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Because so many people on this board have praised Dyson vacuums in the past and because reviews are uniformly good, I purchase a DC-41 (animal roller ball) just as we moved into this house. (Previous homes have had central vacuum systems.)

After just about 5 weeks of use, the slender plastic rod that releases the canister bin from the cyclone assembly broke.

I called customer service and they are sending a replacement--good service if it arrives on time. BUT the question is, was this a fluke or is this going to continue to happen. The warranty is only for a year. At $95 dollars a pop for a replacement assembly (you can't just purchase this small part) after the warranty ends I am going to go into serious expenditures to keep this machine running (not to mention 2 weeks down time every time it breaks (the dirt bin won't stay on with a broken assembly.

If it breaks again should I just chalk this up to experience and spend the $1000 or so that it will cost to install a central vac?

By the way I have quite a few hard floors in the house and I don't find it so superior in cleaning these. The carpet cleaning appears to be good to excellent. Otherwise, it is noisy--a negative in my book and that tiny little dust container doesn't hold that much requiring frequent emptying which probably why the slender plastic rod broke in the first place. (My former central vac dust container was outside in the garage and only had to be emptied no more often than once a month and usually for a much longer period.)

I don't like the hose assembly either. It is stiff (I imagine it will loosen up more with use) and the wand is a pain in the neck. It makes it very difficult to vacuum some thinsg like lamp shades or the top of a cabinet since the assembly won't bend close to the attachment. (I know I can purchase a flexible head but this isn't cheap and you still have that long wand to deal with.) Maybe I just purchased the wrong model.

I am conflicted.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gwenda,

There was either a Hoover or Eureka (I think Hoover) that tested higher in suction power than the Dyson. It was also a bagless. Sorry but I do not remember the name of the specific model.

I have had my Dyson Ball for 6 years, as I can recall. No issues or problems with it what so ever. DH and I use it regularly as we have lots of carpet and two Goldens, but plastic is not metal, so one cannot be rough with it. (Not saying you were, but it could have been a defective part)
Was this one refurbished? Or brand new?

I've had my Dyson since '06 (?) and am still very happy with it. Two friends have purchased Dyson on my recommendation are are also thrilled. However, it's possible that Dyson won't work for you (OP), and a central vac better suits your preferences.

As an aside, I believe that the promotion about Dyson's superior suction includes the statement that it doesn't lose the suction power over time. So, there may be other vacuum brands that perform as well as Dyson when new but not to the level of Dyson's suction power as time goes by.

Brand new vacuum. I hope this was a fluke because I would hate to have wasted the money on it. I can't say we are particularly hard on vacuums. It was DH who emptied right before I discovered the break so maybe he forced something not understanding the assembly completely. Who knows. I do know in addition to the complete break further up the same red plastic rod there is a whitish colored part which looks like a portion about to fracture in two as well.

Even if we figure out why this part broke there is still that issue of the stiff wand. How do you folks actually vacuum places like tops of cabinets and lamp shades? I like to use my vacuum for these as well as base boards, wooden blinds, etc. since I want the dust out of the house not moved around. Could be my arthritic arms and hands just can't handle this since you are putting two inflexibles together. (wand and wrists and hands) I always managed this with the central vac because you had a very flexible hose up to the ergonomic handle and then placed your attachment right below the handle so no more than 12 inches and probably less was inflexible.

I do like the way it vacuums carpet (I have three dogs--two bearded collies) but the majority of my first floor is hard wood so that may be the problem. I don't find it is particularly easy to navigate on hand-scraped hardwood. I finds it leaves some dust along the baseboards unless I pull out the hose and attach the brush. Wish they made some sort of attachment that would dust the floor as well as suck up debris. Oh wait, I guess I should look into that other expensive piece of equipment made for hard floors.

I guess I am discouraged since I am without any kind of vacuum while I wait for the part. A broom, dustpan and dust mop just don't cut it.

I am sorry to be such a grouch. It is just that I am so disappointed in a very expensive product which looks to need more dollars spent on it. This was a lot to pay for plastic!

Can you return it? We have a central vacuum system too but I also have an Oreck for small quick jobs.

Good idea. I'll have to check since I ordered it online from the Dyson store. First though I am leaving in the morning for a much, much needed vacation in Maui. It has been a tough summer with lots of stress. We've cancelled two trips so we must have this one or their will be murder or divorce in this house.

Have fun, Gwenda, you deserve it!

I've had my first Dyson for 10 years and have never had anything break NOR has it ever lost suction (which is a problem I always had with every other vacuum I've ever owned -- dog hair DOES clog them up!) and I liked it so much that I got a second so I can have one up and one down.

I think that perhaps you're not enamored with the Dyson that it doesn't compare to your old Central Vac and that perhaps you should return it and get a new Central Vac.

Not everyone LOVES the Dyson as much as I do and I do sing it's praises.

Hopefully because it broke you can return it and then get what you really want.

Have fun on your vacation -- you can decide what to do while you're gone!

Martha

You do know that the long stiff wand unclips from the hose right?
Then you just attach the short brush attachments to the hose and do your lampshades and top of cabinets.

quote:

Originally posted by zone9alady:
You do know that the long stiff wand unclips from the hose right?
Then you just attach the short brush attachments to the hose and do your lampshades and top of cabinets.

My biggest complaint about Dyson, besides it not fitting under my furniture, is the lack of instructions. I've learned so much watching the demonstrations on HSN even though that's not where I bought it. Zone9alady's tip above was one of the things I learned watching a demo.

You're right Gracie, the only instructions that came with mine is how to clean the two filters.

You have to figure everything else out yourself. I did purchase a few extra attachments for cleaning in tight spots and the ceiling fans.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: zone9alady,

You mean that long stiff wand comes off! I guess I better watch some television. Seriously, lousy instructions with the machine.

Maui was wonderful by the way with temperatures in the eighties (it has been over a hundred in DFW) and that beautiful blue water...

The replacement part came. As soon as I can unglue my eyelids (we flew back overnight and with a grandchild sitting next to me sleep was elusive), I will open the box and put it together. Since the beardies stayed home with a twice a day dog sitter visit, there is a lot of hair to take care of. (Looks like tumbleweeds)

Dwenda, Glad to hear that you had a great time in Hawaii - now back to reality!

I've had two Dysons and, to be honest, the jury is still out here. To back up a bit, I have always had cats and NEVER a problem with fur until we agreed to "foster" niece's two Maine Coons - then the fur really started flying!

To niece's credit, she sent us a re-furbished Dyson from Over-Stock shortly after we took them in - rescued from the "no-kill" shelter she had been forced to take them to after an unexpected RIF and loss of her home. The gesture was really touching as I knew she was living paycheck to paycheck at the time - BUT the clutch burnt out just after one year - and Dyson said they could fix it for $125.

Went back to my two Oreck's (one for each floor) while I thought about the time, effort and money to ship it back to be fixed. Have to say that the Orecks do the job and are sturdy BUT do not have the suction the Dyson did. So on Black Friday, I bought a brand-new Dyson DC-23 Animal which works great including the emptying cannister - think maybe you got a fluke there? Haven't had any problems in that regard BUT:

I agree that the instructions (such as they are) are extremely bad - no help at all. The biggest problem I have had is the floor roller (don't know what to call it - the instructions are so bad that they don't even identify parts by name - just pictures) gets clogged quite often.

My other complaint is that the Dyson attachments are NOT interchangeable between models. I've accepted that the one with a burnt-out clutch is history but its attachments are still new - just don't fit my new Animal Dyson - why not?

Bottom line, you might be happier with a central vacuum system since that is what you are used to using BUT, even with the lack of interchangable parts and poor instructions, the Dyson (when it is working well) is heads and tails above the others when it comes to suction power! Good luck deciding what to do!