Amazon.com Review

Hoover’s latest canister stands out for its design-savvy looks, not to mention the fact that it cleans with powerful WindTunnel technology. Dirt particles are cleverly ducted away from the spinning agitators to ensure they’re captured in the bagless dirt cup and not sent back out onto the carpet. The HEPA filter traps minute allergen particles and conveniently removes for cleaning. Large, soft wheels allow the compact 12-amp vacuum--which looks like it could play a robot extra in Star Wars--to maneuver easily. Best of all, the handgrip features electronic control buttons for power on and off, variable suction (allowing smooth transition from wood floors to area rugs), and agitator action speed for carpets. Tools are easily attached to the telescoping wand, making it a snap to switch from cleaning floors to using drape and upholstery tools. A one-year warranty covers this unique vacuum against defects. ... Read more

Features

• The WindTunnel Power Nozzle styling has a low profile design for cleaning in those tough-to-get-at places and incorporates the effective WindTunnel technology.
• The wide 15" nozzle cleans more carpeting per stroke than a traditional 12" nozzle. Edge groomers mounted on both sides of the nozzle help loosen dust, dirt and unsightly lint that collects along baseboards.
• Deluxe Pump Handle design allows for near effortless control and operation of the WindTunnel Bagless Canister. Electronic Finger-Touch Variable Speed Control provides flexibility in varying suction based on cleaning needs. 3 Speed Settings.

Reviews (1)

Fab Light canister vacuum
We just got this today and it took a couple of minutes to put it together and it is SUPER FAST. It works so well and is so light. Even our 7 year old daughter tried it out and liked it :)

It changed from the carpet setting to hardwood floor with ease. It also has a suction control button. The attachment for our stairs (we have a three storey house) is fantastic. It has the option to have the brush rotate or not just like the usual floor attachment. Very easy to change attachments.

Very happy with this purchase so far. It is day 1, though.... ... Read more

Features

• Powerful 12 amp motor and Powerful Hose Suction
• Allergen Filtration
• 5 Piece attached Cleaning Tools, Brushed Edge Cleaning
• "Check Bag" Indicator, 24 ft. Cord and Headlight
• Convenient Stair Cleaning Handle

Amazon.com Review

Accompanied by a powered hand tool for stairs and upholsteryand equipped with Hoover's powerful WindTunnel technology for thoroughcleaning, this canister vacuum's motorized floor nozzle power-cleanscarpets with a two-brush agitator that switches off for bare-floors.This is a full-size, 1440-watt vacuum, with a 15-inch cleaning path,edge groomers, easy-rolling wheels, a 6-foot swivel hose, and twochrome wands that extend 37-1/2 inches for the onboard tools: dustingbrush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool, and hard-floor tool. Otherfeatures include a foot-pedal-activated rewind for the 25-foot cord, afull-bag indicator-light, and allergen-filtration disposable bags toreduce dust mites and pollen. A foot-pedal turns the vacuum on and off,and the 20-by-11-1/2-by-11-inch canister stands on end for compactstorage. The vacuum comes with a 1-year warranty against defects.--Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Two chrome wands, dusting brush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool, hard-floor tool
• Full-size canister vacuum; powerful WindTunnel technology for thorough cleaning
• Motorized floor nozzle with 15-inch cleaning path, headlight, edge groomers
• Powered hand tool for stairs, upholstery; foot-pedal rewind for 25-foot cord
• Uses allergen-filtration disposable bags; 6-foot swivel hose

Reviews (9)

Very Happy Deliveres What Promissed
Very impressed with the suction, and the filtration. Love the way you can turn the roller brush on/off with a easy to use handle switch. I have always been a canistor user and found the Hoover to exceed my needs. You can use either filtration or regular replacement bags. It's peace of mind to know that Hoover
remains the only manufacturer of Vacuums Cleaners in the US that have their own Factory Repair Centers and great service after the sale. They are also located in the Internet. Try finding that when you buy a Fantum or Regina. I did and they're a joke.

Run, don't walk, away from this stinker!!
What a dissapointment! This vacuum was good for about two weeks, now the rubber belt has stretched and it will not spin the brush-bar. The hose from the cannister to the wand attachment is too short, so I am constantly hauling the cannister towards me. Also if you want to vacuum blinds, you have to lift the entire cannister off the floor with your other hand - not convenient. The bag is small and requires replacement often. It is easy to move from carpet to bare floor, but all the other problems make this a poor choice. Too bad, my twenty-year-old hoover worked better. This one is headed to the landfill.

plastic not durable
I have owned the S3630 for 3 years. Performance is OK. BUT shortly after I got it the plastic handle clip broke, then the headlight bulb went and I couldn't find a replcement in any store. Next the 2 small wheels on the motorized power head kept falling off (they seem to just clip into the plastic and won't stay put). Also if you try to buy replacements for the dust filters, you're out of luck,unless you special order from Hoover and who needs the hassle? It cleans well on the whole. I do find that dog hair tends to cling (thro. static) to the body and power head and is hard to remove. It's a pricey disappointment!

Not bad, but could be much better
I had the next model down Hoover Windtunnel S3630. I think the main difference between the S3639 and S3630 is that the Plus model has the mini power hand tool. We had the vacuum for a little less than a year. The machine had all the good features: on/ off switch for power nozzle, 4 main attachments, added filter for better filtration, covered tool storage, doubled brushed edge cleaning along with special edge groomers- this makes it a little harder to push but it does an excellent job along walls. The machine was convenient to use it had very good suction for cleaning and a high speed power brush that deep cleaned. I don't know why this is but the vacuum was moody, somedays it cleaned well, and others it seemed like I was sweeping the carpet and not sucking up. The vacuum would leave a line of dog hair behind the nozzle entrance that was visible upon moving the power head forward. We did everything: new bags, new belts, checked the brushes, and since it was under warranty we took it to the Hoover Service Center but they found nothing wrong with it. Our cheaper model the Hoover Powermax cleaned hair much better. You could tell that it was deep cleaning like the windtunnel design is supposed to help with but it was cleaning the dog hair. After getting tired of it not getting hair we returned to the company and got our money back, Hoover was very cooperative customer service wise. We now have a Hoover Powermax Runabout that works very well and cost ... less. See my report under the Powermax Deluxe S3607. Our windtunnel might have been a lemon but don't know can't really recommend unless you have hard floors or need a good attachment canister.

Too much plastic and poorly designed
Well, I expected a better quality machine from Hoover. Plastic wheels and axles, plastic hinges on the lids and suspiciously weak plastic latches on the wands. I don't expect these to last much beyond the warranty period, if that long. The headlight does not illuminate the floor. The hose connector on top of the machine does not even begin to swivel smoothly. It tends to bind, causing the vacuum to wander erratically everytime the hose is moved. The lack of a swivel mechanism on the tool end is also unfortunate because this almost guarantees that the hose will kink, twist and try to tie itself into knots. There is a strange preset angle moulded into the hand grip (remember it does not swivel). This makes for unnatural and uncomfortable arm and wrist positions while maneuvering various cleaning attachments into position. To be fair the suction power appears to be very good. I wrote to Hoover voicing my concerns (in far greater detail than this review) but only received a form letter that did not address any of my issues. If a product is "Made in USA", then it seems fair to expect better quality. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

In addition to cleaning up dirt, dust, and crumbs, Hoover's Powermax Deluxe canister vacuum uses internal filtration to dramatically cut down on irritating allergens in the home. Designed with a generous upright canister and a motorized floor nozzle, the vacuum is easy to use and versatile in application. It provides efficient coverage, dual-sided edge cleaning, and thorough carpet agitation, thanks to a rotating brush roll. Dirt collects in filtration bags, which combine with the unit's micro filter to trap 100 percent of dust mites and dust mite eggs, as well as 99.9 percent of ragweed and common grass pollens. The vacuum also includes a tool designed specifically for bare floor cleaning.

Sturdily built, the vacuum comes with chrome wands that have adjustable suction control. The six-foot swiveling hose is durable and stores onboard, as do the attachments for dusting, cleaning crevices, and grooming upholstery. Other helpful features include a headlight, a wide carrying handle, a full-bag indicator, and foot-controlled power cord rewind. Hoover backs the machine with a one-year warranty. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Carries a full 1-year warranty
• Deluxe bagged canister vacuum with allergen filtration
• Suitable for bare surfaces, carpets, and above-floor tasks
• Micro-filter bags trap dust mites, ragweed, and grass pollen
• Onboard tools; 6-foot hose; automatic cord rewind; bright headlight

Features

• Convenient Bag Check indicator
• Powerful Variable Speed Motor
• Efficient Bare Floor and Carpet Nozzle that is attached Telescoping Chrome Wands and a 360 Swivel Hose
• 17' Cord in Cord Reel
• Complete set of tools onboard

Amazon.com Review

Following dutifully on easy-rolling wheels as it's pulled around by a 6-foot hose and two chrome wands that extend 37-1/2 inches, this full-size, 840-watt, plastic canister vacuum cleans bare floors and then extends a nozzle brush with a flick of a lever to clean carpets and rugs. Nifty features include allergen filtration to reduce dust mites and pollen, a swivel hose to prevent tangles, and a three-setting suction regulator on the handgrip for precise work. A dusting brush, furniture nozzle, and crevice tool are included, and they snap into place atop the canister for storage. A pedal turns the vacuum on and off, the 20-foot cord wraps for storage, and the 20-by-11-1/2-by-8-3/4-inch canister stores compactly on its end. The vacuum uses disposable filter bags and comes with a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 20-foot cord with wrap storage; disposable filter bag
• Full-size canister vacuum; 840 watts; 14 pounds; 20 by 11-1/2 by 8-3/4 inches
• Allergen filtration; swivel hose; three-setting suction regulator on hand grip
• Brushes on nozzle clean carpet, retract for cleaning bare floor
• Onboard tool storage for dusting brush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool

Reviews (7)

Great for the price!
I decided on this vacuum because of the price, and for its features- I am not disappointed!
The suction power is amazing, and it can be adjusted as needed. The vacuum is pretty quiet, and very easy to move around.
The hose is flexible and easy to manuever around furniture and on the stairs, and I like the "feel", or "weight" of it- very comfortable.
My husband was surprised and impressed with the quality-especially considering the price.
We were using an upright before, but this is so much nicer to use, and does a better job for our needs.

No Strain, No Pain
I replaced this Hoover Canister Vacuum cleaner.(S3510) for the older Hoover I had, The older model canister was over 40 years old and was still in running condtion. but it was too heavy for these ol'bones. This new model (S3510) is so much lighter and very easy to use, It does a good vacuum cleaning,it serves my needs, I am very pleased. I couldn't pass up the offer made by Amazon, it was truly a good bargain.

Canister
It does pick up well, but the bags are small and have to change often. the onboard tools are never onboard- they always fall off. We use this in our RV so it does okay, but I would never use this as my house vacuum

Cheap Nozzle and low power
This vaccum has a very cheap plastic nozzle and is severly under powered. It would probably work for you if you lived in closet, else get a more robust Hoover model. It was returned.

Cheap Plastic
Vacuum nozzle is cheap plastic and scratches hardwood floors. ... Read more

Features

• Full 1-year warranty
• 12-amp canister vacuum with 7-stage filtration system and check-bag indicator light
• Variable-speed control; sleek design for lightweight maneuverability and versatility
• 360-degree swivel hose connection; large wheels; automatic cord rewind
• Telescopic wand; dusting brush, furniture nozzle, and crevice tool included

Amazon.com Review

Powerful, lightweight, and compact, this handy little 815-watt plastic canister vacuum goes upstairs, downstairs, all around the house, and into the garage for vacuuming out the car, too. The 19-by-10-by-7-1/4-inch canister weighs about 8 pounds, and you can carry it easily by its handle. It will follow you dutifully on easy-rolling wheels as it's pulled around by a 6-foot hose and two wands that extend 37-1/2 inches to a nozzle that retracts its carpet and rug brush with a flick of a lever to clean bare floors. For dusting tabletops, lampshades, draperies, and walls, you just connect the wands to a multipurpose brush with the twist of a latch ring. A furniture nozzle and a crevice tool also connect for cleaning upholstery and along baseboards and other tight places. A rack on the canister stores the tools onboard. The vacuum uses disposable filter bags and comes with a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 18-foot cord with wrap storage; disposable filter bag
• Powerful, lightweight, compact
• 815 watts; canister about 8 pounds; 19 by 10 by 7-1/4 inches
• Brushes on nozzle clean carpet, retract for cleaning bare floor
• 6-foot hose; two wands; dusting brush; furniture nozzle; crevice tool

Reviews (6)

Excellent choice if you're looking for value and ease of use
What you'll like best about this Hoover vacuum is that it's light weight (approximately 8 pounds) gives it a tremendous advantage over traditional cannister vacuum cleaners. This is most noticed if you're using it on stairs or carrying it out to the garage to vacuum the car.

Other great features are the extra-long vacuum hose (6-feet), and the 18-foot electrical cord. Both of these add to the item's ease of use.

Changing the bag is very easy, and this unit uses the Type R Hoover bag, so you can do quite a bit of vacuuming between changes.

very unhappy
I'm very unhappy with this vacuum, for the following reasons:

1. Poor suction. I have cat hair on my rugs, and all it does is clump the cat hair up, so I have to pick it up by hand or by taking off the brush and putting the tube right over it. Also, it doesn't begin to get all the hair out of the rug.

2. It scratches my bare floors, even on the floor setting, plus it makes a loud scratching noise on those floors.

3. It is awkward and timeconsuming to take the brush off for areas where you want just the tube, like corners.

4. Seems very cheesy. Why do they use plastic in these things.

It is a complete waste of money. One use, and it is headed into the rubbish. I would return it, except I bought it quite awhile ago and just used it for the first time.

Not Easy to Find Bags for this Vacuum
The vacuum works but I can't find Type R bags for it at any stores where bags are sold, must have to be ordered special, which is not good.

Low suction
I was hoping this would be a good lightweight vac for around the house, but I wish now I would have paid twice the price and bought something better. It does OK with crumbs and such but is lacking the power to clean drapes or furniture. Hoover makes a commercial version of the Portapower that has a lot more power. It comes with a 30ft cord, stainless steel wands, and has a shoulder strap that makes cleaning furniture and drapes a breeze. You can use a cloth bag or the more low dust paper bag. If you're looking for something with just a little more power than a Dustbuster, the Portapower II is the one to get. Otherwise, go for the commercial model.

A Great Vacuum Cleaner
I love this vacuum very much. Itis versitile, lightweight, and easy to manage. I recomend a canister vacuum cleaner over an upright anyday. Quite frankly uprights have a tendency to breakdown very quickly. This vacuum cleaner is the perfect thing for any family espically a large one like mine. My wife loves it. I give it five shiny gold stars. ... Read more

Features

• On Board Tools and Cord Rewind
• Power Nozzle with Headlight
• Variable Speed Motor
• 360 Swivel Hose on both ends
• Finger Tip Agitator On/Off

Amazon.com Review

Powerful but lightweight, this full-size, 11-pound, 800-watt plastic canister vacuum goes upstairs, downstairs, all around the house, and then into the garage for vacuuming out the car, too. The 19-by-10-by-8-1/4-inch canister weighs 11 pounds, and you can carry it easily by its handle. It will follow you dutifully on easy-rolling wheels as it's pulled around by a 6-foot hose and two wands that extend 37-1/2 inches to a nozzle that retracts its carpet and rug brush with a flick of a lever to clean bare floors. A dusting brush, furniture nozzle, and crevice tool are included, and they snap into place atop the canister for storage. Equipped with an allergen filtration system, the vacuum uses disposable filter bags, has a 20-foot cord, and comes with a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Allergen filtration; disposable filter bag; 20-foot cord
• Lightweight, full-size canister vacuum
• 800 watts; 11 pounds; 19 by 10 by 8-1/4 inches
• Brushes on nozzle clean carpet, retract for cleaning bare floor
• 6-foot hose; two wands; dusting brush; furniture nozzle; crevice tool

Reviews (2)

Only one major problem
Very nice, easy to use machine. It does have one major problem - there is no provision to store the cord - there is no hook to wrap the cord on so you end up with 20' of cord with no place to put it.

This Vacuum is horrible
There is little to no power on this vacuum cleaner. It barely picks up holiday tinsel. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This full-size, 19-pound, 1080-watt plastic canister vacuum has a motorized nozzle to power-clean carpets. (Unplug the nozzle to stop the agitator, if desired, for vacuuming bare floors.) With easy-rolling wheels, a 6-foot hose, and two chrome wands that extend 37-1/2 inches, you can easily take this vacuum around the house cleaning floors, furniture, drapes, blinds, and baseboards. A dusting brush, furniture nozzle, and crevice tool are included, and they snap into place inside a compartment atop the canister for storage. Nifty features include a full-bag indicator light, allergen filtration to reduce dust mites and pollen, and a swivel hose to prevent tangles. A pedal turns the vacuum on and off, and the 20-by-11-1/2-by-8-3/4-inch canister stands on end for compact storage. The vacuum uses disposable filter bags and comes with a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 20-foot cord with wrap storage; disposable filter bag
• Full-size canister vacuum; 1080 watts; 19 pounds; 20 by 11-1/2 by 8-3/4 inches
• Motorized floor nozzle with brushed-edge cleaning; full-bag indicator-light
• Allergen filtration; swivel hose
• Onboard tool storage for dusting brush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool

Reviews (2)

Powermax wore out too quick
I bought this vacuum little over a year ago. I was very pleased with it at first, it did a great job. (By the way, the hardwood floor tool came with it when I got it). I love the canister, less strain on your back, and you easily can use the attachments to clean up furniture, stairs, even ceiling fans, it is a lot less restricting than an upright. Not all canisters come with a rotating brush like this one, and it was the perfect vacuum at first. At this time I would have given it 5 stars!

There are a lot of stores that do not carry the bags for this vacuum, I had to look in a few stores to find them.

It did not take long, the full bag indicator stopped working, not to mention that the light bulbs constantly burn out, finally I stopped replacing them. Than the cord did not coil up anymore. The little door for the acessories comes open or loose when you store it upright, and all the tools fall out. Now the suction power is really weak, even though the bag is new and the filter replaced (I checked for other problems, even took it apart to clean around the motor, no other problems found). The vacuum is unable to pick up pet hair from the rugs, and I am looking for a new vacuum. Due to the limited lifetime and all the problems that occured, my satisfaction/ rating has dramatically dropped.

Missing standard parts
THE VACCUM CLEANER COMES WITHOUT A HARD WOOD FLOOR TOOL, WHILE NOT MENTIONED IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE VACUUM CLENER, THIS PART IS A STANDARD TOOL IN MOST VACUUM CLEANERS. INSRTUCTIONS GIVE WEBSITE OF HOOVER TO PURCHASE.. DISAPPOINTING AND COSTLY. NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON.COM

ELECTRIC CORD DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT, AS IS STANDARD IN MOST VACUUM CLEANERS.

DOES A GOOD JOB CLEANING CARPETS, BUT POWER NOZZEL IS VERY NOISY ON HARD WOOR FLOORS. PLEASANTLY LIGHT TO CARRY. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

A headlight shows the way when this plastic canister vacuum's motorized nozzle power-cleans a carpet with its two-brush agitator. (Unplug the nozzle to stop the agitator, if desired, for vacuuming bare floors.) This is a full-size, 21-pound, 1115-watt vacuum, with easy-rolling wheels, a 6-foot hose, and two chrome wands that extend 37-1/2 inches. Nifty features include a pedal-activated rewind for the 25-foot cord, a full-bag indicator-light, allergen filtration to reduce dust mites and pollen, and a swivel hose to prevent tangles. A dusting brush, furniture nozzle, and crevice tool are included, and they snap into place inside a compartment atop the canister for storage. A pedal turns the vacuum on and off, and the 20-by-11-1/2-by-8-3/4-inch canister stands on end for compact storage. The vacuum uses disposable filter bags and comes with a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Onboard tool storage for dusting brush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool
• Full-size canister vacuum; 1115 watts; 21 pounds; 20 by 11-1/2 by 8-3/4 inches
• Motorized floor nozzle with headlight, two-brush agitator; brushed-edge cleaning
• Foot-pedal rewind for 25-foot cord; full-bag indicator-light
• Allergen filtration; swivel hose; two chrome wands

Reviews (9)

Horrible vacuum
This vaccuum cleaner is horrible. The hose pulls out of the canister, the cord will no longer retract (after just one year!) The suction is disappointing. I have to say I will never buy another Hoover.

Excellent vacuum
I have had the Hoover Powermax Deluxe Canister vacuum S3607 since October 30, 2002. This vacuum is wonderful. I am a college student and bought this for my fraternity house after past experience of similar models that I use at my parents house. They are Hoover TurboPower 5000- S3577, Hoover Powermax S3603-040, and Hoover Powermax Runabout S3614. This vacuum is extremely easy to use, quiet, has good filtration, made well, and most importantly the cleaning power is superb!! I buy vacuums according to cleaning performance then I look for features- this vacuum is the best I've used and seen. I have used many different vacuum models over the years from different brands. I have used commercial vacuums from different work places in restaurants and have had a house cleaning job that I do on the side. The machine is very lightweight, has a low profile power nozzle that fits under beds, bureaus, desks, chairs and most any furniture with a 3 inch clearance. The double brush agitator is very powerful; it does an excellent job of grabbing deep down dirt for the suction to grab, grabbing pet hair and leaves carpets very well groomed.
I love the attachments- it is better to use the wall/floor brush on large areas of flooring rather than the carpet head due to the special design made for floors. If you decide to use the carpet head on floors you should unplug it from the hose so it is only suction on the floors and not a rotating brush. With any vacuum I found it is better to use straight suction on a floor and not a rotating brush. The agitators are made strictly for deep down cleaning of carpets not on hardwood or tile floors. The upholstery nozzle is phenomenal, the rubber fingers cause static on the rug causing deep down dirt to pull up better and grabs hair faster. It is very rare to see this technology on other vacuums most manufacturers use plastic or bristles on upholstery attachments.
I have noticed in other reviews of this product that people have had problems with cracked bag compartment doors. I have not had this problem with any of the four machines of this type that I have used. My recommendation is make sure the bag is installed CORRECTLY. Hoover makes many of the parts for this machine with a break-away feature- if the part is pushed back too far, it will come off. You have to make sure that you realign the hinges on both sides and push it back it in, you will hear it click into place. The bag slides into a bag holder make sure that is correctly notched into place, the bag collar is pushed forward all of the way onto the holder and all parts of the bag are below the seal where the door will shut. Also there is no need to firmly open, push, or slam any parts back into place. All of the locks open easilly and shut easilly, no hard touch is needed. I have used other vacuums that need parts practically slammed into place; not the case on the Hoover Powermax Deluxe.
I bought this vacuum as an addition to my roommates Hoover Caddyvac upright. Although the Caddyvac did a decent job, my dust allergies were still bad and needed a more powerful vacuum, that could also get into more places. The S3607 accomplished and surpassed my expectations for these tasks, and whenever my allergies perk up, I run my Powermax and it is a life saver. Also for time, it takes me 5 seconds or less to switch from vacuuming my rugs to having a dust brush on for dusting the back of my TV (an example)
2 comlaints:
1. The wheels on the machine are cheaply designed and made- the rear canister wheels have very little traction on hard surfaces, they tend to skid rather than roll because there is no rubber coating on them. The rear powernozzle wheels have axles that over time may get warped, the wheel(s) may have to pushed back on the axle.
2. The bag check indicator due to Hoover's strong suction is not very reliable- some work some do not. It is better to just open the door every so often and check the bag yourself. If it feels 2/3 full or you have vacuumed up very fine material like powder or fine dust the bag should be replaced to maintain full power.

Vacuum tip:
To maintain cleaning power of any vacuum it should be checked periodically. The agitator should be free of all strings, carpet threads, hair or anything else that may tangle around it. Bag should be checked every few uses, although the bag holds 5 quarts the power of this machine picks up a lot of dirt very quickly, this thing finds dirt that other vacuums I have used do not. The belt and power head should be checked atleast once a year, even if belt is not broken, it may be stretched, also dirt may get trapped in different areas, that should be cleaned out. Both filters should be washed or replaced every few months-dependant on usage. They are about $1.00 for the post motor filter and $.25 for the micro filter and are available from an authorized Hoover service shop.
Good luck with your Hoover Powermax I have no doubt you will love yours as much as I love my 4. Our oldest Powermax was bought on September 26, 1997, not one has had to go to the shop yet. I recommend it to anyone. I have mainly rugs and rarely use it on hard floors because I love to use a canister compared to an upright anyday.

Okay Suction and Filtration, Dreadful Ergonomics
This vacuum has excellent suction and seems to have decent filtration, but somebody at Hoover needs to sweat a few details. Ergonomics on this machine are absolutely dreadful; the ease-of-use factor is extraordinarily poor. Here's why:

The canister has two buttons on top of it; one is the on/off switch, and the other is for the cord rewind. Both are black plastic, with moulded-in markings that are absolutely unreadable. The result is that one is forever pressing the wrong button, retracting the cord when one wants to turn the machine off.

The attachment system is downright strange; all attachments insert INTO the wands instead of slipping OVER them, as is the case with every other vacuum I've ever owned or used. One must operate a lock button every time a tool is put on or taken off. The lock system holds the tool in one fixed, unchangeable position; there is no possibility whatever of swivelling a tool to get to a hard-to-reach area. The tools themselves have no swivelling capability, either, with the exception of the seldom-used hard floor brush. The angle provided for the dusting brush and upholstery tool by Hoover's design is the only one available; Hoover does not even sell upgrade tools that can swivel.

The dusting brush is especially bad; the lack of swivelling capability means you can't choose a different tool angle to readily dust, say, the tops of books while they're still in the bookcase. You have to take out a few books, dust them, return them to the bookcase, then go to the next few books. Sorry, Hoover, June Cleaver doesn't live at my house! Also, the brush's bristles are stiff plastic, not horsehair, and tend to leave fine scratches in varnished surfaces if you aren't careful. There is not a horsehair brush available as an upgrade, either.

The upholstery brush has little rubber 'fingers' that will not glide readily across fabrics; I have to use the dusting brush on my nubby-weave upholstery.

The strangest part of this vac's design is the suction control- a little plastic slide, to allow suction to be adjusted so that you don't suck curtains, etc., into the attachment you're using. The control is on the wands, not the end of the hose, as it is on most vacuums. This means you MUST use a wand when you want light suction, making vacuuming lampshades, etc., a strange, arm's-length process.

Yes, this vacuum picks up dust. But the design is so quirky and non-intuitive that I would not buy another- unless Hoover completely redesigns its tool system, and marks those darn buttons clearly.

Terrible waste of money
After a while it just doesn't work very well. It has no oomph despite changing the filter and bags. Don't buy it!!!!

They don't make them like they used to.
My Hoover upright lasted almost 30 years before the motor wore out, but my wife is an ardent fan of canister vacuum cleaners, so I bought her her first Hoover canister shortly after we were married 10 years ago.In all honesty I don't know why she likes them so much. The machine is made of flimsy plastic in the places where metal (or at least a firmer plastic) should have been used - like the little nipples on the attachments: they're always breaking off. They don't last very long either. I've bought her replacement Hoovers on an average of every 2 years or so. We've never had one last as long as 3 years. The bag lid on our latest (a model S3606) just split apart, and this one's only 13 months old! ... Read more