Hoover Presto Cordless Stick Vacuum (BH20090)

 Avg. consumer rating = 77/100 

The Hoover Presto is a combination stick vacuum and handheld vacuum.  The handheld unit detaches from the stick vac and includes several attachments (crevice tool, upholstery tool and dusting brush).  Owners give the Presto reasonable ratings citing its light weight, solid construction and quiet operation.  Folks also like that it is compact and easy to store.  In addition, a motorized brushbar makes this stick vac capable on both carpet and bare floors.  However some consumers report that the unit is difficult to push on carpet and that the dust canister is quite small and in need of frequent emptying.

Owner ratings vary widely and provide an overall score of 77/100.  You can compare this to other stick vacuums we have investigated in our stick vacuum ratings table.

 

In general owners are pleased with the Hoover Presto.  There are a number of comments alluding to the attractive and ergonomic design and the fact that the unit feels fairly well-built. A comprehensive list of owner likes and dislikes is provided below:

PROS
- Very lightweight
- Compact
- Vacuum feels solid and well-built
- Fairly quiet
- Easily converts to a handheld
- Transparent dust canister makes it easy to know when to empty
- Dust canister is easy to remove, empty and re-attach

CONS
- Some owners find it a bit hard to push on carpet
- Small dust canister
- Long recharge times (according to some owners)
- Can’t lock the vac in the upright position
- Attached hand vac makes the stick vacuum hard to get under some low furniture

The Hoover Presto is a cordless stick vacuum powered by a 14.4 volt nickel cadmium battery.  According to Hoover the battery requires a full 12 hours of charging the first time it is used.  The battery should then be fully run down (depleted).  This charging/depletion pattern should be repeated 2 more times.  After this, Hoover report that the battery will fully charge in about 6 to 8 hours.  Some owners have commented that this 3 x 12 hour battery setup is a bit annoying.

The Presto is a 2-in-1 stick vacuum as it includes a detachable handheld vacuum (see image to right).  A quick release button allows the handheld vacuum to disengage from the main unit and the handheld vac can be turned on and off via its own power button.  A few owners report that the body of the handheld - when it is attached to the stick vac - can limit the ability of the stick vac to get under low furniture.

The unit uses cyclonic suction which is a technology that spins air very rapidly essentially “throwing” the dirt away from the main airflow and into the dust canister.  This technology (which is commonly used in bagless vacuums) is reported to maintain suction power while you vacuum and also to help keep filters cleaner longer.

A washable HEPA filter is a standard feature with the Hoover Presto.  Hoover state that the HEPA filter should last until the vacuum warranty expires, which is a roundabout way of saying that it should last for 1 year.

The vacuum comes with a 3-in-1 tool that includes an upholstery brush, a dusting brush and a crevice tool.  These tools attach to the front of the handheld vacuum.  When they are not in use they can be placed in a tool storage area at the base of the battery charger.

In addition to bare floors the Presto is also designed to clean carpet - it has a motorized brushbar.  A few owners report that the unit can be a bit hard to push on carpet however, although not all owners bring this issue up. 

The vacuum nozzle is able to swivel allowing the vacuum to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles.  The top of the nozzle is made of clear plastic providing a view of the brushbar.  This is useful should the brushbar get a tangle or be obstructed.

Additional vacuum features include a 10.5 inch wide cleaning path (fairly wide for a stick vacuum), an on/off switch on the vacuum handle, and a fold-down handle that makes the vacuum much easier to store (see image on left).  The Hoover Presto is also quite light at only 6 lbs and it carries a 1-year limited warranty.

The Hoover Presto “package” includes the stick vac, hand vac, charging base, 3-in-1 tool, nozzle, and AC adapter.  Some assembly is necessary but it can be done without tools and items more or less click or slide into place.

This stick vac also has a feature that protects it from overheating.  If the machine gets too hot, a thermal protector will kick in and shut the vacuum off.  Should this happen, the power must be turned off, the dust canister emptied, the filter cleaned and any potential obstructions removed. After about 30 minutes the vacuum can be turned back on (it takes about 30 minutes for the motor to cool and the thermal protector to deactivate).

The battery charger included with the vacuum is ENERGY STAR qualified. This essentially means that it is “environmentally friendly”. ENERGY STAR is a joint program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program involves protecting the environment through energy efficient products and practices - so if a product is Energy Star rated then it has met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by both the EPA and US Department of Energy.

The vacuum is also ETL listed. ETL is a group that performs electrical and reliability tests on products to ensure they meet US product safety standards. They also audit the manufacturing site and require that the applicant agrees to future factory inspections to ensure continued adherence to the standards.

Vacuum Cleaner Manual
You can find the Hoover Presto manual here: Hoover Presto BH20090 Manual.

Note: A number of consumers compare the Hoover Presto to the Hoover Linx Stick Vacuum.  The Linx charges much quicker but it does not include a handheld vacuum.  It is also more expensive.  You may want to check out the Hoover Linx review.  The Linx is one of our top rated stick vacuums.