How To Know When Henry Hoover Bag Is Full? 5 (Crucial) Indicators
We all love our beloved Henry vacuum cleaner and there are stories about ones that have been running for decades. One thing that doesn’t run for too long though is Henry’s bags.
Use Henry regularly and his bag will get full routinely but how to know when Henry’s bag is full?
There are some easy ways to tell and we cover all of those in this post.
Key Takeaways
These are the main signs that your Henry hoover bag is full:
- Reduced Suction Power
- The Bag Looks and Feels Full
- Your Henry Smells
- You’ve Used Your Vacuum Every Days For Months
- After Vacuuming Lots of Fine Dust
How To Know When Henry Hoover Bag Is Full?
Let’s take a detailed look at the main signs that your Henry hoover bag is full.
1 – Reduced Suction Power
One of the first signs that your Henry hoover bag is full is experiencing reduced suction power.
When your Henry vacuum bag is too full, the suction power from the motor will have to work a lot harder to be effective. You will likely notice this in reduced levels of suction at the other end of your hose.
The first bag we had for our Henry was left in for far too long (I had misplaced the replacement bags!) and towards the end, we noticed that the suction just wasn’t up to the same standard.
Be sure though that the loss of suction is not down to blockages in the hose, pipework or floor brush/tools before you go replacing the bag.
If you’ve checked and there are no signs of blockages then the reduced suction may well be a result of the bag being full.
To be sure though we can move to the next sign.
2 – The Bag Looks and Feels Full
Perhaps the most obvious sign that your Henry hoover bag needs replacing or emptying is that the bag looks and feels full.
If you open up Henry and find the bag looks like a full pumpkin waiting to be carved at Halloween then you know it’s time for a change.
Also if you poke the bag and find there’s little give then you definitely should change out that bag.
3 – Your Henry Smells Awful
A tell-tell sign that your Henry vacuum cleaner needs a new bag is if you notice it gradually starts to smell. This might be when you’re using it or worse yet when it’s just laying around.
As you vacuum your Henry hoover will pick up all manner of dirt and debris as well as drops or more of liquid that can cause all sorts of funky smells.
This gets way worse if your bag is full as it’s likely that some of the bacteria causing the foul odours have had time to multiply making the smell far worse.
To be sure that it’s the bag causing the smell, also check other areas of your Henry for the root of the nasty smell including:
- The hose
- Nozzles and floor attachments
- Filter
- Wheels
- Cable
If you find the other parts of your Henry free from any offending smells then you’ll know it’s likely to be the bag. But in reality if the bag is causing the smell, as soon as you open up Henry’s top you will know for certain.
4 – You’ve Been Using Henry For Months Without Changing The Bag
A good sign that it is time to change your Henry hoover bag is if you have been using it regularly for a number of months without changing it.
If you vacuum more than a few times a week then your Henry hoover bag will likely need changing if it’s been a number of months.
Most people using Henry tend to need to replace their bags every 3 – 4 weeks if they use it regularly so if it’s been 2 – 3 months of regular use, it’s probably time to change it.
5 – Henry’s Vacuumed A Lot of Fine Mess
If you’ve been using your Henry hoover to clear up lots of fine dust and other tiny particles (e.g. dust, glitter etc) then it’s best to change out the bag.
This is because the fine particles can potentially cause issues with the performance of the motor and the overall effectiveness of your Henry.
How Long Does Henry Hoover Bag Last?
There’s no set time for how long a Henry hoover bag lasts; it really depends on how often you vacuum and how much dirt and dust your Henry has to collect.
If you’re having to vacuum a large area with lots of dirt and dust every day the bag could fill up in a week or two whereas if you’re vacuuming a reasonably sized house a few times a week then the bag will stretch out for longer.
Henry’s designed to handle up to 6 litres of dirt and dust which is far bigger than most bagless (our Dyson D7 Motorhead is only 0.54 litres for example) options so it can go without emptying for much longer. But it doesn’t mean that it should never be emptied or ignored if it shows signs that it’s time for a bag change.
What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Henry Hoover Bag?
Ultimately it’s up to you when you change your Henry hoover bag. If you don’t change your Henry hoover bag when you should though you may face some unwanted issues:
- Shorten the life-span of the hoover as you overwork the motor
- Poor suction performance potentially leading to a less clean environment for you and loved ones
- Less effective cleaning meaning you spend more time than you should hoovering
- Dealing with potentially foul smells coming from your Henry vacuum
Conclusion: How To Know When Henry Hoover Bag Is Full?
There are some easy ways to tell when your Henry hoover bag is full. When it’s time to change Henry’s bag you’ll find suction is reduced;
the bag looks and feels full;
- it smells
- it’s been months of use without a change
- you’ve been collecting lots of fine dust
Whilst it might seem like a nuisance or even expensive to regularly change your Henry hoover bag, given the potential issues faced when you don’t change it regularly and maintain it, it’s worth doing so.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How To Know When Henry Hoover Bag Is Full?
Are All Henry Hoover Bags The Same?
No, not all Henry hoover bags are the same. There are three main types of Henry hoover bags:
Official Numatic HepaFlo Bags: These are made of fabric and are the ones that come with your Henry as well as being the manufacturer-recommended type. They have a 3-stage filtration system as well as a seal for when you need to change them to stop them from releasing dust back into the air. They’re the most expensive of the three main disposable types.
Unofficial Fabric Bags: These are also made of fabric but from alternative suppliers (not Henry’s makers Numatic). These can be a decent alternative but they vary greatly in quality and can be prone to bursting.
Unofficial Paper Bags: These are paper bags from alternative manufacturers. They’re the cheapest of the three options but also the least reliable. They can easily burst as well.
Do You Need a Hoover Bag For Henry?
Henry is designed to be used with a bag. Although strictly speaking it still works without a bag it’s not a great idea to use it without one.
If you find the other parts of your Henry free from any offending smells then you’ll know it’s likely to be the bag. But in reality, if the bag is causing the smell, as soon as you open up Henry’s top you will know for certain.
