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The Eureka Enviro-Vac goes “greener” without sacrificing power or performance, and is even packaged in recycled materials. But how well does it really clean?
Effectiveness
The press release for the Eureka Enviro-Vac states it is, “the ideal vacuum for consumers looking to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing a clean home.” The average vacuum motor is 12-amps, but the Enviro-Vac uses an “energy saving” 8-amp motor which the company claims provides, “the same powerful cleaning results while using 33 percent less energy.” A vacuum’s suctioning power depends more on the design of the machine, the types of fans and filters, etc., than amps, so I felt this could be a reasonable claim. The vacuum includes a flip-bottom dust cup which allows gravity to help remove dirt from the cup, a “Power Paw” upholstery and stair cleaner, a dusting brush, and an extra long crevice tool and wand.
The Eureka Enviro-Vac has good suction and it passed our rice and kitty litter pick up test within an acceptable time range of about three minutes per five square feet of area. I did, however, have to go over the area two to three times to pick this type of debris.
One problem we noted right away was that after a few uses dust kept collecting along the front edge of the vacuum despite being emptied of dirt - an indication that the vacuum was not picking up well. I called the 800 number on the vacuum and the very helpful customer service representative found the same version of the vacuum we were using to help us solve the problem. Her suggestion was to make sure all filters were snug and in place, and to wipe all gaskets on the dust cup to assure no leaks in the airflow through the vacuum. By doing this we were able to keep dust from collecting on the front of the vacuum. Most of the filters were reusable, and the foam ring surrounding the HEPA filter is washable, but it does state in the instruction manual that the HEPA filter needs to be replaced every six months; a necessity or the vacuum will not work to its best capacity.
Ease of Use
It's lightweight at just under 20 lbs which makes it very maneuverable and a pleasure to use. The Power Paw, nested crevice tool and extension wand, and dusting brush are conveniently located on the vacuum, but the dusting brush was not attached to the vacuum very well in the back and kept falling off. I did think the crevice tool was ingeniously located, “nested” inside the extension want. The dusting brush slid right on the crevice tool for high dusting. Power cord length is adequate (at 25 feet) for vacuuming one room at a time. Noise level of motor is quiet.
It doesn’t fit well under low furniture, but the convenient Power Paw makes quick work of floors under furniture with at least a 2 1/2 inch clearance.
The Enviro-Vac has a convenient bottom-emptying dust cup. Just hold the dust cup over the trash receptacle and press a button near the bottom edge and the contents dump right into the can. If you have allergies there are probably better options on the market for you, but if you purchase one of these, have someone else dump the dust cup for you because dust does fly up in a small plume when emptied.
Durability
The Enviro-Vac has a lot of plastic parts, which results in its light weight and ease of use. I didn’t see any obvious potential problems for breakage of parts, even on the accessories – in general it looks like a sturdy, durable machine. It was also very simple and easy to empty and clean. Since the average consumer uses a vacuum cleaner one hour per week, I think this vacuum should last a long time with average use.
Value
The Eureka Enviro-Vac retails for about $70. The press release and product information for this vacuum on the Internet speak of a “washable HEPA filter” but it is actually the foam ring around the HEPA filter and the filter screen that are washable. The owner’s manual specifically states the HEPA filter should not be washed, and both HEPA filter and foam ring need to be replaced every six months. Although you save money on vacuum bags, the cost of replacing the HEPA filter and foam ring is $15 twice a year. More often with heavier use.
The Eureka Enviro-Vac is lightweight, bagless, energy-saving, and very good for average vacuuming of carpet. It has great on-board accessories and is lightweight and comfortable to use. I would say the cost and the weight of this vacuum makes it a good value if you are willing clean gaskets and filters regularly (the good news is it is very easy to clean). For the price it might just be worth it.
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