Why the Kirby Lives Up to the Hype

While you can purchase a vacuum and various floor cleaning products like scrubbers, shampooers, and cleaners, owning multiple devices can be costly and occupy considerable closet space. For over 100 years, people worldwide have relied on the Kirby for their home cleaning needs. This is because the Kirby is more than just a vacuum.

It is a complete system capable of shampooing carpets, mopping hard floors, polishing hardwoods, and scrubbing tile and grout. Rather than wasting your time and money on several machines, consider that you’re investing in one powerful solution for all your cleaning needs with a Kirby.

Multiple metrics affect vacuum cleaner power, but none alone provides the full picture. For example, the amperage for the Kirby Avalir Platinum appears low—drawing only seven amps from a standard outlet—which is significantly less than many competitors in the premium vacuum market. This low amperage doesn’t indicate an issue; rather, it highlights the Kirby's superior efficiency compared to other models in its category.

Kirby has built a strong reputation as a dependable vacuum manufacturer, partly due to its dedication to making vacuum cleaners in the USA. Nevertheless, users would remain enthusiastic about their Kirby vacuums even without this reputation.

While strong airflow is critical for extracting dirt from deep within carpets, agitation is equally vital for dislodging that dirt. The Kirby brush roll spins at 3200 revolutions per minute, easily agitating and lifting dirt from carpets.

Achieving the right height is also essential to optimise airflow. The Kirby features toe-touch control with seven different settings, allowing it to clean various carpet types and styles.

The true advantage lies in the powerful suction of both newer and older Kirby models. This is especially noticeable with the Kirby Avalir Platinum, which thoroughly cleans nearly any environment.

Consumers often find air wattage to be even more confusing than the other metrics mentioned. This relatively new rating assesses the output of the vacuum. Similar to airflow, air watts evaluate how effectively the vacuum transfers air through a nozzle or other opening. To truly grasp a central vacuum's performance, it's crucial to focus on the air watts rather than the watts. This figure is calculated from airflow and the water column measurement, differentiating it from watts, which only indicate the electrical power needed to operate the device.

In summary, avoid the mistake of selecting a central vacuum based solely on its wattage; the best central vacuum is one that requires fewer watts yet still delivers optimal power measured in air watts!

Kirby has one of the highest Air Watt ratings in it class.

Measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), airflow determines how the vacuum motor can “pull” across a surface. This comprehensive calculation considers the motor’s power and resistance from the bag and the filtration system. Remember that while airflow provides excellent insight for general vacuum operation, ratings may be less accurate when using attachments.

Few vacuum specs are as telling or difficult to understand as water lift. This determines the extent to which a vacuum’s motor can lift a one-inch column of water. This concept only applies if the motor is completely sealed. A vacuum with a solid water lift rating can handle resistance more effectively, especially after the dust bag begins to fill.

As we’ve touched on, the concept of vacuum power is far from simple. The input power — measured in watts — plays a role but cannot be depended on alone to determine how effectively a vacuum might clean. High input power may not translate to impressive suction depending on how the vacuum is designed or how efficient the motor is. Still, a simple overview of wattage should provide insight when accompanied by other important specs.Amperage ratings are arguably more important.

This denotes the amount of electrical current used while operating the vacuum. While the motor uses the lion’s share of the electrical current, many other components are also influential. When making direct comparisons between vacuum models, however, the specific amperage of the motor can provide far more insight into the suction power and related cleaning abilities.