Not exactly a kitchen appliance

[Connie Lea]

This isn't exactly a kitchen appliance but I do use it to vacuum my kitchen carpet (does that count?). I need your opinions. I bought a Dyson Vac at an auction a few years ago and just love it. However, lately it doesn't seem to have as much suction. Would it be worthwhile taking it in and having it gone through, or would I be better off buying a new one?

[**Tinkerbell**]

Hi Connie!
You know what? We're pretty lax around here when it comes to gadgets. As long as it's a household "tool" of sorts, we'll talk about it. I totally consider a vacuum a gadget. And if you'll bear with me on my backstory, I'll get to my advice.
I have the Dyson DC14 All Floors (the one below is the Animal, a much newer model, but basically looks the same.)



Vacuums are a big focus in our house because I have allergies and pushing heavy vacuums is difficult. We have mostly hardwood these days, but used to have all carpet, and no pets.

So, DH and I have been together 15 years and he's forever been on the search for a vacuum that doesn't just blow the dust back out into the air and that I can push comfortably enough to do the whole house when I need to. (He usually does the vacuuming, but I'll run it when I want to do detail work or before company comes and he's at work.)

In that 15 years we've owned 8 vacuums, of all brands, including the Roomba. I grew up with a central vac system, but that's something my parents built the house with, so I haven't had it in my adult life. All the regular vacuums made my allergies worse, broke (without pets!), or were simply too heavy for me to push around (even self-propelled ones).

Around 2005 I think, we bought the Dyson and I have no intention of getting rid of it. Hands down the best all-around vacuum we've ever used.

Keeping it clean inside and de-clogged though, is a big factor in it's performance. Depending on the model you have the cleaning might be a little different, but should be fairly simple.
I try to empty the clear bin about every other time I use it, with DH using it a couple or more times in between my uses.
The washable liftetime filter needs to be cleaned out as well, and I'll do that about every other time I empty the clear bin. Both are really easy to do.
Even without pets I have a hair issue because I am a hairdresser and cut my family's hair in the living room, and DD's hair is super long (like, past her bum), so when it falls out it gets tangled all around the brush bar.

Cleaning out the brush bar the first time was a PITA, and took both DH & I to get it cleaned and put back together. But it made a huge difference in the suction.
We rarely lose suction, but when it happens the first thing I do is straighten out the hose while the machine is running. I use the hose for a lot of detail work and often there will be small toys "hiding" under the fridge or furniture that get sucked up and may not affect the suction until enough other stuff gets sucked up around it.
If it's not the hose I will pop off the clear bin, empty and wash it out.
Then clean the filter (manual says about every 6 months), wash and air dry, and if that doesn't do it we tackle the brush bar.

Did you get a manual with your vacuum? Was it new at auction?
Before paying for service I would follow the manual and clean it well myself. It's possible we can find a manual online for your model if you didn't get one. We almost took ours in one time, but DH kept looking at it and we realized it was just a bunch of cut hair wrapped a bazillion times around the brush bar. Soon as we cleaned that out it worked great again.

I hope this helps!
*Tink

[Connie Lea]

Thanks so much Tink. I love my Dyson. I just now cleaned the filter and am waiting for it to dry. It was pretty dirty, so that may have been my problem. I think mine is a million years old - it's a DC7 and I didn't get a manual with it. Will go on line and see if I can find one. I empty the clear plastic tank every time. I love seeing the dirt piling up in it. However, makes me think my house is really dirty as I get a lot of dirt each time. I like that you can clean the filter rather than replacing it.

[**Tinkerbell**]

Connie Lea wrote:
Thanks so much Tink. I love my Dyson. I just now cleaned the filter and am waiting for it to dry. It was pretty dirty, so that may have been my problem. I think mine is a million years old - it's a DC7 and I didn't get a manual with it. Will go on line and see if I can find one. I empty the clear plastic tank every time. I love seeing the dirt piling up in it. However, makes me think my house is really dirty as I get a lot of dirt each time. I like that you can clean the filter rather than replacing it.

I do too! Bags and filter replacing can create such a mess, from an allergy standpoint. And it's simply better for the environment.
I'm hoping the clean filter will make your machine suck again.
Seriously, I'm glad you're happy with your Dyson. I sure love mine!

Here's a link to a color PDF of the Dyson DC07 manual:
http://www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com/care/72.pdf

[Connie Lea]

Thanks Tink. That's the same manual I found when I searched on line. There's a lot of good information in it.

[Connie Lea]

Tink - I'm in love. My filter is dry and back in my Dyson and it cleans better than ever. I never used the onboard tools because there wasn't enough suction. There is plenty now. So much easier to use than hauling out my shop vac to get around the woodwork, etc. Thank you so much. I don't know why I didn't think about going on line for a manual before. I had gone on to try to find out what year my vac was. I don't think I ever did find out - if so I don't remember. I've slept since then. Anyway you saved me a bunch of money and embarrassment as I would have been when they told me the only thing wrong was a dirty filter.

[**Tinkerbell**]

I'm so happy I could help!

The DC07 was introduced in 2001 and was the first model with the Root Cyclone technology. Of course, that technology has been modified and improved upon since, but was very innovative at the time.

[Connie Lea]

Thanks Tink. I wondered how old it was. Works much better than any other vac I've had including an Orek and the Orek was brand new.

[**Tinkerbell**]

I totally agree, Connie. It's the best brand we've tried.

[katie in the UP]

We have 2 Dysons and love LOVE them both. Gadget? heck yah!!
Just outside the kitchen door we have the cordless one hanging...always charged.
We've only had it a year or so...
Our animal Dyson we've had for at least 5 years...and works like we just bought it.

(we have 3 cats) so our vacuums get a real work out....usually twice a week...LOVE DYSON!!

[Connie Lea]

Thanks Katie. I love my Dyson too. We have four dogs, so if my old Dyson ever quits working I will get the aninal Dyson, although the one I have works very well on dog hair. Luckily I only have one that sheds.

[Bonnie G #2]

I have the Dyson ball, got it about 2 years ago and LOVE it - it gets a big work out as living in the country off a dirt road there's always a ton of dust to deal with. No animals in the house, but that plastic bin always seems to be full. I too dump mine about every other use and clean the filter and it works great.

We got it when I first started having trouble with my back as it's so much easier to use, and now that I'm on limitations while I heal from my back surgery -it's a true God send. I wouldn't part with it (except for a new one) for anything. Next in line for me is the Dyson Hand Vac as I think that would be useful. Hope it has as much power as the big one.

[katie in the UP]

Bonnie G #2 wrote:
I have the Dyson ball, got it about 2 years ago and LOVE it - it gets a big work out as living in the country off a dirt road there's always a ton of dust to deal with. No animals in the house, but that plastic bin always seems to be full. I too dump mine about every other use and clean the filter and it works great.

We got it when I first started having trouble with my back as it's so much easier to use, and now that I'm on limitations while I heal from my back surgery -it's a true God send. I wouldn't part with it (except for a new one) for anything. Next in line for me is the Dyson Hand Vac as I think that would be useful. Hope it has as much power as the big one.

My DH has been making noise and looking at the Ball one. It will probably be the next one....to be honest...I don't think my old one will ever give out....LOVE IT

[Bonnie G #2]

I got the ball when I was having so much trouble and pain with my back and it sure helped and now that I'm on back restrictions it's even better. But I was needing a new one anyways.

[Jacqueline in KY]

I purchased a Dyson Animal the end of last year and I love it. I had a cat in the house for about a month, I try to vacuum ever two weeks and the cat hair it gets up is unreal. Sounds like I need to learn how to clean my filters because after a friend that had 3 cats borrowed it, the accessories do not have any suction.