Customer Reviews

Eureka 4870 Ultra Smart Vac Upright Vacuum Cleaner with True HEPA Filter

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

We needed a new vacuum, and not knowing anything about them, we did research online.

The Eureka Smart Vac got stellar reviews across the board, and Consumer Reports gave it highest ratings, ranking it equal with the first place Hoover, which was twice the price. For the price of this vacuum, you can't beat the quality.

Pros: much quieter than our older vacuum (a 17 amp tank!), wider cleaning surface (15 inches- cleans more floor in less times), many on board tools, HEPA filter, and options to turn the brush off (good for cleaning tile floors) and several carpet pile options. Another nice feature is the fact that the tool/floor switch is on top of the vacuum, so you can just switch it to tools without bending over and messing with the bottom of the vacuum. The tools snap easily into the back of the vacuum, instead of fitting in like bizarre puzzle pieces. The vacuum is very easy to push along the floor, unlike the one we replaced.

Cons: it's not bagless, which isn't terrible. Our vacuum came with a year supply of bags, so that more than made up for the inconvenience. Also, it's not self-propelled, which seems to be the craxe right now with the vacuums. We went to a store and got to try out a self-propelled vacuum (the aforementioned Hoover) and it wasn't for me. I tend to lean on the vacuum as I walk around the house and having it constantly jerk away from me was not pleasant. I much prefer the kind that you push. The final con is that it's heavy, but there isn't a single upright that isn't the same weight as this is.

While it's not something you whip out for a quick clean up (see the Eureka Boss Cordless for that), it's definitely a great vacuum for the entire house.

Short of a riding vacuum, which I have yet to find, this pretty much satisfies all my vacuuming needs. I have a bird that shoots seed out of his cage and it gets lost deep into my carpet and a cat that manages to bring in all sorts of little leaves and things off the enclosed patio, so it's great for everything.

I've owned 3 vacuums in the last 6 years and when my latest one died, I decided try a more expensive model, hoping for better quality. I was not disappointed with the Eureka Smart Vac! First of all, it was extremely easy to assemble. Just 3 screws to attach the handle and then put the accessories in place and you're done! It took me less than 5 minutes to put it together. As for performance, I am more than pleased. It has a much stronger suction than any vacuum I've ever owned. I was especially happy to see how well the tools worked on my couches. We have 2 cats and a dog so hair is a problem at our house. This vacuum easily removed it all. Another nice feature is the long cord and stretchable hose. I can almost vacuum the entire house without unplugging it and moving to another outlet. The hose with the long attachment was able to reach my ceiling fans and even the return vent for the air conditioner on the ceiling. After vacuuming up all that dust, I am especially thankful for the true hepa filter on this vacuum! I also love the switch that lets you change from floor to hose. The hoses are attached at all times which means you can go from cleaning the carpet to the furniture with just the turn of a dial. But my favorite thing about this is how quiet it is! It truly lives up to Eureka's claim of being their quietest vacuum. This is especially nice since I have a 2 year old who is afraid of loud noises. The only complaint I have about this vacuum is that the door to the hepa filter is rather difficult to open. Otherwise, I couldn't be happier!

I own this vacuum for about 11 months. When I brought it home, my wife and I were very happy about the purchase - the vacuum looked nice, had all imaginable features, and cleaned the carpet way better than our old one. There was only one small disappointment - the belt cut out on the second time when we used the vacuum. Well, I replaced it, no big deal. Another 20-30 minutes of vacuuming - again the same belt problem. We observed that each time when the load on the brush gets a little higher than average, the belt slides sideways from the motor shaft, the brush and the belt stop rotating, and the motor shaft makes a hole in the belt. Sometimes you can put the old belt back in place, and it works despite the hole in it. Sometimes you have to install the new one. In either case, you have to get a screwdriver and make some messy maintenance. After I went through this procedure about 10 times in 10 months and ran out of my supply of 3 new belts ($5 each), I brought the vacuum to a factory-authorized warranty repair facility (thanks to the 12 months factory warranty, I still could do it). They examined the vacuum and found nothing wrong with it, aside from a comparatively poor design of the belt/brush assembly, which they could not change. They said that they see nothing what they can do with the vacuum, and they did not think that Eureka would agree to replace the unit under the warranty. So, I guess I will have to get used to the belt replacements after every other cleaning...

It is of course possible that I was unlucky to get a bad unit which does not work right. Such things do happen, and 10+ of Amazon reviewers who praise this vacuum cannot be wrong, unless they wrote their reviews on the second day after they bought the vacuum. I agree that when it works, it works great. However, be aware of my negative experience. If you decide to get this vacuum, start using it right away, vacuum your place three times a week - and if your belt breaks much sooner than you expected, don't assume that it was a bad belt - return the vacuum back to the store for a refund before its too late and go for something else.

My wife and I have used this vacuum for about 3 months now, and we're astonished at how well it functions. We had been using a mid-80s well-known brand before purchasing this one, and thought we'd give the new Eureka a test. We vacuumed with our other vac, and then vacuumed with our new Eureka. We had to change one bag for every 800 square feet of carpet covered -- that's how much stuff the new Eureka picked up, that our old vac missed. And the house even smelled cleaner afterwards. I had expected lower quality due to other reviewer complaints but found most of them to be baseless: 1) "Hose too short." Yeah, it's too short. I'll concede that one. I need to buy an extension. However, there's no way the mfgr could put on a longer hose without making the vac unweildy. 2) "It's plasticy." Yes, it's largely made of plastic. It's a solid vacuum and I don't have the impression that it's flimsy in any way. 3) "It's too heavy." It is somewhat heavier than less powerful models; it has a big engine. Doesn't bother us a bit; as easy to use as our previous, much lighter vac. (We are not frail; if we were, we might want a lighter vac. I prefer the power.) 4) "Bag's hard to put in." That's a non-issue. The first time maybe. There's a latch that keeps the bag from slipping, you gotta use it. 5) "Belt comes off or burns." Haven't had that happen. Have inspected the belt often and see no signs of belt wear. 6) "It clogs up." When the bag is full, yeah. No fault of the vac's. Change the bag and you're back in business. Using the hose tools have given us zero problems. I'm not the kinda guy who normally gets excited about housewares or writes reviews but this vac deserved it.

I have owned this vac for a couple of months now, and I am quite impressed! This is the third vacuum I have owned and let me tell you how it compares to the others I've owned:

My first vacuum was a Fantom Thunder (first generation). I was blown away by their infomercials and had to buy one! Initially I was pleased with the vacuum, but I soon tired of emptying the collection cup (as it's a bagless). Then one day I was vacuuming under the stove with the hose and I sucked up a toy cat mouse (we've all done that) and the vac clogged. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find the clog. I even took the vacuum apart! No luck, it was trashed. Also be very careful in choosing a Fantom as the company has gone out of business.

My second vac was a Dirt Devil Swivel Guide. The Swivel Guide is a very poor quality vacuum...I don't recommend it to anyone, unless you are really short on cash. It was very loud and fell over very easily when I used the hose and attachments.

I finally decided that I had had enough with the Dirt Devil. I had read customer reviews and did some research online. I decided on the Eureka Ultra Smart Vac.

I took it out of the box and about three minutes later I was vacuuming! I was impressed with it quietness and it's effortless movement across carpeting. It doesn't fall over like the Dirt Devil when I use the hose. It doesn't even tip, it's very solid! The headlight was a disappointment though, it's not at all bright. The huge amount of power it has more than compensates for the dim headlight.
I have asthma and severe allergies, and I love cats, so a powerful vacuum is very important! You can actually feel the vacuum stick to the floor because of the powerful suction. I have never seen a vacuum so powerful! I actually enjoy vacuuming, and now vacuum several times a week instead of waiting until I couldn't breath anymore!

Besides the headlight, the only other gripe I have is the Ultra Smart Vac is heavier than most vacs, especially when the bag gets full.

It's a very high quality, solid vacuum and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good vacuum at an affordable price. Oh, I forgot about a bonus, it's also very cool looking!

I'll admit that I'm one of the worst when it comes to sweeping the floor with a broom. No matter how hard I try, there always seems to be some elusive dustbunny that resists all efforts to corral it in the dustpan. So, when my wife and I went shopping for a vacuum cleaner, we zeroed in on models that were capable of vacuuming the acres of wall-to-wall carpeting in our home and sweeping the tile and vinyl that make up the rest of our floors. A HEPA filter and disposable dust bags were necessities because of her allergies (your allergist will tell you that bagless cleaners are an exercise in futility unless you take the cleaner completely out of the house and shut the door behind you when emptying the dirt container).

After we pared down the list, we consulted the leading consumer reporting magazine and bought the highest rated model we could afford. And that's how we came to own this cleaner.

I vaguely remember reading that Eureka's engineers cobbled together the prototype for The Boss SmartVac series by actually mounting a classic "torpedo" canister cleaner and its motorized carpet brush on a wheeled rig with a handle. Once they determined that it COULD be done, they refined the design into a unit that really does combine the suction power of a canister with the carpet cleaning ability and easy mobility of an upright, with the added convenience of having the cleaning tools along for the ride. You can see the "canister cleaner on wheels" inspiration in the larger photo here on Amazon.com.

In operation, the cleaner is surprisingly quiet, producing a breathy drone that still permits conversation. Though not self-propelled, the cleaner's brush roller turns so rapidly, it almost propels the cleaner for you. A headlight helps you spot obstacles in the cleaner's path.

The 15-inch wide cleaning path shortens your vacuuming time and offers right-up-to-the-baseboard edge cleaning ability. For more difficult debris, you can put together the extension wand and attach the crevice tool. The upholstery tool does an admirable job on carpeting under, say, a bed that can't be moved. One notable feature: When the handle is returned to the fully upright position, as when cleaning with tools, the brush roller stops, preventing worn spots on your carpet. A brush roller switch lets you turn off the brush roller at other times for sweeping bare floors.

After vacuuming the carpet in the master bedroom and some of the living room, we already noticed a measurable level of dirt in the first bag, an indication of the dirt left behind by our aging Hoover Decade 80 upright. We expect bags in the future to last a tad longer.

Day 1: Assembled new Eureka 4870 vacuum after purchasing (and returning) a less expensive bagless upright that was pitched by the store clerk but received poor ratings by Amazon consumers.

EXCELLENT suction and carpet cleaning! This unit replaces an aging top-of-the-line Kenmore cannister. After only 1 minute, my wife was AMAZED that this vacuum was removing doghair and dirt from short nap carpets that the Kenmore had NEVER successfully removed over 10 years of determined use. We thought we had "impossible to clean" carpets... not so. This vacuum is SO strong that it cleaned carpets throughout the whole house in about 1/2 the time previously spent.

Although not intended as such, this turned out to be a great Mother's day gift. And my wife would NEVER have even considered a Eureka due to their previously poor reputation.

Yes, there are aspects to the design of this appliance that are very poorly engineered. The release button is impossible to depress when barefoot... very annoying. And yes, this is one HEAVY sucker to push and lift... not for the dainty.

The "attachments" are ridiculously cheaply made and poor quality, like what you expect in a lowend shop vac... I'll need to keep the old Kenmore for furniture, drapes, hardwood floors, etc. The "stretch hose" is likewise unusably short... and thus very awkward to use... but apparently there are aftermarket extensions available.

Although it's too early for me to predict how well this unit will be working next month, next year, or ten years from now... I still give it a 4 out of 5, and RECOMMEND IT for cleaning a house with carpeted floors and rugs.

I am just a regular person, but had to share my experience with this vac. It is great. It is as quite as the other reviewers have posted. I have a newborn baby and she can easily sleep while it is running (even if it is turned on right beside her and she is already asleep). It does a magnificent job at cleaning both my wall to wall carpeting and my indoor/outdoor carpeting in my kitchen. I also have a couple of those hand woven chinese rugs and I don't hesitate to vacuum them with the vac set at its highest level. The only pitfall I can find at this time is the vac bags and belts. They are quite hard to find. Not only does ... not carry them, neither do the regular places where you can buy vac. bags like KMart or Home Depot. The only way I have found to order the bags and extra belts is online through their web site or by phone. I was also told to try a vac repair shop. It is expensive once you add in shipping so order alot at one time. The belt was very easy to change and if you do get a clog, not only can you see where, but it is very easy to take apart all hoses and unclog. I've had the most expensive vacs out there but I love this one.

I'll admit that I'm one of the worst when it comes to sweeping the floor with a broom. No matter how hard I try, there always seems to be some elusive dustbunny that resists all efforts to corral it in the dustpan. So, when my wife and I went shopping for a vacuum cleaner, we zeroed in on models that were capable of vacuuming the acres of wall-to-wall carpeting in our home and sweeping the tile and vinyl that make up the rest of our floors. A HEPA filter and disposable dust bags were necessities because of her allergies (your allergist will tell you that bagless cleaners are an exercise in futility unless you take the cleaner completely out of the house and shut the door behind you when emptying the dirt container).

After we pared down the list, we consulted the leading consumer reporting magazine and bought the highest rated model we could afford. And that's how we came to own this cleaner.

I vaguely remember reading that Eureka's engineers cobbled together the prototype for The Boss SmartVac series by actually mounting a classic "torpedo" canister cleaner and its motorized carpet brush on a wheeled rig with a handle. Once they determined that it COULD be done, they refined the design into a unit that really does combine the suction power of a canister with the carpet cleaning ability and easy mobility of an upright, with the added convenience of having the cleaning tools along for the ride. You can see the "canister cleaner on wheels" inspiration in the large photo here on Amazon.com.

In operation, the cleaner is surprisingly quiet, producing a breathy drone that still permits conversation. Though not self-propelled, the cleaner's brush roller turns so rapidly, it almost propels the cleaner for you. A headlight helps you spot obstacles in the cleaner's path.

The 15-inch wide cleaning path shortens your vacuuming time and offers right-up-to-the-baseboard edge cleaning ability. For more difficult debris, you can put together the extension wand and attach the crevice tool. The upholstery tool does an admirable job on carpeting under, say, a bed that can't be moved. One notable feature: When the handle is returned to the fully upright position, as when cleaning with tools, the brush roller stops, preventing worn spots on your carpet. A brush roller switch lets you turn off the brush roller at other times for sweeping bare floors.

After vacuuming the carpet in the master bedroom and some of the living room, we already noticed a measurable level of dirt in the first bag, an indication of the dirt left behind by our aging Hoover Decade 80 upright. We expect bags in the future to last a tad longer.

...Pros: Great performance, The brushroll actually lifted the nap
on my carpet and vacuumed up alot of stuff my old Eureka
left behind.

True hepa filter, the vacuum blew out a fresh smell
it had that new car smell to it. It didnt have that hot
smell of other vacuums I have used.

Tools, I love the fact that using the hose and tools
just required the turning of the knob.

Noise, this thing is very quiet. Dont get me wrong it
still makes noise but its not as ear piercing as some
other vacuums.

Cons: Brush stop feature. I dont know if it was a defect in my
vacuum but to use the vac on bare floors I had to hold
the brush stop switch to keep the brush from rotating.
It was quite awkward to be bent over trying to vacuum
the kitchen.

Quality. I only had the vacuum for a week as I started
having problems with the belt making a loud chattering
noise. I think it was the brush stop feature.

Also my last peeve is the owners manual. It was very
vague and only really showed you how to change the bag,
belt, light bulb and hepa filter. I wish it would have
said how the brush stop feature is supposed to work,
etc.

Well I got to use this vacuum for a week. I knew the belt chattering noise was not normal so I just brought it back to the store for a refund. I am going to try to find another 4870 but I really want the "Titanium" color. All I can find around town is the ugly Hunter green ones.

Overall the vacuum is superb. My problem may have just been a fluke.