Features of Kirby vacuum cleaners and popular models

The Kirby vacuum cleaner is well known to the Russian consumer due to the peculiarity of its sales. The equipment is sold exclusively through a network of distributors, it is not available for free sale. As a result of the obsession of sellers and the high cost of units, people have formed a stable negative attitude towards these devices, due to which no one is looking at the undoubted advantages of vacuum cleaners and their high assessment by specialists. However, this situation is fundamentally flawed, and for the sake of fairness, you should look at the Kirby units from a different angle.

Back in 1914, an American engineer-inventor from Ohio, Jim Kirby, designed the first vacuum cleaner, which marked the beginning of the creation of the company of the same name, which is successfully flourishing to this day. For more than a century of history, more than 200 types of various equipment have come off the assembly line of the enterprise, of which a vacuum cleaner has become the most popular device. In total, the company produced about 40 models, which is explained by its unusual approach to the assortment, when one new modification is released every 2-3 years. During the production process, it is often improved and modernized, but its name remains unchanged. With the launch of each new model, the previous one is immediately removed from production, and it becomes possible to acquire it only from hands. To date, the company is engaged in the release of a model called Kirby Avalir 2 and has offices in more than 70 countries around the world.

As mentioned above, the sale of vacuum cleaners is carried out with the help of distributors who go from door to door and demonstrate the capabilities of the miracle technology to Russian consumers. With this method of sales, it is not complete without incidents, which are due to the dishonesty of some sellers. So, there are cases when the distributor greatly overestimated the cost of the unit, and the gullible owners gave almost one and a half times more money than the device actually cost. Another point to be aware of is the imposition of a loan, which, it would seem, is quite logical, since the most budgetary new model cannot cost less than 100,000 rubles. but when concluding a loan agreement, you must carefully study all the documents and correlate your capabilities with the final price of the equipment, which, taking into account interest, can be much higher than the initial cost of the device.

It should also be borne in mind that sales of such expensive equipment are, as a rule, handled by experienced managers, who often overestimate the capabilities of the unit and do not allow the owners to assess the situation sensibly. In general terms, the sale scheme looks like this: on the street or by phone, a potential client is asked how he feels about his health, and then follows a story about a miracle technique, which will be kindly demonstrated to him at a convenient time, and absolutely free of charge. The purpose of this presentation is the address of the person to whom, at the appointed hour, a young man in an expensive suit, indicating the solidity of the company, appears. He takes out a presentable and serious-looking unit from the box and asks the client to vacuum the area of ​​the carpet with his own vacuum cleaner.

Then he solemnly puts a snow-white filter on the Kirby brush and runs it several times over the same area.As a result, dirty streaks appear on the white filter, due to Kirby's ability to whip up dust with air, which makes even a small amount of it look intimidating. Next, the most active stage of imposing goods begins, accompanied by a story about the dangers of dust and its connection with various diseases, ranging from asthma to lung cancer.

Further, the white filter changes to black and a similar manipulation is carried out on the bed, after which white traces appear on it, which the manager calls the most dangerous saprophyte mites and scales of dead skin. This action can last from 2 to 4 hours, after which the client already knows little and is ready to sign any contract, losing all long-term savings. As a result, people part with their last money, making a purchase that they never planned.

To avoid such situations, it is recommended to make such purchases only in the presence of other family members, request documents from the distributor organization for the right to distribute the company's products, and remember that even a many-hour demonstration of a vacuum cleaner in an apartment does not oblige you to purchase this device.

The Kirby vacuum cleaner is a vertical unit powered by an electrical network. Below are the main technical parameters of the device, by which you can get an impression of the functionality and operational capabilities of this technology.

• Power the electric motor is not constant and may vary depending on the selected mode. So, when switching to low-speed mode, the power consumption will be 0.64 kW, while at maximum speed it can reach 0.78 kW.
• Suction power directly depends on the power of the electric motor and at low speeds is 660 mm Hg. Art., and on large - 939.
• The volume of the dust container is also an important technical indicator and affects the usability of the device. Kirby units are equipped with a sufficiently large bag designed for 7.5 kg. This allows you to clean large areas without interruption to empty it.
• Nozzle width the vacuum cleaner is 38 cm, which makes it possible to quickly and efficiently clean spacious rooms, capturing as much surface as possible at a time.
• Unit height when unfolded it is 124 cm, when folded - 110. The depth is 42 and 14 cm, respectively, the width is 39 cm. The weight of the vacuum cleaner is 10.5 kg.
• Noise level is a very controversial characteristic and for some reason is not indicated by the manufacturer. However, there is reason to believe that, due to the presence of an aluminum case, the vibration and sound transmission coefficient in such models is quite high. These fears were indirectly confirmed by an independent examination of Rospotrebnadzor, which determined that the Kirby noise level is one and a half times higher than the maximum permissible values. But in fairness, it should be noted that no official tests were carried out in this regard, so we will leave this question on the conscience of the manufacturer.

The Kirby vacuum cleaner consists of a die-cast aluminum body, an electric motor, a turbine, filters, a control handle and a dust bag. Due to the metal design, the body of the device is a little heavy, therefore, for ease of use, the design is equipped with small wheels. The handle has a comfortable ergonomic shape and is equipped with control buttons and mode switches. On the front panel of the unit there is LED backlighting, which allows operating the device in low light conditions.

The drive pulley of the units is made using electroforming technology and extremely precise machining, and the high-speed bearings of the electric motor are made of modern extra-strong alloys and are reliably protected from dust penetration. In combination with a strong, highly elastic corrugation, these units provide the vacuum cleaner with a long service life, which, according to manufacturers, is over 30 years. The warranty period, during which the cost of repair and maintenance of the device is borne by the company, is limited to three years.

Kirby vacuum cleaners are equipped with a large number of accessories, such as brushes and various types of attachments, an important point in the description of which is the material of their manufacture. The fact is that the manufacturer positions them as "eternal" and in support of it encloses a certificate, according to which materials obtained as a result of space technologies are used for their production. Moreover, natural horsehair is used to make the bristle of the brushes, which significantly improves the quality of cleaning and allows you to efficiently collect fine dust. Below are the additional accessories included in the basic package of the vacuum cleaner.

• Dust bag with a filter installed inside.
• Turbo brush for dry cleaning of carpets. When rotating, this nozzle is capable of lifting the fibers of the carpet and pulling out dust from under them. The height of the bristles is adjustable depending on the pile of the carpet and allows you to clean both lint-free models and fluffy carpets with thick and deep pile.
• The nozzle for wet cleaning of carpets is intended for processing models of any hairiness with the use of shampoo.
• Nozzle for polishing and polishing parquet.
• Squeegee equipped with a roller for applying mastic to wood, cork or vinyl floors.
• Brushes for cleaning door handles, walls and ceilings.
• A set of nozzles for cleaning upholstered furniture and other fabrics such as car interiors or clothing.
• Massage nozzle.
• Slotted nozzles for removing dust from radiators and other hard-to-reach places.
• Ball inflator.
• Sewer blockage nozzle.
• Spray gun designed for spraying non-flammable liquids.
• A set of hoses and telescopic tubes.
• Rack stand for storing accessories.

The scope of use of the Kirby vacuum cleaner is quite wide. With its help, you can not only clean the sofa or vacuum the carpet, but also clean the air of the apartment from an unpleasant odor. To do this, it is enough to place the flavoring tablet in the bin and turn on the unit: the sucked-in air will pass through the HEPA filter and leave microparticles with a diameter of up to 0.01 microns in it. This allows the unit to easily cope with tobacco smoke and other odors. Moreover, the filter effectively traps pollen of plants, dust mites and particles of dead skin of people and animals, so it can be used in homes where there are small children and allergy sufferers.

Thanks to special Kirby attachments, the cleaning depth can be up to 50 cm, which allows processing upholstered furniture, mattresses and car interiors. The device is also used for cleaning clothes, tiles, baseboards and refrigerators, and a special turbo brush is capable of polishing mirrors and car bodies. The massage attachment will help get rid of cellulite and relieve swelling, and the pneumatic pump function will inflate the wheel of the car and inflate the swimming mattress. In addition, Kirby can be used as a cleaning vacuum cleaner, effectively removing stubborn dirt from hard and soft surfaces.

Like any household appliance, the Kirby vacuum cleaner has both strengths and weaknesses.The advantages of units include the following factors:

• high suction power allows you to remove dust from pillows and upholstered furniture, as well as from under carpets, without lifting them;
• thanks to multi-stage filtration, the air returned to the room is 99.5% cleared of dust particles, which allows the device to be classified as a fairly efficient vacuum cleaner;
• due to the vertical orientation of the body, the unit does not take up much space during storage and is convenient for transportation;
• for the manufacture of the device, only high-quality materials, certified units, strong corrugation and patented innovative technologies are used, which makes the device very reliable and durable;
• thanks to a well-thought-out design, even the elderly and adolescents can use the unit;
• a perpetual upgrade program allows you to technically upgrade your vacuum cleaner completely free of charge at a service center.

Disadvantages include heavy weight, high noise levels, inconvenient brush height adjustment, and the absence of a cable reeling device. However, the main disadvantage is considered to be the too high cost of the device, which makes it inaccessible for most Russian families. Although in fairness it should be noted that in the US its price does not exceed $ 500, and in Germany - 400 euros. This gives reason to believe that the cost of 100 thousand rubles and above is nothing more than the exclusive greed of the selling companies.

Judging by the reviews, three models claim to be the most effective and functional devices.

• Vacuum cleaner Kirby Avalir 2 equipped with a 0.76 kW motor, powered by a 220 V power source and designed for dry and wet cleaning of all types of surfaces. The model was launched in 2017 and is equipped with an improved Micron Magic HEPA filter, thanks to which the air undergoes 7-stage purification. In addition, the device is characterized by low power consumption and stylish design, and the motor has an extended service life of more than 1000 hours. The disadvantage is the high cost, which starts from 100,000 rubles.

• Model Kirby Avalir is an earlier modification and was produced from 2014 to 2016. The device is equipped with a 0.64 kW motor, powered by 220 V and equipped with a HEPA filter. A distinctive feature of the unit is a large number of working attachments and the presence of a special box for their storage. This model is considered quite budgetary and costs just over 60,000 rubles. Disadvantages include difficulties in cleaning large soft toys and heavy carpets, for which the power of the device is simply not enough to dedust. In addition, the cost of replacement branded filters is unreasonably high - you will have to pay 2,500 rubles for a set of five pieces.

• Unit Kirby Sentria 2 was produced from 2012 to 2014 and is by far the most popular example of the Kirby family. The model is considered quite outdated, which is why a used device can be purchased for 50 thousand rubles. Engine power is 0.7 kW, power supply - 220 V, filtration system - HEPA. The device is equipped with a large number of different attachments, has a beautiful aluminum body and has a high suction power. Among the disadvantages are the sluggishness of the unit, the large weight and some complexity of the design, which will not allow, for example, the girl to disassemble and assemble the device to replace the filter on her own. In addition, when the nozzle is firmly pressed against the carpet or carpet, the engine starts to work at increased speeds and quickly overheats.

Like any other vacuum cleaner, Kirby needs careful use and adherence to certain rules of use.

• Before connecting the device to the network, inspect the cable and plug for damage and, if found, contact the service center.
• It is forbidden to allow the wire to come into contact with heating devices, as well as run into it with a vacuum cleaner and bend the cable strongly.
• Do not trust the device to small children, and do not leave it switched on in the absence of adults.
• Cleaning of glass and other piercing - cutting elements is prohibited. Otherwise, the integrity of the dust container may be compromised and it will need to be replaced.
• During wet cleaning, do not allow foam and liquid to fall on the body of the vacuum cleaner. If this does happen, you need to disconnect the device from the electricity and wipe it with a dry cloth. Connect the cord to the outlet only with dry hands.

In general, customers appreciate the performance of Kirby vacuum cleaners, noting the high quality of cleaning and the versatility of the devices. Attention is also paid to the durability of the devices, which allows them to be used for daily cleaning for many years. In addition, many consumers point to a fairly effective elimination of unpleasant odors and the ability of vacuum cleaners to clean well pet hair. Attention is also drawn to the solid appearance of the unit, a long wire (10 m) and a convenient holder for nozzles.

As for the disadvantages, each model has its own: for example, the owners "Sentria G10E" dissatisfied with the noise of the device and the smell of burnt rubber that occurs at the slightest overload of the engine, while the owners "Avalir 2" note the expensive maintenance and painful sensations when using the massage attachment. Buyers of the Sentria model complain about the sluggishness of the device, which turns cleaning into rather hard work, and the low availability of spare parts. However, a common disadvantage, which was pointed out by most Kirby owners, is the uselessness of 70% of the attachments and the inexpediency of maintaining such a unit for most city apartments.

See the following video for how to properly use the Kirby Vacuum Cleaner.