What to Look for in a Commercial Backpack Vacuum
62If you plan on purchasing a commercial backpack vacuum, there are some features that you should take a very close look at before you decide which model to buy.
Since you're investing in this type of vacuum cleaner it's clear that you have the desire for a vacuuming job to be done quickly and efficiently while making it as easy as possible physically on the person wearing the vacuum. A lighter weight vacuum in this case is a better choice. You can get these as light as 9 pounds, but the average weight is 10 or 11 pounds. When you choose a lighter weight model, you do give up a little bit of convenience because obviously the machine won't be as large and the dirt container might hold a smaller amount, needing to be emptied more often.
Also consider the noise level. Vacuum cleaners are typically loud, but since a backpack vacuum is so close to the head and ears it should be under 70 dB. There are higher-end models that cost much more that have even quieter operation, and some make very little noise at all.
Maximum efficiency is the reason most people choose these vacuums, so look for something called Air Watts. Using this number, you can compare different models and get the one with the best suction which will allow better and faster vacuuming. This number is determined by a formula that uses the number of the water lift of the machine as well as the air flow rate. The water lift refers to how many inches of water can be sucked up the vacuum hose. This is a number determined at the factory and not something you should test yourself as it can result in electrocution.
That number is multiplied by the air flow number, which is the number of cubic feet of air that's pulled through the machine per minute. Once those are multiplied together, the resulting number is divided by 8.5 to get the Air Watts number. Obviously, the higher the number, the stronger the suction of the vacuum and the better the job it will do.
