House Cleaning Tips

Archive for the ‘Vacuum Cleaners’ Category

Question: Do canister filters for a saltwater tank require a sump?

I am looking into a 72 gallon saltwater set-up (Fish only with live rock or FOWLR) but I don't want to mess with a sump. I am thinking of running a nice hang-on protein skimmer, 80 lbs of live rock and a canister filter. But I dont know how a canister filter works. Do they need to be in a sump (submerged?) Do they just fit under the cabinet? If so, how does the water from the tank get down into the filter and how does it get returned to the tank? Do I need an overflow for a canister filter? If so can I use a hang-on style?Thanks for your help

Answer: A canister would just go in the cabinet, on the side, or even behind the tank. There is no need to put it in a sump. The filter will come with two hoses-- one input, one output. Really, it is a fairly simple play-'n'-plug concept with plenty of room for customization. You could even do some filter floss or foam and then a fair bit of crushed live rock behind it.

Question: How long do Bagless Vacuum cleaner filters last?

Hello, I'm thinking of purchasing Dirt Devil Vision vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter. I realize those filters are very expensive....how long do they last? (in terms of years, and in terms of how many times you emptied the cup approx).

I'm new to Vacuum Cleaners, open to suggestions! Thanks! (100-200 price range)

Answer: Personally, I'd stay away from Dirt Devil, Eureka both. I've never had good luck with either. If you're up to spend the $200 range, try a Bissell Healthy Home vacuum. It's got the HEPA filtration. The big difference is it has a similar cyclonic air path to the Dyson (9 little cyclones) in there to spin the dirt out of the air stream and into the collection cup. This means less dirt goes to the filters and your filters last longer.

And the unit has a sponge filter that is washable before the expensive HEPA filter. Keep that clean and your HEPA filter will last a lot longer. Because I keep that filter clean, I've not had to replace the HEPA filter yet although I have taken it out and cleaned it with another sweeper one time. And I've had the sweeper just about a year. But in my house, a sweeper sees a LOT of use!

We empty the cup after every use. And every so often, I take the entire dirt collection unit outside and tear it apart and brush all the loose dirt/dust out of it. The stuff that sticks to the sides and so forth. Leaving dirt in the sweeper usually results in stinky sweeper and no one likes that! We try to sweep every other day minimum because of the pets. And during shedding season, it's likely to be every day!

I'm very happy with the Bissell Healthy Home. We have a lot of pets (3 dogs and 4 cats) and it deals with the Pet Hair great. Does a good job on hard floors and carpet both. The only issue is that the suction is so strong that throw rugs are an issue! It tries to eat them for lunch! But it comes with a little Turbo hand tool that you use on upholstery and we just use that on the throw rugs.

If you watch, you can get this unit on sale in the $200 range, normal price is about $250. Lifetime belt and 5 year warranty. I've gotten good life out of my Bissells. My oldest one is about 8 years old. It still works great but the catch that holds the unit in the upright position broke and the unit kept falling over and it was driving my husband nuts. So I bought the new one and the old one has been assigned duty as the dust collector in his wood refinishing shop. And the hose on the unit is soft and long enough I can park the base at the bottom of the steps and clean the entire staircase without any issues.

Question: Is a vacuum cleaner that has no dust bag in it able to vacuum?

I want to buy a vacuum cleaner. So I went to ebay and try to search for good yet cheap Vacuum Cleaners, and I want to buy this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Euroflex-Mini-Monster-030-Vacuum-Cleaner-Portable_W0QQitemZ180290861930QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180290861930&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

However, in the feature description, it says:
* Washable filter/No dust bags
* Lightweight and easy to use
* Set of accessories including: Dust cup filter & nozzle, brush, crevice nozzle, and flexible hose

No dust bags? Then does that mean I have to purchase a dust bag in order to vacuum? I don't want to buy anything extra. I just want to purchase one completely set that has everything in it. But if this vacuum cleaner could vacuum cleanly without a dust bag. I think it is what I am looking for.

Answer: Dust bags aren't required for the vacuum to collect dust and dirt. It's a bagless vacuum. The dirt goes into a cup, and you just dump it out.

How good, necessary and important is a filter when we talk Filters vacuum. Every vacuum cleaner on the market today seems to push they have some kind of special filtration or even use HEPA type filters and the vacuum cleaner available. My question is how this mania filter is a marketing gimmick, versus what is actually needed by the consumer.

Understand that we are not talking about people who have allergies or with asthma. It is understood and completely reasonable that people living with breathing difficulties, would demand the absolute cleanest air filtration available. For the rest of us, however, I just wonder if there is no benefit to pay for this type of filtering air absolutely clean from a health perspective.

We know all the dirt not captured by the vacuum bag were eventually filter back into the house. This is justified by at least some interest in a good filtering system for all new vacuum under consideration. After all, why vacuum, the only house to have redeposit dirt itself back on furniture and carpets?

Also consider as a critical Filter Vacuum to suction dirt and efficient handling of the device. A good filter will hold dirt and dust entering the essential mechanical parts, which in turn cause unnecessary wear and premature failure part.

Another point is that many filters vacuum cleaner are considered consumables. This means such as vacuum cleaner bags, they may need to be regularly replaced with new filter. This represents an additional cost under way and should be considered in seeking vacuum cleaner new. Many units on the market today have washable filters remove the course fees.

Yet, how important is a filter vacuuming for the average consumer who has no allergies or asthma status to consider? Do we really need this high efficiency for particulate absorbent type HEPA filter that catches 99.7% of all particles that are 3 μ in diameter or less?

The surprising answer is yes and the reason has nothing to do with no asthma or allergy symptoms.

It has everything to do with:

1. We want a house cleaner and you want to capture all possible dirt
2. A filtration system in good will to protect our investment vacuum
3. Many types of Hepa Filters are washable, which saves us money

Ultimately, most consumers should be very concerned to get the best available vacuum filter clean in a range of prices when purchasing new equipment. A good vacuum cleaner system filter, it is easier to keep our house clean. As a side benefit, it is probably also better protects our health