Unrivaled at sucking up dust and pet hair from floors, vacuum cleaners are among the must-haves in the contemporary home. Constantly improved, they are infinitely more manageable than the first gasoline models, to the point of freeing themselves, for some, from their sled. But do broom vacuums have a better lifespan than their predecessors? The 5th edition of the Fnac Darty after-sales service barometer answers the question objectively.
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A brief history of the vacuum cleaner: from the gasoline model to autonomous robots
At the beginning of the 20th century: the first gasoline and electric vacuum cleaners
The first motorized vacuum cleaner was invented in 1901 by British engineer Hubert Cecil Booth. This gasoline-powered model, so cumbersome that horses had to be pulled, was later improved by James Spangler.
This department store janitor imagines the first electric vacuum cleaner, using a pillowcase, a fan and a broomstick. He commercialized his invention in 1908 and sold the rights to his patent to the Hoover company, whose name became so famous that it now stands for all bagged vacuum cleaners.
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At the end of the 20th century: the first bagless vacuum cleaners
Finally, the first bagless vacuum cleaner was marketed in 1993. An improvement that allowed to limit waste and loss of dust suction, while improving the useful life of the device.
Since then, two small innovations have appeared, after handheld vacuum cleaners: robot vacuum cleaners and broom vacuum cleaners. But are these technological inventions more resistant than traditional sled models? Nothing is less secure.
Canister vacuums have a (much) longer lifespan than upright models
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According to the 5th edition of the Fnac/Darty* after-sales service barometer, canister vacuum cleaners, with or without a bag, are much more durable than their little brothers with brooms and robots.
To reach this conclusion, appliance specialists analyzed their durability according to two main criteria. First, its reliability: its ability to operate for a long time before failing. Then, its repairability, evaluated through the rate of repair of the device and the availability of its spare parts, at affordable prices.
The durability index of a canister vacuum cleaner: 127.5 compared to 68 for a broom vacuum cleaner
The canister vacuum cleaner is the most resistant
And the result is clear: canister vacuum cleaners get a good score of 127.5/200, compared to 68/200 for broom models. Pouched devices even achieve a 128 rating, thanks to reliability and repairability ratings of 127 and 130 respectively. On average, its spare parts are available for 10 years, at an average cost equivalent to 12% of the product price.
The broom vacuum cleaner is less reliable
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In contrast, the broom vacuum cleaner has an infinitely lower reliability score: 26/200. Its repairability is still rated 108, but its spare parts are available for only 7 years, at a price that represents 20% of the finished product.
The most durable canister vacuum cleaner brand: Moulinex
On the brand side, Moulinex stands out, both for models without a bag and with. In both cases, he shares the podium with Rowenta and Miele.
Ranking of bagless canister vacuum cleaners with the longest useful life
- Moulinex: 178
- Rowenta: 153
- Honey: 143
- vacuum: 118
- Electrolux: 116
The ranking of canister vacuum cleaners with the best useful life
- Moulinex: 168
- Rowenta: 147
- Honey: 146
- vacuum: 134
- Electrolux: 101
Robotic vacuums are the least durable of all
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The least durable vacuum cleaners of all are the stand-alone models. Its durability index is valued at 59/200 by the Fnac/Darty after-sales service barometer, due to its reliability, which is considered very poor: 18/200.
In terms of repairability, parts for robotic vacuum cleaners are available for 7 years, at a cost of 1% of the price of the vacuum cleaner, which allows this type of model to obtain a score of 101.
3 tips to improve the life of your vacuum cleaner
- Empty container after each use.
- Do not vacuum plaster, sand or ashes.
- Clean or even change filters regularly (for canister vacuums)
* The Fnac/Darty after-sales service barometer is based on the study of the comments of 10,403 respondents, the list of 921,226 interventions by its after-sales service and the analysis of 580,138 breakdowns of dozens of electrical appliances of all kinds (hair dryer, heater fan, etc).