cost of sales tax and shipping, it was actually cheaper to purchase this vacuum through Amazon. And Amazon has always been really great about returns, so I didn't hesitate on purchasing this product through them. You can always return it if it's not what you wanted. But I have been very satisfied with it and would purchase it again. I will post a future update should anything unexpected occur with this vacuum, though I have been very pleased with it so far. Just a word of caution -- I have seen a couple of reviewers on Amazon that have posted the same negative review for multiple Hoover products. In one instance, someone had posted the same critical review for 11 different Hoover vacuums. Don't get discouraged by this; do your own research and you should be able to determine the phony reviews from the valid reviews.
UPDATE 10/04/09
This vacuum is still working great, though I do not believe that the "bag full" feature is very helpful or even functional for that matter. I just replaced my first bag and it was very full, but the "bag full" indicator has remained low this entire time. Another thing I discovered is that the handle at the very top is a little wiggly. It will move slightly up and down as you're vacuuming, and if you're not careful, your fingers can possibly get pinched in there. I definitely recommend not lifting the vacuum by the handle and keeping your hands and fingers away from that gap. Also, this vacuum is rather loud. It's fine if you're just vacuuming, but if you're doing something that requires bending over or getting on the floor to use an extension part and your head is close to the vacuum, it would be very wise to wear earplugs. One final thing -- be sure to change the setting to "hard floor" before vacuuming over a bare surface. This basically keeps the brush roll from rotating, so only the suction feature is operating. A couple of times I was too lazy to change this setting and the brush roll actually left marks on my laminate flooring. But overall, I'm still very satisfied with this vacuum. I haven't had any belts or other parts break and it's still performing as good as day one (usage approximately one time per week).
I also wanted to mention that I saw this very same vacuum selling for $168 at a large members-only warehouse "Club" store just yesterday! I was so disappointed that I spent an extra $60 more, but what can you do??? Like all things, prices change and will go down the longer a product is out on the market. If you're able to find a price like that on this vacuum, I would definitely go for it. I'm even thinking of purchasing a second one because that price is so great!
UPDATE 1/30/10
I've discovered that it's probably not the brush roll that's leaving marks on my laminate flooring, but rather the self-propel belt. You might want to turn off the self-propel feature when vacuuming over bare floors, especially if they're susceptible to scuffing.
Customer Review: A very powerful cleaning machine
Summary: 5 Stars
I received this vacuum in April as an upgrade to my rather old (but still working) non-self-propelled basic Hoover upright. After several months of regular use I am extremely pleased with the new hotrod vacuum. Cleaning power is awesome, with very powerful WindTunnel suction coupled with multi-stage HEPA filtration (HEPA bag plus separate HEPA filters), which means all that extra dust and dirt you pick up actually stays in the vacuum. The included pet hair tool also works surprisingly well, making cleaning up loose fur from our cat a snap.
Tools include the standard brush, crevice, and wide nozzles along with the pet hair tool, and storage is logical and reasonably handy. The pet hair tool is larger than the rest and occupies the covered slot at the top front of the vacuum, while the rest snap into holders on the lower back. The pet hair tool is secure behind a hinged door, but the other tools are exposed and will sometimes get knocked out of their slots. This rarely happens though and is really just a minor annoyance. Cord storage is excellent, with a simple vertical wrap to store, and a swiveling top hook allows you to drop the cord off quickly for use.
The vacuum's weight might be a bit on the hefty side for some, but the self-propulsion makes this a moot point unless you have to carry the vacuum up stairs. I carry mine using the built-in carry handle (not the grip for vacuuming) on the upper back of the unit and this makes it easy to lift and transport. If you have never used a self-propelled vacuum before you may find the operation a bit jerky at first. Give yourself some adjustment time and learn to let the vacuum do the work and you'll soon wonder how you ever got along without self-propulsion.
The only complaint I have with this vacuum is the stretch hose. It really is too short for typical hose work, and I have pulled the vacuum over several times because of this. The included extension tubes are quite useful for reaching high places, but an extra foot or so on the hose would have made this vacuum just about ideal right out of the box. As for noise levels, the vacuum is probably about average in this area, although I have not been able to directly compare it with other models. It is not whisper quiet, since it is a full-power vacuum, but it is not an ear-splitter either.
Overall this is a very powerful and effective vacuum with all the cleaning tools you need and only a few quirks, so I would definitely recommend it.
Pros:
-Impressive WindTunnel suction power
-Self-propelled makes vacuuming easy (once you get used to it)
-Pet hair tool really does work
-Pleasing styling, doesn't look like a cheap science fiction prop like some others
-Solid construction; although plastic it feels like it will last for years with proper care
-Good ergonomics and layout
-Wide cleaning path
-HEPA filtration (bags and filters)
-Bare floor setting allows turning off brush roller
-Dirt Finder indicator actually works
Cons:
-A bit heavy (only an issue if you have to carry it)
-Exposed tool storage could be a bit more secure
-Standard stretch hose is too short
-Bag check indicator works but is a bit hard to see
Customer Review: Great Vacuum Cleaner
Summary: 5 Stars
This vacuum sucks! And when one is referring to a vacuum cleaner, that's a compliment. The vacuum was easy to assemble - ten minutes and a couple of screws. Just be sure to read and follow directions. (It matters if the switch is in the "On" or "Off" position.) We tried it out the day it arrived. It arrived a week before the promised delivery date. So that was one day after all the carpets in the house had been vacuumed with a ten year old canister vacuum with a powered brush/beater head. The canister vacuum had a new bag put in it just before the most recent house cleaning was undertaken, and the bag was not noticeably fuller when the house had been vacuumed. The Hoover WindTunnel then filled at least a bag per room. (Order plenty along with the vacuum, you'll use a lot at first and the price is right from Amazon.) It was difficult to believe that all that dirt and sand and stuff was in the carpet. When I read the instructions I thought the red and green lights were a cheesy trick. No way! They do a very good job of indicating when the carpet is no longer giving up debris. In some cases the light stayed red for ten to twenty slow passes over a particular stretch. But once it turned green, it was never red over a green area again. It must be accurately sensing something. The carpets look noticeably cleaner and the pile appears denser and deeper. We also got the 20 foot stretch hose and have found that a valuable addition for vacuuming stairs, miniblinds, lampshades, etc. We cut open one bag to see what the vacuum had picked up and that investigation convinced us that we made the right choice in purchasing a bag-type vacuum. We cut the bag open in the garage and the air was so filled with dust we had to flee the garage to wait for it to settle. If we had a bag-less vacuum with the same contents we would have had to empty it outside on a windy day while standing up-wind. With the bags, one just seals the hole where they attach to the vacuum with the sticky patch that comes with the bag and everything is sealed inside. You can literally throw the bag in the trash. I challenge anyone to dump their bag-less vacuum into a trash container if it contains the sort of stuff the WindTunnel extracted from our carpets without filling the air with dust. We didn't intend to purchase the pet hair attachment but have found it convenient and effective for cleaning hard to reach areas. It is probably worth the few bucks extra it adds to the price. We can't think of a critical thing to say about the WindTunnel, even the blue color grows on you. All that remains to be done is use the leaf blower to try to dust off the cars and other things in the garage after our bag cutting experiment.Customer Review: Give me a good old bagged vacuum
Summary: 5 Stars
Works great! I've had several Eurekas and will never buy another one. They never last very long and have poor suction.
The Hoover picks up dirt I can't see. The electronic sensor light is a good feature, letting you know when all the dirt in an area has been removed (it glows green most of the time but turns red when extra dirty areas are found letting you know to go over the area again until the light turns green again signifying it's now clean). The ability to turn off the beater bar is also helpful making vacuuming hard floors a breeze.
The vacuum has a three-year warranty and it feels like it will last many years. If anything wears out prematurely it will be the "self=propelled" function which engages when the vacuum is pulled back and disengages when the vacuum is pushed forward so it cycles on and off hundreds of times with each vacuuming.
I chose a bagged vacuum because I just got tired of emptying the cannister on the bagless vacuum after each use along with cleaning four filters, some of which were hard to reinstall. Now I just replace the bag when it's full and rinse two easy to reinstall filters. Partially full vacuum bags do not give off an unpleasant odor like they did years ago. One more benefit: the frequency of dusting in our home has gone down. Seems a good bagged vacuum traps more of the finer particles that create dust than the bagless type. I look forward to many years of reliable service from this vacuum!
Customer Review: Nice vacuum!
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought this vacuum to replace two Dirt Devils that seemed to always be in the repair shop. So, after taking them to the repair shop, I saw this vacuum for sale. The vacuum repairman said this was an excellent model. I was doubtful as he's a salesman. But, he did have Miele, Rainbow, Dyson and all other common models on the floor but recommended this one and it was priced at $169 - much lower than most others! So, I brought it home on a 3-day tryout and am very happy with it! We have three sons under the age of 8, so the amount of dropped food, papers, etc on our carpet is astounding. And, the main great room carpet is dark green (to be changed at some point in the near future) and our MBR carpet is a light cream color. So, ANYTHING laying on the carpet shows and looks awful. This Hoover pulled everything up with one sweep! I continued to vacuum as I was interested to see if the red "dirt detector" light would ever go green. It didn't even after many, many sweeps across the carpet. So, not sure if my carpet is just nasty or the light is unreliable. Either way, the carpet looked great. It works great on upholstery, stairs(w/ the hose) and mostly everything else. NOt so good on bare floors but most uprights can't handle that anyway. I had looked at Dyson and just couldn't bring myself to pay $500 for a vacuum. I have no regrets!
This vacuum gets it done!