Thread Number: 25924
Hose length
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Post# 290686   7/28/2014 at 10:01 (3,531 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Why are modern vacuum hoses so darn short? My old Kenmores with straight hose ends have eight foot long hoses. You can reach the top of blinds or the upper surface of book cases with the vacuum sitting on the floor. But all of my newer 1990's and later vacs have hoses that are no more than six feet long and demand that you hold the vacuum off the floor to reach the top of blinds or the upper surfaces of a big book case. I would put longer hoses on the newer vacs but the blank hose stock is cut too short now. What is driving this?

Post# 290687 , Reply# 1   7/28/2014 at 10:09 (3,531 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Very frustrating! My Miele often sits parked due to this.

Post# 290698 , Reply# 2   7/28/2014 at 12:03 (3,531 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

gsheen's profile picture

I am not a cylinder Fan but all my favorites all have short hoses, I recently fitted a 3.5 meter hose to my Nilfisk gmp . Only trouble is I use it such alot it stands out and about and now everyone trips over the extra long hose because its impossible to store 


Post# 290706 , Reply# 3   7/28/2014 at 12:31 (3,531 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        
European homes vs those elsewhere..

sebo_fan's profile picture
DT, in the nicest way possible I do wish you'd stop banging on about your Kenmore.

In my experience, not ALL modern cylinder vacs have short hoses, but rather are designed to be as compact as possible, or where the design allows as light as possible. Unless you are vacuuming stairs, there should be no need to ever having to lift a cylinder vac off a floor and European homes aren't as big or tall as homes elsewhere.

The Numatic Henry round tub has had a 2.5 metre hose, which is 0.1 metres longer than your Kenmore. Numatic also make a shorter hose for the James vacuum, which is a more basic version of Henry. I find both however are difficult to store on the Numatics since they are round tubs and commercially based means even a park storage on the back of the vacs make it difficult to store the hose unless the suction tubes and floor head is attached.

As gsheen notes, having such a long hose can be cumbersome as well as dangerous and heavier. I also find a longer hose (dependent on brands as not all hoses are the same) often bounces off walls removing paint in the process when cleaning in general.

To my knowledge several German brands and models have the following standard hose size:

Miele S2 - 1.5 metre hose
Miele S4 - 1.8 metre hose
Miele S6 - 1.8 metre hose
Miele S5 & S8: 1.8 metre hose

All Bosch cylinder vacs have 1.5 metre hoses.

SEBO K1 Airbelt basic red model: 1.8 metres, all other models have 2.1 metres including PN models.

SEBO D series - all models in the U.S and UK markets have 2.1 metre hoses.

Miele do offer an extra extension hose, the SFS Extender and it adds a further 1.5 metres onto any Miele hose on current models - however it is more trouble than its worth in my experience.





Post# 290713 , Reply# 4   7/28/2014 at 13:38 (3,531 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Sebo_fan, take a deep breath, hold it..............no exhale. I was complaining about my more modern Kenmore hoses being too short.

Post# 290714 , Reply# 5   7/28/2014 at 13:44 (3,531 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)        

kloveland's profile picture
My guess would be that it cost less to manufacture a shorter hose. Same logic as why they made short cords on some of the Hoover Convertible ‘special’ models. Short cords and hoses are annoying!



This post was last edited 07/28/2014 at 14:47
Post# 290718 , Reply# 6   7/28/2014 at 14:07 (3,531 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
That last sentence could have used an exclamation mark!! Very annoying !

Post# 290719 , Reply# 7   7/28/2014 at 14:15 (3,531 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
Not all modern canister vacuums have short hoses. The deluxe Simplicity and Riccar "Made in USA" canisters have ten foot hoses. The Kenmore Elite and the Kenmore Intuition canisters both have very long hoses. The new 75th Anniversary Edition Rainbow has a ten foot hose. The new Filter Queen has a very long hose. Aerus Electrolux's Platinum Edition model has a very nice, long hose.

I think the short hoses for the 'entry' and 'mid' line models is done so the 'upsell' on a model with more features (and longer hoses) could be made.
The damn Kenmore hoses that don't swivel at the handle end are more annoying (to me) than a shorter hose.


Post# 290733 , Reply# 8   7/28/2014 at 15:39 (3,531 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA)        
That's frustrating, even in the case of uprights

niclonnic's profile picture
Although I've never used a canister vacuum, I've always used uprights, because my home has mostly wall-to-wall carpeting.

My 2013 Hoover Windtunnel 2 Rewind Pet has an 8-foot hose, along with one 12-inch extension wand. Combined with a 12-inch crevice tool, I can barely reach the top of my ceilings whenever I go hunting for cobwebs. I have to pick up the vacuum in order to reach the ceilings. I don't have super high ceilings in most of the house, except in the living and dining rooms. I have standard height ceilings in most rooms. I'm about 5'8" and the hose reach is a major flaw of this vacuum.

It's also painful to use my Hoover on stairs. I have a 180 degree staircase, which goes up 5 steps, then turns around 180 degrees with 2 large steps, then 8 more steps takes me to the second floor of my house. I vacuum the stairs using the hose and turbo brush. I can barely reach the final steps when using the hose. Trying to reach the final steps results in the vacuum tipping forward (because you can't turn the brush roll off). I have to set the machine on the stairs (which Hoover doesn't recommend) to reach the final steps. What a waste of time!

There is also a "Stair Cleaning Handle" by the head of the vacuum. I could also recline the vacuum, grab said handle and clean the stairs one by one, but that method works only if you're quite strong. The vacuum is heavy at 16 pounds. I'd rather use the hose and turbo brush for the stairs.

In addition, the Windtunnel has a rather short 25-foot retractable cord. The lever to retract the cord feels cheap. But the cord reel hasn't broken yet.

My Dyson, DC07, on the other hand, has a MUCH longer hose, wand and cord, giving me a "true" 17-foot reach. It's too bad I gave that vacuum away to my mom, unfortunately.

Very frustrating indeed! I wish that my mom could buy a much cheaper vacuum for her small one bedroom apartment with no pets!!

I have attached some pics to show the hose reach.


  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 3         View Full Size
Post# 290734 , Reply# 9   7/28/2014 at 15:41 (3,531 days old) by GeorgeCT (Fairfield, Connecticut)        
Riccar

georgect's profile picture
One of the many reasons why I love my Riccar Immaculate.
LONG hose, LONG cord, FULL sized tools.

I did EXTRA homework before buying my Riccar after owning the Miele Capricorn (with it's short hose, short cord, tiny tools.)

I don't know why manufacutres think a shorter cord or hose benefits the users at all because it doens't.

How much can it save them? A few bucks?


Post# 290749 , Reply# 10   7/28/2014 at 17:34 (3,531 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Kloveland and Dysonman1's explanations make sense. Marketing psychology, put the longer hose on the premium model to make it feel that much more deluxe, and two less feet of hose per vac on the cheaper models adds up over volume. Sigh.

I did see that the upscale Kenmore elites and Mieles feature 8 ft long hoses. I have never even seen a Riccar or Simplicity canister yet. The nearest Riccar dealer doesn't have them on the floor to look at, preferring uprights to canisters of all the brands he sells. There was one suction only Miele canister total from all his brands and a bunch of uprights, to which he very much tried to direct my attention. Of course with the controls on the handle now you can't swap hoses across models any more, the little processor in the handle won't talk to the processor in the vacuum.

I guess I just have to buy some bare hose stock and make a hose the length I need. Just something that annoys me, with a capital A.


Post# 290784 , Reply# 11   7/28/2014 at 20:16 (3,531 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
Buyer beware......

Some vacmakers are quite deceptive in their measurements for hose length (and cord length). They often include the length of the hose handle in their calculations! Which to me is deceptive since you want to know how long the flexible part is, not the unbendible parts.

Those of you needing longer hoses for your Miele canisters should contact Metro Vacuum in San Diego (I have no business connection to them whatsoever). They advertise a custom-made 15foot stretch hose for Miele canisters!

Indeed, for the past few decades, Sears' has always had at least one deluxe canister featuring an 8-foot hose.


Post# 290794 , Reply# 12   7/28/2014 at 20:51 (3,531 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        
Check the Specs

fan-of-fans's profile picture
With Kenmore, typically the higher up models have longer hoses. My TOL red Progressive for example has an 8 foot hose, while other models have 7 foot. I do believe some of the older Sears Best models in the 70s and 80s had up to a 9 foot hose. I love the long hose on my Kenmore, as I don't have to pull it behind me as often and it can stay out of the way. Vacuums I have with shorter hoses such as my Let's Clean canister can be a little annoying, but most of them are compact vacuums taht I sometimes carry around anyway.

Post# 290850 , Reply# 13   7/29/2014 at 03:36 (3,531 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

I LIKE the longer hoses and CORDS-both that are too short make the machine frustrating to use.ESP to folks that live in older homes that have FEWER power outlets.With my short cord vacs-just connect them to a heavy duty extension cord.That you can fix-but a too short hose?

Post# 290864 , Reply# 14   7/29/2014 at 08:11 (3,530 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
DT..

EM.. Well…if you read your opening paragraph it says your older Kenmore(s) have 8ft long hoses but then you state that newer vacs have no more than 6ft, therefore suggesting that you would have a longer hose to deal where you list a few downsides to a shorter hose.

If you were complaining that your newer Kenmore vacs have a short hose, I offered up my responses to why longer hoses can be a downside compared to shorter ones.

Eurekaprince - I would love to know how Miele can offer an 8ft hose. To my knowledge they have never made a longer hose than 1.8 metres. The extra extension hose that snaps back in use DOES add 1.5 metres out to make 3.3 metres which is effectively 10 metres.

HOWEVER, as I have mentioned before - I have that extension hose but it isn't as free in nature as the standard Miele hose, and when used it can often be too bulky and requires sometimes, dependent on the fill capacity of the bag, the highest suction used on the machine to sustain the suction airflow from the extra bit of hose when stretched out.



Post# 290866 , Reply# 15   7/29/2014 at 08:21 (3,530 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
Furthermore I would like to add some more thoughts concerning length of hose as the other additional piece that is used for general reach, must surely be the suction tubes length, stretched to their fullest - not all brands are the same regarding this too!

I just measured what I have in terms of my vacs and spares and are all approximate:

Miele Triscopic telescopic suction tube 116cm height, 669 grams weight.
Miele twin telescopic tube 103.5cm height, 538 grams weight.

SEBO K telescopic plastic & metal suction tube 94cm height, 495 grams weight
SEBO K/D electric embed plastic & metal suction tube 94cm height, 655 grams weight.
SEBO C telescopic metal suction tube 98cm height, 583 grams weight.
SEBO D twin telescopic suction tube 90cm height, 504 grams weight.

So, even buying a top of the range model may give you extra length hose, you may not get the same kind of tubes.

I haven't measured the actual handles from the end hose to the suction tubes - these wouldn't offer that much of a difference IMHO.


Post# 290867 , Reply# 16   7/29/2014 at 08:23 (3,530 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
Whoops I got mixed up with feet and metres.

It should read:

To my knowledge they have never made a longer hose than 1.8 metres. The extra extension hose that snaps back in use DOES add 1.5 metres out to make 3.3 metres which is effectively 10 FEET !


Post# 290872 , Reply# 17   7/29/2014 at 08:42 (3,530 days old) by jade_angel (Fort Collins, CO)        

That's a big part of the reason why I love my Filter Queen. It's got an 8 foot hose, which is more than enough 95% of the time - and if it's not, there was an 11 foot hose for the Princess series, that'll work just fine on any other FQ out there. IIRC it was even electrified. My Simplicity upright and canister have longish hoses too, more than long enough for anything I use them for.

That said, the short hoses for my Kirby and Royal are quite annoying. Fortunately I don't use the tools on either one very often, but it's a pain when I do.


Post# 290884 , Reply# 18   7/29/2014 at 10:02 (3,530 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Yeah, fan-of-fans, I was spoiled by the nine footers that came with my parents old Kenmore vacs. But finding replacements for them is almost impossible, so I do most of my cleaning with the newer vacs. It is only very recently I have started using newer vacs. The shorter hoses on these bug the crap out of me.

I guess I can make longer hoses if I can find three wire hose stock that is nine feet long and attach my existing hose ends to these. I am also eyeing that tool Kenmore sells for dusting ceiling fan blades and upper shelves. Put that on the end of a wand to reach the places I now have to lift the vacuum to get at.


Post# 290886 , Reply# 19   7/29/2014 at 10:09 (3,530 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        

dysonman1's profile picture
The Maytag M1200 has a 17 foot stretch hose. The vacuum cleaner does not fall over or go flying through the room when you put your hand over the end of the wand, which is also full-size to be able to use the bare floor tool.

  View Full Size
Post# 290901 , Reply# 20   7/29/2014 at 14:08 (3,530 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Wish I could say the same of the hose on my Windsor. Sigh. If I pull it too far the whole vacuum ends up on it's side. On the piece-o-crap Hoover the hose pops out of the recepticle before it can pull the vacuum over. Choose your poison I guess.

I'd like to see Maytag make a good quality canister with no frills, adult sized tools and a price that is competitive with a TOL Kenmore rather than the four figure price tags of Maytag's cousins from Simplicity and Riccar.


Post# 290914 , Reply# 21   7/29/2014 at 15:32 (3,530 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
Well, if the upright falls over you haven't read the user manual. SEBO state clearly that you have to hold the upright with one hand and the hose in the other. OR do as many would do and buy the extension hose and put the upright against a wall and away you go.

But to be honest I dont think SEBO ever intended the X or any of their uprights to offer proper above the floor cleaning. This is why they concentrated more on their cylinder/canister vacs with longer hoses, lighter tubing for added reach and a number of cleaning tools.


Post# 290958 , Reply# 22   7/29/2014 at 18:27 (3,530 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

eurekaprince's profile picture
Nar....I should have been more explicit: Sears has always had one or two deluxe Kenmore canisters (not Miele) which feature an 8 foot hose.

Here is Metro Vac's video of their custom Miele extended length hose:



CLICK HERE TO GO TO eurekaprince's LINK


Post# 290963 , Reply# 23   7/29/2014 at 18:52 (3,530 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
Thank you, Brian - by the looks of it, the handle they have used on that custom built hose is the old style Miele handles with the angle at the collar. Those handles date back to something like the S200 series that was sold back in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s - i THINK. I have seen old Miele handles like that - they are inclined to clog!

Post# 291002 , Reply# 24   7/29/2014 at 23:49 (3,530 days old) by floor-a-matic (somewhere)        

Electrolux woven hoses were VERY short; perhaps 5ft long?  Are the new hoses for the E, F, G, L & R; 1205-1521 Ultralux; & 2100-Lux Classic longer now?

 

TriStar A101, EXL, MG & CS hose just as short as a vintage Lux woven hose.

 

As for the Compact/TriStar hoses; the CXL's hose handle doesn't swivel nor does it have suction reducer valve


Post# 291037 , Reply# 25   7/30/2014 at 04:26 (3,530 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

I ilike the hose length on my NSS M1-haven't measured it-but plenty long enough-you don't have to lift the canister while vacuuming up high.Many others you have to lift the machine to vacuum cobwebs from room corners or the tops of high lamp fixtures.

Post# 291091 , Reply# 26   7/30/2014 at 14:43 (3,529 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Tolivac, exactly my observation. I never had to pick up my oldest vacs to reach the top of a tall book case or the upper levels of the blinds over a bed. At worst you would set the vacuum on end to get the hose to reach, but I never lift one off the floor, and a good thing too as they're heavy.

Sebofan, I have the extension, but there is no place to stow it on the vac, so it gets left in the closet. It doesn't exactly fit in my back pocket dude.


Post# 291092 , Reply# 27   7/30/2014 at 14:46 (3,529 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Maybe this week I can figure out what is ailing the powered floor brush of the Electrolux "shop vac" and start using it to vacuum my home with. That hose looks pretty long, but the machine sits right on the carpet with the hose maybe three inches above floor level if that, not on top of the vac like most canister vacs sold today. Big gray carpet torpedo.

Post# 291094 , Reply# 28   7/30/2014 at 15:04 (3,529 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Not sure about the newer model you have , but my Silverado will sit on it's butt for extra reach, kind of handy at times.

Post# 291102 , Reply# 29   7/30/2014 at 15:48 (3,529 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

The Whimpertone and the earlier 5055 bagged machines will sit on their butts, as will the new Progressive I have (ok I admit it, I bought one and the tools are complete weirdness to me), but that isn't enough to overcome a two or three foot deficit in hose length.



Post# 291217 , Reply# 30   7/31/2014 at 03:21 (3,529 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Many canister vacs made today don't have flat "butts" or it exhausts there so you can't set it on the end.For those nasty,dirty,high up jobs one of my NSS M1's to the rescue! glad it has a long hose-you don't want to have to pick it up and hold it!Weighs at least as much a "G" type Kirby!You can pick it up by using the top of the bag holder rod.That makes a good handle.I use the M1 to clean the AC intake and outlet grates!Spider webs and dust.And whatever is in the duct under the grate.

Post# 291731 , Reply# 31   8/3/2014 at 03:15 (3,526 days old) by vacuumssuck213 ()        
the thread that won't die

This thread has been around forever. My guess is because its never fully been settled and nor will it. Let me take another crack at this while both are good cleaning machines neather is without flaw owning a Dyson dc07 in the past I loved it. Was light weight versitle relitivly quiet picked up like a charm good suction and it didn't look bad ether. Kirby on the other hand. High performance deep cleaning that "seems" unsurpassed easy to maneuver great suction amazing air flow and practical in theory. The problem is Dysons are bagless and anything I've learned no bagless machines have the airflow of a bag. Its pushing air in not through. Also the Dysons straight hose was incredibly annoying and the thing about Dyson there is no easy fix. Broken belt you have to buy a 60 dollar clutch assembly and replacing the part is a chore. And then theres your Kirby its heavy as sin switching from floor to hose mode is less then convenient 90% of the Kirbys claim to fame comes from simple logic that the last one wins tired old Vacs of poor quality help Kirby tremendously if I had to choose I'm with Kirby but in a fair no holds bar its a almost stand still all things considered

Post# 291732 , Reply# 32   8/3/2014 at 03:18 (3,526 days old) by vacuumssuck213 ()        
disregard my last post

I feel so foolish wrong thread

Post# 291763 , Reply# 33   8/3/2014 at 10:59 (3,525 days old) by marks_here (_._)        

marks_here's profile picture
It happens in the best of circles Nathan....you're fine

Post# 291767 , Reply# 34   8/3/2014 at 12:26 (3,525 days old) by panofan (West Coast)        

A while back I bought one of these puppies:
www.amazon.com/Electrolux-Ergospa...

Electrolux (sweedish) ergospace green. Bought from Amazon's warehouse deals - so like returns, damaged boxes, etc. I'm 99.9% sure mine was never even used - either damaged box or immediate return.

It has a 9' hose - the flexible part, and a long cord. Fantastically freeing after a miele with micro everything. But, it doesn't have an electric powerhead - just a turbo brush. So, that would be a non-starter for many of you, but it does great on my carpets.

Loved the long hose so much that I went with getting a central vac (doing a remodel, walls will be open anyway).


Post# 291801 , Reply# 35   8/3/2014 at 18:36 (3,525 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

I keep trying to find a central vac seller that is willing to put some ten foot hoses together on my Kenmore ends. No takers so far. That would solve my dilemma nicely.

Post# 291851 , Reply# 36   8/3/2014 at 23:06 (3,525 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada)        
Dircik

kirbylux77's profile picture
I would try contacting Dave Bychkowsky, who goes on Vacuumland by the username Davinator1977. Dave has made custom Electrolux electric hoses for some of his vacuums, & I intend to contact him to have one made for me for my Electrolux Grand Marquise. He makes the hoses using central vac hose material. If you go to the Vacuumland post below & then scroll down to reply #24, you can see a custom Kenmore hose he has done, so surely he could make one for you. I also put his profile page on Vacuumland for you in the link.

Rob

www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-...


CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbylux77's LINK


Post# 291858 , Reply# 37   8/3/2014 at 23:52 (3,525 days old) by DesertTortoise ()        

Thank you Kirbylux. Thank you very much. I did contact him and I anxiously await his reply.

Boy, that thread sure was interesting if you are a Kenmore canister nutjob like me. One of my vacs, the tan 4.1 two speed, was shown and did you see the prices Sears charged! Holy moly, almost $500 in the mid 1980's for a vacuum! Those are Kirby prices in todays money. That is more than their modern vacs usually sell for today. No wonder those old Kenmores are such durable machines. You paid for a premium vacuum back then and that is what you got. Now if only one could get hoses for them, sigh.



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