Hoover vs. Bissell: Which Brand Should You Buy?

How To Choose Between Hoover and Bissell Vacuums

One important part of picking between a Hoover or Bissell vacuum cleaner is understanding that each is a great brand on its own.

They both receive an equal amount of positive reviews from professionals in the industry and the people using them daily.

Their vacuums are top of the line and output great performance. But best of all, they usually retail at good prices that aren't too expensive.

Granted, every vacuum retailer has products that cost a bit more than others, which is to be expected.

A higher price point usually means that you get more or improved attributes in a vacuum cleaner, longer battery life, or even better attachments.

But Bissell and Hoover both have an exceptional quality that few brands outside of them can compete with.

For this reason, it's logical to compare the brands together to see which offers more for you than the next.

Hoover and Bissell and good companies that care about their customers.

The quality found with their products is directly reflected in this. One good example is the way they engage with feedback from customers.

When new models are built, they're usually made with consideration for what previous and existing customers have said could be improved on.

So it stands to reason that newer upgrades to the same designs are likely to occur, but that doesn't mean that you should rid yourself of either brand before the warranty expires.

Review the primary benefits, features, and tools found on different Bissell and Hoover brands below, then see which of them has more of what you want in a vacuum.

By the time that you're done, you'll understand which is best for what you want your cleaner to do, why it's good for your home, and ways to extend the performance of the cleaners that are named. Let's begin!

Overview Of Hoover vs. Bissell

First, let's have a look at the companies themselves.

Hoover is an American company headquartered in the state of North Carolina. It's a part of the parent company Techtronic Industries, which oversees the production of different electronic appliances.

Since Hoover's specialty is vacuum cleaning, you'll find a wide selection of great tools to keep your home or apartment looking great.

Hoover builds upright vacuums, cordless vacuums, carpet cleaners, and sweepers for hardwood and tile floors.

Bissell also hails from the United States, in the state of Michigan.

The beginnings of the company started in the late 19th century when Melville Bissell created an easier way to pick up sawdust from his business establishment.

The company was family-owned then and remains owned by Bissell's descendants today.

They've marketed themselves as a great cleaning choice for people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds.

Their customers stretches across the world, with Bissell products being retailed in most locations that sell electronics.

For nearly 150 years, Bissell has constantly made great innovations to the vacuum cleaner industry.

With them, you'll find carpet cleaners, upright vacuums, canisters, and handheld models. Bissell and Hoover each produce high-end automatic models also, such as robot vacuums.

Range

Take a look at the range of products that Bissell and Hoover offer to you.

Both brands rely on high performance, meaning good suction and fast motors.

There are shop vacuum cleaners made by both companies as well as standard vacuums.

Bissell has a larger body of product to choose from than Hoover does, but this shouldn't immediately disqualify them from your consideration.

Many of Hoover's vacuums are upright models. Even while Bissell has more products, Hoover manages to build most of everything that Bissell sells.

Here are upright vacuums made by each brand:

Bissell Cleanview

The Cleanview relies on a cyclonic interior compartment to trap in first, dust, and debris, separating it as the material makes its way past the filter.

In the end, this keeps the filters from taking on damage too early in their lifetime, helping them to last longer than in units without the cyclonic feature.

The Bissell Cleanview Relies on a technology called One Pass to speed up the motor and brushes.

It helps the floor come out looking cleaner and fresher, especially effective on carpets. The filters on this model are removable and can be washed. If you do this, try not to break them.

Bissell's filters, like most, are frail and easy to treat if you're not careful. The filters help rid the air of pollen, dust, and harmful germs.

Once they end up in the container, you won't have to worry about them being pushed out, thanks to the pressurized space and spinning that happens when the machine is turned on.

The cord length for this unit is over 20 feet long and the entire vacuum weighs about 15 pounds.

Here's more of what you'll get with the Cleanview:

• Crevice tool - This is for getting in those hard-to-reach corners where dirty ad bacterial love to cling.
  
• Dust brush - With a dust brush, you can finally pick up the specks of dust trapped inside of your sofa and other pieces of furniture.
  
• Extension pieces - Also known as an extension wand, this piece connects to the hose and will help you clean in parts of your home that may have been inaccessible before, such as the ceilings and other items in the same vicinity. Finally, you can vacuum ceiling fans and get the visible first out of high vents.
  
• TurboBrush - The Turbobrush is meant for getting odor-causing items like hair, pet hair, and lint from curtains and furniture. It'll also help you pick up dust mites that you can't see. The brush rotates and acts the same as the one on the head, picking up anything that stands in its way.

Read More: Robot Vacuums vs. Regular Upright Vacuums

The Hoover Windtunnel Upright

The Hoover Windtunnel is airtight on the inside and has no bag at all. Like most counter-type vacuums that are upright,

You can rid the vacuum of its debris contents by pressing the button near the container and emptying it in a trashcan. There's no secret to it.

The Windtunnel weighs about 12 pounds, which isn't too heavy for an upright vac.

You shouldn't have any issues when needing to bring the cleaner up or down a flight of stairs.

Like the Bissell that was shown earlier, this also has a cyclonic interior system that allows your filters to perform better and last longer.

At the same time, you can print dust particles from making their way out of the cleaner.

The cyclonic spin is strong enough in force and pressure to all but eliminates the risk of anything getting out of the vacuum cleaner.

Here are some additional facts about the Windtunnel:

• You can remove the filter and wash it when it gets too dirty, something that won't happen very quickly.
  
• The filters are HEPA verified, meaning they're made to capture, bacteria and other harmful substances in the air without moving out of the vacuum cleaner.
  
• There's a release feature on the vacuum that moves the handle with only the touch of your hand or finger. When you do this, the extension attachment can be connected fast.
  
• The lower portion of the vacuum cleaner has a little hump that prevents things like furniture, walls, and anything else in the vicinity from being scratched by the vacuum cleaner. If you like to vacuum hurriedly, this is a great way to stop you from getting scratches all over your home appliances.
  
• The cord length for the Windtunnel is exactly 30 feet in length. That means that you can likely plug it into one AC outlet and not worry about moving it to a different outlet, even in some instances of you moving down and up the stairs. For homes with a ground floor, it's guaranteed that you won't need to change outlets.
  

Here are some attachments included with the purchase of a Windtunnel:

• Extension wand - It looks almost the same as the one described for the Bissell model earlier. You can get a great reach, as was the case for the Bissell as well.
  
• Starway tool - With this tool, feel free to reach as far as 12 feet away from you. This keeps you from having to move the vacuum up the stairs, lowering the risk of you damaging the vacuum from it falling up hurting yourself.
  
• A 3 in one tool - This is a multi-tool that's useful for brushing dirt out of fabric material, using, and getting the dirt out of cracks and crevices that you come across.
  

Price

Vacuums have become more affordable over the years.

Features that were once exclusively offered to the most high-end vacuum retailers can be found on the cheapest models that you'll find.

There's a lot for customers to look for price-wise, but Bissell and Hoover stay constant in their price ranges.

Speaking of budget, this should be one of the first things that you consider before buying a new Bissell or Hoover cleaner.

Each brand builds bargain-priced vacuums for people that don't want to spend too much to clean.

Or maybe the one that you prefer isn't based on the price at all, This can happen.

With the number of vacuum cleaners being sold, it shouldn't be surprising to see some models exhibit features that a unit significantly more expensive doesn't always feature.

Many Bissell and Hoover vacuums that retail for about the same price will harbor identical features.

They might be called something else or have a different marketing term, but what they're capable of doing can be about the same.

Each brand has vacuums that are lower priced. Dyson's compact vacuums have excellent retail prices, whereby you can often find them sold at deals that bump down the price even further.

The overwhelming majority of Hoover and Bissell cleaners would be considered mid-range vacuum cleaners.

Some are high in quality enough to compete with higher-end models, however.

The consensus by most customers is that both brands are affordable to anyone that wants a vacuum.

They're usually recommended even to people in the budget for cleaners that are more expensive since many of their features found on pricier units are only placed on Bissell and Hoover vacuums.

In short, both brands are about equal in price and quality range.

Read More: Canister vs. Upright Vacuums

Battery Life

Battery life usually corresponds to the number of air watts a vacuum has. But that's not all. The overall wattage of the vacuum cleans has a lot to do with this as well.

Without wattage, your vacuum can't run. Power can come from three sources in a typical Bissell or Hoover vacuum. The first is through an AC outlet. These are commonly found in traditional corded models.

The cords have gotten longer over the years, to the point where you don't have to worry about finding another outlet to plug your adapter in when you move into a different room.

Then there are battery-powered vacuum cleaners. These are controlled by lithium-ion batteries.

The battery power found on cordless vacuums is what's compared here. Battery life is the time that it takes for the Hoover and Bissell's lithium-ion powered batteries to die before needing another recharge.  

As you might know, every battery can depreciate as it ages. At some point, you're going to have to change your vacuum's battery.

The typical time when you should do this is after about three years from the date that you have the device.

It's a great way to extend the life of your cordless cleaner.

Hoover's batteries on their corded models will last about 40 minutes tops. Make adjustments to the speed when the feature is available, and you're looking at roughly one hour of vacuuming time.

This is subject to how long you have had the machine. The battery time quickly dissipates on cordless machines that are older than three to five years.

Bissell's battery life averages about 30 minutes for their wireless units.

Like Hoover's wireless lineup, you can adjust the speed settings to stretch the time a bit.

Maybe you live in a place where you sometimes don't need to fully power a vacuum's motor to get substances off the floor.

In this case, just change the setting and enjoy a longer clean, one that doesn't necessitate that you stop the machine for a recharge before you are even done cleaning.

Both machines recharge daily quickly. You'll be done with a recharge in as little as 20 minutes.

Avoid extension cables and recharging and allow the machine to reach a full charge before using, whenever you can.

Dust Bin

Bissell and Hoover dust bins are good in quality and bagless. They can be emptied by hand.

Just remove the dustbin containing the rest of the vacuum and dump it in your rubbish bin.

If you need to clean either, that's also easy to do. In most cases, a rinse in warm water is all that you must do to keep things looking good.

But over time, especially on the Bissell models, a biofilm will develop and cloud up the interior of the containing.

You'll know when this occurs because it will become harder for you to see inside of the vacuum machine.

This can also happen to Hoovers vacuums if you're not washing them after a while.

When you notice their containers getting dirty, wash with space, water or vinegar. Since each has containers made of plastic, try not to use bleach for cleaning in large amounts.

Hoover and Bissell both have dustbins that hold plenty of space. Depending on the model, sizes vary but you'll have enough space to spot you from pausing when you clean to empty.

There also exist bagged vacuums on some of the larger varieties that each breed manufactured.

Some uprights have them, too. Bagged or bagless, Hoover and Bissell maintain about the same capacities and quality in bag design.

Filtration

Hoover's filters are one of a kind. They last a long time and require minimal cleanup to maintain. You'll have to clean them, of course, but not as often as you would with some of the brand's competition.

Bissell is no different, having good quality HEPA-certified filters with good sticking power.

On Hoover and Bissell's models with cyclonic technology, the filtration systems work better.

You'll pick up lots of particles and allergens all while keeping the filters cleaners for a lot longer. With Hoover or Bissell, you can wait months before having to change them out.

Here's a better look into Hoover and Bissell's HEPA filters:

• Every if you were to vacuum more than once every day, your HEPA filter would last for many months without you needing the change it.
  
• Hoover HEPA filters promise to remove almost 100 percent of the airborne and surface-level microbes that you vacuum over. That's a lot of germs and much fresher air for everyone that lives with you to take in.
  
• Both the Bissell and Hoover brand's HEPA filters can reduce the chances of users getting sick from illnesses like asthma, allergic reactions, and flu-like symptoms.
  

Warranty

Let's take a look at the warrant stipulation for Hoover and Bissell.

Hoover has a warranty that lasts for two years. This is what's provided to buyers at the time of manufacture.

But even then, you should check online to register your product, if it wasn't automatically done for you at the time of purchase. Warranty includes damages caused by no intentional fault of your own.

To avoid nullifying your warranty, don't do anything to your Hoover that you don't think is ideal for the machine to keep running for a while.

This means no messing around with the motor during the warranty period. To get a better perspective into what you can and cannot do to nullify your warranty, you can read up on the policy at Hoover's website.

Bissell has a similar warranty policy to Hoover. It lasts for two years and is suitable for all vacuums made by the brand. Like Hoover, register for a warranty if you don't do so at the time of purchase.

Bissell's warranty policy isn't too strict, whereby they cover everything from refurbishment to the acquisition of a new vacuum machine should the one you originally receive not work well or break.

Features

Next up are some of the positive features found on most Hoover and Bissell vacuum units.

First are the pros for Bissell:

• Lots of choices for people with that like many options in their vacuums
  
• Almost every vacuum produced by Bissell can adapt to different types of floors, including hardwood, tile, carpet, and rugs.
  
• The designs are made for portability, meaning that you can easily transport them if the need arises.
  
• Brushes are strong and don't lose their shape. Hair is easy to remove from its bristles.
  
• Some models eliminate odors by trapping into the debris with a pressurized system and Hepa filter.
  

Here are some of Hoover's pros:

• Sucks up dirt from carpets and rugs well.
  
• Lightweight designs, especially on their upright models.
  
• The cordless vacuums produced by Hoover have great battery life.
  
• There are units designed specifically for combatting pet hair and pet odors
  
• Great customer service when contacting by phone or email, easy to get in touch with a representative of the company
  
• Easy to find OEM attachment accessories if they're ever needed.
  
• Has long-lasting  HEPA filter.
  
• Suction power is the same as what's found on high-end vacuum cleaners.
  

Final Verdict

So which one's better, the Hoover or Bissell line of vacuum cleaners?

The best answer is both, at least when content is added. Bissell produces good vacuums that are great in price and easy to handle. So does Hoover.

The main differences in them are very nuanced, to the degree of not being significant enough to recommend one over the next.

Hoover has fewer vacuum cleaners than Bissell does, so you might find more of what you want with Bissell when variety matters.

But each brand is great for anyone in need of a vacuum cleaner that's probably better than the majority being built today.