Quantum X – an upright vacuum with water filtration

Early this year, the makers of Quantum vacuums added a new product to their collection – the Quantum X. This new vacuum is the first and only upright from the company. The other Quantum, a canister, has been on the market for several years and gained a lot of popularity. The new upright is no exception either. For the few months, it has been on sale, the vacuum has been a quite a sensation if the number of people who own it is anything to go by.

Quantum vacuums are water-based, which means they use water as the filtration medium. If you have used a Quantum before, you already understand how this technology works and what its benefits are. Also, what to expect from the company that makes it. If new to the brand and the water filtration technology, don’t worry. This Quantum X review provides you with information regarding not only the features of the new Quantum but also how it compares with the earlier one.

Design

Here a video review of this vacuum:

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Specifications

As usual, let’s start by looking at the specs that the vacuum comes with.

Suction / Cleaning Power

The exact value for suction is not provided. However, I would put it to around 300 AW. That’s more than what many vacuums can attain, and the reason why the Quantum X is advertised as a cleaning machine that works anywhere and on any mess. The advertisement aside, the cleaning power of water vacuums is indisputably impressive. Here is the reason: the ability of a vacuum to pick up dirt and debris closely relates to airflow. When the flow of air is unhindered, suction is great. Now, vacuums that use filters lose suction when the filter clogs with dirt. That doesn’t happen when water is the filtration medium. The suction remains constant, which explains the superb cleaning power of water vacuums throughout cleaning tasks and during the vacuums’ entire lifetime. The Quantum X, being water-based, never loses suction irrespective of the amount and type of dirt it picks up.

Input Power

The vacuum is not a power-hungry gadget. It draws in 8A and consumes 870 watts. For the power source, it uses a 120V/60Hz socket – the American standard.

Dust Capacity

Being a water based vacuum, it doesn’t have a compartment or bag to store the dirt that you pick up. Instead, the basin that holds the water to filter out dirt acts takes the place of the dust bin. The one in the Quantum X has a capacity of 32 oz. Considering that you empty the vacuum after every cleaning task, the capacity is adequate for the dirt that’s vacuumed in a typical home. An advantage if this technology is that you never have to worry about filters that need to be cleaned or even replaced.

Filtration Efficiency

Here is where water-based vacuums score high. In a conventional vacuum cleaner, different types of filters are used to remove dust and other allergens from the air that exits the unit. That can be inefficient, especially if the kind of filter used is inferior and not HEPA. With water as the filter, a lot more dirt is captured. Not only dust and debris but also microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. According to the manufacturer, water filters 99% of the allergens that get sucked up the Quantum X. That’s good news if anyone in your family cannot stand the presence of dust in the air due to allergies. Also, if you have kids and you want to protect them from respiratory problems.

Weight and Dimensions

The unit weighs 17 lbs, which is slightly more than what would be the weight of an average upright. For the dimensions, here are the values when the vacuum is fully assembled: 10″ length, 12″ width, and 47″ height.

Warranty

The vacuum is backed by a manufacturer’s guarantee that covers 3 years. The warranty is a limited one and doesn’t cover the brush roll, and belts. It also doesn’t apply if the vacuum is used for commercial cleaning. The warranty isn’t too bad, but five years (which you get with the Quantum canister) would have been a better deal.

Accessories

The Quantum X vacuum comes with the following tools and attachments:

• a flex hose
• a crevice nozzle
• a dusting brush
• an upholstery tool

Other accessories that accompany the unit include a tool to inflate, a brush to clean the water basin, and another one to clean the separator. There’s also the electric and nonelectric wands. The manufacturer offers optional accessories (the Deluxe version comes with a hard surface brush which is perfect for hardwood, laminates or walls, a squeegee and a mini pet hair remover). Should you find the need for the extra tools, you can purchase them separately to improve the vacuum’s versatility and efficiency.

Special Features

As you can guess, the vacuum features a range of unique capabilities and mechanisms. They include:

• Zero Filters. There are no foam or paper filters on the Quantum X. That means many things. One, you will never experience loss of suction power to dirt, since no clogging occurs. The vacuum retains its cleaning ability throughout its lifetime. Two, the vacuum doesn’t cost you a lot to maintain as there are no filters to replace. You only need to empty the water basin, and that’s it. Other benefits water filtration technology include the excellent removal of allergens which results in an allergen-free air in your home.
• Micro-Silver Technology. Apart from the removal of particles by water, the Quantum X uses micro silver to clean the air. Micro-silver is not an entirely new technology. It has been used in hospitals before, to kill germs. In water treatment plants, too, to purify water. By incorporating the technology in their vacuums, the manufacturer produced a vacuum cleaner that reduces the germs in the exhaust air by more than 90%. It means a home that’s more hygienic for you and which is essential if you have children or seniors who may have lowered immunity.
• Durable parts. Vacuums that use water filtration are known to have a longer lifespan. The Quantum X is one of them, and its durability shows in many ways. The vacuum’s parts are made from high-grade plastics and stainless steel, with a wire hose that resists crushing. You can, therefore, be sure that your Quantum will be around for a long time. Add the fact that there are no filters that age to require changing, and you have a cleaning device that you will use for years without replacing many parts.

• Ability Purify and Aromatize. Apart from the usual vacuuming, the Quantum can both clean and deodorize the air in your home. For a sweet smell, you only need to add your preferred type of fragrance in the vacuum’s water basin, and the aroma will fill the room as you clean. The vacuum can also act as an air purifying unit. For that, it comes with buttons to time the purification process which can be a short as 15 minutes and as long as 2 hours. Once you’ve set the desired time, the unit switches itself off automatically. That means you can go on with your other tasks and come to a sweet-smelling home.
• Impressive Reach. The reach that you can achieve with this vacuum is worth mentioning. There’s the power cord which is itself of decent length, a ten-foot hose, and the 18-inch cleaning wand. Forget about the other parts; it’s the telescopic head that makes the Quantum X such a unique cleaning machine. In addition to lying low, it extends to a length that allows you to vacuum underneath different types of furniture. The head lies low, too, as low as 4″. That allows you to clean even the areas that would be unreachable when using some vacuums.

• It’s a Shop-Vac. The Quantum X vacuum can also inflate and deflate. It can such suck liquids and spills. And if you have trees around, you can use it as a leaf blower.

Usability

One of the most significant attributes of the Quantum X is its versatility. It’s a wet and dry vacuum, can clean different floors, and reach virtually any part of your home. You can even use it for tasks other than vacuuming such as inflation, deflation, leaf blowing and water purification. It comes with the necessary attachments for those tasks, and where applicable, settings.

When using the Quantum X to vacuum, it offers a lot of usability advantages. The cleaning head features an automatic mechanism for height adjustment. You won’t need to stop and rotate any dial or push a button if you encounter a different floor type- you just move on, and the head lifts or lowers to the level of the new surface. The vacuum’s head also rotates 180 degrees and gives you an easy time during cleaning activities. For the areas that lie low, the quantum offers a clearance of 4 inches, lower than what most vacuums can give.

As with many other vacuums, this one comes with led lights for the poorly lit areas of your home. That would make your cleaning tasks thorough regardless of how dim the room is. Add the telescopic wand to the equation, and you rarely need to move anything when vacuuming your home. Other features that enhance the usability of this Quantum vacuum are the easy-to-understand and highly accessible controls. The power, speed, and air purification buttons are located on the same panel which eases the way to control the device. For easier storage, the Quantum comes with a detachable cable.

Price

Quantum X can be bought for around $400. Occasionally, one can find better prices directly on the site of the producer or at other online wholesalers.

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Quantum Vac vs. Quantum X

What are the differences between the two quantum vacuums? Not much changed in terms of features. The manufacturers copied almost every aspect of the Quantum Vac onto the Quantum X. The only noticeable differences are those of the vacuum type and which make the two units to look differently designed. Here’s what’s new and different.

The Quantum Vac is somewhat lighter and easier to maneuver, while the X is heavier and comparatively more difficult to push around. The cleaning heads offer the same advantages, and the filtration features a similar technology. Both have headlights and a 180-degree swivel. As you would expect, being an upright, the X is taller than the Quantum vac. The manufacturer also decided to reduce the warranty on the X to 3 years compared to that of the 5 years of the Quantum vac.

Despite the differences that favor the earlier vacuum from the company, the Quantum X seems to have won the hearts of many. And there’s a reason for that. Uprights remain the most popular types of vacuums in the US where the Quantum is currently available. Besides that, the features that come with it are characteristic of an upright vacuum – and expected. With uprights, you don’t have to bend over. This reduces the risk of getting a back pain, and improves the maneuverability.

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The Pros and Cons of Quantum X

Here is a summary of the upsides and the drawbacks that I found in the new vacuum:

Pros

• Excellent filtration allows allergen sufferers to use the vacuum without risking their health
• The suction remains constant throughout
• Can clean dry and wet spills
• Features an automatically adjusting cleaning head and can vacuum different floors
• There are no filters to clean or even replace for the entire lifetime of the unit
• Features micro silver to eliminate a majority of bacteria and viruses from the air
• Can act as a stand-alone water purification device as well as an aromatizer
• Cleans the hard to reach areas using the telescoping wand, the long hose and with the help of the LED lights
• The unit is made from sturdy materials and highly durable

Cons

• You need to discard the water after every cleaning task
• The water that you add for filtration purposes can make the unit heavy
• The price of vacuums that use water filtration can be higher than usual

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Final Comments

Overall, the Quantum X is a cleaning machine worth considering. The versatility it offers is impressive and the cleaning power satisfactory. The vacuum can perform tasks other than cleaning which makes it a useful gadget to have in your home. If allergies are a problem, the water filtration technology is something you wouldn’t want to ignore. It can help protect the health of your loved ones, especially toddlers who are prone to allergies. If you have pets, the Quantum X could be the vacuum you’ve been looking for. It picks pet accidents with ease in addition to offering strong suction to pick up pet hair.