Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum
by Eureka
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Eureka 4870GZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright Vacuum
Customer Review: The Eureka Boss Smart-Vac is all around great! Kid & pet tested. Mother approved.
Summary: 5 Stars
Edited to say that I've now had and used the Eureka vacuum DAILY for 2.5 years, and my review wouldn't change. This Eureka has been durable and held up well except that the end of the hose where you put attachments on had chipped and cracked some. The only time I've had to replace a belt is when *I* or one of my "helpful" kids vacuumed up something like a stuffed animal or sock. I've been very happy with it and would highly recommend going to check this one out! I still think this is a top choice in the under $300 vacuums. So how did it still compare to the recently received Dyson DC18 Total Access(approximate retail $400 to $500 vacuum) as a gift from someone who knew I considering a Dyson at the time I purchased this? It's kind of like comparing apples to oranges since these aren't even in the same price category, but for those who have wondered....I've tried to do a main points comparison where applicable.
I have the 4870GZ model. It's metallic red and comes with the Power Paw (mini turbo) tool. [The Dyson I now have is the DC18 Total Access with extra accessories but didn't include the mini Turbine head which is $59 by itself. Fortunately the Eureka power paw fits and works with the DC18.]
I am going to rate the Eureka vacuum 5 stars even though I have a few neutral and one negative points. The reason for this high rating is that I have found it is simply the overall best choice for me in the under $300 price category and was only 1/2 of that--paid about $160, I think!
Pros:
Customer Service! It was so nice to have a 1-800 toll-free number to call and actually get to speak to a live representative!
Eureka's web site has good product information, and instructions can be downloaded.
Solid construction.
I haven't found any vacuums in the under $300 range with better suction. [The Dyson suction might have a little more suction, but I certainly did not pull up bags full of stuff that was left behind like you would from cheaper vacuums--maybe the same or a little more than I would have with the Boss and a new bag.]
Sealed HEPA filter that is easy to replace. Unlatch door, remove and replace filter, latch door. Eureka recommends replacing this filter every six bag changes or twice a year. They are about $20 a piece. I did notice that a washable HEPA filter cartridge could be ordered on the parts form included with the instructions for only $39.99. [Dyson DC18 comes with a washable HEPA filter.]
Foam filter that protects motor.
On/off brush roller. This is a convenient feature when only the hose is needed or to vacuum linoleum floors. This saves wear/tear on carpet if vacuuming drapes, upholstery, or something like that. Because the brush head is not turning, I can actually vacuum up the crumbs on the kitchen floor instead of scatter them. On/off brush is a hard-to-find feature in vacuums under $200--at least around here. [DC18 has this feature.]
The bag is easy to install. A guide holds the bag in proper place. Note: the front plastic piece of the vacuum will be difficult to latch if a bag is not installed. It's a feature to ensure the bag is correctly installed for maximum performance. [A push button releases the Dyson canister. Push down on a lever on the contents of the canister drop into the trash, but you might have to "help" it out.]
This vacuum can use the allergy/filtration bags which I found locally for about $2 a piece. [The Dyson uses a canister so no bags to buy, washable HEPA filter, and is certified asthma friendly.]
Headlight feature is nice for dark rooms. Replacing the bulb is as easy as removing two screws, the lens cover and old bulb and replacing with new and reattaching lens cover with two screws. [DC18 did not have a headlight. I miss this feature.]
Assembly was easy. The handle is attached by three screws. Click the onboard tools in place on the vacuum's housing. [Dyson's assembly was easy too.]
The vacuum comes with two nesting wands, crevice, dusting brush, and upholstery tools which snap firmly into the housing. This model also came with a Power Paw tool (mini turbo tool) that really worked well on my furniture compared to just using the upholstery tool. [Dyson comes in several models with most of the difference being the particular tools that come with it.]
Vacuum is designed to allow easy access to clear blockages if this condition occurs. Plus, some of the tubes are even clear so you can see if there is anything in them before taking it apart. Really nice feature!
12 amp. motor., 30 foot power cord, and reinforced plastic around roller brush housing, are nice extras. [DC18's cord is shorter, about 25 feet, that I have to plug it in two different places in order to do the whole house...might need to get an extension cord. I was able to vacuum the whole house from one outet with the Eureka.]
I thought the user's guide stated what needed to be stated clearly and had good illustrations.
Neutral Points:
The vacuum is heavy which may be a disadvantage for some. It wasn't a disadvantage for me. Even though I am extra small, I have no physical conditions that limit movement, and our home is just a single level. Also, it's not "cheap made" so it's going to weigh more for that reason. [The Dyson weighs about 15 lbs. so it noticeably lighter. Only time will tell how durable it is.]
The stretchy hose was too short for the task I do, but Eureka does include their 5:1 stretch hose (deluxe version). I needed more flexibility and length. I am putting this as a neutral point since some vacuums in this class either don't have a hose at all OR you must convert (unplug hose for vacuum and then insert hose for tools and then again reverse this process when you are done) the vacuum to use the hose. With this vacuum, I simply turn a knob (air selector switch) located on top of the vacuum. [The DC18 hose is really nice and very usuable. Leave vacuum in upright position to use.]
The handle release (pedal you step on) and brush roll on/off switch are a little stiff at first. In particular, the brush on/off switch may be difficult to operate for someone that has limited strength in their hands or a condition that makes it physicaly difficult to manipulate objects like this. [Dyson has a step-on latch that easily releases the vacuum from upright to vacuum position and a push-button to turn the brush on/off.]
Negative Point:
I don't see an option to order a longer, stretchier hose. The hose on the unit could have been longer since it is stretched some even when stored.
NOTES:
I did a quick test of comparing the different vacuums' suction by just testing the suction from the hose. Eureka actually has a feature that reduces some of the suction to the hose--a nice feature so you don't suck in the whole drape or something like that instead of just vacuum it off. However, I haven't found any vacuum in the under $300 range with more suction when it comes to cleaning carpets and floors. Some are the close or the same, but I haven't found any with better suction. Anyway keep this in mind if trying to compare suction at the store where you might not get to actually compare what is vacuumed up.
The Eureka is so often compared to the Dyson in terms of suction so that is why I've updated this review, but one has to remember that you could buy almost THREE Eureka's for the price of the Dyson DC18. As far as suction goes, I think both models are very comparable. Where the Dyson should be better over time is you get that "new bag" suction every time. The Dyson DC18's hose, "ball" design which makes it easy to manuever, push button brush on/off, easy to use lever to release vacuum from upright position, no bags or belts to buy, and the same suction as you get with a new bag everytime may make it worth the extra. As for me, it was a gift. It was really nice because it wasn't something I would have bought myself because of the price and it improved on the neutral or negative points I had about the Eureka (but keep in mind the Eureka is much less!), I am being honest in saying I was very happy with the Eureka Boss and had not been looking to buy another. By the way, I personally prefer the DC18 over the older, heavier Dyson models.
Either choice, is a good choice so choose what's right for you and your needs :-).
Customer Review: MAJOR REPAIR ISSUES! STAY AWAY FROM THIS VACUUM!
Summary: 1 Stars
The Eureka 4870 is consistently rated very highly by Consumer Reports. I am still scratching my head trying to understand why. There are certain vacuum cleaners that are brought in for repair that I can guess what the problem is before the customer tells me. This is one of those machines.
This vacuum cleaner is our number 1 repair customer. The Eureka 4870 is brought in for repair MORE THEN ANY OTHER VACUUM CLEANER. The only reason I have given this vacuum 2 stars, is because when this vacuum is working, it actually does clean very well, however the number of times you will have to bring the vacuum in for service, outweighs how well it cleans. Let me first tell you about the Pros to the Eureka 4870, as this can be summed up with a few sentences.
Pros:
The Eureka 4870 motor actually is a very high output motor, and creates a decent amount of suction power. The motor is the only metal component to the vacuum, and is the only part on this vacuum that I have never seen problems with, or had to replace.
The vacuum has a nice selection of on-board attachments. Included is a nice on board hose, an extra wand for above the floor cleaning, a nice long crevice tool for those hard to reach nooks and crannies, a dusting brush, as well as an upholstery tool. The "power paw" (as standard attachment on the 4870HZ) attachment leaves a lot to be desired, as most of the time the rotating brush driven by suction stops as soon as you put it on upholstery, or stairs.
The electrical cord on this vacuum is a nice long 30 foot cord, allowing you to be able to clean more square footage without having to go and unplug the machine from room to room. This feature will actually save you substantial time on vacuuming.
The vacuum bag is a "top fill" bag. This means that the hole where the dirt goes into fills from the very top of the bag, allowing you to really jam pack the dirt in the bag, and filling the entire bag before there's any suction loss. A lot of other vacuums have the hold on the side of the bag, which is really pointless, as you have to throw away the bag before it's completely full.
The price is probably the best feature on this vacuum. For right around $150, the machine is very affordable, and feature packed for this price. You do get what you pay for in terms of quality.
Cons:
Weighing in at 25 pounds, this machine is VERY heavy. If you have multiple floors, and you have to take the vacuum up and down the stairs, you will surely hate this vacuum after the first few times of carrying it up and down stairs. The carrying handle is not very conveniently placed either, causing the customer to have to pick up the machine by the handle which makes it seem even more heavy.
The Eureka R belt "Extended Life Belt". The belt on this machine was a new design by Eureka. The belt is actually not made of rubber like most belts. It is actually a plastic belt. Eureka claims that this belt is "Extended life" however some of my customers are replacing this belt 3-4 times a year. If you vacuum anything that gets stuck in the roller brush while vacuuming, the belt usually stretches to a point where the brush will not spin, or if it does spin, it will spin very slowly, and sometimes even stop as soon as you put it on the carpet.
The roller brush itself. A typical Eureka roller brush, this roller brush (sometimes referred to as a "beater bar") has two PLASTIC bearing caps on each side. If something is vacuumed up into the brush while it's spinning, a lot of the times, the brush bearing caps will actually melt! Eureka does not sell these caps separately either, and you'll have to purchase the entire roller brush assembly if this happens. Do not expect to get any more the 1 year out of the roller brush before some melting happens. The plastic bearing caps are not sealed either. If you have pets in the house, or females (some males are also included) that have very long hair, this hair will get inside the bearing of the roller brush shortening the life even more. One way to prevent this from happening is take the roller brush out, taking the bearing caps off, and remove the hair, thread, etc that has wrapped itself around the bearings. You should do this every 2 weeks for best results.
The dreaded Carpet/Floor switch. Out of all the problems this machine has, this is by far the most common. Not only is the most common, it can also be the most expensive, as the amount of time and labor that it takes to replace the switch is very difficult, and you will have to take it in to a local repair shop to fix it. If you talk to any independent vacuum store, and ask them about this repair, 9 times out of 10 you they will tell you how difficult of a repair it really is. This is my least favorite repair to do out of ANY VACUUM CLEANER. You basically have to take the entire roller brush housing apart, and fight with a spring to fix it. The design on this switch is the problem. If a customer does decide to purchase this vacuum from me (I certainly don't recommend it) I always open the machine, assemble it, and I always test the machine before the customer leaves my store. I have opened probably 10-15 of these machines brand new out of the box, only to test it, and find that the Carpet/Floor switch is broken. Brand new out of the box there should never be any problems.
The last issue on this vacuum is the filtration. Eureka claims that this machine is "True HEPA filtration" vacuum. I have found this to be more like a "False HEPA filtration" vacuum. One of the many cool gadgets we have to diagnose and test vacuum cleaners is what's called a Particle Scanner. This very expensive machine will actually measure with lasers how many fine dust particles are leaking from a vacuum per minute of use. I measured the Eureka 4870 like I do all vacuums I sell. This machine registered 25,000+ fine dust particles per minute of use being leaked out of this machine. Now this number is definitely lower then any bagless machine on the market, however for Eureka to claim that this machine will help allergy and asthma sufferers is just false. If you own this vacuum try vacuuming in the sunlight, and you can actually see some of the larger micron dust exhausting from the machine. This is only the larger particles you can see. The most damaging particles to humans are the ones that are not visible to the naked eye. If you or your family has any breathing issues such as Asthma, Emphysema, or allergies, please beware of this vacuum.
You can kind of tell the quality of a vacuum cleaner by the warranty the manufacturer will give you. The Eureka 4870 has a 1 year parts and labor (required by the government, I'm sure they would give less if they could). Consumer Reports loves this vacuum, but as a vacuum repairman, I would tell anyone that asked me to STAY AWAY FROM THIS VACUUM CLEANER.
Customer Review: 4870GZ - A great overall vacuum as suggested by Consumer Reports Magazine!
Summary: 5 Stars
-- My older canister vacuum finally failed, so I was in search of a reliable new replacement. I decided to change to an upright vacuum since I no longer live in a home with stairs or much upholstered furniture to clean.
-- Consumer Reports Magazine suggested the Eureka 4870 Boss Smart-Vac as one of the best on the market. Consumer Reports claimed it as lightweight, easy to push, great for cleaning, and a best buy for its price.
-- I did a lot of shopping around first, to find the absolute lowest price for this model. I was quite surprised when Amazon's price was the lowest (including all shipping charges), even compared with walking in to Walmart. I was able to use a pretty standard discount coupon on Amazon's site, that applied to most housewares. The coupon appears to repeat it self several months in a row. You might check their discount section to find it. In August, it was called AUGQUICKDSCNT; and in September, it was called SEPTQUICKDSCNT (I believe).
-- Consumer Reports reviewed the 4870 model vacuum. I was able to find three different 4870 models. Most 4870 models contain a two-letter digit following the model number, which is a code indicating the color and optional extra parts of the vacuum.
The 4870 DT is green with minimal options.
The 4870 GZ is red with a turbo upholstery nozzle attachment.
The 4870 ?? is blue with a turbo upholstery nozzle attachment that has two switch settings.
Amazon carries both the DT and GZ models. I have only seen the blue model available at KMart, but I did not check online.
-- After receiving the vacuum, I pulled it out of its gigantic box, and spent less than five minutes assembling the handle to the base. (It required a screw driver, flat or phillips head.) I was very happy that there was a storage place on the base for each and every accessory tool. However, there was *not* a place for the bonus turbo nozzle accessory included with the GZ model. -- The first run of the vacuum was surprising. On the low pile carpet I started on, the vacuum had so much suction that it actually started walking itself forward immediately. (I almost fell over trying to hold it back! hee hee) On the thicker, larger pile carpet, the vacuum did not walk near as much. But, it had so much suction, the carpet looked incredibly clean. I don't think the carpet has been that clean since it was new!
-- The first few times I ran the vacuum, the HEPA filter, or some part of the exhaust of the vacuum emitted an unusual plastic-like odor, which I assume is due to the fact that this is a new vacuum. However, after a few times, the vacuum emits air that is fresh, and very clean smelling. Its like cleaning the air with one of those air filters while I vacuum.
-- The turbo nozzle attachment that was included with the GZ model is unusual. I was expecting a nozzle attachment with a small motorized roller brush for cleaning upholstery. However, this nozzle is *not* motorized. Instead, it runs on the suction power of the vacuum to turn its roller brush. At first, I thought that the suction of the vacuum would not be enough to keep the roller turning. However, it appears to work great. The only side-effect to not being motorized is that the nozzle makes a strange higher-pitched whining noise (instead of a vibrating motor noise). But I have used it several times on the sofa and recliner to remove dirt and pet hair, and it works great. The only complaint I have is that there is no place on the upright body to store the nozzle attachment with the vacuum.
-- The other thing that confused me is the brush roll control switch on the base of the vacuum. This yellow switch/tab that appears to be used to change the mode of the vacuum from carpet to bare floors cannot be operated by hand. Instead, the switch automatically moves by raising and lowering the upright half of the vacuum to and from its 'storage' position. When the vacuum body is upright, and clicked into its 'storage' position, the yellow switch/tab indicates bare floor cleaning, and the brush roll is automatically switched off. When the vacuum body is lowered, or angled, in its 'vacuuming' position, the yellow switch/tab indicates carpet cleaning, and the brush roll is automatically switched on. You cannot move the yellow switch by hand. In order to vacuum hard floors, you either have to leave the brush roll running, and use the dial indicator to lower the level of the vacuum head to the floor (which tends to fling dirt and dust everywhere no matter how low you set it), or you could put the vacuum in its upright storage position, and pull it around on the floor (this is awkward). I suppose another option would be to use the flat floor attachment and the suction hose to clean the hard floors, which is what Eureka must have intended. I have just stuck to using my broom and/or swiffer instead.
-- The one thing that I love about this vacuum compared to my canister and other uprights are the convenient carrying handles on its upright body. In addition to the standard push/pull vacuum handle, there is a nice cupped-handle below the HEPA filter on the front side, and a complimentary cupped-handle on the center of the back side. These two handles allow you to carry the vacuum at waist height very easily, and well-balanced. I don't have any stairs, but if I did, I would be greatful for these handles. I am extremely greatful for them to carry the vacuum around the house (instead of rolling it). The vacuum is indeed light-weight as Consumer Reports claims.
-- I have used this vacuum for more than a month now, and I can say that I LOVE to clean with it. I love using the double-length extension wand with the circular-brush end for cleaning dust and cobwebs. (I have not used the flat accessory tool.) I have been remodeling one of the rooms in the house, and the vacuum is sturdy enough to clean up the nasty mess left behind from drywall chuncks, sanding, trim pieces, nails, wood chips, and all kinds of dirt. I have tipped over a couple of houseplant pots the other day, and the vacuum cleaned up the dirt even when it was slightly moist. And, my long-haired cat is no match for the vacuum and the great suction it has.
Great vacuum! Highly recommended! Definitely worth the money! If you vacuum upholstery, invest a few extra dollars on the GZ to get the bonus turbo nozzle. It cleans vehicle interiors well too!
Customer Review: From a Guys Point of View: The Vacuum of all Vacuums. Impressive
Summary: 5 Stars
We bought our Eureka Boss SmartVac about a year ago. Using it tonight and thinking again what an awesome vacuum this was, I thought I would finally write that review I'd been meaning to ever since I bought the thing. So here is my review after 1 year of using "The Most Impressively Amazing Vacuum Cleaner... EVER!!":
I bought it for my wife as a gift, as our old vacuum was a Wal-Mart $20 special and didn't do the best job now that we had a newborn and a 70lb Golden Retriever in the house along with a cat. She had done the research and wanted this one... I was indifferent as its just a vacuum cleaner and all I wanted was a decent vacuum that would meet my meager expectations of halfway picking up the pet hair, dander, and regular newborn carpet crud. So I ordered the vacuum, and the day it arrived (we ordered ours from [...], great price and deal refurb but just like brand new), I thought I'd play around with it before the wife got home from work. Boy was I in shock. This thing is a BEAST. A man's vacuum. If I set the carpet height about halfway, I have to hold the thing back. It is heavy, but that goes to its sturdiness and durability, imo. If it were as light as some other vacuums, the thing would be uncontrollable. Some people see the weight as a con, but I like it (I'm 6'3", 250 lbs, my wife is 5'4, 115lbs and has NO trouble). I've never been a housecleaner, actually quite the opposite, but I can tell you I always like pulling out the BOSS and letting it do its thing. This thing SUCKS. I'm serious. Be careful around straps, sheets, curtains, etc. I have destroyed one curtain and today destroyed my backpack strap. But with a dog and cat shedding like madness, after I vacuum with this thing the pet hair is GONE. It has all the right attachments for any type of cleaning, and the hose piece extends to about 3' and STILL SUCKS AT THE END OF THE ATTACHMENT! Every other vacuum I've used with extension attachments would hardly suck at all, making them worthless. Not this power packed Eureka! The attachments all work, to the maximum, as well as they could possibly do, and all do exactly what they were designed to do. Even though heavy at about (I'd guess) 20 lbs, it pulls and drives itself. The energy you spend is actually the small effort needed to HOLD IT BACK. Once you push the foot lever to engage the vacuum (you have to be holding it to engage), it slowly starts driving itself forward. Maybe 2 passes and it gets EVERYTHING. Pet hair GONE. Dander GONE. Kid Krud GONE. It does use bags, I think it came with 3 extra bags. I understand other reviews mention needing to replace the belt every so often. After 1 year and eating up the curtains and backpack strap (MELTED/DISINTEGRATED... there's a reason I call it a BEAST!), I have never had to replace the belt or anything else... we are on the 3rd bag and I have never had to buy bags. I can just say from my own experience, the belt is still going strong and this thing still works, if anything, better than the first day I got it. Seems almost like a car where you get max performance after breaking in for 30k miles. Anyway, I don't typically write reviews of this sort, but this vacuum so impresses me, every time I use it, that I just felt I had to share and I seriously brag on our SmartVac and recommend it to anyone who ever asks me how I keep down the pet hair. So thought I would recommend it to everyone else as well. The only cons some people (not me) might find, are the weight (can see where it would be harder to use on stairs, but narrow attachment seems perfect... and show me a vac that IS easily manageable on stairs). You could probably spend $600 on a Dyson or top-line Hoover that does as well as this one, but this vac out-competes a class of vacuums that price at four or five times higher the Eureka SmartVac. I am a Eureka customer for life because of this vac, and I'll eat my hat if you regret purchasing this vacuum. Wives, let your husbands read this review if you want to talk them into getting this vac! Trust me men!
Customer Review: Decent for the money
Summary: 3 Stars
There was no way I was going to spend $400+ on a Dyson, but I needed to get a new vaccum for my aging, problematic Kenmore. Like my Kenmore, this Eureka was highly rated by Consumer Reports. And like my Kenmore, this vacuum isn't that great.
Positives:
On board attachments seem to fit snugly on the unit (except Power Claw) and piece together easily. I like the hose/floor switch being in reach. I also like the the hose is ready to use without having to hook up. Does a nice job on my carpet, very powerful brush. The unit is solidly built. Seems balanced well, my Kenmore was top heavy and would fall over all the time when using the hose.
Negatives:
The hose is too short, cannot do the complete stairs due to lack of reach. There might be a hose extension available, but I'm not sure. This thing is loud. The Power Claw isn't that great, kind of awkward to use on stairs and stops spinning with pressure. You have to unscrew the bottom to access belt and brush, my Kenmore had latches. You have to use your hands to select floor/carpet switch unless you have a mega strong big toe. Doesn't do that great on bare floors, had to make several passes to get stuff up and there isn't a good floor attachment for the hose. Having a house that is half bare floors the other half carpet, I find myself liking the convenince of the hose. Maybe my next vacuum needs to be a canister instead of an upright. Also, the power switch is on the front of the machine about the bag door. Seems inconvenient, but maybe I'll get use to it.
Consumer Reports must strongly consider price in rating this so hightly, because it leaves a lot to be desired. But you get what you pay for.
UPDATED
I've had this vacuum since January and already posted a less than stellar review at the time. It does the job; has some nice and not-so-nice features; hardly "all that". Well, it just broke, the brush no longer rotates. Seemed like a belt break but the belt was intact so I have no idea. Since it's under warranty I have taken it in to the local repair shop recommended by Eureka where I was informed it could take months to diagnose, get parts and get it back. So unless I buy/rent another vacuum or hire help, I can't clean my house for a couple of months? It could be a lemon, but I'm suspect. This is a cheap vacuum for a reason. The one year warranty doesn't seem adequate for this product as any repairs outside of that you might as well buy a new vacuum. This Eureka is disposable and not the "value" it appears to be compared to other vacuum's I've owned in the past.
If I could change my ranking, it would now be 1 STAR
UPDATED 6-12-06
BUYER BEWARE: The "problem" according to the service center was debris around the motor pully, which I did not note when I looked at the belt and replaced it eventhough it wasn't broken. For some reason this took 4-weeks to diagnose, and was not under warranty according to the service center and Eureka. Anyway, I've used the cleaner maybe 10 times at the most; small house, no pets, half wood floors, half low pile carpet. Having owned a Kenmore previously for 7 years with no problems like this I'm pretty displeased with this unit.
The service center said they have gotten a lot of complaints on this unit. Their suggestion was to make sure I don't vacuum on the "Low" setting and to turn off the unit before activating the roller. I'm sorry I can't return this. ZERO STARS