Keeping your house clean is a difficult chore. But thanks to technology, we have gadgets and appliances that help us finish household work faster and easier, like vacuum cleaners. Vacuum cleaners have evolved a lot. What are the things that we need to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner? How many watts is a good vacuum cleaner? What is the difference between watts and amps in vacuum cleaners? However, its purpose remains the same: to help us clean our house more conveniently. Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can be a bit overwhelming as there are a lot of options in the market to choose from.
All these questions and more will be answered in this article. Keep on reading to know and understand vacuum cleaners better.
Know the Terms
There are several terms used to understand how vacuum cleaners work. To choose the right one for you, it is necessary to know and understand these terms.
Watts
One of the things to note when buying a vacuum cleaner is its wattage. This term refers to the input power of the vacuum motor, which is the heart of this cleaning machine. It has electrical components that are attached to a fan or multiple fans. How many watts is a good cleaner? Knowing the watts alone does not consider the motor’s efficiency, the number of fans, or the overall vacuum design. However, motor wattage can be a useful way to evaluate the power of the motor.
Some manufacturers do not provide motor input power specifications in wattage form. Instead, they use amps. You can convert amps to watts using this formula:
Amps x 120 (volts) = watts or watts/volts (always 120) = amps
It is recommended to compare machines in both watts or amps. Convert the amps to watts or watts to amps if the machines do not show the same specifications.
Amps
Amps or amperage rating designated the maximum amount of electrical current used by the vacuum cleaner when in use. This means the amperage refers to the consumption of electricity and not the vacuum cleaner’s power or cleaning ability. However, it can be used to compare the input power of the vacuum cleaners.
The amp ratings give you ways to compare a vacuum motor’s input power and the vacuum cleaner as a whole. But note that knowing which vacuum cleaner consumes more electricity does not mean it cleans better.
If you want to get a good vacuum cleaner, asking how many watts is a good vacuum cleaner is not the right question. The two basics that you need to consider are vacuum suction and vacuum airflow.
Vacuum Suction
The force that gives a certain volume of air its speed or velocity is called suction. It is measured using a suckometer gauge. The suckometer measures the amount of suction in terms of water lift in inches. This suction figure (or the waterlift) is ideal to use when evaluating a vacuum cleaner’s performance. In most cases, these measurements are made available by most manufacturers.
Vacuum Airflow
The volume of air moved through the vacuum is called airflow. This is often referred to as CFM or cubic feet per minute. Sometimes, it is also measured liters per second. This is another thing to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner aside from how many watts is a good vacuum cleaner.
Airflow is the reason why the dirt moves along that suction has picked up. This is why both suction and airflow are interconnected. The design of a machine and its accessories is vital as it will afford airflows, such as resistance in the hose, filtration of the machine, floor tools, and other accessories.
Suction and airflow have an inverse relationship. This means that if the airflow is low when the suction is high and vice versa. It is vital to understand the relationship between suction and airflow in vacuum cleaners.
Now, if you are looking and checking the performance of a retail or commercial vacuum cleaner, check the suction power rating or the water lift and airflow figures, not the wattage. With technology innovation, it is essential to note that some vacuum cleaners these days spin motors faster and use tapered fan technology.
This means that vacuum cleaners nowadays have better performance without the need to increase their power consumption or vacuum wattage.
Conclusion
Technology has developed over the years, and just like other machines and devices, vacuum cleaners have improved a lot. When buying essential appliances and gadgets, it is necessary to know and understand their technical aspect to get the best and the right one suitable for your needs. Most people may ask how many watts is a good vacuum cleaner when looking for a new one, but now, you know better. Share this with your friends and share this vital piece of information that may help them in their quest to find a good vacuum cleaner. Find out more about vacuum cleaners here!