Customer Reviews

Hoover U6436-900 TurboPower Self-Propelled WindTunnel Bagged Upright Vacuum Cleaner

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I recently bought the Hoover Windtunnel U6436-900 (TurboPower 7600) to replace my old Hoover Windtunnel U6445-920 (Mach 6.9) which was "giving up the ghost" after 6 years of flawless service. I could have had the old vacuum fixed for less than half of what the new one cost, but I decided to turn back the clock and invest in a new vacuum.

The new U6436 is almost exactly the same as my old Hoover except that it stores tools on the back of the vacuum and now has room up front for the power attachment. Hoover Windtunnel is definitely as loud as ever too. That's because it's actually doing something. It's amazing how much suction these vacuums have when the bag is empty. By the time the bag is full, I estimate that suction decreases by 25%...which is still more than adequate by the way.

I compared the U6436 side-by-side with the Eureka TheBoss 4870GZ that my inlaws have. The Hoover beats the Eureka pretty solidly in power and ease of push thanks to the self propel feature. It really glides along like it is on iceskates or something...almost effortless. Since the Hoover costs 33% more, this is to be expected. The Eureka is quieter, and that's about it.

The product manual that came with the U6436 indicates that it has a 2 year warranty. I've seen conflicting reports on this on various other sites, but it is definitely 2 years...

A famous consumer magazine ranks this vacuum near the top, and I agree. I have owned Hoover Windtunnel for quite awhile now, and they are reliable and do a great job. The bags are cheap too, usually around $7-$8 for 3 of them.

In short, I highly recommend this vacuum.

We have bought two Hoover Self-propelled Windtunnel vacuums in the past four years. The fact that we bought two attests to our overall satisfaction with the product. However, the second vacuum confirmed our experience with the first: they don't last very long.

Over the course of three years, we had the first vacuum repaired four times. In each case it was because of wear and tear on the beater bar driving belt and the machinery that make the beater bar turn. I learned that I had to do regular maintenance on the beater bar to remove accumulated fibers wrapped around the bar. In the course of the maintenance, I discovered that the Hoover's internal construction is almost completely plastic. This is fine generally, but means that parts that experience a lot of friction (like where the beater bar and the body come together) degrade pretty quickly. Finally, the cost of repairs exceeded the cost of a new vacuum and we got a new one.

Our experience with the second was even more disappointing than the first. We bought the second just a year ago for around $220 and already it is in the shop for a $90 repair. We are not going to buy another Hoover.

A word to the wise: the carpet height adjustment is the key. If you have low or flat carpets, don't set the carpet height adjustment to "low". Set it to medium. I've been advised that the "low" setting is actually for hard floors. Setting the carpet height to "low" on a low carpet puts too much stress on the beater bar mechanism and will give the maintenance nightmares I've described above.

It was good to see Hoover finally use the same hose for both the main vacuum and the attachments. Powerful, easy to use. Our other Hoover was great when using the main vacuum, but had little sucking power when the attachments were used. A GREAT improvement. We are HAPPY with it!

Hey All I tried the new Baggless Hoover self propelled and It went right back to the store. This one is the best! I have two labs and it picks up all their hair, I couldnt ask for more!!!
Th carpet pile just lifted up and lookes brand new:) So go for it, it is surely worth the money. Oh and it glides on the lowest setting as if it is on ice:)

...And I've owned at LEAST ten in my lifetime. My last vacuum was also a Hoover and it did a pretty decent job but it was moving on six or seven years old and I noticed it was not doing as good of a job as it used to do. So, having read in CR about the TurboPower Self-Propelled Bagged (IVE HAD BAGLESS...THEY SUCK...and I don't mean in the GOOD way they're supposed to suck)... I bought this 7600. Now, in the interim, we got a yellow lab puppy. I got the puppy last Christmas, and then we purchased the 7600 this past June, just at the same time the pup started MAJOR spring shedding . You cannot believe how this vacuum sucked up EVERYTHING. I took one pass in the house when I first got the vacuum, with an empty bag, and when I was finished with ONE ROOM the bag was half full of hair, dust, and dirt. I emptied the bag four times before I finished the entire house. The next time I vacuumed, maybe ten days later, the same thing again, maybe I emptied it twice. I can remember with the old one that I changed the bag every three or four WEEKS.

You cannot go wrong with this vacuum. It's not that heavy (although I personally believe a heavy vac is a better vac); it does the job beyond belief, your carpets spell good, and its QUIET for an upright.

We originally got this vacuum 3 years ago from a local hospital based asthma program my family was involved with. Upon completion of the program, each family received this vacuum, which at the time was selling for around $350. My daughter had/has allergies and fairly severe asthma issues. This vacuum was a life-saver! The suction is phenomenal, and the filters let very little, if any, allergens and dust back into the air. I can even vacuum while she is in the room without setting off her asthma! I have used this vacuum every single day.....usually more than once per day, since we got it, and it is just now starting to fall apart. The suction is still terrific, and it still cleans extremely well, but the handle no longer stays in the upright position (I broke the latch) and the extension tubes are cracked and broken (again, from my over-use and abuse). For the money, I truly feel that this is one of the best uprights on the market. The small beater head brush attachment is fairly pathetic, but that is really my only complaint. This vacuum has a super long cord, which is WONDERFUL, as I can do my entire first floor without having to move the plug. Over-all, I LOVE this vacuum, and have just ordered another to replace the first......so happy the price has come down!!

To be honest, I've only used it once, but it was a breeze. My wife, on the other hand, raves about this vacuum. This is our third vacuum we've purchased in the last five years, and it's the first one we're happy with.

Powerful enough to pick up all our pine needles from our Christmas tree, and the self-propelled feature is amazing, you really just walk around behind it. More like keeping up with the vacuum than pushing it.

We liked the product so much that we bought a second one for my mother-in-law, and she hasn't stopped thanking us. She has two boxers, and it has no problem picking up all the dog hair and keeping her sane.

The attachments are easy to use as well, and still provide enough suction with the detachable hose to easily clean between cushions on the couch or behind the television.

Buy with confidence, this is a great vacuum.

I agree with most other reviews for this product; this vacuum is a top performer and is easy to push. The vacuum is a bit heavy and noisy, however. The consumer magazine that rated this vacuum highly noted it was quite noisy. It is certainly louder than my old Kennmore. The good news is that it does a much better job of cleaning than my old machine.

I also noticed that the new version of this vacuum rated poorly for emissions due to a change in bag and/or filter. With the HEPA filter and high-quality bags, my model does just fine.
I have used this vacuum for about a year now, and the belts are still in excellent condition.
Make sure and use the "Carry Handle" on the back rather than the push/pull handle for lifting (up stairs, etc.). Putting heavy pressure on the push/pull handle will eventually cause problems with the self-propel mechanism (broken cable or idler arm, premature failure of main drive). I belive the owner's manual speaks to this fact, but who reads those things, anyway? Now, you have been warned. Mine took about 11 months to finally fail after toting it up and down stairs by using the handle.
A nice feature of this vacuum is that the agitator automatically stops turning when the back is locked in the "up" position. Makes switching from vacuum to sweeper very fast and easy.

All said and done, this is a quality product. Take care of it and it will serve you well. If you are sensitive about noise, however, there may be better choices.

UPDATE SEPT, 2009:
Our vacuum is almost 4 years old and is still working well. I did have a warranty replacement of the motor (after being chastised for not using Hoover bags) and I have replaced the idler arm on the self-propel mechanism twice. Not the best repair history, but it works as well now as it did when new. I am a fairly handy guy, and replacement parts are inexpensive. I am very satisfied with the product, but it does require some care and repair.

I'm 67 and am disabled. One of my Dr.'s told me that the worst jobs on your back was making a bed and vacuuming. This vacuum is amazing. Self Propelled is the way to go. I did a room and can still stand up! Super Saver shipping time was fantastic. I am completely satisfied. Thank you Hoover for a vacuum I can handle. If it wears like my last Hoover I'll be happy.

The only reason I gave this vacuum 2 stars was for the cleaning ability. When the machine is new, with brand new belts, the vacuum does a great job!

After approximately one year, the vacuum will start going downhill. This is by far one the most repaired vacuums out there. This machine has a very bad design for the belts. It's a combination of two belts, on driving the agitator brush, the other driving the self-propelled. What happens is as soon as one belt goes bad, it causes the other to go bad.

You will be having to replace the belts, at least once a year, if not more. One other problem is when customers pick up the machine by the handle (lets face it, this is the most convienent way to carry) it causes the self propelled actuator arm to break. There's too much tension on the arm, and it will rip the screw right out of the plastic actuator arm.

You need to carry the machine with the carrying handle on the back of the vacuum to avoid this. There's not much you can do to avoid the belt changes, as it is a flawed design by Hoover.

When the machine is working, it actually cleans very well. It is very heavy, so if you are carrying up and down stairs, this will be a concern of yours.