Bissell is known for producing vacuums to tackle pet hair, with an array of models in that line. Their latest addition to the collection of pet vacs, the Bissell ICON Pet Pro, comes with features aimed at improving cleaning versatility and effectiveness.
There are two versions of the ICONpet – the standard one, and the Pro model, with slightly better features.
How does the new model compare to the standard one? How does the ICON Pet Pro compare with other cordless vacuums, from the same manufacturer, and other manufacturers? What are its pros and cons? Find out this and much more by reading this complete Bissell ICONpet review. In the next couple of minutes, you’ll know:
- whether this Bissell is a match for your needs
- all the features of this vacuum
- which vacuum cleaners are similar to the ICONpet Pro
- from where to get it cheaper
Contents
Bissell ICONpet Pro Quick Look
| Dimensions | 44.25 × 11 × 7.75 inches |
| Weight | 7 lbs |
| Cleaning path width | 10.5" |
| Battery voltage | 25 V |
| Expected run-time | 50 mins (in MIN mode) |
| Charging time | 4 hours |
| Floor compatibility | Hard floors, low and medium pile carpet |
| Filter | SmartSeal Allergen |
| Bin capacity | 13.5 oz |
| Suction power | 130 AW (on the high setting) |
| Smartphone app | No |
| LED lights | Yes |
| Accessories | - motorized floor nozzle - 2 brush rolls - dusting brush - flexible crevice tool - powered turbo brush - combination dusting brush with LED lights - battery charger - charging station - wall storage rack |
| Noise level | 70-74 dB |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Price | $224.99 |
Appearance
Here’s a short video made by Bissell for advertising purposes:
Specifications
To help you gauge the abilities of the new model, here is a deeper look at its specs.
Suction/Cleaning Power
Tangle-free brush roll
The Bissell ICON Pet Pro uses a 25V battery, 420-mph digital motor, and Bissell’s patented cyclonic suction system. It’s a combination that creates a strong airflow and makes the vacuum highly efficient at cleaning pet hair and other debris.
The floor nozzle is multi-surface with two different brush rolls, one with stiff bristles for carpets, and another made from a soft material for hard floors. Spinning at a speed of 3200 RPM, the brush rolls will produce excellent results on a variety of floors.
The cleaning power of this vacuum can be adjusted three ways – low, medium, and high. Being a vacuum meant for homes with pets, the standard brush roll that comes with the Bissell ICONpet (and the Pro version as well) is designed to be tangle-free. It can clean hair up to 8 inches long, which makes the vacuum highly effective, not only on pet but also on long human hair.
Input Power
A 25-Volt battery runs the Bissell ICONpet, powering the device for 50 minutes when using the lowest speed setting. Unfortunately, the battery is non-removable. To take it out, you would need to unfasten several mounting screws. That limits you to the 50-minute runtime, which is, however, long enough to finish regular cleaning jobs in a typical home.
The battery takes 4 hours to charge. LED bars indicate the amount of charge so you can tell when the battery is ready for use. The bars also help to show the remaining charge when cleaning. Bissell provides a wall-mounted charging station – a safe way to charge the battery.
As opposed to the Pro version, the Standard version uses a 22V battery, but with almost the same specifications (50 minutes runtime and 4 hours charging).
Dust Capacity
Bissell Icon Pet Pro Bin
The dust compartment of the ICONpet has a capacity of 13.5 oz (0.4 liters). For a vacuum that’s meant for a home with pets, I would have expected the bin to be larger than this. Nevertheless, the capacity is enough to see you through most cleaning tasks, especially if your home is low-traffic.
Emptying the bin contents should be easy and take a short time. The bin uses what Bissell calls the CleanSlide technology, a feature that ensures no dirt or debris remains behind stuck to the walls. With the technology, users may not need to do some cleaning every time they empty the dust cup.
Filtration Efficiency
Bissell vacuums are famous for using cyclonic filtration systems. The ICONpet is no exception. It’s a unique technology that ensures the suction system remains at an optimum level throughout cleaning sessions. It also provides efficient removal of dirt from the vacuumed air.
For allergen control, the ICONpet features Bissell’s SmartSeal, a technology that ensures vacuumed particles do not escape to cause health problems. The pre-motor filter is foam material and washable. The pleated post-motor filter cannot be washed. The manufacturer recommends tapping it on the trash can to shake off accumulated dirt.
Filter maintenance
Weight and Dimensions
The ICONpet weighs 7 pounds. Although not too lightweight, the vacuum’s weight lies within the range of good vacuums. The upright unit measures 44.25 × 11 × 7.75 inches.
Warranty
The Pro version comes with a 3-year warranty from the manufacturer, whereas the standard version has a warranty covering two years. To qualify for the warranty, you need to register your ICONpet vacuum upon purchase. A trusted company that has manufactured vacuums for decades, Bissell is known to honor the warranties.
Accessories
Some accessories
The number and type of accessories depend on each particular model. Here is what you get when you buy the ICONpet Pro.
- The upper part of the vacuum, or handheld unit
- An extension wand that allows you to use the vacuum in the upright mode. You can also use it with the hand vac for a longer reach
- A motorized floor nozzle for the cleaning of different floors from carpets, linoleum, hardwood, laminate, to tile
- Two brush rolls, one soft for hard floors, especially those that are sensitive, and the standard one which can be used on low and medium-pile carpet
- A dusting brush
- A flexible crevice tool for the tricky spots
- A powered turbo brush nozzle for pet hair on upholstery and other surfaces other than the floors
- A combination dusting brush with LED lights to light up pet hair and other debris when cleaning dark places
- The battery charger
- A charging station that mounts on the wall
- A wall storage rack for the vacuum and its accessories
- A user’s manual
Special Features
The Bissell ICONpet comes with features to make it more of a vacuum for pet hair, yet also suitable for general tasks. Although most of these abilities are not unique or new, they make the ICONpet more practical and usable. They include:
2-in-1 Design
Bissell Icon Pet Pro in handheld mode
You can use the ICONpet as an upright, or press the extension wand release button and detach the handheld unit. With this design, you can reach different parts of your home with ease. It allows you to clean after pets, removing pet hair and accidents in an instant. You can even use the handheld version outdoors to clean your car. And if you attach the extension wand, the reach of the ICONpet extends to allow you to clean ceilings and other high places.
Tangle-Free Brush Roll
Being a pet hair vacuum, the Bissell ICON Pet Pro should be able to resist tangles. And it does. The primary brush roll is designed to be tangle-free and pick up hair as long as 8 inches. Because pet hair will be in different places and not on the floor only, the ICONpet comes with a motorized attachment for couches, beds, and similar surfaces. Attaching this accessory to the handheld version of the vacuum allows you to clean after pets in virtually every spot in your home.
Auto-Adjust
The vacuum is designed to clean multiple floors in one session, with the main floor nozzle featuring a mechanism to change height automatically. That lets you move from bare floors to carpets or area rugs smoothly without losing cleaning ability. However, the auto-adjust feature is most useful when cleaning hard floors that are not sensitive and small carpets that are low pile. For delicate flooring such as hardwood or large high-pile carpets, the auto-adjust will not suffice. You would need to use the specialized brushes for each surface.
Swiveling Head
Swivel mechanism
The Bissell ICONpet doesn’t just rotate. It does so smoothly, allowing you excellent maneuvers when cleaning. If you do not have large open spaces in your home, the swivel mechanism will come in handy. It allows you greater control of the vacuum so that you can steer the floor head around things. The vacuum also bends flat to let you clean under couches and beds, or any other hard-to-reach areas. Add the smooth glide of the floor head to all that, and you have a cleaning device that is flexible and easy to use. With this level of maneuverability, the ICONpet won’t tire you out quickly, as you need minimal effort to steer it around.
LED-Lights and Motorized Attachments
Powerful LED lights
While many vacuums out there come with headlights, the ICONpet takes it a step further. Apart from the main floor nozzle, the combination dusting, and crevice tool, this cordless vacuum features LED lights to let you see the dirt in crevices, corners, and edges. It means you will not miss debris, and your cleanups will be more productive and thorough. If you have heavy shedding pets in your home, you will find the headlights on the various nozzles useful.
The Bissell ICONpet also comes with a motorized accessory for upholstery and various other surfaces. That means cleaning that’s more effective even in the areas where you cannot use the floor nozzle. With the motorized attachment, the ICONpet becomes a real pet vacuum. It allows you to pick up pet hair and other messes more efficiently.
3 Cleaning Settings
Ergonomic controls
You have three power settings to use when cleaning with the ICONpet: low, medium, and high. The lowest setting is the quietest, and suitable when cleaning sensitive flooring. It also allows you the longest runtime that sees the battery last for almost an hour. The medium power setting is suited for general cleanups where you do not need extreme suction power. That includes cleaning bare floors, small carpets or area rugs, and when using the various attachments. The highest setting lets you vacuum using the strongest suction power, useful when cleaning carpets or stuck-on dirt.
Usability
The ICONpet only has the in-hand unit, the extension wand, and the floor nozzle as the parts to assemble. They are snap-and-go parts, too, which means you will have the vacuum ready within a few minutes after unboxing. It also doesn’t come with many attachments or tools that would confuse you regarding their usage.
Inside the box
When you first operate the Bissell ICONpet Pro, it will strike you as being a highly usable device. It moves over different surfaces, almost effortlessly. The swivel joint allows you to steer the vacuum around things while the vertical flexibility lets you clean under furniture. In the places with low lighting, you have powerful LED lights to expose dirt and debris. Pet hair will be highly visible regardless of a room’s ambient lighting.
For homes with multiple types of flooring, the vacuum comes with a floor head that auto-adjusts height. It allows you to move from one floor to another without worrying about loss of cleaning power as the nozzle will always hug the surface. The auto-adjust isn’t the only feature that Bissell included for homes with different floor surfaces. The vacuum also comes with two different floor nozzles. There’s the soft roller brush and the carpet brush. Removing and inserting these brush rolls is a breeze. You do so from the side of the nozzle by unscrewing a fastener.
To help you control the vacuum, Bissell placed the power and cleaning setting buttons on the handle. Three bars of blue light indicate the cleaning setting in use, allowing you to change suction with ease. The versatility of the Bissell ICONpet is commendable. With a detachable hand vac, the places you can clean with the vacuum are almost limitless. To separate the handheld, you only need to press a single button. The various tools are click-on mechanisms, which makes swapping them a breeze.
The dustbin empties efficiently thanks to the CleanSlide tech that ensures every particle slides off the walls and into the trash can. To store the vacuum, the manufacturer included a wall bracket. The wall storage lets you hang the vacuum safely and within reach. The wall rack has space for all the accessories, too, making everything accessible when you have some cleaning to do. The charging station also mounts on the wall, allowing you to charge the battery safely and conveniently.
Wall mount
ICONpet Pro Pros and Cons
Many features make the ICONpet stand out, especially when it comes to cleaning a home with pets. However, it also has a few downsides. Here are the things I like about the vacuum and the areas that I think could have been better.
Pros
- The suction is great, and the vacuum can clean carpets and hard floors impressively
- Maneuverability is superb with a swivel joint that lets you steer the floor nozzle effortlessly
- It converts into a hand vac and allows you endless cleaning options
- The motorized attachments provide better cleaning results
- The main floor nozzle and upholstery nozzle are motorized, which makes cleaning pet hair from various surfaces more effective
- The runtime of 50 minutes that allows you to finish most cleaning tasks without exhausting the battery
Cons
- The battery is not removable, which means only 50 minutes of cleaning time
- The dust bin capacity is too low if you have a large home and more than one pet
- The filters are not HEPA
Price
The Bissell Icon Pet Pro can be bought for around $224.99. You can get it from online wholesalers such as Amazon, or directly from the producer. If you choose the first option, you can set a reminder to notify you when the product is discounted or on sale. This happens occasionally, so you have just a small time window to act.
Bissell ICONpet Pro (2746A) vs. Bissell ICONpet (22889)
Bissell ICONpet Pro vs. Shark Rocket Pet Pro vs. Dibea F20 Max
Final Thoughts
Coming from a company that has made vacuums for years, the Bissell ICONpet offers what every pet owner would wish for: strong suction for efficient pickup of pet hair, a tangle-free brush roll for uninterrupted vacuuming when cleaning after pets, motorized and LED-lighted attachments for specialized pet hair cleaning, and various other abilities. The vacuum is also highly usable and easy to maintain. If you’re looking for a versatile cordless to clean your home and tackle pet hair, I would recommend this model from Bissell. It comes with features to match these requirements, and the price isn’t prohibitive.
Jason Roberts
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