Benefits to Battery or Cordless Vacuums

There are a lot of factors to consider before investing in expensive equipment. In this Manufacturer Roundtable, Facility Cleaning Decisions took the compilation of questions we received from in-house custodial professionals and asked carpet equipment manufacturers to weight in. Here are their responses:

In what situations is it best to use a cordless/battery-powered vacuum versus an upright?

The wonder of cordless backpack vacuums is that they can go anywhere. Eliminating the restriction of a cord improves speed in classrooms, wide-open spaces or around office cubicles. Our users also like the mobility of the cordless units for navigating stairwells, elevators and building occupants in 24-hour facilities.
— Jacalyn High, Director of Marketing, ProTeam, Inc., Boise, Idaho

Cordless vacuums are an excellent option when cleanups are needed in populated areas such as restaurants, hotel lobbies, public buildings, hospitals, or anywhere when there is no 120v power nearby or available. In addition to running more quietly, a cordless vacuum eliminates any hazards that may be associated with a corded unit in crowded areas.
— Larry Hartley, GM Field & Commercial Sales, Electrolux Small Appliances, and Tony Van, National Director Sales/Commercial, Electrolux Home Care Products North America, Charlotte, N.C.

On average, how long do batteries last in terms of vacuum runtime?

It is about not only how long they last, but how well they last. Some battery technology may last for 20 minutes, but begins to loose power after 10 and then slowly fades, leading to lower performance. Other batteries such as Lithium ion may last slightly longer — say 25 min in this example — but maintain full power until coming to a complete and unanticipated stop.
— Larry Hartley, GM Field & Commercial Sales, Electrolux Small Appliances, and Tony Van, National Director Sales/Commercial, Electrolux Home Care Products North America, Charlotte, N.C.

Battery-technology is advancing quickly, so with every new model, this number changes. Recent models have 55-minutes continuous runtime per battery, which lasts longer in the field as the vacuum is not running continuously. With these units, field users report saving 1 to 1.5 hours off a four-hour shift.
— Jacalyn High, Director of Marketing, ProTeam, Inc., Boise, Idaho

What is the difference (if any) in suction power between corded and battery vacuums?

Battery-powered backpack vacuums necessarily have less suction to balance runtime and weight. Our latest battery unit has 65 CFM, less than half of our corded models but still plenty for daily cleaning and average soil levels, according to our users. Also, it is crucial that the CFM is consistent throughout the entire runtime. Some models lose suction as the battery loses power.
— Jacalyn High, Director of Marketing, ProTeam, Inc., Boise, Idaho