Canister Vacuum Cleaners Feature Guide

Canister vacuums are really the best option for cleaning homes that have a mix of hard and carpeted floors. If you have already had the chance to browse at few canister vacuum cleaner prices online you have probably noticed that prices generally start around $200 and can go over $1,000. Hopefully the difference is quality and not the fact that you need to help a vacuum company offset their marketing cost. We review a few features that may be important to consumers. Most of these features can be found in a Miele or Sebo canister. Bosch and Electrolx make some canisters that share some of these features as well.

Advanced Filtration System - Most of the better canister vacuum cleaners have 3 filters: a vacuum bag, a chamber filter and an exhaust filter. The chamber filter is the filter located inside the vacuum, behind the bag and in front of the motor. A preference would be to use a high quality synthetic cloth bag. These are becoming increasing popular and most of the better brands make them available. You should notice how much cleaner the inside of you vacuum chamber is. That's important because you really want to keep the internal filter free of debris. The internal filter protects the motor and can restrict air flow when clogged. The exhaust filter should be a HEPA Filter. A best case scenario would a canister vacuum that is also sealed from leaking emissions. A sealed vacuum has gaskets inside of it to prevent any leakage of debris and dust before it is passed through the various layers of filtration.

Suction Controls - It can be very convenient to reduce the suction of a vacuum, especially if a household has area rugs. A carpet that isn't fixed to a floor can get sucked up into the roller. A preference would be a canister vacuum that has the suction control near the handle of the hose. Sometimes the suction control is located on the body of the canister, which is still better than not having it at all.

Weight - You will notice that most of the less expensive mid and full sized canisters can weigh 16 to 25 pounds. That can be a lot of weight to pull around while you vacuum. Check out the weight when you are glancing over a vacuums specifications.

Air vs. Electric - A household with a heavy shedding pet or high pile carpet should stick with an electrically powered brush roller. The other option is an air powered brush roller. The rollers is powered by the suction of the vacuum cleaner. An air driven canister vacuum will be less expensive than the equivalent model that is powered by electricity.

Wheels - The type of wheel a canister vacuum features can make a world of difference while manuevering a vacuum around a room during operation. Find a model where the wheels are located under the canister vacuum body this is a preference. It will be easier to navigate around a room that a model that has the wheels on the sided of the canister vacuum body.

Using a canister vacuum should not be inconvenient. If you prefer to shop by brand, that's fine but make sure you are aware of what a specific canister vacuum cleaner offers you in terms of features.