Bissell Healthy Home Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Bagless, 12 Amp, 16N5
- 12 amp upright vacuum cleaner with AireTight HEPA filtration system
- 9x multi-cyclonic cleaning system for non-stop suction power
- 15-inch rotating brush with on/off control; 7 height-adjustment settings
- Telescoping extension wand; lifetime belt; easy-empty dirt container
- Measures 14 by 15 by 44-1/2 inches; 5-year limited warranty
Healthy home vacuum.
List Price: $ 249.99
Price: $ 198.00
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Good update to a very capable vac,
I’ve been using the original Bissell Healthy Home vac for nearly two years and have been extremely pleased with it. This updated version builds upon the strengths of the original and adds a few new features.
My biggest complaint with the original Healthy Home was the weight. Bissell has addressed this common complaint by making the new model lighter by a few pounds. But, the lighter weight appears to come at the expense of solid construction – parts like the handle and collection bin feel less substantial. I know you can’t equate durability with weight, but my initial impression of the new model was that it’s less resistant to the knocks and bruises that vacs tend to take. Too early to tell, however. It has a five year warranty like the old model.
Assembly is a snap – two screws for the handle (which are no longer recessed, so they are easy to get in) and two screws for the cord wrap.
Operationally, the new vac preforms just as well as the old model. I have seven cats. Yes, seven. This is the house where vacuums get put to the test. The Bissell takes all that is thrown at it with nary a problem. The carpet suction is excellent; the tool suction is good. Easy to maneuver with large, non-marring wheels.
As in the old model, the carpet beater can be turned off for hard floor or very delicate/thin carpet use. The switches have been repositioned so they are less prone to being hit accidentally. The beater has a clutch, so if it gets bound up in something it stops turning rather than burn out the belt. The belt is (according to Bissell) a “life time” belt.
The carpet height is adjustable with a knob. I prefer that type of manual adjustment since the auto adjust models from other brands never seem to get it right on some carpets. Doing it manually lets you set a higher height for more delicate rugs, and a lower, more aggressive height for rugs that need to be churned up more to get the pet hair/dirt out.
The HEPA filter has been moved from the side of the vac to under the collection bin. According to Bissell this allows for better functionality/cleaner exhaust. Seems to work fine, but the old method also worked well. Having the filter in-line does make the vac narrower – that’s probably the main benefit.
It still has the foam (washable) pre-filter. Great feature to have since it extends the life of the non-washable HEPA. I’ve been getting about 18 months life out of the HEPA filters in the old model.
The hose routing has been changed. It’s a bit harder to dislodge than the old model for tool use, but still fairly easy compared with other vacs I’ve used.
The collection bin is also easy to take off and empty. I prefer bagless since I can’t stand paying for bags. The new bin has straight sides to help get all the crud out. Still, dumping out the bin of any bagless vac can be messy, and you sometimes have to reach in to get out the big clumps of light-weight material (such as cat hair). If you have major allergies or just don’t like to deal with this, you may want to consider a bagged model.
Tips:
1) Every so often take the collection bin apart and wash it out. Very fine dust can collect in the upper cyclonic chamber, and can affect performance. Make sure all parts are bone dry before putting them back on the vac.
2) I recommend you replace the plastic wand with an aluminum wand. You can get it at the Bissell site online (register online and you’ll get free shipping). The metal wand is more robust than the plastic and also has positive click stops to ensure it does not fold up when you push hard.
3) The contour head is also a nice add-on if you have pets. It is a non-powered head (unlike the included turbo head) which is good for more delicate fabrics or furniture throws with loose threads that can snag. You can get it from Bissell or Amazon.
4) If you want a full-size floor brush, the models from Sears fit the Bissell.
In summary, this is an excellent vac. The new model takes a couple of steps forward and perhaps only a half-step back (construction quality). If you can get the old model at a discount, it’s well worth it if you can deal with the weight. If not, this model is also highly recommended.
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|Well done, Bissell!,
First, I’d like to thank Amazon for their lightning fast shipping! I ordered this item through Vine on Thursday and here it is Saturday and I have already done my first cleaning with my new vacuum.
I also have to admit, I am a real penny pincher when it comes to appliances and cleaning supplies. So my first vacuum was a Dirt Devil which lasted about 8 years before we retired it due to declining performance. We replaced it with a Bissell Clear View vacuum this past summer. I have a few issues with the Clear View which kind of turned me off, especially since that particular model scorched a hole in my carpet on the stairs!
We were literally days from going back for a Dirt Devil model when I was offered this model through Vine and well it was easy to make the decision to give it a try. THIS model has completely changed my opinion on Bissell. Everything on this vacuum seems well thought out and well constructed. I had just gone through my entire home Thursday night with the old lower end model Bissell and today I went back just through half my home and got a whole new dirt cup full of surprises! Grey gunky stringy stuff, cat litter that had been left behind, playdoh that had been ground into my kitchen carpet and it even greatly reduced the chalk stains in my back room.
Now for a few features I am really happy with:
-The brush on/off switch is really nice when you just want the wand to work.
-The brush shuts off when the vacuum is in the upright position. (which would have saved my carpet from being scorched by my first Bissell!)
-There is a diverter flap at the base of the hose inlet which gives the wand 100% power when removed.
-The telescoping wand makes my 8 foot ceilings accessible! And the vacuum does not tilt when I am using my wand, which was always an issue with my previous vacuums.
-Wide cleaning path.
-MUCH higher quality feel than my Clear View.
-Cleans the air as I vacuum, removing pet dander, ragweed and pollen and the filters are so easy to replace and inspect. The filtration is really important to our family since we live in NE PA which is reputedly the worst area of the country for allergens!
-Lifetime belt.
-2 ways to empty the dirt cup. From the bottom and from the top. My prior Bissell Clear view is an absolute nightmare to clean up and if I could tell you how many times I have dumped excess debris from the cup onto my freshly cleaned carpet?? ARRRGH! No more! ;)
-The dirt cup is much larger than my Clear View’s.
-The Turbo Brush doesn’t fall off its holder. (that was a huge gripe with the other vacuum)
-This vacuum actually CLEANS my hardwood floors as well as it cleans my carpets. The Clear View kind of kicks things around a bit and I find myself hunting down dust bunnies with the wand.
-Finally, this vacuum seems a lot quieter than the Clear View which is pleasant since my son has sensory issues and loud noises really bother his ears.
-Hold on a second, I nearly forgot the 5 year warantee! That was quite refreshing to see on the package. :)
Some may gripe about the steering or the weight of the vacuum. Honestly, I don’t see them as being issues at all. I see it this way – you can’t expect quality materials to be feather lite especially when dealing with motors.
In every way possible Bissell has come through. Thank you Bissell, you have really changed my opinion of your quality and performance.
11/27/09 – I have to add this little bit to the review. I actually made it to the top of the stairs today with the extension wand without having to drag the vacuum up with me! And it didn’t tip the vacuum or pull the hose out of the housing!!! That really impressed the hubby. How many years I’ve tottered on the steps balancing a vacuum and trying to clean with the other hand??? That feature alone is worth it – no more aching back.
ETA – one small warning – do NOT let that turbo wand near anything delicate. I accidentally caught a sheer curtain with it and it tore some of the embriodery. I’d use it for carpet only!
3/29/11 – Still very pleased with this machine. No issues and no noticable drop in performance.
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