I just got an Oreck - love it - a bit pricey, but wow! Our carpeting looked like it was ready to be replaced, and now it looks like the loft is back and the carpet is clean and it leaves a clean smell in the house cause it has a unit built in where it attracts all the dust, so no dust in the air either; and much less dusting! Hard to believe, but true!

I've read that you are supposed to vac one time per week for every person and pet in your home. That would be 5 x's per week for me and that just isn't happening. Would cut into the gardening and quilting time.

I have a Dyson, it does a good job but is heavy. I find I like my Hoover better. Take care.
Linda
P S I have dogs, cats and birds, so have a variety of fur/feathers to pick up.

I have a Dyson. My model is called THE ANIMAL and for good reason. It picks up pet hair beautifly. You think your carpet is clean until you use THE ANIMAL for the first time and you will be shocked at what comes up. I really love it. Only problem---it's expensive.

I have a Bissel Powerforce from Walmart ($39). I also have a long haired cat, a short haired cat, a Blue Heeler, and a Malamute. It keeps all the hair vacuumed, and bags are $10 a dozen at Bissel.com online. I live in a dusty area, and between the HEPA filter, and the bags, it has cut way down on the dust in my home. It is also light weight for carrying. Good luck

I have a Bissel Powerforce from Walmart ($39). I also have a long haired cat, a short haired cat, a Blue Heeler, and a Malamute. It keeps all the hair vacuumed, and bags are $10 a dozen at Bissel.com online. I live in a dusty area, and between the HEPA filter, and the bags, it has cut way down on the dust in my home. It is also light weight for carrying. Good luck. :-)

If you have pets, the purple Dyson for pets is the way to go. I have a Miele which is supposed to have the best suction going, and swept my carpet. I swept right after with the Dyson and you would think i had never swept my carpet with the amount of dirt, hair and carpet fuzz that came up. It filled the canister! No bags, easy to empty because you have no bags and you don't have to touch the stuff you swept up out of the carpet. It does great on upholstery too. I have a springer spaniel and a Maine Coon, and they shed a lot. I have also had mine for 5 years and it is as good as the day I bought it. it doesn't have all of the belts, etc. that other vacuums have that you end up having to replace.

i just got shark sweeper and it picks up pet hair just fine paid $69.00 at kmart

I have a Riccar and a Hoover windtunnel canaster. The riccar was way expensive and I have to bring it in yearly to have it serviced. The Hoover canister - work well. The canister my youngest loves to use it.
See if you can try one out before buying it.

This will NOT help the OP, but what brand of central vac do you have?
25 years ago I worked at an electrical whoolesaler, and as an employee, I could buy anything they sold for 10% over their cost. We were in the process of remodeling, to the point of opening up walls, and hubby is extremely handy, so we bought and installed a Nutone.
I can't remember what everything cost, but I didn't relize the beaters were so much. We have very little carpet in our house though.

I probably jinxed myself, the thing will probably break now, but like I said, 25 years and no problems.

The only thing I don't like about, is that it is vented to the outside, so the whole little town I live in, hears when I use it, or I should say, how LITTLE I use it