jjsharkman's Full Review: Dyson DC17 Animal Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum
I've had this vacuum for almost a year now and thought I'd share my findings, both good and bad.
Overall, I like the design and features. It has auto height so you don't have to guess what level your carpet is, and a button to shut off the brush bar for bare floors, etc. Also, the brush bar stays off when the vac is in the upright position, so it won't mark your carpet while you are using the hose attachments, something I've noticed others complain about with their vacuums. My old Hoover almost ate through the cord one time because of this.
The brush bar is a really good design, with a separate motor to run it with a belt. The belt has ribs or teeth so it won't slip. A great idea until you suck up a sock and the thing jams and breaks the belt, right? Wrong, it also has a clutch to protect the motor and belt, just turn it off and remove the obstruction. You just saved a trip to the store to buy a new belt.
It has a telescopic wand, a big improvement over our old Hoover. You had to disconnect the hose at one end, then attach two hose extensions and the attachment of your choice. With the Dyson, you pull at the end of the wand, and about 3 feet of telescope appear(already attached to the hose), you hear a click and the thing is ready to accept the attachment of your choice. Real easy, because the hose is not normally used by the vacuuming process, only when you need it for something.
Speaking of attachments, the turbine tool is my favorite and it came with the animal version. When attached to the wand or hose, air suction causes the brush bar to rotate at a high speed. I use it on our stairs and furniture, just roll it along not pushing down too hard which will cause the bar to stop rotating. It also has the basic three attachments, the crevice tool, the stiff bristle tool and the mini bare floor tool.
I chose this model partly because of the bagless design, which also incorporates no loss in suction, a great idea. The removal of dust can be somewhat messy so I empty it before it gets to the full line and save money every time on bags. Also, no filters to replace, the one filter is washable/reusable. Weight wise, it's 21 pounds, about average for the class, but those who are slighter or have physical limitations may find it heavy. Noise wise, it's quieter than our old Hoover. I think you have to get a Sebo or Miele to get significantly quieter in an upright.
It has a nice long cord, a long hose(compared to the old Hoover) and actually pulls itself along as you vacuum. Some have said brush bars can be hard on delicate carpets but mine are not such. They are old, probably over 10 years. Some carpet fiber does get sucked up, and I wondered about this until I used a carpet shampooer. It sucked up many carpet fibers although the brushes on it were quite soft, so I realized it was my carpet, not the Dyson.
Overal, it's a pretty neat functional design, far better than our former vacuums, with strong suction that actually removes dust from the air in our home. Looking at a sunbeam before and after vacuuming it's quite noticeable. And you know it's a good design when all of the other vacuum manufacturers are starting to copy it. Currently, Consumers Reports rates Dyson second overall in reliability when compared to other manufacturers, and with a 5 yr warranty if something does go wrong, you're covered.
The one thing not so good about it is that the dirt canister needs to be taken apart maybe once a year or more to clean out the many small holes that clog up over time. The inner shroud can be removed from the clear plastic outer container, and then you can either brush or wipe the holes clear. Also, another thing is that the hose will pull the vacuum when at the end of it's extension. So it's best to set the vac so it won't roll in the direction you are pulling in. At least it won't pull the vacuum over since the hose is attached to the base of the unit.
One more thing. I have phoned Dyson to check on something with my vacuum. I got a real live person so fast it made my head spin. That counts for something with me.
Innovative upright vacuum cleaner is your first line of defense in battling dirt and dust hidden in carpets and on other surfacesDyson DC17 Asthma and...More at Overstock.com
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