Avg. consumer rating = 92/100
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Rotator is yet another vacuum cleaner from Euro-Pro that is getting great consumer reviews - other popular Euro-Pro vacuums include the Shark Navigator and the Shark Lift-Away. The Shark Rotator is an upright, a canister and it also has a portable component. In addition, it has powerful suction, a brushbar with on/off controls, several useful tools, and a 5 year warranty. Criticisms of the machine are limited to secondary concerns such as the average fit and finish and headlights that only provide moderate illumination.
Consumer Input
Online consumer ratings for this vacuum cleaner are stellar and it gets an overall average score of 92 out of 100. This places the Rotator near the very top of uprights we have investigated. Star ratings found at quality outlets can be seen in the table below.
| Source | Consumer Ratings | #Ratings |
| Amazon | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 3153 |
| Bed Bath & Beyond | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 33 |
| Costco | 4.2 stars out of 5 | 183 |
| Lowe's | 4.5 stars out of 5 | 179 |
| Walmart | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 564 |
| Home Depot | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 256 |
| Kohl's | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 671 |
| Staples | 4.3 stars out of 5 | 3 |
| Overstock | 4.8 stars out of 5 | 199 |
| Wayfair | 4.8 stars out of 5 | 583 |
A review of consumer comments provides the following Rotator likes and dislikes:
PROS
- Works well on pet hair
- Owners like the lift-away feature
- 5 year warranty
- Very strong suction
- Fairly quiet
- Not too heavy
- Works well on both carpet and bare floors
- Dust canister is easy to empty
- Power tool works well and is good for stairs & upholstery
- Respectably long power cord
- Swivel head really does make the vacuum easy to maneuver
- Assembly is quick and easy
- Low profile allows it to get under furniture
CONS
- In upright mode it can tip when using the tools
- Lift-away feature must be carried - no shoulder strap
- Average fit and finish
- Some owners feel it is a big large
- Headlights are not very bright (but some owners still report they are useful)
Models & Features
There are several different models of rotator vacuum and it can be rather confusing - please feel free to add comments or information if you have any. According to the Euro-Pro website the following styles are available:
Shark Rotator Professional Lift Away (this review) - NV500 series
Shark Rotator Professional - NV400 series
Shark Rotator Vac or Steam - model MV3010
In this review we are looking at the NV501. There are a number of models within the NV500 series (NV500, NV501, NV502, NV503, NV500W) and the different models allude to different tool and attachment offerings. For example the NV501 contains all the usual tools plus a multi-angle dusting brush while the NV502 has all the usual tools plus a car detail kit. It is very difficult to determine what tools and accessories come with what model. Even Euro-Pro does not provide this information to quote their site Depending on the version you purchased, the accessories will vary slightly. To find out specifically what is in your version, consult the contents list on the top panel of your box. A very good comment from a consumer on Amazon that highlights these differences in more detail can be found here
While reading owner comments it is surprising the number of consumers who began their vacuum search looking for a Dyson and ended up buying the Shark Rotator Lift-Away. Owners compare the machine's performance and features to those of a Dyson and also report being very happy having made the decision in the Sharks favor. This vacuum generally sells for about $200 - $250 depending on the model so it is substantially less than a Dyson upright. Note: There is no attempt to be anti-Dyson here - we are simply reporting on owner statements as well as average online costs.
It is likely that the comparisons to Dyson stem from the similarities between the machines. The Rotator has no loss of suction technology, it is bagless, and it also has washable filters and HEPA level filtration. No loss of suction technology is sometimes referred to as cyclonic technology but it also goes by a host of other marketing speak names. It essentially involves spinning air very rapidly and using the centrifugal force to remove the dirt and dust particles from the air. The debris is deposited directly into the dust canister. Cyclonic technology also keeps dust away from the filters and helps them stay cleaner longer. This approach requires no bags. As bags fill they can restrict airflow reducing suction as you vacuum.
The Shark Rotator has HEPA level filtration which means that it will remove 99.9% of particles (with a diameter of 0.3 micrometers or more) from the air. HEPA filtration is effective for those suffering from allergies or asthma, however to ensure quality filtration ALL the air that enters the vacuum should be passed through the HEPA filter before being exhausted. Euro Pro indicate that their Anti-allergen complete seal technology accomplishes just this. It ensures that air does not bypass the filters or leak out through the vacuum casing.
The vacuum has three filters: a pre-motor foam filter, a pre-motor felt filter and a post-motor HEPA filter. While the filters do not need to be replaced, they do need to be washed occasionally. It is suggested that the pre-motor filters be washed every 3 months and the HEPA filter once a year or so.
The Shark Rotator Lift Away is marketed as a three-in-one vacuum cleaner. It is an upright, a canister and to some extent a handheld although the handheld is really the Lift-away mode in which one carries the dirt canister along with motor, hose and handle. The default mode for the machine is Upright but the main body of the vacuum can also be set atop a wheeled base (included with the vacuum and referred to as the canister caddy) to convert the machine into a canister vacuum. The caddy also has space for accessory storage.
The Rotator is capable of cleaning both carpet and bare floors and the motor-driven brushroll in the nozzle can be turned on and off. Most owners like to turn the brushbar ON when cleaning carpet and OFF when cleaning bare floors. It should be noted, however, that this machine does not have carpet height adjustment settings.
The Shark Rotator is powered by a 10 amp motor and this delivers more than adequate suction to the 11.5 inch wide nozzle. This is a fairly narrow nozzle when compared to most uprights but the smaller opening helps to increase suction across the width of the nozzle and it also aids in the units maneuverability. In addition, the nozzle has swivel steering which allows it to move around furniture easily, and while some owners report that the steering takes a little getting used-to, almost all feel that it is an asset.
The nozzle also sports headlights which are located on each side of the nozzle. These are LED headlights and are designed to last the life of the vacuum so no bulb changes are needed. They turn on when the vacuum is on and cannot be turned off unless the vacuum itself is turned off.
The Rotator is advertised as having variable suction and while it has a sliding suction collar, it may be a stretch to consider this true variable suction which generally refers to the ability to adjust motor speed. However, the approach used by the Rotator is effective nonetheless. The collar is essentially an opening just below the vacuum handle that can be varied in size (by rotating the collar) thereby releasing a portion of the suction. The ability to reduce suction can be useful when the nozzle is difficult to move on carpet or when using tools to clean delicate items like lamp shades or curtains.
Several tools and attachments are included with the NV501 and these are:
- Multi-tool (combination dusting & upholstery tool)
- 18" Flexible crevice tool
- Premium power brush (effective at pulling up pet hair from carpet stairs and upholstery)
- Straight suction nozzle (good for hard surfaces, low-pile carpet and area rugs)
- Multi-angle dusting brush (pivots at 3 different angles)
Tools can be added directly to the end of the handle or to the end of the wand for extra reach. Also, the crevice tool and dusting brush store on-board.
Most consumers agree that the dust canister on the vacuum is easy to empty. It is bottom-empty and it also has top access to allow one to get at debris that can get lodged near the top of the canister a nice feature. The dust canister holds 1.3 dry quarts (0.325 US gallons) to the empty line, however the actual usable volume of the canister is closer to 3.1 dry quarts (0.775 US gallons).
Other Rotator features include a 30 foot power cord, an 8.6 foot long stretch hose and a lifetime belt. Also the nozzle motor will automatically turn off should the brushbar be obstructed. This will stop the motor from overheating and potentially being damaged.
The vacuum is fairly lightweight for an upright at 15.5 lbs although lighter uprights are certainly available (consider the Hoover Commercial Elite for example - although it has few of the bells & whistles found on the Rotator). The Lift-away feature itself weighs 8.4 lbs. 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. The Shark Rotator carries a 5 year limited manufacturers warranty.
Video showing Accessories and Tools
Hello!
Comments
However today I had to remove the brush
to clean it. It was a 4 1/2 hour job.
They need to engineer it to make the brush easier to remove.
This was my true experience, and exactly the way I feel about a price product that I cannot use, so please tell Mr. Mark Rosen how I feel about his television advertisement. They are false.
When I called the Shark company, they became very angry when I did not want to perform trouble shooting with them, which consisted in removing various hoses, turning the vacuum upside down and removing the rotary brushes. Placing a dime into each hose to see if it had a return, remove the filters and attempt to operate the machine without the filters and attempt to pick up dust with each hose. No where in their advertisement do they say in order to return or exchange are you required to demonstrate or act as a vacuum repairman. This was not easy, and after several attempts, I could no longer assist in this demonstration so the customer service rep. hung up on me stating that he could not help me and marked the inquiry as closed and resolved. After making several other calls, a young lady was nice, but the only resolution was for her to send me a replacement rotary part for the floor. My problem was not resolved and my issue is Shark\'s advertisement is false and very misleading to the consumer. I am unhappy with this product and will never purchase another Shark product, because they only make excuses not to honor their warranty.
From the start there were a bunch of pieces to put together, not a big deal though. I\'ve always used and owned canister vacs in the past so having an upright was a new experience.
Right off the bat the 1st problem was I kept running over the power cord. I finally realized you have to hold that in one hand so you can keep moving it out of the way. But if you need to move furniture you have to drop it, then pick it up again, that was a pain. You don\'t have that issue with canisters, not to that degree.
The next issue is you have to push the entire weight around. While it\'s not that heavy it still adds up when you constantly push around 15+ pounds back and forth.
I must say it did pick up a lot of dirt though, but that brings up the next issue. The \"cup\" to hold the dirt is fairly small (compared to what a canister holds) and it really was not easy to empty. I had to stick my hand in it to unclog as there was a giant rabid dust bunny caught in it. Yuck! Plus I didn\'t really like looking at the dirt in the clear plastic container as it swirls around either.
One more issue to add to the list is the hose is like a spring or rubber band in that when you detach it to use one of the attachments, like the brush, as you pull - it pulls back. So it\'s like you are constantly fighting it to stretch it out to vacuum whatever you are trying to reach.
Perhaps the fact I\'ve always had canisters in the past, for many years, this may have made it difficult for me to get used to some of the operational aspects of an upright, but all things considered I really didn\'t like the experience. It seemed like I was fighting this thing for much of the time in one way or another, and once I had to stick my hand in the dust cup to clean it that\'s when I decided it was going back. Give me a canister with a bag and I\'m happy, and I\'m one of the odd people who actually likes vacuuming.