Aberdeen, Scotland (Yahoo News) May 11, 2013 The specialist Dyson vacuum cleaner spare parts specialists Manchester Vacs have re-launched their online spare parts store. Already the largest independent retail Dyson spare parts suppliers in the north of England, Manchester Vacs have now extended their product ranges even further. The spares listings now cover every upright model […]
I had wanted a Dyson AM04 Hot for some time. What put me off was the £200+ price tag for what is essentially a flashy fan heater. Most online sellers are currently selling these for around £280 which is way too much money. However, when one of the parts suppliers I use offered a (£230 inc. VAT) […]
Hello Dyson Enthusiast, As a member of the Dyson Forums, we just wanted to take an opportunity to bring you up to date with a few happenings, a few special offers and a handful of other things that may be of interest to you. Although the forums were only recently added to our site, they […]
James Dyson has made millions by allowing us to see the dirt we suck up. As he calls for more inventors, Lucy Siegle asks him about manufacturing abroad, design disasters and whether he could build a nuclear reactor. I am at Dyson HQ in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, the beacon of British industrialism, which is not a […]
Today, the DC01 is discontinued, but the model still appears on after-market Dyson websites as a reconditioned buy. The basic model is grey and yellow, while occasionally the limited edition grey and blue Antarctica models will be found. Some feature higher rated filter systems such as the “Absolute Plus” and the famous multicoloured “De Stijl” model celebrating the neoplasticism movement.
The question is, after so many years, is a refurbished Dyson DC01 better than the current line up of cheaper cyclonic uprights, or against newer Dyson models? They may be a bargain if priced between £60 and £80. As ever, I would avoid the allegedly reconditioned examples to be found on eBay for circa £20–£30. You get what you pay for. Buy from a Dyson specialist if you are buying one; not from a fly-by-night faceless internet-only vendor.
The DC01 Design
There is a lot to be said of the DC01. It serves its purpose well if all you need is an upright vacuum cleaner that can handle removing dirt from carpets. On laminate floors, the DC01 will never be terribly efficient due to the always-spinning roller brush that cannot be switched off with a brush control knob as on later models.
A series of three tools were originally with the DC01, a long crevice tool, a round upholstery brush and a flat stair tool useful for cleaning the stairs, the car, mattresses and curtains. An adaptor is supplied for using the tools with the back telescopic hose.
The tools on the DC01 are stored at the bottom, two on each side, but in common usage they can fall out and this storage idea remains a bad design idea. Dyson improved this on later models.
Performance
Noise is something that if you are the owner of a DC01 you have to get used to. Then again, the DC01 always had a 1200 watt motor, which when compared with today’s cheapest bagless upright, is very humble, but watts do not directly equate to airwatts and suction. Vacs that can maintain suction are different, and vacs these days that cannot suck up 100% of the time, will need a higher wattage motor to fill the void of losing power by maintaining the power.
Over carpets, the DC01 is comparable to similar specification uprights that use bags, it is quite adequate in performance still.
Filtration
Most Dyson DC01’s have a multi-stage filtration system that is predominantly S-Class or HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter to provide cleaner air than air and dust sucked into the machine (Dyson call it S-level). Changing the filters on a DC01 is easy, there is an article right here on Dyson medic about this: Changing Dyson DC01 Filters.
The amount of dirt that was trapped by the filters on my DC01, after the first three months of ownership, was incredible. The basic rule of thumb is, if the filters are black, replace them! Filter replacements are available from >>here<< for just £5 for a pack of eight.
