What is the average lifespan of a vacuum cleaner

According to Consumer Reports, vacuum cleaners last a median of eight years. But the lifespan varies wildly by not only brand but your own personal use. If you have a small one-bedroom apartment to yourself, you won't use your vacuum nearly as much as a family of five with two pets in a 3,square-foot home. If you're not ready to give up on ol' faithful or want to slow its decline while you save for the vacuum of your dreams, there are some things you can do to try and salvage your old vacuum — at least for a while.

If your vacuum cleaner isn't picking up dirt like it should, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that it's time for a new one. But even if your vacuum is several years old and has seen a lot of use, it doesn't mean it's time to trash it yet. Before you consider spending several hundred dollars on a new vacuum cleaner, consider what it would take to fix your existing one. There's a solid chance it's just clogged or needs a replacement part — fixes that won't break the bank.

Even if you spend some time troubleshooting the problem and it turns out the vacuum does need to be replaced, you won't have lost anything but a few hours of time, at most. If none of these help your vacuum clean better, it may be time to upgrade. While that's bad news for your bank account, it can be a blessing in disguise. It could also cause a sore throat, skin rash, or nasal congestion 3.

The motorized brush at the base of your vacuum is what captures all the dirt, debris, long hair , and carpet fibers. But as it collects all of this grime, dirt can wrap around and put stress on it. This may eventually stop the motorized brush from spinning and cleaning your home.

To avoid this, every couple of weeks you should cut away any hair and debris from the motorized brush. You can do this with scissors. The more you use your vacuum, the more likely it will have a shorter lifespan. Using it regularly will expose the machine to more wear and tear, especially if you have large spaces. This is particularly true if your floors and carpet are dirty and heavily soiled — your vacuum has to work harder.

But misuse can also shorten the life of your vacuum. For example, not using the correct height adjustment for high carpet pile or not choosing the right model for your needs. Use an upright vacuum instead. Some handheld vacuums are designed to clean up light water spills and accidents.

If you do try to vacuum up liquids, this may damage your machine. You also run the risk of electrocuting yourself. Eventually, this is going to make your vacuum unsafe to use, with the exposure of electric wires. We know you want to get all of the household chores done and dusted. But skipping the tidying up stage may end up damaging your vacuum.

Small objects such as toys and coins, as well as broken glass and screws, can break your vacuum. This includes the bag or, even worse, the motor. Upright vacuums may last the longest due to their robust and durable design. For one, the brand has a lot of influence on how the machine is manufactured.

But regular maintenance is important, as well as using your vacuum properly. Amy Anthony. Table of Contents. About the Author Amy Anthony. Amy is a stay-at-home-mom, seasoned writer, and a home cleaning and organization aficionado. Amy enjoys having an absolutely spotless home and has worked hard to develop strategies to keep it that way, despite having 2 kids and 3 dogs!

A reliability survey by Consumer Reports revealed that a vacuum cleaner's average life expectancy is eight years.

However, this depends not only on the brand but also on how you use the vacuum. Frequent use shortens the lifespan; a person with a one-bedroom apartment has different usage from one with a four-bedroom mansion with five people and three pets.

Therefore, if you use the vacuum cleaner to clean a large area and is more than eight years old, it might be time for an upgrade. The company that manufactures the vacuum cleaner is a determinant of its longevity. Bigger branded vacuums perform better and last longer than local store unbranded products. The reason is that bigger brands have more resources to afford premium parts. They also conduct product research before releasing a product and have set high standards for their products.

Bigger brands also offer a warranty with the product, this is comforting to the buyer, and you should use the warranty period to estimate the vacuum lifespan.

When looking for a vacuum cleaner to buy, compare reviews of different brands to help you pick the right one. You can also visit company websites to learn more about vacuum cleaners and their unique features. Proper maintenance of the vacuum is something that you have control over. Taking care of your vacuum will ensure you will use it for longer with minimal breakdowns.

Although it is used to clean, a vacuum also needs cleaning; clean it once per month. If the vacuum develops a problem such as unusual noise, find out why and rectify the problem.

Regular use of the vacuum exposes it to wear and tear more so if your cleaning space is bigger. If your carpet and floors are heavily soiled and dirty, the vacuum works harder, thus shortening its lifespan. Misuse of the vacuum also plays a part in shortening its life, for example, failing to adjust the height when cleaning a high carpet pile or choosing the wrong model.

Robot vacuums are not suitable for cleaning narrow and high spaces like beddings, and sofa; an upright or handheld vacuum is better suited for the task. Your vacuum cleaner's life expectancy will be prolonged by how well you maintain it and ensure its proper use. Here are some tips on the proper maintenance of a vacuum.

It would be best if you emptied the vacuum bag regularly, either bagged or bagless. If you leave it to fill to the brim, it won't be easy to continue vacuuming. There is also a chance that the filled dirt will clog the machine, which will affect its efficiency. A vacuum cleaner has filters that capture dust, pollen, smoke, and bacteria particles. This means that the filters will finally get dirty and block up. You, therefore, have to avoid this by always keeping the filters clean.

Most of the vacuums in the market have reusable and washable filters. It makes it easy to clean them often without incurring a replacement cost. When they have excess debris and dirt, you can wash them under a tap; no need to use chemicals as water removes the dirt.

Ensure that the filters are thoroughly dry before you place them back; this will prevent mold growth that can be released in the air when cleaning. Mold causes sickness, such as nasal congestion, sore throat, skin rash, and eye irritation. But, for better cleaning efficiency, replace the filters every months. All debris, carpet fibers, dirt, and long hair are captured by the motorized brush situated at the vacuum's bottom.