Panasonic MC-UL915 Vacuum Review

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Avg. consumer rating = 78/100 

The Panasonic MC-UL915 is quite recent, having been introduced in April 2010.  This is a bagless upright with a long power cord and HEPA filtration. Consumers generally like the machine but ratings are not as high as some other uprights. The MC-UL915 is a feature-rich machine that is usually available for just over 200USD.

Consumer Input
A review of consumer comments yielded the following common MC-UL915 likes and dislikes:

PROS
- Motorized brushbar is very good at cleaning carpets
- The dirt sensor is a popular feature
- Long power cord
- Strong suction
- Headlight is handy feature
- Easy to assemble
- Low profile nozzle makes it easy to get around and under furniture
- Not too loud

CONS
- A bit heavy
- Some comments that the dirt canister can be tricky to empty
- All attachments won’t fit on vacuum

Consumer ratings are provided in the table below.  When averaged these generate a score of 77.6 out of 100.

Features
The Panasonic MC-UL915 is powered by a 12 amp motor and it uses cyclonic suction (similar to a Dyson).  Panasonic call this “JetSpin Cyclonic Technology”.  This technology uses 6 cyclonic chamber and spins air at such high speeds that the dirt is separated from the air and also away from the filters (washable foam filter and HEPA exhaust filter) ensuring that the filters require less maintenance.  This is also a bagless vacuum cleaner and it comes with a washable dust canister. 

Like many vacuums on the market today the MC-UL915 comes with HEPA filtration.  This level of filtration is very useful if you or your family members suffer from asthma or allergies.  HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and it is a highly efficient level of air filtration.   This level of filtration has been used in the biomedical industry for many years and (in conjunction with UV) helps to inhibit the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses.  HEPA filtration removes 99.97% of all particles in the air with a diameter of 0.3 microns or larger.  In the case of a typical household this will include dust, pet dander, dust mite feces, pollens and other allergens. A vacuum with HEPA filtration will create a healthier household environment.  This Panasonic uses a MC-V194H HEPA filter.
 
A number of attachments come with this vacuum cleaner:
- Telescopic wand (wand & hose have a 12 ft range)
- Crevice tool
- Pet air-turbine brush (removes pet hair from delicate surfaces)
- Nine inch bare floor brush
- Combination upholstery/dusting brush

The brushbar on the MC-UL915 is wooden and is also driven by a separate motor (it is not air driven).  The brushbar can be turned on and off via the touch of a button thereby accommodating both carpeted and bare floors easily.  There is also a belt saver feature that detects if something gets tangled in the brushbar and stops it from rotating.  If this occurs the MC-UL915 will shut the brushbar motor off thereby ensuring that the belt and/or motor are not damaged.  The Panasonic MC-UL915 also comes with automatic nozzle height adjustment which sets the vacuum nozzle to an optimal level for the surface being vacuumed.

Other vacuum features include soft non-marring wheels, a 14 inch wide cleaning path (average width), and a 35 foot long power cord (fairly long cord and several consumers have indicated that they are quite pleased with this).  This upright weighs in at about 20 lbs and there are a number of comments indicating that this is a bit heavy.  The MC-UL915 has edge cleaning that ensures one can vacuum right up to the baseboards, and it also comes with a popular feature called a dirt sensor.  This system utilizes and infra-red beam to monitor dirt particles moving from the floor into the vacuum.  High levels of dirt are indicated by a red light, and when the dirt levels drop off significantly the dirt sensor level turns to green.

The Panasonic MC-UL915 also sports a headlight.  This is a great feature for vacuuming in behind (or under) furniture, in closets or in dark corners.  It comes with an ergonomic telescopic handle and carries a 1 year parts and labor warranty.

Oddly this vacuum cleaner is sometimes marketed as a canister/upright combination.  But this is really just an upright vacuum.  Marketing terminology used by Panasonic states that the machine “provides the versatility of a canister, in that it works well on bare-floor surfaces, stairs, and hard-to-reach areas”.  Well, ok but many uprights strive for this kind of versatility as well.

Vacuum Manual
If you wish more information you may want to check out the Panasonic MC-UL915 Vacuum Manual.

Vacuum Video
This Panasonic MC-UL915 video is by Panasonic so it is something of a commercial but it is a great way to view the vacuum, see several of its features, and watch it at work.