Kenmore is a brand that is specialized in manufacturing home improvement appliances. It has created several products that have been awarded for its performance and practicality. The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum is one of such excellent products.
This brand has been keeping the American home in top shape with its quality and efficient appliances. It has been doing that for over 100 years and in so doing has earned the trust of the American users.
Vacuum cleaners are just one of the categories of products it makes. It manufactures kitchen appliances that make everyday routine feel like chores to look forward to. From refrigerators to washing machines, cookers, air conditioners, etc.
Stay with us as we explore this vacuum cleaner to see if the Kenmore quality reflects on it.
Who Should Buy The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum?
If you have pets living with you or possibly the other way around, this vacuum can help you manage the hairs. Pet hairs can be a menace if you don’t have the right equipment to tackle them. This vacuum claims to be specially designed for that.
The sensitive users too can find great use with the Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum. It is certified to protect asthmatic and allergic sufferers. It has what it takes to help you purify the air in your home so you won’t be inhaling contaminants anymore.
For those looking for versatility in upright vacuums, you might find that in the Kenmore Elite Upright. It has an extension hose and attachment tools that you can use for other types of vacuuming.
As we explore the details of the working of this vacuum, you will get a clearer understanding of what it does.
By the end of the review, you will be able to decide if the vacuum is best for you or you will read one of our other reviews.
Features Of The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum
Certified HEPA Filtration
The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum uses a HEPA media filter. This is a filter system that is standardized to capture 99.97% of dust and allergens up to 0.3 microns.
The human hair is 50 microns in diameter. That should put things in perspective if you want to know how small the particles this filter can capture.
As you vacuum, dirt and dust are sucked in and passed through the filters. After this, the air eventually flows back out. With this filter, you can rest assured the air going back into your home is clean and safe to breathe.
That’s not all, to prove how effective the filtration system in this vacuum is, it has a certification to show for it. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America certifies this vacuum to be safe for asthmatic and allergic users. With this vacuum in your home, the sensitive occupants can breathe deeply without fear.
Multiple Floors Cleaning
If you have different types of floors in your home, you would want to get a vacuum cleaner that can clean them all. The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum can boast of being capable of that. It can vacuum effectively on tiles, carpets, hardwood, laminated, etc floors.
The secret is in height adjustment feature. You can change how high the brush roll is to the floor. This has a lot to do with how the vacuum cleans on different surfaces.
If you are vacuuming on a hardwood floor, for instance, you can raise the height so that the bristle on the brush roll does not leave scratch marks on your prized floor.
There are 5 height adjustments you can choose from. Whichever you go for will be determined by what type of floor you want to vacuum. This will not only help you vacuum on different floor types, but you will also get an optimal performance every time.
Power Flow Technology
The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum runs with a 2-motor system. This provides the vacuum the kind of suction power it has to pick up pet hairs and debris on all floor types.
This system gives the vacuum up to 20% more power to move air than a vacuum with a single motor.
The Power Flow technology is an exclusive design of Kenmore’s. It is what is responsible for the vacuum not losing suction power over time.
There is a third motor in this vacuum which does not use a belt. It is the inducer motor and it is responsible for the extra power and consistent performance.
Useful Accessories
For those who love their vacuum cleaner to be able to do more than just vacuum floors, here is something for you. The Kenmore Elite has an extension hose and a telescopic wand which gives you another 10 feet of reach. The vacuum also comes with attachment tools that can be stored onboard for easy access.
With all these, you can do all sorts of above the floor cleaning. The pet handi-mate tool will help you clean pet hairs off stairs and upholstery.
You can even use it on mattresses. The dust and crevice tool will also help you get rid of dust and debris from hard to reach areas.
With the power of the vacuum, the reach of the hose and wand, and the attachment tools, dirt will not have a hiding place in your home anymore. You are well equipped with all you need to vacuum every part of your house.
User-friendliness Of The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum
We won’t tell you this vacuum is lightweight because it really isn’t. 20 pounds is a considerable weight for vacuums.
That does not make it difficult to move around though. The wheels behind the brush head let you move it effortlessly on all floor types.
The attachment tools that have storage space on the vacuum itself can spell user-friendly.
This means you will not be going from place to place to get the accessories you need. They are all within your reach.
The telescopic wand and the hose are also easy to use. So are the attachment tools you need to attach to the end of the wand.
Talking about the hose, it is a bit short and you might find a hard time using it for above the floor cleaning. For it to really be effective, you will need to be close to what you need to vacuum.
If you will need to reach further, you might have to lift the vacuum. As we mentioned earlier, it is a bit heavy, you’d rather not want to be lifting it around.
The power button is just by the handle and it has an indicator for when you need to check if the dirt bag is full.
Remember the height adjustment? Changing the setting is not complicated at all. All you need to do is turn the knob to your desired position and the vacuum handles the rest.
Pros Of The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum
i. The vacuum has a dirt sensor that alerts you when the bag is full.
ii. It uses a 2-motor system with an extra inducer motor.
iii. Its HEPA media filter will traps contaminants from getting back into your home.
iv. The extension hose and wand gives the vacuum more versatility.
v. The Power Flow technology adds 20% more power to the vacuum.
vi. It has a height adjustment feature.
vii. It is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
viii. The vacuum comes with attachment tools that let you vacuum above the floor.
Cons Of The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum
i. The vacuum is heavy. You might need to rest after taking it up the stairs.
ii. The extension hose is quite short.
iii. This vacuum is a bit on the heavy side at 20 pounds.
Alternatives To The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum
More Affordable Option – Dirt Devil Endura Reach Upright
The mere sight of this vacuum might lead you to think that the vacuum is heavy. In actuality, it weighs in at just 10 pounds.
It has the Endura technology that ensures that there is no loss of suction over time. With that, you will get optimal suction performance all the time.
The dust cup is quite easy to empty as you just need to release the lid at the base and watch the dirt pour out.
The brush roll can clean on different floor types and you won’t even need to do much to transition from one floor type to another.
This vacuum also has a quick release wand and hose that increases its versatility as they allow you to do above the floor vacuuming.
High-End Option – Dyson Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum
If you want a powerful suction, you will surely find it on this Dyson vacuum. It powered by an advanced motor designed with innovative technology. The cleaner head will adjust itself as you go from one floor type to another.
There is an extension hose and a wand that you can use with this vacuum. These increase your reach to up to 40 feet. Now you can add drapes, vents, ceilings, etc to the list of things you can vacuum.
It also has an effective HEPA filtration system that it is certified to be asthma and allergy friendly. If you like what you have read about this vacuum, be ready to cough up top dollar for it.
User-Friendly Option – Eureka Power Speed Turbo Upright Vacuum
If you need a user-friendly vacuum then you automatically want something that is lightweight, powerful, and easy to use. In that case, this vacuum is what you need.
It is capable of cleaning on different floor types. It has 5 height adjustments you can choose from. This lets you control how close or far the brush roll is to the floor. This allows you to get an optimal result whatever the floor type you are vacuuming.
It has a large dust cup which is easy to empty. There are LED lights in front of the brush head so you can easily spot dirt wherever they hide. The filter is washable so you can save some money on buying replacements.
Opposite Spectrum – Kenmore Elite Crossover Canister Vacuum
If you want a good dose of power and versatility, you will get that from a canister vacuum. This particular one has a bare floor brush integrated to its brush head. That makes it easy for the vacuum to transition from floor to floor without losing performance.
Still on the brush head, it has a whopping 14-inch cleaning path. This means that you won’t be spending too much time vacuuming a space as the brush head covers a lot of ground.
Are you asthmatic or allergic? This vacuum protects you with its HEPA filter that is so effective it is certified by The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
On top of that, you will also get 4 attachment tools with this vacuum. If you want to learn more about canister vacuums, read our canister vacuum cleaners guide.
Comparison Table
| Featured | More Affordable | High-End Variant | User-Friendly | Opposite Spectrum | |
| Products | Kenmore Elite Upright
|
Dirt Devil Endura Reach
|
Dyson Multi Floor 2 Upright
|
Eureka Power Speed Turbo
|
Kenmore Elite Crossover
|
| Dimension | 14.2 x 13.8 x 45.8 inches | 10 x 11 x 36 inches | 15.6 x 13.4 x 41.9 inches | 14 x 13.4 x 44.5 inches | 27.8 x 17.9 x 14 inches |
| Weight | 20 lbs | 10 lbs | 15.6 lbs | 10 lbs | 29.6 lbs |
| Attachments | Dusting brush, crevice tool, pet tool | 2-in-1 dusting brush and crevice tool | Mini motorized too and crevice tool | 2-in-1 upholstery tool and telescopic crevice tool | Motorized pet tool, dusting brush, crevice tool, etc. |
| Cord Length | 35 feet | 25 feet | 31 feet | 25 feet | 26 fet |
| Special Feature | It uses a powerful inducer motor | The vacuum uses a washable filter | It uses ball technology for swivel | It has 5 height adjustment settings | The vacuum has a cleaning path of 14 inches |
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet Friendly Bagged Upright Beltless Vacuum w/Pet Handi-Mate, Triple HEPA, 3D Inducer Motor, Telescoping Wand, 5-Position Height Adjustment, 3 Cleaning Tools & AAFA Certified-Black | Buy Now |
 | Dirt Devil Endura Reach Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner for Carpet and Hard Floor, Lightweight, Corded, UD20124, Red | Buy Now |
 | Dyson Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Ball Multi Floor 2, Yellow | Buy Now |
 | Eureka Power Speed Turbo Spotlight Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Pet Tool, Orange, NEU188A | Buy Now |
 | Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver Lightweight Bagged HEPA Canister Vacuum with Pet PowerMate, Extended Telescoping Wand, Retractable Cord, 2 Floor Nozzles, and 4 Cleaning Tools-Silver/Gray | Buy Now |
General Feeling Among Users
A vacuum with 3 motors is bound to be full of power. The Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum surely is not lacking in that department.
All the users of this vacuum agree with how powerful the vacuum is. Pet owners attest to how well it picks up hair on all floor types.
Some users also said that the vacuum is not as loud as they thought it would be. They also like the fact that the attachment tools can be stored onboard.
Some other users are pleased with the HEPA filter and how well it traps microscopic dirt.
There are some issues with this vacuum. The one that got the most complaint is the short extension hose. It really does not offer that much reach. This causes a bit of a setback to the versatility of this vacuum.
The weight of the Kenmore Elite Upright Vacuum is also an issue. Furthermore, it is almost like Kenmore does not expect anyone to carry the vacuum.
There really isn’t any handle to carry it with. If you couple this with the weight it is quite difficult to carry it.
Our Verdict
This vacuum is quite powerful, there is no doubt about that. That and the HEPA filter are about the biggest highlight of the vacuum.
If you need a vacuum with a powerful suction to help with cleaning pet hair, this will be a good option. Most of the issues with this vacuum are design oriented.
That is not a good sign considering that those problems cannot exactly be solved. For that reason, we have a bit of an issue with it.
Our verdict is lukewarm. Considering the price tag on this vacuum, we expect a lot more value from it. But if the powerful suction is all you really care about in a vacuum, this one will be a great option. If that is your case, what are you waiting for? You should get yours today!
