Consumer Reports Finds Flaws in Dirt Devil’s Vacuum Design
Rechargeable hand held vacuum cleaners can be very handy. From cleaning out your car, to vacuuming hard to reach places, to quick pick-ups in the kitchen, cordless hand vacuum cleaners are extremely useful. One of the most popular hand vac’s has been Dirt Devil’s Kone, and Kurv models. Half piece of art, and half hand vac, these machines are a popular item here at GoVacuum, especially during the Christmas season.
In Consumer Reports’ annual vacuum cleaner ratings edition they tested different widely available hand vac models, including the Kone. In their report they discovered a “safety hazard” with some of the Kone models.
The specific Dirt Devil Kone models in question are the M0213, and the M0212 models. The problem, however, seems to be narrowed down to only the older L series machines. The problem is apparently because of an undersized filter adapter that has caused the machine to expel sand particles out of the exhaust port. The new “J” series models have a better sealing filter adapter and are not having this problem. “L” Series models are identifiable by the Plant code on the back of the machine.
Although no injuries have been caused by this problem, particles as big as sand being expelled from the vacuum cleaner should be a cause for concern, especially for those suffering from breathing issues such as allergies and asthma. Sand particles can be as large as 100 microns in size compared to dust mites and their droppings at 10.0 microns, or pollen particles at 10-30 microns, which are both highly explosive triggers for people with allergies and asthma.
In response to the Consumer Report’s test, Dirt Devil is giving customers who purchased the L series a free filter adapter. Customers can call Dirt Devil directly at 1-800-321-1134 in order to receive your free filter adapter.
One thing must be made clear to our readers. Rarely, dare I say never, do we agree with Consumer Reports’ view on vacuums. For years, their top rated vacuums have been some of the worst in the industry but “ironically” are vacuums sold exclusively to Big Box stores like K-Mart (Kenmore). (Corporate collusion anyone?) Our goal in discussing this specific Consumer Reports’ piece is to make sure that our customers get the free filter they deserve, so make sure to give Dirt Devil a call.
Further, we’ve made active attempts both online and in our retail stores to educate consumers on their vacuum purchases.
In addition to the Dirt Devil Kone, GoVacuum recommends the Filter Stream V2510, the only hand vacuum to have a sealed, HEPA certified filter. This Filter Stream Dirt Tamer is Wet/Dry and comes with a strong warranty for a hand vac, with a 2 Year parts and labor warranty.
- Chris Jones, Operations Manager
