Hi there, just wanting to share my experiences with everyone. Hope you find them usefull. See ya al...
Hi there, just wanting to share my experiences with everyone. Hope you find them usefull. See ya all
Member since:10.09.2007
Reviews:17
I have owned a DC 14 Animal with Hepa filter for 3 years now and bought it for around £300. I have had very little to complain about. We have a west highland white terrier and a small child so wanted to purchse the animal because of its specific performace on animal hair and the lifetime Hepa+ filter for allergies.
This product does exactly what it says on the tin, powerfull and no loss of suction. In fact it still amazes me today to see how much dirt and dog hair the vaccum collects. This product has never broken and has been used three times a week over the last 3 years. It is a fairly quiet machine but has become more noisy over time. The product comes with a 14 stair long reach telscopic pole and mini vaccum turbine head. This is an excellent tool for use on stairs as the mini turbine head has its own built in rollers and brushes and acts like a mini vaccum in itself, not just a suction hole on the end of the tube like most vaccum cleaners. The only critisism I have about this feature is that when you stretch the long reach flexi pipe it has a tendancy to pull the vaccum over, unless you have the wheels resting against your bottom stair. This was really quite annoying at first but I guess i have just learned to put up with it over time and now i have found a way of not pulling it over by using the bottom stair. Other tools include the usual soft brushes for furniture and curtain fabrics, the long reach pole also comes in handy if you need to reach to the top of your curtains. The fitment of the accessories is simple and simply click into place and all have their own space on the cleaner for storage which means you dont have them hanging around in a cupboard.
When I bought the vaccumm I also purchased a hard floor cleaner accessory too, this is for use on laminate and hardwood floors, a superb idea and it works well. The tool itself must be used with the long reach pole which can cause problems with it toppling over if overstretched. This has never really been a problem for me as the only room i use this in is rather small but it is something to bear in mind for larger rooms. The tool itself is simply a narrow flat faced add on with soft velvet like cover so as not to scratch the floor. Works well and does not damage the floor at all.
Maintenance of the cleaner is simple. A washable filter in the top compartment and little else to do. You can remove and wipe clean the main cylinder, but this must not be immersed in water. The only other filter to keep an eye on is the Hepa+ filter at the base of the vaccum. It should last a lifetime but according to dyson themselves it should be checked 6 monthly and may need changing if there is any colour change. If these filter needs replacing they cost around £12 and £20 respectivley.
The only problem i am having at the moment is that the vaccum is starting to smell a little of my dog when used. I contacted dyson about this and voiced my concerns and the only suggestion they could make was to change both filters which i am in the process of doing. The machine has been cleaned regularly and is emptied every time it is used so it is definately not due to poor maintenace. I personally think that it must be the supposed 'lifetime' Hepa filter which needs replacing and will post an update if it cures the problem. If it does a £20 outlay in 3 years can not be bad can it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: None that I can think of. Probably ok as a light duty cleaner in a no pet household Disadvantages: Blocks and is cumbersome and heavy to use
Oct 17th, 2007
very helpful by (100%):
