LG Kompressor Plus - PetCare LcV900B

 

Avg. consumer rating = 78/100 

There isn’'t much consumer input on the LG Kompressor Plus PetCare LcV900B canister vacuum but the input that can be found is generally not too bad.  Owners are pleased with the machine's powerful suction, washable filters and easy-to-empty dirt canister.  It also gets good marks for having controls on the handle and being very effective at pulling up pet hair.  It does tend to be a little on the heavy side however.

Over 500 consumer ratings and reviews were found for the LG LcV900B from six different online retail outlets.  Ratings vary from fairly average to very good.  

 

A review of consumer comments and insights has provided the following vacuum pros and cons.  For the most part consumer input is fairly positive for this unit but there are still some complaints and concerns.

PROS
- Easy to assemble
- Good on both carpets and hard surfaces
 -Compaction system works great and limits the need for emptying
- Dirt canister easy to empty
- Able to get under low furniture
- Very powerful suction
- Adjustable suction
- Has a motorized brushbar that can be turned on and off
- Not too loud
- Good quality construction
- Washable filters
- Controls on the handle
- Effective on pet hair

CONS
- Power cord is short
- A bit heavy for some

Like most full size vacuums today the LcV900B is powered by a 12 amp motor.  But unlike other machines on the market this unit uses a rotating wiper blade in the dirt canister to compress the debris.  This approach minimizes canister emptying and also makes disposal easier as the dirt and dust is compacted into a cake-like mass.  LG claims that the Kompressor will hold up to 3 times more debris than a normal (uncompressed) canister.

The dirt canister has an “easy-to-empty” design and a number of owners indicate that that it is indeed quite easy to remove, empty and re-attach.  The LcV900B also has a “canister full” indicator (light) on the handle which alerts the user as to when the canister requires emptying.

The vacuum’s main motor drives the machine’s cyclonic suction.  Cyclonic suction spins air at very high speeds using centrifugal force to “pull” the dirt and dust out of the airflow.  This kind of technology provides continous suction that doesn’t deteriorate as the canister fills and it also helps keep the vacuum filters cleaner longer.  Many bagless vacuum cleaners use this kind of technology today (Dyson for example). 

There is also a secondary motor on the LG LcV900B and it is used to drive the brushbar in the nozzle.  Many canister vacuum cleaners use an air-driven brushbar but these don’t usually have the same carpet cleaning capability of a motor-driven brushbar.  The brushbar can also be turned on and off via a switch conventiently located on the handle of the vacuum.  In addition, vacuum suction can be set on minimum or maximum from a switch on the handle (a great feature when you need to switch from bare floors or carpet to curtains or other delicate items). 

Vauum nozzle height adjustment helps ensure an optimal cleaning distance from the floor surface.  This height is adjusted via a foot pedal and there are 4 settings – high, medium, medium-low and low.  In addition, both the power nozzle and a bare floor nozzle are provided with this vacuum.

Several tools come with the PetCare LcV900B.  These include the following:

- A pet hair turbine tool (you’ll want to check this – some sites indicate the vacuum comes with this tool and some do not)
- A combination dusting & upholstery brush
- A crevice tool
- An aluminum telescopic wand

The wand can be stored inside the canister and the other tools can be locked to the canister.

HEPA filtration is standard with this vacuum and is a feature that is popular with asthma and/or allergy sufferers.  HEPA filtration – which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filtration – removes 99.97% of all particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or more.  This includes pet dander, pollen, dust mites and many other allergens.  Also , like a Dyson, the HEPA filter on the LG Kompressor Plus PetCare is washable which saves one from having to buy a new filter when the existing one gets dirty.

There is a lot of marketing noise written about the vacuum’s DualForce suction.  This simply means that the nozzle has airflow channels in the middle and on both sides.  The idea is to ensure better suction distribution across the entire nozzle and near the edges.  A more conventional nozzle may only include a single airflow channel.

The power cord on the LG LcV900B is only 21 feet long and while existing consumer reviews and comments do not indicate this as a drawback, over time we would expect to see it brought up as an issue for some.  21 feet is rather short. 

With a weight of 22 lbs this canister is heavier than most and it may not be the best unit for dragging up and down the stairs.  A few owners have commented on the heaviness of this machine but it should also be noted that several consumers indicate that, despite its weight, the canister is fairly easy to pull along while vacuuming.
 
The vacuum also features motor overload protection which will shut the motor off should it become overloaded (the result of an airpath obstruction for example).  There is also a stretch hose and an LED headlight for lighting up dim areas.  The LG Kompressor Plus PetCare LcV900B sports a cleaning path width of 13.5 inches (about average) and carries a lengthy 5 year warranty on parts and labor.