Cordless Industrial Backpack Vacuum Cleaners: Everything You Need To Know
In this article, we’re going to take a close look at cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaners. These are vacuum cleaners that you would not typically find in your local electrical appliance stores but are nonetheless viable and effective solutions for use in industrial cleaning applications as well as around the home.
We will delve into:
- What backpack vacuum cleaners are?
- How backpack vacuum cleaners work?
- Examples of backpack vacuum cleaners
Let’s jump into it.
Table of Contents
- What Is Backpack Vacuum Cleaner?
- Conclusion – Cordless Industrial Backpack Vacuum Cleaners
What Is Backpack Vacuum Cleaner?
Backpack vacuum cleaners are those that are worn on your back and used as cordless cleaners for the task at hand. Much as the name suggests these types of vacuum cleaners are carried on your back as you complete your chores.
Commercial backpack vacuum cleaners were first introduced in 1987 however, they occupy a very small proportion of the overall vacuum cleaner market.
How Does a Backpack Vacuum Work?
Aside from how they are carried, backpack vacuum cleaners work very much the same way as conventional vacuum cleaners.
Are Backpack Vacuums Good?
As with any vacuum cleaner type, backpack vacuum cleaners have their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Backpack Vacuum Cleaners
Let’s delve into some of the key advantages of backpack vauum cleaners.
Backpacks More Productive Than Traditional Vacuums
It’s estimated that backpack vacuums are up to three times more productive than conventional upright vacuums. This can have significant time and cost advantages for operators in industrial and commercial settings. When most cleaning contractors charge around the same price per square foot of cleaning, those working with backpack vacuum cleaners can derive three times as much value as they can get through their jobs much quicker.
This means as an example that an operative with a backpack vacuum could get through 676 square meters of cleaning per hour compared to 208 square meters with an upright vacuum cleaner.
Backpack Vacuums Are More Thorough
Studies show that backpack vacuum cleaners tend to be more thorough when it comes to removing dirt from carpets than traditional upright vacuum cleaners. For example, a study cited by the ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, showed that backpack vacuums removed more than 3% more dirt than upright vacuums when completing the same task. Whilst this may not seem like a huge gap, ultimately cleaning with a backpack vacuum results in a cleaner environment.
This not only means the cleanliness of your environment is higher with a backpack vacuum but it also improves the productivity of your cleaning operators. With a more thorough clean there is less need for re-cleaning the same spots.
Backpack Vacuums Offer Greater Flexibility
Backpack vacuum cleaners offer greater flexibility than typical upright vacuum cleaners. With the unit mounted on your back, you have the freedom to move around the area your cleaning as necessary. It can also be easier to clean harder-to-reach areas such as ceilings, over the top of cupboards, and similar heights.
This flexibility also makes backpack vacuums great for cleaning stairs in a way that typical upright and canister models don’t benefit from.
Disadvantages of Backpack Vacuum Cleaners
Here are some of the main disadvantages of backpack vacuum cleaners.
Backpacks Can Cause Injuries
Whilst rare, backpack vacuum cleaners can cause injuries to operators if they are not used correctly. As with any activity that involves placing weight on your back, if it is not not done in a safe manner it can lead to injury. Most often injuries with backpack vacuum cleaners occur when the operator is putting it on or removing the backpack.
To avoid injury during these motions operators should ensure the backpack vacuum and its attachments are properly secured. They should also be sure that there’s enough space around them to put it on/take it off without causing injury to themselves by knocking into items around them.
Backpacks Can Be Baulky
Something to consider when using backpack vacuums is that they make the cleaning operator take up more space. In an open industrial or commercial setting, this is not so much of an issue. However, in smaller and tighter environments this is something to factor in as it can be very easy for an operator to misjudge how far back the unit goes on their back and knock stuff over from shelves and tables as they are cleaning.
Backpacks Vacuums Can Be Uncomfortable When Hot
A potential downside for operators of backpack vacuum cleaners is that they can get uncomfortable due to the heat and vibration from the machines during use. This is especially important when the temperature of the cleaning environment is already high.
Though backpack vacuum harnesses are designed to keep a distance between the unit and the user, there is still heat generated from the machine as it is being used.
Having said this though, backpack vacuum manufacturers are increasingly making an effort to ensure there is a sufficient barrier between the unit and the operator to reduce heat transfer as well as vibration.
Are Backpack Vacuums Heavy?
A concern for many potential operators of cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaners is the weight of the units.
However, there are many relatively lightweight backpack vacuum cleaner options available these days with some weighing as little as 4.5kg (including a battery pack).
How To Choose A Cordless Industrial Backpack Vacuum Cleaner
There are some key considerations for you to keep in mind when choosing your cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaners:-
Price
When selecting your backpack vacuum you need to keep in mind the pricing which can range from £300 – £1,000 plus depending on the type. Do remember that cheaper models can be just as efficient as their more expensive counterparts.
Pay attention to the features offered for each model as you may well find that you get what you need at the lower end of the scale.
Ease of Use and Comfort
A key consideration when selecting a backpack vacuum cleaner in industrial or domestic settings is how comfortable the unit will be to use. Pay close attention to the weight of the backpack with the battery pack included. You also need to focus on how well-designed the harness is and how much padding their is to protect the users back from discomfort as well as heat and vibration.
Noise Level
The noise of your vacuum cleaner is always an important consideration. This is especially true of cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaners as the unit sits much closer to the user’s ears.
The product descriptions should typically state the decibel level you can expect from a backpack vacuum though keep in mind that’s usually a reading taken from a meter or so away whilst the user will be walking around with the unit so is likely to experience a higher value.
Capacity
The dust bin capacity of your cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaner is important as it will determine how long you can clean before you need to empty the container. The capacity is also important as the larger the container the more weight the operator will be able to carry.
Whilst a larger capacity is of course beneficial be mindful that it can also increase the risk that the user over-exerts themselves by carrying around a heavier load as it gets full.
Battery Runtime
When looking at cordless industrial backpack vacuums, the battery run time is an important consideration to factor in. Some batteries can run for up to 50 minutes without stopping. Also keep in mind how long it takes each battery to charge and whether a spare battery is also included. This is particularly important in industrial settings where cleaning tasks may need to be carried out to a strict schedule.
Conclusion – Cordless Industrial Backpack Vacuum Cleaners
In summary, cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaners are a versatile and highly productive option for operators in industrial as well as domestic settings. They are known to be 3x more productive than traditional upright vacuum cleaners and offer a greater level of flexibility.
When selecting a cordless industrial backpack vacuum cleaner you should keep in mind the key features you need, the ease of use and comfort as well as the weight and of course the price.