It sucks, but not in a good way. (LG Cyking VC 716 HSL)

Member Name: Fiver29

Product:	LG Cyking VC 716 HSL
Date:	08/02/09 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lighweight, easy to manoeuvre

Disadvantages: The filter system, the suction power

I have had this vacuum for some time now, but quite honestly its the worst vacuum I have ever had. I can't wait for it to break so I can buy a new one.

~The Vacuum~

The machine is 1600w, with 330w of high power suction (according to the machine itself).

As you can see from the picture it's a cylinder vacuum, it's bagless with a cylindrical filter (about the size of a soup can) which has pleats all around it, it sits in the centre of the dust collector.

There is a main on and off button, but also on the handle there is a slider that allows you to control the suction power. The sliders goes from Off to deep pile carpets, with levels for curtains, short pile carpets, hard wood floors in between.

The pipe is also adjustable, so it can be set at different heights for different people.

It has two large wheels at the back and one small swivel wheel at the front (a bit like a Reliant Robin).

It comes with the normal attachments for cleaning curtains and getting into all the little nooks and crannies, and also comes with a Sani Punch head. The Sani Punch head is virtually the same size as the main head, but has a beating action, so you can use it on mattresses etc to beat the dust mites out of the mattress.

~My Thoughts~

Some of the features of the vacuum are quite handy, the controls on the handle mean you don't have to keep bending down to turn it on and off when you're stopping to move furniture etc. It also makes it easy to move effortlessly from one surface to another. Although having said that, apart from when I do the couch that has loose covers, I always have it on full power, for reasons I'll discuss in a moment.

The adjustable pipe is handy, it means the kids can't say the vacuum is too big for them to clean their rooms! Its also quite lightweight, my eight year old can easily take it up the stairs.

Vacuuming the stairs is a different matter however, the flexible section of the pipe just isn't long enough. I can manage to get about one third of the way up the stairs with the vacuum still at the bottom. But after that I have to bring the vacuum up with me, so its a struggle to hold the vacuum in one hand and try and wield the hose with the other hand.

I can't really say much about the Sani Punch head, I think I used it once and then it disappeared into the ether, goodness knows what happened to it.

The handle also broke on my machine, this happened after about 3 months. I rang LG and they did say they would try and repair it, or they would replace it for free. The problem was it had to be posted off to them, and when I asked how long it would take, they said they would 'try' and get it back within 60 days. Now I don't know about you but my floors barely last 6 hours before the kids have covered them in little bits, never mind 60 days. So I never bothered sending it off, the handle is still taped together with electrical insulation tape!

But by far the worst thing about this vacuum is the design of the dust collector and filter, and its affect on the suction power. When I first used the vacuum I was amazed at the suction power, it lifted the carpets up from the floor and I had to use it on 3/4 power. That didn't last long though, as the filter got clogged from the dust and also wrapped around in cat hairs the suction power dropped off dramatically.

Emptying the chamber and banging some of the dust out of the filter helps, but it still doesn't get the power back up to its original state. The only way to clean the filter properly is to wash it, and use the little scraper tool to clean each individual pleat.

So my routine for cleaning the filter is to put it in a carrier bag and stand banging it against the inside of the wheelie bin for about 15-20 mins to get the majority of the dust out. Even with it in a carrier bag the dust seeps out and I always end up with an arm covered in dust. Imagine what it was like the first time I did it with no bag, I looked like a dust monster!!

After that I rinse the filter through and one by one scrape the gunge out of the pleats, because the wet dust end up turning into a thick sludge. This takes at least an hour to do properly. Then the filter has to be left in the sun or on a radiator to dry. I've tried just leaving it to dry on the drainer, but after 24 hours it was still damp, and while its damp the vacuum thinks its clogged and refuses to suck at all.

Even after doing all this, the suction power is still only about half of the power it was at the beginning. Which is why I have to have it on full power no matter what surface I'm vacuuming.

Summary: Avoid at all costs.

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