Vacuum Cleaner Types

All vacuums, no matter what type, use a partial vacuum to suck up dirt and dust from your floors. Vacuums can be found in just about every home that has carpeting. Either a filtration system or a cyclone is then used to dispose of the collected material. There are many differed types of vacuums on the market today.

Upright The dust containment system for an upright vacuum is usually contained within the waist high handle. The pump for these types of vacuums is usually located just above the suction intake. Rotating brushes, or other mechanical beaters, are used to agitate the dust from the carpet so that it can be sucked up by the vacuum. A belt attached to the vacuum motor will usually drive these beaters.

Canister Canister or cylinder vacuums have a long hose with a vacuum head that attaches to a separate canister which contains the motor and dust collection system. Many people like canister vacuums because they are easier to handle, even though upright models are usually more effective.

Wet/Dry These types of vacuums are ideal if you normally have both wet and dry spills to clean up. They will also often contain a switch that allows you to convert your vacuum to a blower. The blower function works great for cleaning out clogs from the hose and moving dust or dirt to a central location for later pick up.

Backpack Those who need to quickly cover a large area will often prefer these types of vacuums. They are most often seen in commercial applications. The basic design of this type of vacuum is a canister vacuum which can be carried like a backpack.

Central This vacuum contains inlets throughout a building that connect to a central motor and dust collection system. You simply need to move the hose from inlet to inlet and connect to the inlet. Inlets are connected to the central unit through plastic pipes behind the walls. The dust collection container is usually so large that it only needs to be emptied once or twice a year.

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