Backpack Vacuum Cleaners - Ever use one?

[edro]

We have always had the traditional vacuum cleaner on wheels, but they absolutely suck for wood floors.
The agitator just flings the dirt around and the vacuum power doesn't suck.

We are having unfinished wood floors installed and after they sand, they use an industrial back pack vacuum cleaner.
It just seems like the perfect vacuum for wood floors (and everything else, besides carpet).
Our house is completely hard wood and tile.
We have been using a Shop Vac for our floors and it works great, but it is very awkward.

Most back pack style vacuums are industrial or $250+. Does that mean they are good?
Or is the price premium just because of the style (don't sell as many)?

The attachment they used on our floors was the flat style with soft bristles, so it doesn't scratch the floor finish.

Example: http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-Commerc.../dp/B001FY6BQC

 

[Lithium381]

yeah used 'em in restaurants

 

[paperfist]

We use them all the time, $250 is cheap. The Pro-Teams we use are $500 commercial units that come with several attachments and have loads of suction. You can typically pick one up off of Ebay for half that amount.

Biggest thing with back packs in residential areas is being careful that you don't knock a light or pictures down when you're moving around tight spaces since it's attached to your back They work awesome on carpets too!

The Pro-Teams are also HEPA so nothing you suck up goes back out into the air and they have 3 year warranties.

Premium price is because you're looking at commercial stuff.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Does Dyson make one? Why I bet they could charge $800 for that and some suckers would buy it!

 

[marvdmartian]

Does Dyson make one? Why I bet they could charge $800 for that and some suckers would buy it!

They DO make one! It's bagless too! :awe: :hmm:

 

[Nebbers]

Only when I'm capturing ghosts.

 

[Newbian]

Only when I'm capturing ghosts.

Bastard, I was coming in to make a ghostbusters joke.

 

[Nebbers]

Bastard, I was coming in to make a ghostbusters joke.

Haha. The window of opportunity for the more obvious jokes is pretty small around here.

 

[edro]

bump
You are all bums and make your wives do all the house work!

 

[Saint Nick]

Actually, I'm the man of the house and I do all the fucking work.

I would love a backpack vacuum cleaner. Nothing beats a shop vac though! :thumbsup:

 

[Rage187]

yes, but only when I used to sand and refinish floors.

At home I use a Dyson on my hardwoods floors.

 

[edro]

yes, but only when I used to sand and refinish floors.
At home I use a Dyson on my hardwoods floors.

It doesn't mar up the finish?

 

[Rage187]

It doesn't mar up the finish?

the Dyson? No, the flooring I put down was prefinished using water based. I would think it would be ok even on poly or moisture cure.

 

[HumblePie]

Vacuums suck? You don't say....

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yup. We use 'em at work. They're alright. Suck stuff good. Kinda unweildy in tight spaces, as has been mentioned.

 

[paperfist]

Actually, I'm the man of the house and I do all the fucking work.

I would love a backpack vacuum cleaner. Nothing beats a shop vac though! :thumbsup:

Obviously it won't be a backpack anymore, but you can get some adapters and hook up the backpack wand and nozzle to the shop vac and create a amazing combo. You can hardly pull the wand off the floor after you turn it on lol.

 

[edro]

What do you guys use on hardwood floors?
Our entire house is hard wood flooring now.
Standard uprights just throw the dirt around (the agitator is strong than the suction) and I am worried about them marring up the floor finish (the wheels).

 

[dave_the_nerd]

What do you guys use on hardwood floors?
Our entire house is hard wood flooring now.
Standard uprights just throw the dirt around (the agitator is strong than the suction) and I am worried about them marring up the floor finish (the wheels).

A broom. Monthly mopping. Every couple months, go around the moulding with some general purpose cleaner and a couple of paper towels to get the grime the mop misses and/or pushes to the edges.

 

[edro]

Bah. Brooms don't work well. They just push the dirt around and leave a lot behind.
Our wood floors are beveled, so dirt gets in the crevices too. Only suction can get it out.

 

[resinboy]

why not a conventional upright that has a switch to turn off the beater bar?

 

[HAL9000]

Only when I was a kid

 

[Wyndru]

why not a conventional upright that has a switch to turn off the beater bar?

That's what I used to do on my hardwood floors, it seemed to work well.

Now we have a bagless stick vacuum we picked up for $30 that doesn't even have a rotating brush / belt system. It's so much quicker on the hardwood floors and easier to manage. We find ourselves using that more than our expensive brush model.

 

[highland145]

What do you guys use on hardwood floors?
Our entire house is hard wood flooring now.
Standard uprights just throw the dirt around (the agitator is strong than the suction) and I am worried about them marring up the floor finish (the wheels).

Electric sweeper.

This or similar. Sucked up an ink pen over the weekend so it works well for dirt/dust bunnies.


http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-Bagless...1290678&sr=1-6

Really looking at a roomba.

 

[alfa147x]

Swifter thing works well



°

 

[Fritzo]

My crew uses them all the time. They tend to cause a lot of damage.