Hoover C1660-900 Hush Commercial Bagless Upright Vacuum

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Avg. consumer rating = 71/100 

Consumer ratings vary widely for the Hoover C1660-900 Hush Commercial vacuum.  Some owners report that it is powerful, has an easy-to-empty dirt canister, and is a capable vacuum cleaner.  Others, however, feel it is not entirely worthy of the “commercial” designation, citing a short power cord and handle.

Consumer Ratings & Comments
Consumer ratings found on several different websites are shown in the table below. The bulk of these were found on Amazon.  When averaged these ratings generate an overall score of 71/100 which is a little on the low side.

A review of owner input indicates the following common vacuum likes and dislikes:

PROS
- Foldable handle makes unit more compact and easy to transport
- Powerful suction
- Has a headlight
- Fairly quiet
- Not too heavy
- Easy to maneuver

CONS
- Some owners say the cord is a little short for a true commercial vacuum
- Handle is short

A Few Notes on the Consumer Ratings & Comments
1) It would only be fair to note that some of the lower ratings/comments score the unit 3 stars out of 5 then proceed to indicate complete satisfaction with the machine and do not state any problems or issues.

2) There are some comments, however, regarding broken belts, broken wheels and easily clogged filters.  With the limited number of ratings and comments it is hard to tell if these are indeed one-off problems or if they point to possible build quality issues.

3) Although some folks mention that the power cord is short, for domestic use a 35 foot power is actually quite lengthy. These observations are likely (and understandably) from a commercial perspective.

Vacuum Cleaner Features
The Hoover C1660-900 (also sometimes referred to as the HVRC1660900) is a commercial, bagless upright vacuum.  While it is indeed commercial, it would appear that a number of consumers have bought the unit for residential home use.  It is powered by a 12 amp motor and also has a multi-speed switch located on the vacuum handle.  The multi-speed capability is sometimes referred to - in marketing materials - as ”power surge” and it provides additional power for cleaning extra dirty areas.

This Hoover has a special “hush” mode that makes the machine operate much quieter.  The hush mode is activated via a toggle switch near the base of the vacuum handle.  This is also a bagless vacuum cleaner.  Bagless vacuums use a dirt canister to hold the dust and debris sucked up by the machine.  This is different from bagged machines that use a disposable bag.  Bagless vacuums require that one detach the dirt canister, empty it and then reattach it (sometimes a messy task).  These vacuums do not require the purchasing of bags.
 
A few owners have highlighted that the power cord on the C1660-900 is a little short.  It is 35 feet in length which is actually quite long for a non-commercial vacuum but perhaps not so long for a commercial machine.  The power cord is a quick disconnect SJT (Stranded Junior Thermoplastic) cord.  This is a flexible power cord rated from -4F to 140F that can be detached and replaced/upgraded if desired.

Like many uprights today the Hoover Hush C1660-900 has HEPA filtration.  HEPA filtration removes 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns in diameter or larger.  This includes dust mite feces, mold spores, pet dander, ragweed and other allergens.  This is a feature that is popular with people suffering from asthma or allergies.

The brushbar on this unit has two rows of brushes and there is no brushbar shutoff.  The ability to turn the brushbar off can be useful when cleaning hard floors (and when using tools).  There is, however, a nozzle height setting that the manufacturer states is for low carpet or hard floors. 

Nozzle height can be adjusted via a manual rotary switch on the top front of the nozzle (sometimes referred to as the carpet height adjustment knob - image to right).  There are three height settings and these provide the ability to set the nozzle to an optimal cleaning height above the floor surface.  The settings include High Carpet, Medium Carpet, Low Carpet/HardFloor.

The vacuum also has 3 handle settings (not to be confused with nozzle height settings).  The vacuum handle has three different positions and the unit can even be laid horizontal so the vacuum can get under low furniture (for handle positions see graphic below).  The vacuum handle can also be folded for more compact storage or moving.

Hoover C1660-900 Handle Positions

A number of tools come with the Hoover Hush and they store on-board the vacuum.  The tools can be attached to the end of the triple stretch hose and include:

- Extension wand
- Crevice tool (this stores inside the extension wand)
- Dusting brush
- Upholstery tool

The Hoover C1660-900 is certified and approved by a number of groups and institutes.  The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) have given the vacuum Bronze Certification. The CRI site claims that an approved vacuum is one with superior cleaning abilities that has passed stringent testing for soil removal, dust containment and carpet appearance retention. Depending on a vacuum cleaners performance the institute awards a gold, silver or bronze certification.  You can read more about the CRI here if you wish.

OSHA also approves this vacuum for commercial use.  OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is a US federal agency (created by Congress) that sets and enforces standards to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for workers.  It is part of the Department of Labor.  Check out the OSHA website to learn more.

Additional vacuum features include a fairly wide cleaning path of 15 inches, a headlight for illuminating dark or dim areas and large rear wheels attached to a steel rear axle.  The vacuum comes fully assembled so no tools or assembly are required before getting the machine up and running.   In addition, the Hoover Hush sports a thermal protector, so if the motor overheats (generally due to a blockage or clogged filter) the machine will automatically shut itself off.  If the thermal protector has activated one should unplug the vacuum, remedy the problem then wait 30 minutes for the thermal protector to automatically reset.
 
The vacuum weighs 16.7 lbs which is about average for an upright - certainly not too heavy but not really a lightweight either.  The Hoover C1660-900 Hush commercial upright vacuum cleaner carries a 2 year warranty on the motor and a 1 year parts and labor warranty on the rest of the unit.

Vacuum Cleaner Manual
One can learn more about the vacuum cleaner, tools, maintenance and troubleshooting by viewing the manual.  It is written in English, French and Spanish.