Water tank capacity
A capacity of a tank for water or detergent a vacuum cleaner with a wet cleaning function is equipped with. (see "Cleaning type").
Large capacity allows you to work longer without refilling the tank. On the other hand, an increase in capacity has a corresponding effect on the size, weight and cost of the unit. Thus, manufacturers choose this parameter taking into account the general specialization and the “weight category” of a particular model. So, in robots (see "Type"), the volume of the water tank is, by definition, small. Even in the heaviest models, it does not exceed 650 mL. But other types of vacuum cleaners can differ markedly in this parameter.
In general, for non-robot units, a capacity
of 1 liter or less is considered very limited,
1 – 2 liters is small,
2 – 3 liters is average,
more than 3 liters is above average. However, it much depends on the type. For example, in conventional vacuum cleaners, the capacity does not exceed 2.5 liters, and "for workshop" models this is very little — in most cases, they have a tank capacity of 3 liters or more.
Automatic power control
The
automatic power control function is found mainly in robot vacuum cleaners. When driving onto the carpet, the vacuum cleaner automatically increases motor speed and suction power to achieve proper cleaning results. Usually robot vacuum cleaners that support this mode are equipped with a turbo brush and a spacious dust container. It must be taken into account that when cleaning carpets at high power, the battery life of the vacuum cleaner is reduced.
Fine filter
The presence of a
HEPA fine filter in the vacuum cleaner; also in this paragraph, the specific class of this filter is often specified.
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) filters are designed to purify the air from the smallest mechanical contaminants — up to tenths of a micron in size. It allows you to trap not only fine dust but even bacteria. For comparison: the size of most bacteria starts at 0.5 microns, and the effectiveness of HEPA filters is evaluated by the ability to retain particles with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns. The most advanced such filters (
class 13 and above) are able to remove more than 99.9% of these particles from the air. Here is a more detailed description of the different classes:
— HEPA 10 – traps at least 85% of particles with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns;
— HEPA 11 – at least 95% of such particles;
— HEPA 12 – not less than 99.5%;
— HEPA 13 – not less than 99.95%;
— HEPA 14 – not less than 99.995%;
Note that pollution with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns is the worst-kept by HEPA filters, so with particles of other sizes (both larger and smaller), the efficiency of such elements will be even higher.
Regarding the choice for this parameter, it is worth noting that, in fact, it does not always make sense to pursue a high filtration class. For example, during wet cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner (see abov
...e), the HEPA filter, in fact, is not needed at all (in many models, it is recommended to remove it altogether for such cases). So if you plan to use such a vacuum cleaner mainly for washing, you can ignore this parameter. Another specific case is industrial units (see "Type"): they are often used for rough cleaning of large debris, where thorough air filtration is not required.Crossing threshold
The highest height of thresholds and various small obstacles that the robot cleaner can effectively overcome.
Most modern robots are able to effectively cope with obstacles with a height of 10 to 18 mm — this allows at least without problems to cross the edges of carpets, and small height differences at the boundaries of rooms (due to the difference in the type of coating), etc. But the models where the indicator is 20 mm or more are already referred to as robots capable of
crossing high thresholds. However, even in such devices, the permissible height of obstacles does not exceed 30 mm. It is due to the fact that to overcome high obstacles, in particular, large wheels and high ground clearance are needed — and these features, in turn, increase the overall height of the robot, make it difficult to move under furniture and other low-lying objects, as well as reduce suction efficiency. On the other hand, even
thin robots, whose height does not exceed 70 mm, can have very good crossing ability — for some of them, the maximum threshold height is about 25 mm.
Battery voltage
The rated voltage of the battery used in the vacuum cleaner with the corresponding type of power supply (see above).
Initially, manufacturers select the characteristics of the battery (including voltage) in such a way that the vacuum cleaner can be guaranteed to deliver the power claimed in the specifications. Therefore, when choosing this indicator often does not play a decisive role. However, it can also be useful in such cases — for the most reliable comparison between models with different battery capacities in ampere-hours. See "Battery capacity" for details.
In addition, voltage data can be useful during operation — for example, to find a spare/replacement battery or a third-party charger.
Battery run time
The operating time of a battery-powered vacuum cleaner (see "Power supply") on a single battery charge.
Usually, the average operating time in normal mode is indicated here. Accordingly, in fact, the battery life of the vacuum cleaner may differ slightly from the claimed one, depending on the chosen application format. Nevertheless, the operating time indicated in the specifications is a fairly reliable indicator; it can be used both for a general assessment of battery life and for comparing the selected vacuum cleaner with other models.
Separately, we note that increasing battery life requires either the use of more capacious (and therefore more expensive and heavier) batteries or a decrease in engine power (and the efficiency of the unit as a whole). So it is worth looking specifically for a long working vacuum cleaner if these moments are outweighed by a long operating time.
Charging time
The time required to charge the cordless vacuum cleaner fully (see "Power supply").
Larger batteries tend to take longer to charge. On the other hand, modern batteries can use various solutions that speed up the process, so there is no strict dependence here.
Separately, we note that the speed of charging batteries is usually uneven: at first, the process is fast, then it gradually slows down. So if, for example, the specifications indicate a charging time of 2 hours, then charging from 0 to 50% will take a little less than an hour, and from 50% to 100% the remaining time.
