Customer Reviews

Hoover U9145-900 "Z" 700 Bagless Upright Vacuum

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I've had my Hoover 700 for 6 weeks now and everytime I use it I tell myself I should add my review for this cleaning machine. I think buying a new vacuum cleaner is like buying a car... you know your going to be using it for quite awhile and you definitely want to make the right choice!

Overall, I'm more than happy that I chose this machine. After using it quite a bit I have only found a couple things I'm not overly happy with.

Here are my positives:

1) Does a great job of cleaning. I'm very satisfied with the basic job it does vacuuming. To be honest, I don't see how any other machine could do a better job. I replaced an 9 year old Hoover with this one and this EASILY out performs my old one (and I remember paying about $300 for it).

2) The wide tread is really a bonus and my carpet looks much better after cleaning... with the wheel's far to the outside the carpet ends up being fluffed up uniformly .. doesn't have much of the ... 'hey, I just vacuumed 2 minutes ago' look.

3) the conversion from canister to upright really does give you the best of both worlds. If you vacuum stairs this machine is a no brainer. In the folded position it is way stable.

4) The big surprise feature that I didn't know it had was an automatic shutoff if the brush becomes 'jammed'. I guess I'm a littel lazy sometimes and I will leave a pair of shoes out and kind of push them out of the way as i vacumm. Well, sometimes I catch the laces and this machine will detect the resistance and shut off!! I've ruined many laces over the years and had a hard time getting them out of my old machine. Well, I caught some laces again and the vacuum quickly shut down. GREAT bonus feature!!!

5) This maybe a common feature but I didn't have it on my old vacuum. When you put this vacuum in the hardfloor setting the brush's stop so now I'm not shooting small pieces dirt around on my kitchen floor.

6) I didn't think looks was important but I really like the fact that this doesn't look like a standard vacuum. I have a bird and I vacuum the family room everyday.. first thing when I get home from work. I leave this Hoover out many times and when it is in it's folded position it is very unobtrusive. This is another real plus... it doesn't look like you have a vacuum sitting out.

7) It is much quieter than other vacuums I've tried.

8) I like the material the power cord is made out of. It is very pliable and has a slick coating... it does not tend to want to tangle like my old machine (big plus).

9) The telescoping handle is great even in the upright position. It really lets you clean a big area from one standing area.

10) The hose on this machine is very well designed... really pliable and expandable but kind of folds back into itself.. I'm sure alot of effort went into its design. Neat.

My not so positives:

1) The power cord/attachment compartment is too small for this model with the power cleaning attachment inside. You have to be very carfull how you wrap the cord and where the plug is located if you want to latch the cover down with no issues. My solution is to not store the power cleaning attachment in the compartment. Definitely not a plus.

2) Sometimes I have to giggle the machine by the handle to get the machine to release and fold down when I'm done with it... It seems to want to be in just the right upright position for that task.

3) The on board self cleaning filter is supposed to never need changing so this may not be a minus but if you ever do WANT to replace it, the instructions indicate it is not a task you can do at home.. you have to take it to a Hoover Service center.

Neutral:

1) The vacuum does take a little upper arm strengh to opperate. If you have very little I don't think this vacuum is for you however it is not that bad (although first reaction is that the vacuum is 'heavy' it soon does not seem to be an issue). But, I don't think I would like this vacuum as much if it was super light weight. I like it's stability in the folded position when I'm using the hose.. and I think the weight helps in the quailty of it's cleaning power... so it is a dual edged sword.

If you have a little upper arm strength I think this is a vacuum definitely worth the investment (again if you vacuum stairs too this machine is almost a no brainer).

I have never felt compelled to write a review on any other product before, but I would like to share my opinion about my new Hoover Z 700. I absolutely love it! Plus I should say right off the bat that I got mine at Best Buy for a full $100.00 cheaper than everywhere else I price checked!

It's everything it advertises, has more than adequate suction and is extremely versatile. It's especially useful for use on stairs. I previously had an old WindTunnel that has served me well over the years. Mind you, I vacuumed every week with my old machine, but the first time I used my Hoover Z....I had to empty the dirt cup 5-6 times! I was astonished. I considered my new vacuum purchase for a long time and was leaning toward the Dyson Animal. I'm definitely happy with my purchase of the Hoover Z....it performs like I'd wanted and the price was much cheaper than the Dyson. It's surprisingly quieter than vacuums I had in the past and didnt scare my cats to death like my old one. Plus, asthetically....it looks really cool.

The only cons in my opinion are that it's a little heavy...and the motorized brush pet hair tool is not as great as I expected.

Hoover has done an excellent job in the design of this machine, they have incorporated the latest technology in filtration and design. It can be used either as a canister or an upright, on carpet and hard surface floors, upholstery and blinds. Once you take the Z into a room you can do the floors clean the overhead fan, in other words, do the whole job. This vacuum is solid! It has the feel of quality. They did not skimp on features. Extra long cord, can do several rooms from one outlet. The hose length will allow you to do a flight of stairs with no problem. The wide cleaning head and power brush allow for less time in a room.

UPDATE:
Have had this a little over a year now. Repair Problems! Contacting Hoover, now owned by Dirt Devil is an excercise in patience. They showed no knowledge of this discontinued model. I need a small rubber part which they could not locate. I will have to take it to a repair shop. I would rate this product at about two stars no because of the problems that I have experienced since my first review. Current pricing is far below the $500.00 when first available.

I must say that I have mixed feelings about this vacuum. On the one hand, I love the way it's put together. All the materials used seem to be top quality (well, except for the possible exception of the tool storage door) and when you turn it on the motor sounds like the engine in a high quality automobile. Very solidly built. I have no doubts this machine will last forever as long as I don't abuse it. It also does an excellent job cleaning. I was amazed at how much dirt it picked up the first time I used it. People complain that you have to empty it too often, but I think that's a tribute to the cleaning job this vacuum is doing. The dirt container really isn't that small. No wonder I rarely had to change the bag on my old Hoover--it just wasn't picking up as much dirt as the Z. I also like the excellent filtration system. I never get that vacuuming smell anymore. Another plus is the push-button controls. Very slick and easy to use.

On the other hand, it's a bit ungainly to move around. It's definitely better for a large house, rather than the small apartment I live in. If they had made it about 20% smaller I think it would be much more practical. It is somewhat heavy, but we all could use a bit of exercise, right? Unfortunately, it's a bit top heavy so my wrist gets a bit tired while using it. I also don't like the tool storage system. It's a bit of a pain opening up the somewhat flimsy little door to access them. My old Hoover was much better in this regard. And then you have to wrap up the power cord in the same compartment! In a machine of this quality, why not just have a self-winding cord?

Anyway, in conclusion, I'd say it's a nice vacuum overall that could just be a lot easier to use.

Sorry to say that Hoover does not have any parts to repair this vacuum. The screen on the dust cup came loose and all the dirt was sucked into the HEPA filter making this vac unusable. The repair shop is dealing with Hoover that offers a replacement vacuum since there are no parts. Very disappointed. I can no longer recommend this as a good purchase to anyone. BTW the replacement vac sells for around $150 but also has negative reviews. So I can't say I'd trust buying another Hoover anything for a while.

I was browsing Home Depot one day and saw the Z700 stacked in a middle aisle. I was impressed by the high-tech look but it seemed awfully heavy for a bagless vacuum cleaner. I couldn't beat the price for $99 and needed a vac for stairs because I noticed the long stretchable hose. Forget the vacuum-powered stairway brush - none of them work. They all stall out. It is effective for the price though. Like I said, I only use it for stairs. It's too heavy to lug anywhere else. I feel sorry for whoever paid over $400 for their's. The suction isn't that great but it does have neat "bells and whistles". BTW, I also have a Kenmore and self-propelled Hoover that are much better. (The Kenmore is the best!)

The Hoover vacuum is wonderful it works really great on all types of carpet and hardwood. I love that the brush can be stopped when doing hardwood floors. It is very easy to operate. Only draw back is the weight

It's a great vacuum...picks up more stuff from the carpets than any other one that we've ever had.

The extension is very convenient.

A great vacuum.

I have used the Hoover Z-700 (U9145-900)for about five months now. I am glad that I got it. It is quiet and easy to use. It really does perform the functions of an upright and a canister with virtually no effort. The weight is not a problem unless you like to carry it everywhere. It has many features not mentioned which lend to this unit's ease of use. For example, it has a large back lighted touch sensitive control panel with a number of functions that can be selected: The "on-off" lights green when selected. The brush height for pile type; brush on-off and slow brush along with motor speed light in a backlit white. If there are any operating problems (e.g. something jammed in the brush or hose) diagnostic points like on current photo copiers light up on this panel which has a schematic of the unit itself showing where the problem is. The wand is adjustable in length by a simple push button. This is helpful for people of different sizes to use the machine comfortably. The machine easily folds (the Z) into a canister mode for stability when using the attachments. The hose can be detached from the wand and used independently with the attachments if desired. The wand itself also detaches with a click of the sliding lever (there is also an additional extension wand) and the on-board tools can be used with the 20' hose to clean ceiling fans or steps for example. The high intensity LED lights are recessed into the front of the wide floor brush. They throw light across the carpet or floor in a manner that illuminates any surface dirt to be removed. This is helpful on tile floors. It is made in the USA and has a TWO-year warranty on everything except the lights, which have a lifetime warranty. It has an auxiliary small brush powered by the suction of the unit along with the standard tool set.

The brush height for the type of carpet pile is manual, but power operated. In other words when the pile height button (low e.g.) is selected, this button lights and the unit then adjusts the brush to your selection. The bare floor setting turns the brush off. However, you may turn it on at reduced speed to add a sweeping effect. You can also select a slower motor speed.

The main disadvantage is that the floor unit is wide. If furniture is placed close together, the vacuum can be clumsy to maneuver. I got the extended three year warranty from Hoover which starts when the unit's two year warranty ends. I do have a confession to make. I bought a Dyson DC17 Absolute which is their latest and greatest a few months after the Hoover. I had a Dyson before and liked it. The two units are comparable, but the Dyson is lighter and easier to maneuver in tight spaces. However, the Hoover is quieter and has lights. If I had to pick just one, I would select the Dyson, but it cost much more. The Hoover is more practical for large areas that are unclutted. Contrary to some reviews its attachment door remains closed and the accessories are easy to use. I have never had its dust cup fill even after several cleanings. I do empty it regularly. The Dyson is easier to empty through.

In conclusion, this is an excellent, technically advanced, well thought out unit and I use it regularly (actually more than the Dyson).

I have owned this Z for 2 months and let's start by saying the obvious-It is extremely heavy-getting past this fact and after building some upper body strength in order to even push the thing you soon find: the canister must constantly be emptied; causing a terrible mess and forcing you to vacuum the area again to clean up the mess you made. If you do not constantly empty the canister you lose suction all together! The door that contains the cord and attachments never stays shut and swings open causing you to stop laboring and try to find a way to latch it closed, The windtunnel stair attachment is useless and I searched to find my old attachment just to clean the stairs! The hose is very difficult to unlatch and pull out and once you do you find the metal hose is very sharp and has chipped my paint when I grab it to do a quick pickup in a a windowsill or corner. We have aleady disassembled the vacuum in attempt to regain the suction- not to much avail. Not a day goes by that I don't mention how much I HATE this vaccum! I have always been happy with HOOVER and have owned a Windtunnel for 7 years with no problems, I decided to give this fancy vac. a try-- I am extrememly disappointed with this Z! No wonder it is discontinued in many stores.