Customer Reviews

Hoover U5262-900 EmPower Vacuum

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I agree with other customers in that you spend nearly as much time cleaning the canister as you do vacuuming.

But you know what?

I am just happy to have a vacuum that works.

I have long haired cats and waaaaaaaaaaaay too much fur -- and this actually gets most of it up.

That said, let me just give a brief rundown of my main comments:

* I can't believe the amount of dust and "fuzz" the thing collects -- even if I just vacuumed the day before. Unreal.

* The hush mode is, as others say, basically useless. I really don't hear much of a difference in the sound level. Don't buy it if you want to clean while baby is sleeping.

* The "super" mode (I can't remember what it is called -- it provides extra motor power when flipped on) DOES work pretty well. Especially on stairs with the attachments... it provides the extra boost that is sometimes needed.

* Be cautious on the stairs. There is a warning about the fact the head keeps spinning even when you are using attachments, but I didn't think much of it. I vacuumed the stairs, resting the unit on the edge of several as I went up. After I was finished I discovered to my horror I had BURNED THE CARPET TO A HARD CONSISTENCY on several stairs in 2-3 inch wide spaces. It was, I am sure, when the head was. BE CAREFUL!

* The power cord is a nice length. Longer than ones on previous vacuums I've had. The attachment cord is a bit short, but I think you can buy longer ones from Hoover if you wish. All the attachments also fit nicely on the machine. On other machines I always had one attachment head (like the crevace tool or such) that would never stay on. The second I moved the machine it would fall off and get lost under something. This one holds all the heads and extensions well.

* The on/off switch is in a weird place.

It FEELS like it should be where the "super" mode switch is. But it isn't. It is down the unit. An odd design really.

* READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Someone else reviewed that it didn't work at all -- and spit dirt out in all directions.

I think I know what she did.

She took the "attachment" hose out of the slot.

This vacuum is a bit odd in that the hose ALWAYS has to be in the "attachments" slot.

Always.

On other vacuums I have had, you only attach the "attachment hose" when you are (duh) using the attachments.

In this one, it is part of the "circulation" (if you will) and must be attached at all times, or it won't work.

Don't get me wrong -- this IS NOT A PROBLEM -- you just need to know about it.

I think this must have been an issue for many people, because they even have a large, yellow-colored, insert stuffed in the instructions (which of course I didn't read first).

* What ever happened to retractable cords? This would be sooo great if it had that.

Overall, though I have focused on some negative aspects, I think this is a great vacuum.

I have too many pets, and have had LOTS of vacuums, and this is a great machine -- especially for the price.

The only thing I want now is a second one for upstairs (why can't these things be light!) or a DYSON (as if).

I just bought this vacuum today after much research. I got it at Sears for a couple bucks cheaper but added a 2-year service contract (just incase). I got this thing home and started it up, and boy does it suck! In the good way, the way all vacuums should.

I bought this vacuum because I moved into my first apartment this year, and it is more dusty than anywhere I've ever been and it is really messing with my allergies, and my FeatherWeight Bissell just wasn't cutting it. This Hoover EmPower has the allergen filters to get rid of dust mites and ragweed/grass pollen, and those filters really work!

This vacuum also has a really, really long cord, so I can vacuum my entire apartment without unplugging once! The hush feature is really nice too, if for some reason I have to vacuum late at night, I won't have to worry about disturbing my neighbors.

This is my first major vacuum purchase, and I am very confident that it will remain to be a good investment through the years to come.

I bought this vacuum to be used in a dealership.Being in Michigan and having tons of salt to vacuum was a concern.But that EmPower proved me wrong.It works better than any commercial vacuum we ever bought.Sucks up salt and obviously other dirt the other vacuum missed.I like this vacuum so much I am buying one for my home.I highly recommend this vacuum.It is tops with the janitors.Only problem is the wheels feel cheap.But other than that it is awesome vacuum.

After researching different vacuums, I finally chose this one. I have 3 cats with black fur who shed year-round. This vacuum is awesome! It gets all the fur even off of the scratch post that I used to have to rub to get the fur off. My carpet has never looked this clean--it almost looks new! I love the long cord--it reaches my whole apartment.

Just picked up the Hoover EmPower to replace a 3 to 4yr-old Hoover that didn't suck anymore. Very easy to unpack and get started up. Hush Mode isn't exactly whisper quiet, but it's excellent for watching football on TV. Love the Power Boost - you can really feel the power in your quivering hand. The cord never tangles.

Picked up a lot of dust and dirt on the first pass, with little to none after a second pass around the room - so it cleans great on the first try. Cleans apartment carpeting as well as tiled floors. Does not reach 90 degree corners of the room, but that's what the tools are for.

A note about Hush Mode: make certain your red thumb switch is in the middle, or "unlocked" position, or else Hush Mode will be bypassed. Also, Hush Mode produces a less powerful suck. The detachable dusting brush is great for upholstery, but use normal power with Power Boost for the tight spots.

The EmPower stores well, just wish you could attach the brush to the machine. I'd buy it again.

I would like to thank the people on this site for their helpful reviews. It helped make the decison to buy the Hoover Empower Vacuum. I have never written a review on any product before but this vacuum is so great I just have to tell everyone! The best feature for me is the power stair attachment. It has a small roller brush inside that spins to really clean your carpeted stairs really well. I have 5 cats so I was very impressed with how much hair it sucked up. All the attachements slip on so easily. Removing the cup and cleaning the filter is effortless. Only minor flaw is you will need to buy an extention hose. The one on the Empower is really small. People who mentioned this in other reviews are not exagerating. The extention hose costs $32.00 Canadian and can be purchase at any Hoover Parts Store.

*** UPDATE ***
an easy way to clean the filter without making a huge mess or suffocating in a dust cloud is to put the filter in a plastic bag and then put another plastic bag on top of this (the opening on the second bag should be oppsit to the first). Then take it outside and just tap it lightly on the rubber end. This will remove a lot of the dirt and dust in the filter without aggravating allergies!!

This is a great vac at an incredible price.

****Plus points include:****

- Excellent cleaning power with very good suction and a brush that cleans very well.

- The 3 year Hepa filter is far better than other brands which must have their filter replaced every few months.

- The powered brush attachment is surprisingly effective as long as you don't put too much pressure on it (it spins using suction power)

- The handle folds out of the way making it a much neater package to store

- Has grab handles built into the body that make it easy to carry up stairs.

- The cord is extremely long allowing you to reach farther in your house without having to unplug and replug at a closer location.

- the vacuum can run with the handle at 180 degree angle so you can clean underneath furniture.

**** Despite all these positive points there are some drawbacks also. These include: ****

- filter cleaning can be a messy affair (best to do it outdoors in a trash can) but it just goes to show how much fine dust this vacuum sucks up.

- the orange model doesn't have any place to store the powered hand attachment (the green model has a different design on one of the plastic clips that allows you to insert the attachment hose with the wide side down thereby allowing you to attach the hand tool to the hose while storing the vac (this is a small inconvenience but definately not worth paying the extra $20 bucks for the otherwise identical green model).

- the hush mode doesn't really do much to quiet things down and it is on the loud side

- it is too easy to accidently lock the vac in the turbo mode

Overall this is an excellent value that cleans very well yet won't cost you over a $100 bucks. Some of the gimmicks on this vac are actually quite useful.

I bought this vacuum after reading the reviews on this site. I wouldn't buy it again. While the vacuum will pick up dirt when the hose is attached, I spend more time reattaching the hose than actually vacuuming. The hose comes off repeatedly to the point where I finally taped it to the vacuum. As far as cleaning, I have three dogs and could probably do a better job of cleaning with a previous 20 year old vacuum. It's not worth the money and definitely not worth the aggravation in reattaching the hose repeatedly while trying to use it.

I can finally VACUUM even when he's asleep! No longer do I have to find my kitties when I finish, they actually WATCH IT run! The extension tube and upholstery cleaner gets PET HAIR. I never expected that to be just as powerful as the regular vac, but it was!

With this vac you can vacuum delicate furniture, countertops, bare floors, inside cabinets, even cobwebs!

And whoever said it wasn't quiet, well it isn't SILENT, but my downstairs neighbor probably won't know when I vacuum anymore.... And if it doesn't scare my pets, it works for me!

Way to GO HOOVER!~

I have 5 dogs, count them 5. You can imagine the pet hair both black and white on my floors. This vacuum is excellent for picking up the pet hair! I thought I made a mistake when I felt how light this vacuum is but once you connect the hose to the base of the vacuum the suction is unbeatable. I have a professional clean my house monthly and this vacuum did a better job than he does. I have allergies and after vacuuming with the Empower, I notice an improvement in my breathing. Maybe not "hush" but quieter than my old vac. Great on my stairs and bare floors too. The cup is actually larger than I thought it would be. Great to have a bagless, that doggie hair clogged up the bags. Shipped very quickly. Definitely a good buy.