Customer Reviews

Hoover U6630-900 Self Propelled WindTunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

Over the past 30 years, I've owned several vacuums, and this is by far the most miserable of them all. I bought mine last August, and it's already in the shop, totally dead. And it's not alone! Eight others, exact same models, are lined up for repair before mine.

Like so many, I was drawn to this Hoover's "everything you could possibly want" features. But here's what I experienced when I got it home:

1. Self-propulsion: A great idea, especially on carpets, but NEVER use it on bare floors. Both my hardwood and vinyl floors are indelibly marred from the hyperactive wheels. And I do mean indelibly.

2. Bagless: Cool come-on, but wait till you have to empty the container. It's a ... mess--and you'll have to do it often. Dust will fly when you dump the container; you'll have to dig your hand in to get everything out, and then you'll probably feel compelled to wash (and, of course, dry) the whole system because it's such a mess. If you're trying to eliminate allergens, send everyone outside on vacuum-dump day.

3. Turbo hand tool: The only thing turbo about this toy is it's whirring sound. If you use too much pressure--and "too much" equals anything more than a light sweeping motion--the brush stops spinning, and you have to manually "jumpstart" it. The brush also stops when it gathers the least amount of hair, requiring you to stop and "unstring" the thing.

4. Extension hose: Tighten real hard, or by the time you get to the top of the stairs, the hose will be disconnected.

5. "Blowback:" Expect a third of the dirt you're removing from a bare floor to reappear behind you.

6. Height control knob: Hard to use; breaks easily. Several in the shop needed this repair.

7. Dirt finder display: Trust your own instincts instead.

This Hoover does have great suction and does a fine job on carpets. But isn't that the least you'd expect for its price? If you're willing to spend that [money], check out the lesser known but higher quality brands, such as Miele, Sebo, and Lindhaus. A great place to go for information about these brands (and some Sharps, Panasonics, Hoovers, and others) is ristenbatt.com.

Ristenbatt also offers extremely valuable information about what makes a good vacuum. Today, I'm less interested in gadgets and more focused on ball bearings; cog-type belt designs; multi-fan, multi-filter construction; steel axles, etc. More than even amps and wattage, those are what deliver true high performance and efficiency, durability and reliability. And you can still add all the gadgets you desire.

Meanwhile, my next vac is going to be the [money]Sebo X1 Automatic S-Class 12".

Check it out, dudes.

I bought this because of the powered hand tool. I thought this was going to make the steps so much easier to do, but I was absolutely wrong! Any amount of pressure you put on it makes the brush stop spinning. It doesn't suck hard enough through the hose attachment for the messes that 3 kids make. But... I still love it because the acutal sweeper does suck up excellent. I was leary over the bagless part, because i thought yuck!! It is convenient not to change bags. Seeing how much dust I suck up everytime is encouraging to vacuum more than I like to. Im very pleased with it except for the hand tool thing!

This is the most powerful efficient machine I have ever used. I love being able to purchase an extra accessory hose and attach the two together to reach a total of 20 feet, in fact as many as you desire could be attached. The efficiency of the machine is all that is reported. I find emptying the canister a little messy but it helps me know that I have really removed a great deal of dirt, and the upside is that if you clean the cansiter each time then you will know how much you have removed which is a real incentive for cleaning.

My first vacuum was a Fantom Thunder. I loved that thing. My grandparents used it one day and refused to give it back. I love the grannies so I went out and bought a new vacuum, rather than make them cry.

The second one was a Fantom Wildcat and the piece of ... lasted all of 6 months before I got fed up with it and put it out for the trashman. What a disappointment. The extension had no power after the 3rd use. I still have marks from kicking myself over it. Rule of thumb-- read the reviews first!

This is what took it's place. I am glad I got this Hoover.

First, the company is still in business... That's a plus.

Second, the machine is neat. Here are my thoughts.

It is self propelled- and thank goodness, because that bad boy is so heavy you'd swear it didn't have wheels if not for the self-propelled part. I definitely get a work out when I turn that feature off.

The vacuum is the most powerful I have ever used. I was really impressed with my first Fantom, but this is so much more incredible. Make my original Dirt Devil look like a Dust Buster.

You do need to clean filters, but I got used to that .... Expensive things that are worth keeping need cleaning and maintenance. The bagless part means you see and touch the dirt, but I'd rather that than using a bag and having less suction. I do have allergies, but since I am careful when I dump it-- I don't wave it about with silly flourish-- I don't get a dusty room from it. If you are the type to do things with grand gestures, go outside to do it.

And speaking of suction-- the power of the extension is so strong that if you cover the end, it sucks so hard against it that it sucks the tube completely taut. THAT impresses me, for some reason.

Overall, I like how my carpets look when I am done vacuuming. I have a 3- and a 1-year old who like cereal and crackers and shredding paper, and when I clean the floors you'd swear they were outside all day long instead.

Up until 1997, I didn't give vacuum cleaners much thought. Then I saw the Hoover Wind Tunnel TV commercials, bought a Wind Tunnel, and came to appreciate what a difference a good vacuum cleaner makes.

Now, 6 years later, it was time to get a newer vacuum to take advantage of features such as bagless and self propulsion. After comparing specs and reading reviews, including those in Consumer Reports, another Hoover seemed to be the logical choice. I ended up getting the U6660-900, which is the same as the U6630 with the exception of an extended warranty and an additional flex hose.

This is a wonderful vacuum cleaner! Self propulsion makes this 24 lber feel like it only weighs 5 lbs. The amount of dirt it picks up is remarkable - the dirt finder feature gives you the confidence that you have thoroughly cleaned an area. Bagless is the only way to go - emptying the canister is very easy. The filtration system is most effective - you don't get that vacuum smell associated with 'dirty air' cleaners. Plus, the frequency with which filters need to be replaced with this model is much less than other makes (3 years for the Hepa filter).

Other nice touches include the ability to turn off the brush roller when cleaning floors; the turbo tool that does a nice job on upholstery; the 35' power cord that minimizes the need to change outlets; and the thoughtful placement of the on board tools and extension hose.

Overall, you just can't go wrong with this top of the line Hoover product. Based on the good experience with my previous Wind Tunnel, I expect this model will also provide years of trouble free service.

a man likes a tool, or a machine, that works.
something that does what the manufacturer says it will do, and more.
this Hoover Bagless fits that bill.

let me tell you about this thing.
first of all it works.
the suction is stong, and you can actually see what you've getting out of your rugs and carpets.
i own 4 Seal Point Himalayans, and an electric litter box.
so we're talking cat hair, and premium litter tracking,
24 hours a day.
this Hoover Bagless keeps me out in front of the ever present
potential for being overhwelmed.
and i am grateful.

it comes with lots of toys.
hoses and attachments all neatly housed in the body of the cleaner, for easy access.
i don't use them much, since i deal exclusively with the floors,
carpets and rugs. but i have found them handy for corners, and other places off the floor.

now i have to tell you, this is not the perfect product.
there are a few things about it, that at the very least, have to
be taken into consideration.

Hoover ( and all the other Vacuum manufacturers for that matter)
talks a lot about the number of filters the product contains, and
how well they work.
but it seems the suck technology has far outstripped the filter technology here.
the filters are quickly overwhelmed on any good cleaning job, and their efficiency rendered null and void, until
you empty the filter chambers and start again.

you pay a price for the powerful cleaning performance here.
cleaning the chamber and filters can be a real mess.
you want to be in an open area, preferably outdoors, when you
"tap" the filter clean.
so if you have allergies, you probably want to pass on this one.

you might think that you can get your rugs and carpets even cleaner
by lowering the height of the vacuum to the carpet.
bad move.
i've gone through two belts already, thinking that i can get down
deeper by lowering the setting.
so if you have it running, and don't hear the brushes turning, or more importantly, you smell burning rubber, you've got the setting too low.
believe me, you'll get maximum suction and cleaning power with
the height set where it should be.

trying to do area rugs is a hassle.
again, it's about the suction. this thing sucks the rug right off
the floor. you'll need someone to stand on the ends of the rug
for you, to get them done.

it's a little heavier than say, the Oreck, and a little pricey.
... but a bargain is where you find it.

all tolled, this though is an excellent vacuum.
worth every penny. worth every hassle.

After just over one year, this cleaner began just pushing around the debris rather than picking it up. Checking/cleaning all filters and dust bags didn't change anything. Checking all belts showed none non-functioning or defective.

This is the second Hoover "WindTunnel" we've had in about 3 years and they've proved themselves to be far too expensive based on their lifetimes. If they'd last more than a year or two they might be ok, but this is rediculous!

Look for something else; I know I'm am...

After using both types of vacuum uprights, (bag vs bagless), I have found this one to be an excellent unit. The paper (nylon?) filter is washable, and is only ..., and the end stage hepa filters are about ... for a two pack. So if you have to replace them, you won't be in debt to your elbows, unlike those cheap phantom lines.
The only drawback I have, if you are cleaning a large area, you might want to stop mid-way, and turn the filter to knock loose excess dirt to retain the vacuum power. Also, the design of the first chamber is poor; too much material is sucked to the divider screen, and it clogs the screen between the chambers.
The self-propelled feature on this unit is awesome, have used a kirby machine before, this unit is much lighter, and does not spin on the rug (or cord) and presents less risk to burning a hole in the cord (long story). Being able to turn this feature off or on manually makes it nice; with the feature off, it is still possible to move the cleaner without strain, unlike the cumbersome kirby vacuums.
Another thing about vacuum cleaners I have found: either they have good hose suction, or a good floor cleaner head, not both. This model has both a great floor cleaner head, and excellent hose suction.
Regarding the hand-held turbo tool...wiser to use a hand-held vacuum such as the dirt devil, a vacuum powered device cannot compete with a belt driven brush like the hand-helds. The turbo tool is a good idea, yes, but needs improvement.
I like this model very much, would recommend spending the extra money for this unit. While it is a bit pricey, it is rated near the top of the line.
As a side note, any man should know better than to give a vacuum cleaner as a surprise gift and expect to sleep anywhere else but the couch. But if your mate is looking for a good vacuum cleaner, then this is the one to buy him (or her). And if you get this model, you can be sure not to sleep on the couch again, ever.

I have never written a review, but if this makes just one person pause before they purchase this machine, it was worth the effort.

This is the most miserable product I have ever had the misfortune of purchasing. I have had mine for a little over a year, and have had the following problems: broken belts (multiple, I have actually lost count), unit emits burning smell when used, self-propel belt keeps slipping off and disabling the feature (requiring dimantling of machine to repair), dust cup is a nightmare to empty (I mean really, really awful and messy) and fills much too quickly, unit tips over when left alone, and the machine is unusually loud and is getting louder each time I use it.

I will never buy a Hoover product again! This was not worth any amount of money. If I could give it less than one star, I would.

When this machine works, it's terrific - great suction. However, after normal use for less than a year, the main belt melted and broke. No problem, bought a genuine Hoover replacement. Ever since, the machine runs about 5 to 10 minutes before the belt slips off and it no longer sucks anything. Must remove 4 screws on the bottom, remove the bottom plate, put the belt back on, re-attach the screws, and it's good to go - for another 5 to 10 minutes. For any machine - but especially one this expensive - this is unacceptable. Don't waste your money on a Hoover like this one.