Does Suction Alone Make A Vacuum Work Well?
There’s nothing worse than dragging out the vacuum with the intention of cleaning up a mess, when even the smallest crumbs remain on the floor afterwards. Manufacturers know that consumers want great suction, which is why that’s often a selling point for vacuum brands. While it’s key to a vacuum’s performance, there are a number of factors that contribute to suction, so be sure to look the appliance’s overall design.
Power versus suction
When looking at the specifications of a vacuum, the power (listed in watts or amps) used by the motor is associated with the strength of suction. However, not all motors are identical, and even if they were, the design of the vacuum can affect how strong the suction is. For example, a vacuum with greater capacity will require a larger motor or at least one that works harder, and both cases will use up more energy, but that doesn’t mean that the vacuum is better at picking up debris.
Airflow and sealed suction
Airflow is a measurement of the air that moves past a certain threshold as a rate over time, and the amount of air is either stated in volume or mass. It may seem that the faster the airflow, the stronger the suction, but you have to consider how the force changes as access to air decreases. For example, a vacuum that has high airflow with lots of leaks in its canister will reduce its main turbine head from grabbing onto the fibres of a carpet.
You can test a vacuum’s suction power when you detach all nozzles and rest the hosehead onto your flat palm. The harder it is to pull your hand away, the stronger the sealed suction, which is also called water lift.
Special cases
If your life interests lead to activities that produce a certain kind of mess, then it’s important to consider how your vacuum performs under those conditions, such as:
- Pet hair
- Shop debris, such as sawdust or metal shavings
- Dirt from indoor gardening
Filtration
If you or your family have reactions to airborne particles, then you will want to look for vacuums that list a HEPA filtration rating, which is said to remove upwards of 99.97% of airborne materials.
In addition to these considerations, there are a number of ways that vacuums distinguish themselves, so if you’re the kind of homeowner who cares about the cleanliness of your home, keep your options open and remember to look for ways to try before you buy.