I had the demo. It seems like a great solution to all the dust we encounter. That is until I researched and found out that it uses a hepa filter on the air return/output. I even read a some reviews that say the dust passes through the water and deosn’t actually filter through the water. So is this product a scam? It really seems to be as a person that doesn’t like to be lied to or screwed on a deal of any kind let alone a $3,000 dollar vacuum/air filter.
I’ve read almost 100 reviews on multiple sites including every site you can think of. So based on your ACTUAL experience with this product, if anyone has used, researched or are an expert on vacuums, does the rainbow vac’s the newest model actually trap all the dust? If so please explain how the scent gets through and why there is a need for a hepa filter? The sales lady said that ALL toxins and dust get filtered through the water but she could not explain how the scent from the perfumed oil gets through to the return to “purify the air” when really it just gave me a pounding headache that’s kept me up all night.
No direct experience with this brand, but I did look at it just now online.
You may want to look at NIKRO H.E.P.A vacuums at (nikro.com) I have a tri-motor model and while larger than most folks will want, it is exceptional. Models start around $500. NO water, but NO dust either because of the replaceable H.E.P.A filter.
You can download a current catalog (with prices) from their website.
So they’re not claiming that the water traps everything. Essentially, it seems like the water is simply replacing the first one, two, or three stages of a typical vacuum cleaning system.
Any system that ends with a true HEPA filter should be filtering out all of the same contaminants. So it comes down to the other factors:
form factor: such as canister, upright, handheld, or my personal favorite, backpack
ease of maintenance: how hard is it to empty? Replace/clean filters? Replace any drive belts? How large is the dirt reservoir?
total cost of ownership: cost and necessity of replacement parts, overall reliability, and reliance on consumable parts all play a factor. You also want to find out who can repair it if it needs a more in-depth service. Some specialty systems require you to send the vacuum away to a ‘certified’ repair center, where they really stick it to you (plus, you’re out a vacuum for weeks on end)
features/accessories and interchangeability: does it work with standard 1.25" vacuum attachments? Does it have other features you need in a vacuum, such as a powered floor brush (aka “power nozzle”)?
Personally, I think you can get pretty much the best of all the above features for well under $1,000. There are certain specialized vacuums that are rightly priced higher than that. But any system that is marketed for household use and exceeds the $1,000 mark seems like overkill and probably overpriced/hyped up. Just my humble opinion
Former vacuum mechanic here. Just because a vacuum has a HEPA filter does not mean that its exhaust will reach the maximum potential of the filter. Many vacuums have issues with sealing their systems, so the air getting pushed through the HEPA is really clean, but other air is allowed to escape from numerous locations before it reaches the filtration matrix. Also consider that electric motors produce carbon dust from the brush/commutator friction, and this too enters the air surrounding the vacuum unless it is adequately sealed and filtered.
If premium filtration is a must, look at MIELE vacuums. They are not cheap, but they do just about everything right when it comes to filtration. Also, they last forever. I bought one for my parent’s anniversary 15 years ago and it still works like new.
If the vacuum is for commercial use, I recommend SEBO. Their filtration system is very good too, and the motors are indestructible. I only ever heard of one SEBO coming in for mechanical service and it was cause the motor bearing was shot and the cleaner who ran it always wore earbuds and didn’t hear the squealing and ran it for months and months until the armature seized. FWIW they use SEBO vacs in the white house and Buckingham Palace.
Are you looking to buy the vacuum for your house or work? I wouldnt bother for work. And from what I’ve heard its a pain in the butt cleaning the mud that you make from vacuuming.
yeah i was going to justify it by bying more than one for the company for marketing and what not by way of saying we bring rainbow vacuums inside your home because they also swear by their air filtration but yeah its so dang expensive.
You can get a SEBO G1 or G2 with “hospital grade” filtration for about $600. Nice buzzword for marketing and you know you’re getting a reliable machine that will pay for itself many times over.
what about dyson, I’m not sure upright vacuums are good for tracks. But I like that you can vacuum up water in the Rainbow you can soak water in the tracks with chemicals to break loose dirt and other debris then vacuum it right up. that is the major reason i would by one that and the air filtration while dusting in the house, however they say DO NOT OPEN THE SCREWS INSIDE OR IT VOIDS THE WARRANTY. I wonder if thats becuse they dont want you seeing the hepa after they lied and said its strictly water filtered. Or what.
Dyson vacs are not going to stand up to any kind of commercial use. They are very gimmicky and have cheap-o build quality.
Here is a video comparison between Dyson and SEBO
The Dyson vacs look pretty when they are new, but they have too many clear parts and look disgusting after a short while from all the filth that gets ingested. SEBO vacs are not going to win any beauty contests but they are nearly indestructible and they do a great job.
@HBM SEBO all the way. The G1 and G2 are made to be bombproof, economical workhorses and they clean carpets as well or better than anything else out there. Think of them as the AK-47 of the vacuum world.
Nice vacuum… I use to work in the janitorial biz. and dealt with a ton of crappy vac’s…$600 though for cleaning tracks? I’d have to think about that…No actually I wouldn’t have to…
We had a Rainbow salesman demo at our house a few weeks ago. I was tired and can’t remember all his angles but he basically proposed that all conventional vacuums are garbage, they all have the same motor, the filters are virtually useless after 15 seconds yada, yada.
He did manage to sell one to a relative later that night. We’re curious as to how it lives up to the claims he made. He said even just running it as an air purifier 24/7 makes it worth the cost.
I have been using Sebos for a long time and will continue to unless I try a Miele. Can’t say they are armored tanks but definitely are the best line I’ve used as a rule since the good Electrolux days went bye bye.
For tracks I use a MightMite canister. 6 years and going strong except for the wheels which I keep replacing. The motor, if it goes can be replaced for $40 and 20 minutes time. The ideal vac for tracks would be, to me, the hip style vac ( ala Pro-Team) that you wear on a belt. I’ve got my eye out for a used one because they are pricey.
