CECED Magyarország Egyesülés

Things to know about vacuum cleaners

Which one to choose?

Three types of vacuum cleaner are currently available on the market: with wheels, handheld and robotic. Wheeled models are the most popular. Most use a dust bag, but some use water to collect dust.

Handheld vacuum cleaners operate on the same principle as wheeled ones but need less space. The advantage of wheeled models is that you only need to hold the pipe, while pulling the vacuum cleaner behind you.

Robotic vacuum cleaners equipped with a sensor to follow the line of the walls and objects and thus able to clean a flat by themselves are increasingly popular. They can be programmed how to move round in the flat. Being round-shaped, they cannot clean in corners. Robotic vacuum cleaners usually have no dust bag.

With or without a dust bag?

Another factor to consider before purchasing: should a vacuum cleaner with or one without a dust bag be chosen? There is no definite answer to this question; some people prefer this one and some prefer that one. A dust bag can be made of paper or textile. Textile bags are safer to use and more practical. High quality dust bags include an insert to avoid being torn by broken glass or pins. Paper bags can only be used once but are more hygienic than textile bags. Closed disposable textile bags are the most hygienic. Some dust bags include an aluminum-colored perforated layer of foil as protection against sharp objects (e.g. Lego pieces, nails). Hygiene is ensured by a special thick fabric that keeps dust in.

Vacuum cleaners without a dust bag collect dust in a plastic container. This container does not get worn, and is easy to empty and clean. There are two types of devices equipped with a dust tank, which can be dry or wet; in the latter case, air is filtered through water. The wet tank can be emptied into the drains or the toilet to get rid of the accumulated dust. The chance of dust getting back into the air when emptying a wet tank is minimal. A dry tank can be simply emptied into the dustbin, and then rinsed clean. Wet tank vacuum cleaners are generally more expensive, but some people firmly believe in them. Air cleaners with a water filter pass the air through water and then let it out. In addition to clean floor and furniture, the air in a flat, house or office will also be cleaner, and undesirable allergenic contaminants, such as dust, moulds, pollen, micro dust, mites and mite faeces are trapped in the water tank.

This air filtering result can also be achieved by high quality dry vacuum cleaners with a textile bag.

In this way, air will be more humid and thus fresh, which is not only convenient but is indispensable for people with respiratory problems.

Power

At the time of purchase, the suction power of the device should be checked.

(Large power alone does not guarantee efficient cleaning. How efficiently a vacuum cleaner is able to “suck”, that is, clean, depends on a number of factors including the efficiency of the electric motor, the design of the rotor which creates the vacuum, the air passage route, the design of the filtering system and the quality and design of the suction pipe and the accessories. An efficiently designed 1600 W vacuum cleaner will clean more thoroughly and efficiently than many less efficient 1800 W and even 2000 W devices.)

If you live in a big apartment, in a big family, or have pets, you should choose a vacuum cleaner with powerful suction. On the other hand, if no more than two persons live in a small apartment, a device with lower suction power will do. In the case of household vacuum cleaners, the suction power is usually between 300 and 700 W but, in general, this figure is not shown on the device, only the maximum power (of course, you can find the suction power in the product catalogue and information). Suction power is not the same as the motor power. The right choice of vacuum cleaner also depends on the type of flooring; greater suction power is needed for carpet flooring and less for parquet flooring. The above-mentioned maximum power means the output of the motor at the maximum stage in one hour. This motor power is given in watt (W). (Which is not equivalent to electricity consumption.)

The suction power of vacuum cleaners can be adjusted mechanically, electronically or automatically. In the case of mechanical adjustment, you usually use a turn-switch or a mechanic switch, or there may be a small window on the pipe the size of which can be adjusted manually. In the case of electrical regulation, the suction power is adjusted by a micro switch or a slide. In the case of automatic suction power control, the device calculates suction strength from the air delivery volume.

Air filtering

Now you know the things to consider in respect of dirt and dust removal. But what about the air coming from the device? Air coming from the vacuum cleaner needs to be filtered before being let back into the air; therefore, all devices have a filter.

These filters can be HEPA, micro, active carbon coated, hygiene or S-class filters. HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters), developed for filtering laboratory air, have the highest efficiency. HEPA is a corrugated paper filter with a plastic frame, which is usually placed in the back part of the vacuum cleaner. HEPA filters can be washable or disposable. The lifetime of washable filters is about 1.5 years. Disposable filters must be replaced every third month.
HEPA filters can filter dust particles that cause allergy and asthma.

Active HEPA filter

This air filter can also filter particles in HEPA class 12 (e.g. pollen, mite), which is important for those with allergies. The active carbon layer of the filter makes emitted air completely odorless.

Micro filter is a fabric sheet that can be cut to size. This has to be inserted behind the dust bag, on a filter screen, and protects the motor from micro dust.

Also, there are filters with active carbon coating which, similar to HEPA filters, are paper filters with a plastic frame, but have increased permeability. They are particularly useful when pets are kept in the flat, as they help prevent odors.

S-class filters are a further developed version of HEPA filters, but with lower permeability. Filter systems are classified from 1 to 13, where 1 is best.

Special accessories

A Remember to use special vacuum cleaner accessories for specific tasks. For example, use a turbo brush to collect animal hair and thoroughly clean carpets and carpet flooring. There is a floor brush with fine bristles for cleaning delicate wooden parquet. Also, special accessories are made for cleaning computer keyboards, hobby models, stereos, and the inside of cars. You can use an extra long suction pipe and flexible hose to reach awkward places and clean stairs.

Brushes for different surfaces

Floor brush for tiled flooring
This brush is especially designed for cleaning floor tiles and structured hard flooring. The brush smoothly travels on two soft rollers and removes even the finest dust from joints and gaps.

Parquet brush
The parquet brush is excellent for cleaning delicate parquet susceptible to being scratched. This brush has long, soft natural bristles, and cleans the parquet surface delicately and thoroughly, without scratching.

Turbo brush
The turbo brush collects textile fibers and fluffs, human and animal hair deep from the carpet fibers, as the horizontal rotation cylinder in the suction head drives a brush.

Manual turbo brush
Excellent for the vacuum cleaning upholstered furniture, mattresses, car seats and stairs with carpet flooring. The cylindrical brush driven by the suction power of the vacuum cleaner even removes stubborn dirt and animal hair from textiles.

Electric brush with clip cable
Due to its deep cleaning function, this brush is highly suitable for cleaning large and heavily soiled carpets and fitted carpets. The horizontally rotating cylindrical brush is driven by a separate motor which ensures that the brush rotates evenly regardless of the adjusted suction power.

Battery-operated electric brush (chargeable)
This energy-efficient brush detects motion and air pressure, so even when turned on, it will function only if the user moves the brush over a solid surface.

Radiator cleaning brush
Use this brush to easily dedust radiator ribs, ventilation gaps and similar joints.

Universal brush
A brush with long, soft bristles, suitable for conveniently cleaning bookshelves, panel radiators and batten ends.

Mattress brush
Highly suitable for cleaning gaps that are difficult to reach in bed frames, mattresses and between the cushions of upholstered furniture.

Suction brush
Excellent for cleaning delicate objects with an uneven surface, such as stucco. This brush has either synthetic bristles or natural bristles.

Anti-allergy suction head
A combined floor brush with hygiene sensor, especially recommended for people with respiratory allergy. This head is equipped with a particle meter, originally developed for space technology purposes, and displays the extent of floor contamination.

Other accessories and sets

Car cleaning set
The perfect solution for cleaning the inside of cars. Accessories come in a practical suitcase: a manual turbo brush, an extra long joint cleaner, and a micro hose combined with suction brush. The suction hose is 3 m long, so you can clean your car conveniently, moving around freely. Using the hose support, the suction hose can be hung up on the wall, which saves space.

Cleaning set for small objects
This set of accessories is especially designed for cleaning small objects and places that are difficult to reach (PC keyboards, stereos, model railways, etc.). The set includes a micro hose that can be combined with a suction brush, a mini joint cleaner, a mini suction pipe and an extension pipe, all held in an exclusive box.

Flexible hose extension
You can replace the vacuum cleaner’s pipe with this 3 m long pipe to easily clean, for example, the top of the stairs without having to carry the vacuum cleaner itself.

Other things to be considered when purchasing

Last but not least, you should consider other aspects such as pipe length (you need longer pipes for bigger rooms), and whether the device is equipped with a remaining dust bag capacity indicator and an automatic cable winder to avoid tangling. The design of the suction pipe may also be important: telescopic, bayonet joint or plug-type. Telescopic pipe is the most practical; slid into one another, pipe sections require less space.

Tippek, trükkök porszívózáshoz

• Before starting work, check the suction strength of the vacuum cleaner and, if it is too low, check that the dust bag is in place and empty.

• If you let the vacuum cleaner pick up some detergent before using it, the whole flat will smell fragrant after the cleaning process. Alternatively, you can add one or two drops of fragrant oil to the dust bag.
  
• After painting the flat, you will need to thoroughly vacuum the furniture, and then wet clean it with a cleaning machine as necessary.
• You can place a fragrance capsule in the dust bag to freshen the air in your flat while vacuum cleaning.
• If possible, you should have a cupboard or storage unit in the hall or somewhere for storing your cleaning equipment (vacuum cleaner, broom, bucket, etc.).
• Once cleaning is completed, the vacuum cleaner must be taken apart. Check that the suction pipes are completely empty, check the dust bag and empty it if needed, and wipe its outer surface with a dustcloth.
  
• The dust filter needs to be replaced from time to time (every sixth month unless otherwise stated in the operating manual). Otherwise, the device will emit dust, and not work efficiently. It is not worth washing the filter and putting it back, since it will no longer be the same; its structure changes after washing: its air resistance increases and efficiency decreases. So, instead of washing, discard the filter, and replace it with a fresh one; just as with air and oil filters in cars. These are a lot more expensive, but nobody would try to wash them.
  
• You can remove animal hair from carpets by vacuuming and by damp clothes. As a first step, vacuum the carpet, and then wipe it thoroughly with a soft damp cloth or sponge. If you have a dog or a cat in your flat, you should clean the carpets more frequently, at least once a week. Animal hair can best be removed with a turbo brush.
  

Other household devices

• If you want to make coffee, use a coffeemaker as it requires much less energy than a hob.
• When replacing parts of a coffeemaker, original ones should always be used to guarantee safe operation.
• Scale may appear on the inner parts of the coffeemaker. In that case, coffee will drip with difficulty. Therefore, it is important to wash through the whole device with scale removing agents. Alternatively, you can use strong vinegar. Vinegar-based scale remover (e.g. Frogsch) is environmentally friendly. Leave the liquid in the machine for at least one day, and then boil it down, just like coffee. After this, flush the device with clean water repeatedly. .

• The filter, the outlet tube and the safety valve of a coffeemaker must be cleaned each time before use; if they get clogged, the device may explode. The device may also explode if fully packed with very fine ground coffee.
  
• If coffee flows slowly and with difficulty from the coffeemaker, replace the filter. Its perforations may have clogged up due to the scale from the water.

• To make soft-boiled eggs, use an egg boiler as it requires much less energy than heating a hot plate that has much higher capacity plus the pot.

• Boiler: the temperature of the water stored in it should not be too high. Lower water temperatures increase cost-efficiency and the lifetime of the device. At 60 °C, heat loss is 53% and scaling is 26%. At 40 °C, heat loss is only 20% and scaling is less.
• Use an evaporator to regulate relative humidity in a room; if humidity is higher, even quite low temperatures will feel comfortable.

Air conditioners

Think before putting air-conditioning in...

Air conditioners not only reduce room temperature but also filter the air and reduce its humidity. Mobile air conditioning devices pass stale air into the open air through a door or window opening, while split devices have two parts, and expel air through an outdoor unit permanently installed on the terrace or under a window-sill. During a hot summer, air conditioning devices reduce air temperature and thus improve comfort but, at the same time, consume a lot of energy. Therefore, choose a device that is optimal for the room to be cooled, and use it prudently.

Mobile units

Cheap units may not be the right choice. Mobile air conditioners do not have a very good cooling performance, and the window or door aperture they need to exhaust air may allow heat to return. Satisfactory cooling performance can only be expected from devices permanently installed by a specialist.

Calculate...

Choose an air conditioner that is right for the size of the room to be cooled. Consult a specialist before purchasing. If the device is too big, you waste energy, and if to small, it will not cool sufficiently. Impacts of the weather and, within this, the orientation of the windows, the heat insulation of the building, and indoor heating sources (lighting, electrical devices and persons staying in the room) should also be taken into account. Different types of air conditioning devices are made for use at home, in the office, or in a shop.

Don’t cool the street...

When the air-conditioner is on, keep all doors and windows closed. Otherwise, the device has to work at maximum power and yet, may not achieve the desired result.

Getting a cold...

The difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures should not be too big; leaving an over-cooled room, you may easily get a cold. The temperature difference should not exceed 8 Celsius.

Humming...

Don’t forget that air conditioners make a humming noise. This noise may be disturbing if you stay long in the room, particularly at night.

Cheapest solution

Shade is the cheapest and most energy saving air conditioning solution. In tropical countries, for example, a bamboo shade is placed above windows and doors. In Mediterranean countries, movable louver boards are widely used. In Hungary, blinds and shutters are becoming increasingly popular.

Shading is more efficient if the window or door is not exposed to direct sunlight, which can be achieved by installing a rolling canopy.

This ancient method works surprisingly well: a sunny loft apartment, which may easily heat up to 37 Celsius, can be cooled down to 25 Celsius by shading its windows. The air conditioner will be more successful if it has to fight against a lower temperature.

At night, let nature take its course

If you use the air conditioner daytime, with all windows closed, you can turn it off at night and enjoy cool night air, which is both cheaper and healthier than your air conditioner...

Re-invent the fan!

Instead of an expensive air conditioner, comfort may often be enjoyed by using a fan. Fans keep the air moving. Airflow helps the evaporation of humidity from your skin, and thus cools your body.

Within the EU, it is compulsory to indicate the energy class on small household devices. Air conditioner manufacturers are obliged to determine the class based on stringent principles.

The energy class is indicated on the energy label in a standard form.

Depending on their energy efficiency, air conditioners are rated from A, which is the best, to G, which is the lowest category. 

What does it mean: efficiency grade, COP, EER?

They are indicators determined for each device under stringent laboratory conditions.

They indicate the technical performance of the air conditioner; to put it simply, a device with higher efficiency grade is better!

What is COP?

COP (Coefficient Of Performance) is an indicator that shows the energy efficiency of cooling and heating systems. In the case of air conditioners with a heat pump (also capable of heating), it is also known as heating efficiency. COP is obtained by dividing the heat output (at ambient temperature) by the electricity consumed by the device. Therefore, it is expressed as W/W. The higher this value, the more efficient a device is (it uses less electricity for the particular task and is thus more power efficient).

What is EER?

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) indicates the efficiency of the air conditioner in cooling mode, at a given ambient temperature. It is also known as cooling efficiency. This standard value shows the air conditioner’s cooling output at a particular electricity usage. EER is calculated by dividing the cooling output by the power usage. EER is one of the most important characteristics of air conditioners and, at the same time, determines their energy class.

Average output and electricity consumption of household devices

Stand-by mode is expensive!

Do you know that the small LEDs continuously lit on your TV, DVD player or stereo cost a lot and the convenience they provide is illusionary? Devices that are apparently turned off consume power when in stand-by mode: they can waste up to 450 kWh of electricity a year. Is it worth it? It is worth taking the trouble to push the on/off button on a device instead of using the remote control. You can rest assured that when turned off, for example, your TV will not lose the programmed channels. Also, remember that recharges, for example for mobiles, continue to use power if not turned off when charging is complete. Before purchasing, check the stand-by consumption of the device.

Hidden consumers... energy is being lost!

Check hidden stand-by consumption: if the mains plug or converter of a device that has been turned off is hot, it is probably in stand-by mode. Disconnect these devices from the mains, for example, by using a plug with a switch.

Electricity consumption in stand-by mode and energy wasted by it

Some rest for devices...

If you are away for long, turn off and unplug your devices.

When buying a computer...

When buying a new computer, buy one that has an energy management system. Only those parts will be powered that are being used.

Turning off is the most energy-efficient screen saver

When you have a longer break during work, completely turn off both your computer and its screen. It’s good to know that screen savers are tricky: in the case of moving pictures, your screen will consume even more energy than in normal mode. When you have a longer break, turning off the screen completely is the best thing to do.

Watching darker images requires less energy – Spinning Grumbler asks you to change the background of this page and make it black!

Hairdryers

Before purchasing, consider whether you want to use your hairdryer at home, or as a work tool, or after sports.

You should decide about its power: 1200-1800 W will usually do for drying hair at home. If you need a hairdryer for your work, it is best to visit a specialist hairdressers’ store and buy a high-power device designed for professional use.

The device should be comfortable to hold: it should not be too big or too heavy. Size is important because if you travel a lot or want to carry the hairdryer in your sports bag, it should not need much room.

Check noise levels, as small children and pets may be frightened by its sound, or it may disturb your neighbors when used early morning or late evening.

Technical considerations

How long is its cable? Is it long enough, and does it have a hanger?

What accessories are provided? For example, a diffuser for curled, thick hair, or a special nozzle for efficient drying.

Is its blow strength adjustable?

Does it have a temperature regulator?

Does it have a safety switch to avoid overheating?

Is it easy to clean? For example, a device with a removable filter is easier to clean.