Rating the Hoover U5507-900 Elite Auto-Rewind Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

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Avg. consumer rating = 79/100 

W.H. "Boss" Hoover bought the patent for the “suction sweeper” from an inventor in 1908.  Since then Hoover engineers have been improving upon the basic design, creating a comprehensive range of vacuum cleaner models for both general and specialized cleaning.  In this vacuum cleaner rating we look at another in the long line of Hoover cleaning machines; namely the Hoover U5507-900.  This bagless vacuum cleaner offers “widepath” cleaning – providing a 14.5 inch sweep, a HEPA filter, stretch hose, several add-on cleaning tools, a headlight (a first developed by Hoover engineers years ago), a furniture guard and a 24 foot retractable cord…

The Hoover U5507-900 is bagless.  It has, instead of a disposable bag, a “dirt cup” that can be taken out of the machine, emptied and returned.  In the case of the U5507 consumers report that the dirt cup is easy to remove and easy to empty – without getting dirt and dust all over.  The unit also comes with something called an air-flow indicator which shows air flow restriction indicating when it is time to clean the filter and/or empty the dirt cup.  Presumably this would help to maintain optimal suction.  It should be noted here that most folks who bought this machine have indicated that it has plenty of suction and picks up considerable dirt and hair.

The Hoover comes with a lifetime HEPA filter.  What exactly is a HEPA filter?  A HEPA filter (high efficiency particulate air) is a high-efficiency air filter that is capable of removing at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers or larger.  These filters are used for many applications in the nuclear and biomedical industries but have more recently found a home in the newer vacuum cleaner models.  They are especially helpful to those suffering from asthma and allergies.  However it is key that all the air expelled by the vacuum cleaner go through the filter in order for it to be effective (something to check on any vacuum that touts that is using a HEPA filter).

The Hoover U5507-900's add-on cleaning tools include a long wand for getting into tight crevices, a combination dusting brush/uphostery tool, and a pet hair cleaning tool.  It also has seven different height adjustments which helps with the vacuuming of different floor types such as shag carpets, throw rugs or bare floors.  A full one year warranty is provided upon purchase.

Consumer Ratings

In general consumers like the suction, price (prices seem to range from about 90USD to 140USD), retractable cord and the easy to manage dirt-cup, while some are disgruntled by the mess created cleaning the lifetime filter, and there are some reports of the motor burning out or the belt breaking when sucking up something large by mistake or picking up large pieces of paper or cloth.

The Hoover site has, in PDF format, the manual for the Hoover U5507-900 Elite vacuum cleaner.