Vacuum cleaners

Comment:

I have had one of these machines for at least four years. Before buying it I read a lot of reviews here. I have learned enough by now to consider myself to be somewhat authorative about some of the comments I read. This, then, can be considered a review of reviews. <br /><br />I keep thinking that the vacuum world will change--this model will be discontinued, and my comments will be moot. However, year after year, CR keeps giving this thing top ratings, so I'm gambling that what I've learned will at least be useful for a few more months. The issue is that the average review rates the machine at only 2.2 stars, so I figure the wrong people are buying it. <br /><br />You need to know that I appreciate the good qualities of this vacuum and would buy another. Having said that, learning to live with the pluses and minuses of any machine is part of getting the most from it. It is in that spirit that I offer these comments. <br /><br />Reading the reviews makes me think that the satisfaction with any particular vacuum has a lot to do with where it lives, and what the owner had before. The solution in a large home with large open carpeted areas is different than my own. I live in a medium sized townhome. I don't think any particular attachment stays on the vacuum for more than a minute. You also need to know that I'm a male at an age where I try to minimize bending down to the floor. Anyone over 60 will understand what that's about. Finally, our household includes several women with long, thick hair, plus a big dog. You will understand why that is important later.<br /><br />So here goes:<br /><br />The main difference between the Intuition 28014 and less costly Kenmore vacs is the trick rotating brush head. Consumer Reports doesn't put this feature up front, but the salesperson at Sears will be quick to point it out. The floor brush nestles into the carpet head (which, in turn, contains the power brush). From a standing position, push a pedal with your foot and the floor brush lifts off of the power brush. Shove the two back together and you are again ready for rugs. You can understand the value of this for someone who tries to avoid bending over. I probably make and break this connection 25 times as I go from bare bathroom floors to the adjacent rugs, and to other attachments, so it is worth a lot to me.<br /><br />This feature does not come without compromise, though. Others have stated, for instance, that the floor tool does not pick up well when being drawn backwards. A quick look at the tool will show that the suction area is all in front of the brush. This is necessary for it to connect efficiently with the power head. You get used to it.<br /><br />Another negative comment is that the floor brush tends to flip up when drawn backwards. That is also true, but you can simply twist the handle a little (which swivels any attachment to the left or right like the front wheels of a car in a turn). Twisting the handle will lock the floor brush in place.<br /><br />A final comment on the business end of the wand: There is a foot lever awkwardly placed near the end that allows you to remove all attachments (leaving you with just the open end of the tube). If you try it in the store it will take a sharp pull to actuate the separation. They will tell you it gets easier as it breaks in. True enough, but it takes a couple of years. Either that or I've just gotten used to it.<br /><br />Owners note that this vacuum seems to be made of thin plastic, which makes it seem fragile. In fact, in the store, opening ether of the hatches that cover the tools will give you the impression that something is not right. A drop of oil or thin grease on the easy-to-see pivot points (plastic rubbing on plastic) takes care of that. I've only done it once, and no problem since.<br /><br />I recall reading one comment about this unit not being able to pick up coins. This is true, although I'm not sure if this is a problem, or a feature. The vacuum has plenty of suction by CR measurements, so it is not really an issue unless you plan on taking a vacuum bag full of coins to the local coin sorter at the supermarket. The beater brush seems configured to draw dirt and dust from the full width of the frame, so possibly, with the suction beingspread out that way, there is not enough in any one place to suck up a coin. This is speculation on my part.<br /><br />I believe the plastic case is made of ABS which is really tough stuff. Unfortunately those plastic hinges are not particularly thick, so you must keep the hatches closed while you are vacuuming. The vacuum can withstand a lot of torture that way, but if it takes a tumble with the hatch open, you are going to break the pivot point. I use the dust brush a lot when vacuuming, so I remove it from its location and keep it in my hip pocket. The hatches stay closed up. If you break a hinge you can get a replacement hatch. However the part number is a bit hard to come by, and it is costly. <br /><br />Finally, there are comments that the rear hatch (that houses the air filter) tends to fall open if you put the vacuum on it's end. The vacuum is clearly not designed to be used when standing upright like that. When I tried it on a thick rug, the vacuum motor stopped working after a minute or so. Standing on end inhibits flow through the air exit, so you will not get the best suction. I'm guessing there is a safety circuit to protect it from overheating. So, as Henny Youngman might have said: Don't do that.<br /><br />The vacuum has a feature that is supposed to allow it to lock midpoint on a flight of stairs. It seems to work well, until you forget it's there and put a minor sideways tug on it. Whenever you use the stair hold feature, be sure you leave a clear path downward in case it decides to take a tumble. To be fair, we have carpeted stairs, which may not be what the unit was engineered for. On the other hand, the four or five times the vacuum has lost hold on the stairs, it has not been at all hurt. ABS plastic does not dent. So, keep the hatches closed, and be ready to jump out of the way if gravity gets the upper hand.<br /><br />I mentioned at the outset that I live with people of the long, thick hair variety. Eventually you will want to clean off the rotating brushes in both the main power head and the small one for stairs. The small one is vulnerable to getting hairs wrapped around the ends of the brush. Eventually these will jam the bearings, and the brush will stop rotating. If you decide to remove the nylon ends on the rotating part (to make it easier to untangle the hairs), they will probably break. Getting to them is easy, though (just two screws). You might consider these to be wear parts, like belts. <br /><br />For what it's worth, the belts on my machine lasted a long time, and might still be going if the hairs had not jammed things. Oddly, the belt for the small power brush was not available at my local Sears store, so I had to order them at a parts place.<br /><br />There are two other problems that will likely show up in most of these units after four years or so: The electric cord reel lock is getting a bit reluctant to set—meaning that after you pull the cord out, it wants to go back in. Stepping on the pedal and letting it pop back out will lock it. Also, the electrical contacts where the powerhead and the floor brush connect are getting a little corroded—probably because I'm too lazy to turn the power head off (as instructed) when making and breaking the connection. It responds nicely to cleaning and a little sandpaper.<br /><br />So, why, with all these seemingly negative comments, would I happily buy another one of these vacuums? To begin with, I'm happy because despite abuse from my lovely family the unit has held together and performs today as it did when it was new. Secondly, I truly appreciate the ease of connecting and disconnecting the power head. The unit has so much suction that I use the low setting for most anything that is not a rug. And that includes the dog, who has learned to come around when I'm vacuuming for some grooming with one of the brushes. It comes with a very full set of features and accessories that all work, and are like new after all this time. One comes to appreciate them in use. The construction is generally strong. Although not recommended, the vacuum balances pretty well if you grab it by the hose where it connects to the body to lift it for a few feet. My family tried to kill the hose by closing it in a closet door. It is a little bent, but still functions properly. The case is wearing its scars proudly.<br /><br />CR rates the vacuum as being quiet—a relative term to be sure. In practice, I can nearly block out all of the sound with in the ear ear buds. When listening to music I appreciate that the status of the vacuum is clearly displayed on the handle. My family complains that they can't get my attention, but my music is coming from an iPhone, so they can bloody well call me if they need me.<br /><br />I don't know of anyone who considers vacuuming to be fun, so most of us simply get into a zone and do the work while thinking of more pleasant things. The Intuition 28014 is a good tool for the job—especially if vacuuming in your home involves going from rugs to dusting to bare floors and back in relatively quick succession. In the end, it is a good tool for the job; able to do whatever you ask of it, and to last a long time with a little care and patience.

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

Comment:

I bought this vacuum because my other Kenmore canister vacuum lasted 15 years. Yes, 15 years! During that time I had to replace the power mate once and the hose once. With the Intuition model the powermate was repaired twice in 2 years. The agitator jammed and wouldn't spin.I paid for the repairs. Purchasing a new powermate would have been too expensive. Now I use the vacuum only on bare floors with the floor attachment. I had to purchase another vacuum to clean my carpeting.

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

Comment:

This very expensive vacuum needed repair shortly after one yr. warranty was up. Sears was NOT helpful. It cost a few hundred dollars to repair and then broke again withing a month. Electronics were the main cause. Too many features and none worked when electronics were broken. Not a good buy for us and we are an average family with an average size home.

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.