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Thread Number: 26294
Bissell C4 Cyclonic Canister Vacuum |
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| Post# 294838 8/21/2014 at 20:42 (3,534 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
My dad just got another free vacuum from the Amazon Vine program! This is my first experience with a canister vacuum. I've always used uprights in my house, so this will be exciting!
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| Post# 294839 , Reply# 1 8/21/2014 at 20:43 (3,534 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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The contents of the box
My pet cat Musashi is curious about this vacuum!
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| Post# 294840 , Reply# 2 8/21/2014 at 20:45 (3,534 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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All put together
All I needed to do to assemble it was to connect the hose, hand grip, wand (which is telescopic) and power head. They all snapped together without any tools.
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| Post# 294847 , Reply# 3 8/21/2014 at 21:19 (3,534 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 294853 , Reply# 4 8/21/2014 at 22:27 (3,534 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center) | ||
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| Post# 294865 , Reply# 5 8/22/2014 at 00:04 (3,534 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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Suckolux, thanks! It's a Siamese cat. He is spoiled... (and sleeping on my computer chair as I write this!)
Super-sweeper, the "1-Click System" consists of 3 tools that are ready to go when you disconnect the power head, wand or handle grip. They consist of: - An upholstery tool on the hose cuff. Has velour strips to pick up hair - A soft dusting tool on the handle grip - A firm dusting tool on the end of the wand All of these tools are interchangeable. In addition, the vacuum came with a crevice tool, but there's no storage for it on the vacuum. I have to stash it in the closet. I'll follow up with a full review sometime. | ||
| Post# 294888 , Reply# 6 8/22/2014 at 06:45 (3,533 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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| Post# 294987 , Reply# 8 8/22/2014 at 16:22 (3,533 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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Sebo_fan, thanks! This is my first canister vacuum. Hah! You can't have my cat! His name is pronounced Moo-sah-shee.
DesertTortoise, my cat was actually named after a famous Japanese samurai, Miyamoto Musashi. I didn't know there was a WWII Japanese battleship called Musashi. I am half-Japanese; however I don't know a whole lot of Japanese culture. My mom is Japanese, so I have an American first name and a Japanese middle name. Now, my Musashi is a house cat. He hates the outdoors! Musashi is about 10 years old, and he sleeps most of the day, usually in odd places. Lazy cat! And now, back to vacuums. No, the crevice tool doesn't store on board, which sucks, literally. And yes, the Bissell C4 does have a powered floor tool. I have attached some pics of it. | ||
| Post# 295004 , Reply# 9 8/22/2014 at 17:27 (3,533 days old) by DesertTortoise () | ||
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Sheesh, why the angst towards this vacuum? | ||
| Post# 295016 , Reply# 11 8/22/2014 at 18:16 (3,533 days old) by godfreys_guy (Melbourne, Australia) | ||
and.... | ||
| Post# 295022 , Reply# 12 8/22/2014 at 19:24 (3,533 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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First impressions
What I like:
1. IT IS QUIET!!! Even with the brush roll spinning, it's not that loud. You can actually hold a conversation with someone in the room while you're vacuuming! 2. It is multi-cyclonic, similar to a Dyson. It has a large outer cyclone, plus 15 smaller cyclones for a total of 16 cyclones. This translates to POWERFUL suction! 3. It has two washable lifetime filters: a foam pre-motor filter located above the cyclones on the dirt tank, plus a pleated post-motor filter on the bottom of the vacuum. So far, it filters really good, as I have not sneezed or seen dust blowing out of it. 4. The power foot is nice and low-profile, so you can get under furniture and under beds. 5. Does great on pet hair! 6. Nice, long telescopic wand for above floor cleaning. What I don't like: 1. The vacuum can be a pain to use, especially if you have wall-to-wall carpeting. It's a little annoying to have to drag the main suction motor part of the vacuum behind you. But the tradeoff is that you're mostly moving the hose and power head, while the bulk and weight of the vacuum is dragged behind you. 2. The power foot is a bit difficult to push on carpets. I have low pile wall-to-wall carpets in my house, and pushing the power foot across the carpets made me sweat. 3. The power foot does not stand up on its own. Luckily, there's a slot on the back of the vacuum that the power foot slides into for storage. 4. The brush roll on the power foot has a small diameter, so it gets tangled easily. Thankfully, it doesn't require any tools in order to clean the brush roll! There are 4 latches on the bottom of the power foot that you press in to clean the brush roll. 5. The dirt tank is TINY! Bissell claims that it is "large capacity," but it fills up quickly. Plus, because of how small it is, pet hair gets stuck in there, so you will have to reach in and pull it out by hand. 6. The telescopic wand is heavy! It will take two hands to clean ceilings. So those are my first impressions. I am very impressed with this vacuum so far. | ||
Post# 295040 , Reply# 13 8/22/2014 at 20:53 (3,533 days old) by bagintheback  (Flagstaff, Arizona) |
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So Many Electrical Connections!  In theory, I think I would like the one-click system and it could be very practical. However the hose, handle, wand and PN are all direct connect and it just seems like too many parts that could possible fail. It's too over engineered for my taste.
How is the cyclonic system? Bissell's cyclonic filtration, such as in the HealthyHome series, have been given high marks in the past. | ||
| Post# 295061 , Reply# 14 8/22/2014 at 22:36 (3,533 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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Citroenbx, I would NEVER blow up this vacuum with C4 bombs. That would be silly! I think the reason why it's called the C4 Cyclonic is because of the EXPLOSIVE suction power.
DesertTortoise, that's very good information! You know your WWII history. But a subject like that should belong in the Miscellanea forum. However, I'm not an upgraded member. Godfreys_guy, the many parts connect to each other using either two- or three-prong plugs. I am attaching pictures to show the many plugs that connect the many pieces to this canister vacuum. Bagintheback, this vacuum does have a 5-year warranty, so that'll give my family some peace of mind if something goes wrong. The cyclonic system is very good! The 16 cyclones filter out the fine dust very well. Only a tiny bit of hair got to the pre-motor filter above the cyclones, and I've only vacuumed my downstairs floors. I will see how dirty it gets over time. Here are pics of the various connections on the vacuum: 1. Hose connector to the vacuum 2. Hose port on the vacuum 3. Hose end that connects to the handle grip 4. Handle grip end that connects to the hose end 5. End of the handle grip that the telescopic wand attaches to 6. End of the telescopic wand that connects to the handle grip 7. End of the telescopic wand that the power foot connects to 8. Power foot connector | ||
| Post# 295079 , Reply# 16 8/23/2014 at 01:34 (3,532 days old) by DesertTortoise () | ||
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My family had skin in WWII and my mother was part of the Manhatten Project. It remains kinda personal for me. | ||
| Post# 295081 , Reply# 17 8/23/2014 at 02:48 (3,532 days old) by oliveoiltinfoil (England, UK) | ||
Very nice thread, and a very nice looking vacuum. Bissell did the C4 models here in the UK for a short while without the PN's, which is a shame because this vacuum looks like it is a similar design to the powerglide upright which has incredible agitation, but Bissell have taken that and the cylinder off the market here, probably because of the EU regs coming in September which exceed the limits of 1600.
Very interesting to know that you are half Japanese. I am half German and I go to Germany about 3 times a year. Very nice place, very polite people and very similar to the UK in lots of ways. I have always wanted to go to Japan. Nice that Japan is now one of the strongest allies to Europe and the west in this untrustworthy and increasingly dangerous world ! | ||
| Post# 295164 , Reply# 18 8/23/2014 at 15:25 (3,532 days old) by kirbylux77 (London, Ontario, Canada) | ||
Niclonnic, thanks for posting your Bissell C4 vacuum. Looks really nice! However, for me, I see some things about it that are deal-breakers & I couldn't buy it because of them.
1. The unique size of the wand, hose & attachments. With the ends being square instead of round, there's no way you are going to find an adapter to fit generic tools from a vac shop, or favorite tools from an old vac. If you're picky about the quality & design of the tools you use with your vacuum, like I am, that is a HUGE problem. 2. No bare floor brush included. Now, this I simply don't get! How can a manufacturer make a powerhead canister & expect only the powerhead to clean bare floors? You have to have both with a powerhead canister, as many people won't be convinced a powerhead with it's brushroll turned off could clean as well as a dedicated floor brush. Count me as one of them. Plus it seems to me this is a growing trend with powerhead canisters to see no bare floor brush included. 3. Poor quality attachments. I don't like how the upholstery brush & dusting brush were designed, doesn't look like they would do a good job or that much thought had gone into their design. 4. No crevice tool storage. They can accomodate all of the tools except the crevice tool? Somebody should have found a spot to store it. 5. The wimpy powerhead brushroll. The powerhead doesn't look like it would groom carpets that are medium & high pile, or shag, really well. Plus if you say that hair wraps around the brush & needs cleaning constantly, that would just be a nuisance to some people. It might even be reason enough for some people to sell it second-hand & find something better. Plus, if the bottom plate is being removed all the time to clean the brushroll, at some point it's going to break & need replacement. 6. The foam pre-filter & washable post filter. As an allergy sufferer, this would be unsuitable for me. Washable HEPA filters do NOT meet the same stringent HEPA standards as a H12 HEPA filter, like Tacony, Miele & Sebo, among others, use. Even if it does filter well, it's filtering abilities will start to drop off & it will need replacement. And if it's going to need replacement, then it's just better to buy a disposable HEPA filter that's not meant to be washed. Plus, the foam filter would let a LOT more dust through than the style of filter that is encased in rubber with a fabric "mesh" material inside, like Dyson & Hoover use on some of their models. I have looked at a few other bagless canisters lately. I looked at the Hoover Air Pro canister, & while it has a huge bin & overall nice design, it's let down by a poor quality HEPA filter on it's exhaust. The Kenmore 600 series bagless canister, it has a really nice powerhead, huge sealed HEPA filter & nice tools, but the bin capacity is small & it looks like a poor design too. Plus, it uses the old-style wand & hose connections that are known to be problematic. I am going to wait until I can see the new Samsung Motion Sync bagless canister in person....it looks like a really nice design, & if it has a good quality HEPA filter, I will buy one. Rob | ||
| Post# 295249 , Reply# 19 8/24/2014 at 00:13 (3,532 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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DesertTortoise, this is my first canister, so I can't really compare this Bissell to other canister vacuums, in terms of tool attachments.
Oliveoiltinfoil, thanks! I, too, have always wanted to go to Japan. In January of this year, my mom and sister went to Japan for 3 weeks. Now I would like to go, too! One of these days... Rob, I need to play with the C4 some more before I write a full review, but your points do sound like deal-breakers. I was wrong about the foam pre-motor filter. That filter is actually a fabric "mesh" material encased in hard plastic, similar to Dyson and Hoover filters. In fact, my Hoover Windtunnel 2 Rewind Pet uses the same style filter, just in a different color! To get to the pre-motor filter, first remove the dirt tank, then press on the latch that says "filter" and open the top of the dirt tank. From there, you can remove the pre-motor filter. It is recommended to wash that filter every 3 months. To get to the post-motor filter, tilt the vacuum onto its backside to expose the bottom. Press the two latches on the filter door on the bottom and pivot the door away from the machine. Press the latch inside and tilt the post-motor filter away from the compartment. It is also recommended to wash that filter every 3 months. Here are some pics to clarify. (Sorry, the pics are kinda dark, it's 10:00 at night.) | ||
| Post# 299615 , Reply# 20 9/24/2014 at 19:46 (3,500 days old) by niclonnic (Bonney Lake, WA) | ||
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Full review
Preface:
The $300 Bissell C4 Cyclonic bagless canister vacuum claims to have upright power in the convenience of a canister. It has very powerful suction, about on par or better than Dyson in this respect. This is my first experience with a canister, so it takes some getting used to. If you have a large house with wall-to-wall carpeting, this'll be a little annoying to use, because you have to drag the main part of the vacuum behind you. The hose is strong and durable, and it tugs the canister around the house without issue. Watch this vacuum when you drag it around. It tends to get stuck on my couch. Floor cleaning: On carpets, the Bissell C4 performs very well, with its powerful suction and Bissell's "power foot" floor nozzle. The power foot features a revolving brush roll, similar to an upright vacuum, to allow for better carpet cleaning. It is perfect for pet owners, as it picks up pet hair very quickly. In addition, the power foot swivels, though not nearly as well as a Dyson Ball. I found this feature to be very, very nice, as it makes vacuuming smoother and easier. One thing that I love about this vacuum is that the power foot is nice and low-profile, so you can actually vacuum under beds and furniture, something that is a next to impossible feat with uprights. The vacuum also does excellent on hard floors. The power foot's brush roll can be turned off right at the handle, so it can clean hard floor surfaces without scattering the dirt. When cleaning bare floors, any debris that you pass over with the power foot gets sucked up before you even hover over it. If you have pets or people with long hair, this is not the machine for you! The brush roll has a small diameter, which gets tangled VERY easily. I have to clean it off after every use! Above floor cleaning: The vacuum does well at above floor cleaning, thanks to a long, telescopic wand and Bissell's "1-Click" integrated tools. There is an upholstery tool, soft dusting tool and firm dusting tool integrated right onto the hose cuff, handle grip and telescopic wand, respectively. You just have to detach the power foot, wand or handle grip to use one of those tools. The upholstery tool works well for removing pet hair from furniture, though hair gets stuck on the velour strip on the tool, so you have to pick it out and put it into the vacuum's suction. A suction regulation valve is located on the underside of the handle, so if you're vacuuming a real dense fabric, you can open that valve to cut off some of the suction. This makes said fabrics easier to clean. Unfortunately, this vacuum does not come with a turbo brush, which a lot of vacuums at this price range have. A turbo brush works GREAT for stairs and upholstery, so it's a little disappointing that one is not included with this vacuum. Filtration: The Bissell C4 features multi-level filtration (not HEPA). There are two washable lifetime filters on this vacuum; a fabric "honeycomb" pre-motor filter, encased in hard plastic with a rubber seal, is located above the dirt tank. A pleated post-motor filter is on the bottom of the vacuum. Filtration is excellent! It does not aggravate my allergies when I vacuum. In addition, the post-motor filter has NO carbon dust on it! Normally, vacuum motors emit carbon dust, but somehow this one doesn't! I will see if the post-filter gets dirty in a few months. Cyclonic system: The vacuum features a multi-cyclonic separation system, consisting of a large outer cyclone, plus 15 smaller cyclones, bringing the grand total to 16 cyclones on this machine. However, the cyclones are somewhat inefficient, and allow some hair and dust to pass through, clogging the pre-motor filter. However, the vacuum never loses suction. Maintenance: The vacuum's dirt tank is TINY! I didn't expect it to be so small on such a big and heavy machine. Because of how small the dirt tank is, emptying it is an awful experience. To empty it, you HAVE to reach in and pull the debris out by hand. No matter how hard you smack the dirt tank (without breaking it) or tap it against the inside of a trash can, the dirt just won't come out. Both filters, on the other hand, need to be rinsed with water every 3 months. Conclusion: Overall, the Bissell C4 is a very powerful performer. The vacuum performs very well on carpets and removes a lot of pet hair, and it does great at above floor cleaning. If you can get used to dragging the vacuum behind you, this may be just right for you. Overall: 4 out of 5
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