Decent hoover / vacuum? Dyson gone for a second time in 12 months.

JustAnotherSaver

So I bought a Dyson (not sure of exact model but I can have a see if it matters) and used it for a few year, perhaps 2-3. Occasionally cleaned the filter but not often and certainly not as often as I should've.

Key point is we have a log burner and when cleaning the fire out I would use the hoover. Not to suck up all of the ash, but what the pan didn't catch and what was left on the door I would use the hoover.

So after those 2-3 years, there was a pop and an almighty stink from the hoover and it stopped working.

£200 new vs £100 Dyson repair, we went with the repair. He gave me a telling for not cleaning it out enough.

I can't remember the exact date but I think it's been somewhere around 12 months since that repair and today it's gone again.

Since the repair I've used it as i did but i've been cleaning it way more. I've been washing it out either weekly or fortnightly. I've been taking the whole chamber and filter to work and using the air compressor to give the filter and chamber a damn good blasting out (since i can clean the filter ok enough by washing but not the chamber).

Same pop, same stink. Hoover is now knackered.

Does not get used super regular. I will only hoover once at the weekend. No pets. Haven't had the fire burning for maybe a month or so now.

So this is what the new hoover would be used for.

Recommend anything to get or even avoid?

Grizzlebeard

No particular recommendations, but there are some ideas in this recent thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6256951/new-hoover-vacuum-cleaner

JustAnotherSaver

Ok thanks.

I know most people will just hoover their carpets or whatever (in other words, not sections of a wood burner) so wasn't sure if anyone would be able to say - hang on, speaking from experience you shouldn't buy ABC, instead look at XYZ.

Rosa_Damascena

Ok, I'm going to have to ask: how do you clean the filter?

neilmcl

I'd also go for a Henry in this scenario. They tend to stand up to a lot more abuse than any others and if you vacuuming up stuff like embers or diy waste then you can use it with or without a bag.

JustAnotherSaver

I was reading a bit about hoovering the ash earlier on and the article mentioned an ash hoover. I read further as to the whys but it never really gave any decent kind of answer, or nothing that i'd class as a decent answer anyway. Talk of risk to melting the insides of the hoover.

I'm thinking then - i'm not going to be hoovering up the ash as it drops for christs sake. It's certainly cold when I clean it up.

Mother hand a Henry. Think she still has it actually. It was decent enough to be fair. Never experienced the other Henry hoovers or whatever name they have. I only ever used the red one.

Rosa_Damascena said:

Ok, I'm going to have to ask: how do you clean the filter?

As mentioned in the opening post.

"By washing". To elaborate - just straight tap water, no detergent. Dunk it, rub it, dunk it, squeeze it, clean water, more clean water, submerge, dry out.

And "using the air compressor at work" - again to elaborate, connect a hose to the air line with a 'gun' on the end and blast compressed air at the filter, in to the filter, up down left & right until it stops blowing out dust. Repeat this with the chamber, around the edges, the internals - again until it stops blowing out dust.

-taff

Fine ash particles can go through a filter and damage the motor. Which is the other reason not to use a normal hoover.

WeAreGhosts

Henrys are like the Hobnob of the vacuum world ... 

However, they are pretty heavy and cumbersome. We had a Miele for a number of years that just kept going and was pretty hardwearing.

casper_gutman

We use an old Vax 2000 for DIY debris, plaster dust and (cold!) ash from the fireplace. The thing just won't die. I don't think I even change the bag more than about once a year. Cleaning or replacing filters is strictly a few times a decade job! 

When it eventually does stop working I'd go for something similarly old fashioned and simple to replace it. A Henry would probably fit the bill nicely.

phoebe1989seb

Another vote for Henry 😉

We'd tried everything from Dyson to Sebo before getting ours - actually a Hetty - in 2008. Previous vacuums had lasted two or three years tops. Hetty is still as good as new after almost thirteen years......

getmore4less

Vacuum up carbon  dust is not going to be good for anything that uses electricity unless the motor  and other electrical components are protected.

Get a proper ash vacuum.

Your expensive house vacuum will last longer.