Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)[EDIT 9/1/2009] There are newer models from Hoover that better mimic the design of Dyson's multi-cyclone technology, making them somewhat easier to empty/clean. The Turbo Cyclonic (Target) is a nearly exact clone of the DC14 and Hoover Whisper Cyclonic (Walmart) is similar to the DC14 but with a quieter motor. Both do not have a self-rewinding cord, but both are cheaper than the Mach 5, at about $100. Nevertheless, they are all bagless. What I have discovered that is an inherent part of the design of all bagless vacuums is that the process of emptying and cleaning the dirt cup is too messy to be worthwhile. I'm a clean freak and have dust allergies. I spend more time emptying and cleaning the dust bin and filters than I do actually vacuuming! I find that I put off vacuuming until the discomfort of the dirty floor exceeds the discomfort of emptying the dust bin and cleaning the filters. I am very strongly considering buying a bagged vacuum to replace this one even though there is nothing functionally wrong with it.
After using this vacuum for two years, I can say that it continues to clean admirably. Suction continues to be strong and with no loss. However, I have noticed that if you don't empty the dirt cup with each use, the filters get clogged quickly and the vacuum begins to smell of dust. That happened to us and since I don't know how to replace or clean the HEPA filter (it's not washable), our vacuum continues to smell of dust. I'm attributing that to user error, however. ---- Original Review ----
Pros: Quiet motor, cord rewind, powerful suction, brush-bar shut-off.
Cons: Small dirt cup, messy to empty, hassle to clean, heavy.
The Bottom Line: This is the best value in cyclone vacuums, with all the typical benefits and drawbacks of that design type, plus a few special features--like the cord rewind and brush-bar shut-off.
Full Review
The Hoover Windtunnel Cyclonic is the same machine as the Hoover Mach 5, which is sold exclusively at Walmart for about $20 less. The only differences are that Mach 5 is bright orange and chrome, whereas the Windtunnel Cyclonic is a much more "normal" looking vacuum.
The Hoover Mach 5 (and Mach 3) are replacements for the Fusion. The Fusion did poorly in Consumer Reports testing because of dust in its emissions. The new models attempt to rectify that problem with better filters. The Mach 3 has electrostatic filters for the pre-motor and final stage filter. The Mach 5 caught my attention because it has an electrostatic pre-motor filter and a HEPA final stage filter, both of which are cleanable and thus never need replacing. I had intended to wait until CR could test these new models, but went ahead and bought a Mach 5 when I saw one brand new and unopened on Craigslist for $100 ($75 below retail after taxes).
As my friends and I used the machine several times in the course of moving out of our apartment, several strengths and weaknesses became apparent: First, the strengths are all those advertised--cord rewind, quiet motor, powerful suction, no loss of suction, easy to use tools, brush-bar shut-off. All those operate as advertised and the construction of the machine is by and large high quality, with only a few cheap-feeling things here and there. Fit and finish is good as well. And there is no problem with emissions. The motor is quiet (as far as vacuums go) and makes a lower-pitch noise than most. The brush-bar automatically shuts off when the machine is put in the upright position, and it may be shut-off manually using the foot-lever. It is a bit top-heavy, but not so much as to make it hard to maneuver, and the handle adjusts for height. It's really very easy to use and effective at cleaning.
However, there are a few draw-backs. (1) The brush-bar is very aggressive. On our old and poor quality carpet, setting it to anything lower than the middle setting resulted in large quantities of carpet fuzz being generated and sucked into the vacuum. The carpet height adjustment for our medium-low height carpet ended up being set to a medium-high height setting to alleviate the problem. (2) The first issue aggravates the second, which is that the dust bin is small and fills up quickly. Despite the large clear bin, there is actually a "full" line marked near the bottom quarter of the bin and it must be emptied once the bin reaches this mark or you will begin to lose suction as the high-speed cyclone is unable to work properly. (3) Emptying the dust bin is a relatively easy task, however, some dust clings to the cyclone assembly and must be brushed off with the brush tool. While it does detach nicely from the bin to allow for easy cleaning, it is still a messy process compared to removing and replacing a bag. And there is a tip at the end of the cyclone that requires cleaning to make sure it remains clear of debris, since this is the exit for the high-speed cyclone and if it clogs the cyclone will not work properly.
Owners of cyclone vacuums often think that their machines do not need to have filters serviced. This is not true. Even Dysons have to have their pre-motor and HEPA filters cleaned from time to time (this is the leading cause of loss of suction for Dysons, and often is not made clear to Dyson owners). So too with the Mach 5. The pre-motor filter is located above the dust bin and is a washable electro-static filter (let it dry 24 hours before reinstalling). The HEPA filter is in a tray marked "HEPA" below the dust bin. That may be cleaned but not washed. These filters should be cleaned about once every couple months or so, depending on how often you vacuum.
So in summary, this is a good vacuum cleaner for the money. As with all vacuums, it is not perfect. It suffers some of the common drawbacks of bagless vacuums (namely the messier dust-emptying) while solving the problem of loss of suction. I would like to have a larger dust bin, but once the carpet height is set correctly, even the small one that it has is sufficient for a day's worth of cleaning. I recommend it, especially if you can find a good coupon for Walmart (the only place it is available retail) or other good deal (such as I did on Craigslist).
Click Here to see more reviews about: Hoover U5780900 WindTunnel + Cyclonic Bagless HEPA Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Windtunnel cyclonic vacuum with a powered pet hair tool.
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