What Is The Best Suction Power For A Vacuum Cleaner?
What is the best suction power for a vacuum cleaner is a question that we get asked quite regularly by our readers when they’re trying to decide on which new model or brand to buy.
A vacuum cleaner is a device that relies on suction power to get rid of dust and debris from floors, upholstery, and other surfaces of your home.
One that has a higher level of wattage can suck up most of the dust and debris from home surfaces compared to models with lesser suction power.
In fact, a machine with more suction power provides a better performance level and cleans your home more efficiently.
If you are in the market for a new vacuum cleaner and wonder what is the most powerful available, you have come to the right place.
This article answers the question – “What really is the best suction power for a vacuum cleaner?”
Table of Contents
What Does High Suction Power Mean?
Most people don’t know the difference between high and low absorption units. Hence, they may invest in the wrong make or model for their homes and waste money in the process.
The best way to test the performance of a vac is to switch the cleaner to “carpet mode” and turn on the unit.
Let the appliance run on maximum airflow and attach the floorhead to a wall.
Some brand reviewers mention that a high powered appliance should stay attached to the wall without any external support.
How To Measure The Sucking Ability Of A Vacuum Cleaner?
There are several methods of measuring the efficiency of your device.
Here are some of the most effective methods of measuring the output:
Utilizing Air Watts
This method is about the volume of watts it uses to carry an air unit through its nozzle.
This is the best way to measure the performance of your model.
You should know the water lift and CFM values of the carpet cleaner or vac to make this calculation. The standard formula to calculate air watts is P = 0.117354 x F x S.
F stands for CFM, P for air watts, and S for the capacity in units of inches of water (if applicable).
In fact, this formula can differ depending on the manufacturer and model.
Utilizing CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) Or Airflow
CFM helps measure the airflow of the vacuum from surfaces to bag in a minute. A higher CFM implies a greater performance.
How To Know If A Vac Has High Performance Efficiency?
A good quality model should have better efficiency compared to a lower quality, usually lower priced, unit.
In fact, the performance level of the machine will depend on its motor, filters, suction, and airflow.
Preventive maintenance, such as cleaning filters, is important to keep the unit performing at its best over time.
You should change bags, empty dust containers, clean the filters, as well as the whole unit including the revolving brushes.
What Is The Highest Suction Power Of A Vacuum Cleaner?
200 CFM is the highest measured power level of suction. But this measurement has been obtained without the cleaning head.
When you start to attach things to the unit, its output significantly drops.
On the other hand, 45 CFM is the lowest level of a standard vacuum cleaner.
The required sucking capacity for your home may depend on your needs.
If you want to clean a small apartment, 250-320 watts of juice is more than enough.
But if you use the unit for heavy duty cleaning like in a large shop, you may need a more powerful unit of around 1500 watts.
What Is The Best Vacuum Suction Power For Your Home?
If you want a vacuum cleaner for heavy cleaning chores, you should opt for the following levels of sucking capacity depending on the type of model:
- Upright – 1200 Watts
- Cordless – 150-200 Watts
- Canister – 1200 Watts
- Commercial -1500
Does Higher Wattage Mean More Efficiency?
Most people think that higher wattage equals better operating capacity.
But the actual fact is that wattage is only a measurement of how much electricity or power the machine consumes.
For example, a 1000W vacuum cleaner uses 1 kilowatt (1000 Watts) of electricity in 1 hour. It is more a consumption measurement than a power output measurement.
A vacuum cleaner with a higher wattage will use more electricity for its operation and will generally produce better suction than a lesser powered model.
