Advantages To Canister Vacuums Canister Vacuums Offer Ergonomic Benefits Extending The Vacuum’s Reach Caring For Canister Vacuums BY Kassandra Kania Advantages To Canister Vacuums Sponsors CRI Gold Seal of Approval Sanitaire EON™ QuietClean® upright delivers an exceptional clean 24/7 Industry-Leading Runtime Cordless GoFree® Flex Pro backpack cleans for approx. 75 min per charge Is Your Facility Using the Right Kind of Vacuum to Meet Your Needs of Your Facility in Wellsville, NY, 14895 - ACS Facilities Services Go To http://www.acsfacilities.com/ for free articles. Canister vacuums are proving their worth as a viable alternative to backpacks and uprights Canisters share many of the merits of backpack vacuums, yet they are often overlooked in commercial cleaning applications. Some custodians find them bulky and difficult to transport on cleaning carts, while others favor their maneuverability, ergonomic benefits and extended reach. According to Allen Rathey, principal of the Healthy Facilities Institute, Meridian, Idaho, one of the reasons canisters elicit a negative response from some users is because they require a different mode of operation. “We are creatures of habit, so if you’re used to an upright, you might find a canister cumbersome,” he admits. “It’s like riding a bicycle. You either learn how to use it and integrate it into your cleaning routine, or you don’t.” Despite the learning curve, proponents of canister vacuums say that with proper training, custodial professionals may prefer canisters as a productive alternative to backpacks and uprights, depending on their facility’s needs. Keeping It Simple Canister vacuums are often as powerful as uprights when it comes to suction — and in some instances, more so. Their weight is evenly distributed on wheels, allowing for a larger motor, which offers potential performance advantages. Canisters may also be a strong choice for addressing indoor air quality concerns. “Larger motors can drive air through larger filters, so you can have a more robust filter [with a canister],” Rathey says. “They also have a sealed body, so there are fewer places for dust to leak out.” Like backpacks, canisters have fewer moving parts than uprights, resulting in less downtime and repair costs. “One of the major benefits of canisters is less maintenance,” notes Bill Griffin, president of Cleaning Consultant Services, Seattle. “Generally, there are no belts involved, and they have good air flow, so you can pick up larger objects without worrying about them getting caught in the hoses or the belts.” And because filter maintenance on canister vacuums is a simple process, users are more likely to change filters when needed. “Maintaining filters is easier on a canister than an upright,” notes Ben Walker, principal consultant, ManageMen Inc., Salt Lake City. “Most canisters have a lid that you can open to pull the filter out and exchange it. And if you’re using a canister with a beater bar attachment, you need to empty your filters every couple of hours, otherwise you’ll lose suction and you won’t be able to manage the dust levels in your building.”