The GoVacuum Blog

Most of our customers know us through our online store, but we also have local brick and mortar retail stores in the DC Metro Area, specifically in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Vienna, Herndon and Sterling). The retail stores operate under the name Vacuums Unlimited (GoVacuum is the internet subsidiary of Vacuums Unlimited).

The hype about the 2008 elections has been astounding with many claiming this election to be the most important in US history. For us, the most important aspect of democracy is citizen participation. We encourage everyone to vote this Tuesday, November 4th at their local voting stations. For information on where to vote in your area, click here.

To reward the DC Metro Area residents who fulfilled their civic duties and voted, we are offering a 10% discount on all products* for those customers who come into any of our retail store locations with a “I voted sticker.”

Make sure to make your voice count and Vote!

*Excludes Miele products.

Although we are a bit delayed in congratulating Miele, we feel it is relevant, nonetheless. Miele came away with two Consumers Digest “Best Buy” awards this year. Its S5280 Callisto and S163 Universal Upright vacuums earned the honors, further demonstrating Miele’s commitment to excellence in quality.

“We are thrilled to have not one, but two vacuum cleaner products in the Best Buy family,” said Paul McCormack, Senior Marketing Manger for Miele, Inc. “We’ve always felt that our high standards of quality, performance and filtration added up to a great value. Now there’s absolutely no doubt.”

Bill Anand, our CEO at GoVacuum, AKA, the Godfather of Vacuums, was delighted but not surprised upon hearing the good news. “This is precisely why we have so much success selling their products as a Miele Diamond Dealer,” Anand said. “Miele is dedicated to offering consumers the best vacuums on the market. Earning ‘Best Buy’ awards is par for the course for Miele.”

Consumers Digest defines a product as a “Best Buy” as offering outstanding value for its price and that merits special attention from consumers. It is awarded to nationally available products.

The Miele S163 universal upright is a small but potent vacuum that works great on carpets, rugs, and smooth surfaces.

The Miele Callisto canister is Miele’s best canister vacuum, as its combination of power and efficiency made it a logical choice for the Best Buy award.

Can’t figure out how to fix the broken belt on your 80’s model Eureka vacuum? Looking for a new vacuum with super filtration to help your allergies? Want your vacuum to stop making that weird noise that drives you crazy?

There are many questions to be asked about vacuum cleaners. Whether you are curious about your old machine or are interested in finding a modern alternative, we are here to answer your questions. Last week, we introduced a new section on our site called “Ask GoVacuum.” In this section, we display all the questions that have been submitted to us, and the appropriate answers. Our team of vacuum experts does their best to answer your question, no matter how obscure. Many of the answers include links to schematics for your machines or pictures and videos illustrating how to do that impossible repair.

At the bottom of the page, you are able to submit your own question. Most questions will be answered within 24 hours.

As more questions come in, we will begin to organize the Ask GoVacuum section by brand and theme. We hope this helps.

Ask GoVacuum today!

GoVacuum Offers 30 Day Risk Free Trial on SEBO Vacuums

GoVacuum’s confidence in Sebo vacuum cleaners inspires company to offer the excitement of Sebo ownership with no risk, allowing customers to return Sebo vacuums at no cost.

Sterling, VA (PRWEB) September 16, 2008 — GoVacuum, an online leader of vacuum and air purifier sales, announces a new 30 day risk free trial offer for customers who purchase SEBO vacuums. GoVacuum guarantees the purchase of new SEBO machines by covering all costs for the product’s return within 30 days of purchase if customers aren’t completely satisfied.

SEBO X Series upright vacuums placed first in GoVacuum’s best vacuum profile series during August of 2008, taking honors for being the best upright vacuums available in the floor care industry.Results can be seen on their YouTube channel

Customers interested in SEBO vacuum cleaners can take advantage of the risk free 30 day trial offer either in person at GoVacuum’s retail store locations (Vacuums Unlimited) in the DC area, online at GoVacuum.com or by calling a sales representative any day of the week at 1-866-468-2288.

For additional information about GoVacuum and its many special offers, contact Chris Jones at 1-866-468-2288 or visit http://www.govacuum.com. Free, no-pressure demonstrations and advice are also available at any of Vacuums Unlimited’s four retail locations in Northern Virginia. No appointment is necessary.

About GoVacuum and Vacuums Unlimited - Family owned and operated for more than 30 years, Vacuums Unlimited operates four retail locations in Northern Virginia and ships popular vacuums and hard-to-find replacement parts to customers throughout the United States (and to military bases around the world) through its internet subsidiary, GoVacuum.com. They have retail locations in Fairfax, Vienna, Herndon and Sterling; all four locations are Authorized Sebo Dealers. GoVacuum.com, in existence since 1996, has an impressive record of friendly customer service and great frequent-buyer-discounts. Customers love the site’s ease of use, huge inventory, and unbeatable prices.

Vacuums Unlimited and GoVacuum sell a full range of vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, bags, belts, filters, parts and accessories for Dyson, Riccar, SEBO, Kirby, Electrolux, Hoover, Eureka, Powr-Flite, IQAir, Blueair, Roomba, AirFree, Bissell, Bosch, Dirt Devil, Earlex, Karcher, Koblenz, Ladybug, Love-Less Ash Fireplace Vacs, Lindhaus, Oreck, Royal, Rainbow, Sanitaire and more.

Unlike “Big Box” or department stores, Vacuums Unlimited and GoVacuum have genuinely knowledgeable salespeople that specialize in nothing but vacuums and air cleaners. They are able to offer real advice, frank comparisons and expert recommendations for commercial and household needs alike. Call 7 days a week at 1-866-468-2288.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1316684.htm

When it comes to buying vacuum cleaners, you have a choice: you can effectively buy ‘off the shelf’ from general retailers, or you can find a retailer that specializes in vacuum cleaners.

The difference can mean a lot to your final purchase and your continued use of the product. General retailers often have little knowledge of vacuum cleaners they sell and when it comes to repairs or maintenance, they either don’t want to know, or take your vacuum cleaner and have it ’sent away’ - this can takes weeks before it is returned to you.

Specialist vacuum cleaner retailers are trained in the products they sell. They can provide advice on which products are best suited to your needs along with tips on how to get the most out of your new purchase. When it comes to repairs or servicing, they often have the expertise ‘in house’ and the turn around can be as short as ‘while you wait’ or ’same day’.

Specialist can be divided into two categories, independent and brand specific. Brand specific vacuum cleaner retailers will only promote the one brand. The choice becomes limited and often you are not going to be purchasing the best equipment for your needs.

Independent retailers promote several brands. As such the range is much broader so you are more likely to receive a vacuum cleaner that matches your needs and lifestyle.

GoVacuum.com are independent retailers with ‘in house’ expertise on a wide range of vacuum cleaners along with accessories and spare parts required to keep your vacuum cleaner in top condition. They can also provide advice and tips on how to get the best out of your vacuum cleaner.

Buying a vacuum cleaner is an interesting experience at the best of times. What sort of surface will it be used on; how large is the area to be cleaned; Upstairs/downstairs? These are all important considerations for a home vacuum cleaner. Commercial vacuum cleaners require consideration of other areas; the three most important being:

• Noise:
  Depending on the environment, you will need to consider how much noise each vacuum cleaners make. For many buildings, the cleaning is done after hours. However, we seem to be moving into a work ethic of variable and longer hours particularly at special times of the year (like tax time). 

  Commercial Vacuum cleaners that are being used in hospitals, casinos and hotels need to be as quiet as possible as these premises are in use 24 hours per day.

• Filtration:
  For many buildings, filtration is not a big issue. However, in buildings that are in use 24 hours per day, like hospitals and casinos, air filtration will be an important factor. The one thing that people don’t want is to be irritated by airborne particles. A good HEPA filtration system should be considered.

• Use:
  Use covers several factors such as weight, particularly if stairs or long distances are involved. Size and maneuverability are also part of the use factor that should be taken into consideration. 

  In areas where there is frequent traffic while you are cleaning, you don’t want a large commercial vacuum cleaner that will get in people’s way. Likewise, if you need to get in and around gaming tables or slot machines, you need a cleaner that has the appropriate attachments.

Obviously, other factors need to be considered such as the surface that is being cleaned and whether or not there is a personal preference for wheeled or backpack style commercial vacuum cleaners.

If you are considering a commercial vacuum cleaner the seek advice from an expert like those in our stores. You can visit our GoVacuum.com site or call us for further information and advice on the best commercial vacuum cleaner for your needs.

Central vacuums are similar to your central heating system. A fixed motor is connected to a series of pipes which run to each of the rooms in the house that you wish to have connected to the system. Each of these rooms have a valve connection where the vacuum hose is attached.

Vacuuming could not be easier with a central vacuum. Take the vacuum hose into the room, plug it into the wall socket and clean the room. When you finish, unplug and move onto the next room. No canisters or uprights to carry around, just the hose and any attachments.

One of the side benefits in using a central vacuum cleaner is the lack of recycled air. Conventional vacuum cleaners suck air (and dirt or dust) into the vacuum where the dirt or dust is filtered out and the air sent back out into the room. With good vacuums this normally not an issue, however, with a central vacuums it is non issue as the air is expelled in the basement or garage, wherever the main motor is situated.

Central vacuum cleaners tend to be much quieter than traditional units whilst still maintaining a strong cleaning action. Other benefits include the increase in home values, once installed you will never need to purchase a vacuum cleaner again.

There are two types of central vacuum cleaners:

• Filtered: these use a variety of filters to clean the air taken in by the vacuum. The filters will still need to be cleaned and replaced.

• Cyclonic: these use centrifugal tornado-like force and gravity to separate the impurities from the air being taken in by the vacuum and deposits the dirt into a canister.

GoVacuum.com can help you out with any questions related to central vacuum cleaners, their installation, and any attachments required.

When considering purchasing a new vacuum, many factors come into play. But the most commonly asked question is whether you will be purchasing an upright or canister. If you were to shop in one of our retail stores in northern Virginia, one of our professional salespersons would find out your cleaning habits and needs. When choosing between a upright and canister, the type of flooring in your house is the most important consideration. Traditionally, homes with wall to wall carpeting are most easily vacuumed using an upright. This is because uprights generally have a strong beater bar that always spins when the vacuum is on. The beater bar is then able to dig deep into your carpet to get the dirt and grime out.

Canisters, on the other hand, are better for homes with both carpets and hard floors. Canisters generally have power heads that can be turned on and off depending on whether you are vacuuming carpet or hard floors. Power heads are turned off when vacuuming hard floors so to avoid scratching or damaging the surface.

Most people who have any kind of experience vacuuming have an opinion on canisters and uprights. This is usually because people feel one way or another about how maneuverable uprights and canisters are. Some enjoy the fact that uprights utilize direct maneuverability, where one unit is simply pushed where you want it to go. People say canisters can be cumbersome because they feel like they have a dead weight dragging behind them when they vacuum. Others enjoy canisters because holding the power head part of the vacuum is lighter than holding an entire upright machine with one hand.

The good thing about canisters and uprights is that that the technology has improved tremendously over the years. In terms of maneuverability, some canisters have seen improvements through the introduction of new wheel systems. For example, the Miele Canisters have 3 independent wheels that let the vacuumer push or pull the machine around in any direction without any friction. Check out the maneuverability of the Miele Callisto Canister wheel system in the video here.

Uprights have also seen significant improvements. The Sebo X series uprights automatically adjust the head of the machine to accommodate different types of floors. The machines actually automatically lower and raise the head of the machine depending on what type of floor it is vacuuming. The problem of breaking belts is no longer a concern on these machines. If something gets vacuumed up into the machine that isn’t supposed to (a sock or small toy, for example), the machine automatically shuts off the beater bar to avoid damaging the belt, and potentially overheating the engine.

In the end, the final decision between a canister or upright can really be about personal preference. Some people hate uprights and swear by canisters, and vice versa. Interestingly enough, canisters are the most popular machines worldwide; meanwhile, uprights remain king in the United States.

If you can’t decide which upright or canister you want, feel free to check out our GoVacuum pages for both categories with research and comparison tables available.

Research Uprights

Research Canisters

It’s time to put away the winter woollies, those winter blankets, spare pillows and any other bulky items. Space bags are one of the most practical inventions given their versatility and the range of sizes available.

Space bags, as the name implies, enable you to store items in a fraction of the space they would normally use. Pillows are a good example. Place a couple of pillows in a space bag, extract the required amount of air and suddenly the package is only 25% of its original size. Not only that, space bags are air and water tight so no pest or stale odors will ever invade your stored items.

I said they were versatile. How would you like to pack half your wardrobe into one bag to go on vacations? There will be no more excess baggage and everything is protected. When you go camping, boating or hit the beaches, space bags let you travel light yet you will have everything you need on arrival. Not only that, if the boat capsizes, everything stays dry.

Vacuum technology is being used in food so why not use the same technology to protect and store your clothing, bedding along with many other suitable articles? Space bags really are a great storage solution. They reduce your wardrobe space by up to 75%, leaving you with all that extra space for your summer wardrobe.

Space bags come in a variety of sizes including large flat under bed bags, suitable for excess bedding and larger items.

If you think that space bags are restricted to all things clothing or bedding, think again. As they are air and water tight, they are ideal for storing anything of value including books, papers, comics and many other valuables.

Want more answers? Check out the FAQ sheets and other handy information sheets.  wWile your at it, check out some of the great prices.  You may even receive one large space bag free of charge (check site for any conditions).

Space bags - the number of uses you can find for them is only limited by your imagination. If that fails you, we have got plenty of advice for you. Space age technology saves you space and saves you dollars. At the end of fall you can open up the bags to find all your winter woolies in the same condition that you packed them with no damage or stale smells and more importantly, no large moth holes. Check them out.

With summer rapidly approaching, the one thing we are all going to want plenty of is water - cool, clear and pure water. Have you seen the cost of bottled water lately? Why buy it when you can produce your own in your own home for a fraction of the cost?

One of the biggest environmental pollutants in the US, UK and throughout Europe is the throw away bottled water container. Installing a water purification system will not only save you money in the long run, it will also add just a little bit more to protecting the environment. So now you can sit back and enjoy that long cool glass of totally pure water with a clear conscience.

Water purification systems come in various sizes and with different filtering systems. The best units fit directly between your water supply and and your faucet. The filtration system itself is designed to remove all microorganisms, pesticides, heavy metals and toxins. They also remove some of the added components such as chlorine and fluoride. What you are left with is pure totally safe drinking water.

Most units are efficient filtering the water using an on demand system. On demand type systems do not need storage units since the water is filtered as you use it. Storage systems are larger and so require extra space which is an important consideration when planning your purchase.

When selecting a system, check on the type. Water filter systems are not the same as water purification systems. By FDA standards, water filter systems remove 99.99% of contaminants whilst water purification systems remove 99.99999% of all contaminants.

Typical purification systems use either UV to kill bacteria or reverse osmosis. UV, while effective at killing bacteria, does not remove any of the contaminants. Reverse osmosis on the other hand is effective at both removing contaminants and destroying harmful bacteria. Reverse osmosis is generally the recommended system. Some systems incorporate both technologies.

In today’s world, water purification system have almost become a necessity. Having a system at home that is reliable, does the job quietly, often sitting hidden under the bench, is no longer a luxury. It is rapidly becoming a necessity.