If you’ve ever used a robot vacuum on your floors, you may never want to go back to regular vacuuming by hand. In the beginning, there was only one company that built these helpful tools. Now that you can select other brands, it’s a little harder to choose between them. Let’s take a look at these two models from Hoover and iRobot to see which one will be the best for you.
Hoover BH71000 Quest 1000 Wi-Fi Enabled Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Hoover is a trusted name for vacuum cleaners, so it’s only natural that they would make robotic vacuums too. The Quest 1000 (aka BH71000) is a Wi-Fi connected helper for your home. Its laser Questnav technology maps the floors and obstacles in your home to help it get the job done as efficiently as possible.
With an app on your smartphone, you can schedule the Quest 1000 to clean whenever you like. It works up to 120 minutes straight, then goes back to its dock to recharge. Once its lithium-ion battery is refilled in about 3 hours, it goes back to continue cleaning where it left off earlier.
This robot works on both carpet and hard surface floors. It uses a combination of brushes and suction to pick up dirt, debris, and pet hair and stash it in a bin you will need to empty every cleaning or two. There is a filter that catches dust, but it’s rinsable, and should last for months or up to a year.
If you aren’t home and want to check the status of your robot, the app can tell you quite a bit of information. It shows the battery status, the robot’s location, the schedule you set, any error messages, and lets you control its direction as well.
More features of the Hoover BH71000 robot vacuum cleaner:
- Comes with extra side brush and filter plus a cleaning tool for the brushes and clear furniture pads
- Covered by a 1-year warranty
- Cliff sensor keeps the robot from falling down stairs
iRobot Roomba 980 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
On the surface, the iRobot Roomba 980 is similar to the Hoover Quest 1000. The Roomba 980 runs for up to 120 minutes on a single charge, returns to its docking station to refill, then resumes cleaning where it left off. You can control it with the iRobot HOME app on your smartphone.
Wi-Fi in your home lets you give the robot instructions and set schedules even if you’re still in the office. You can set behaviors like one or two pass vacuuming and final edge cleaning. The app will tell you how the robot’s work is coming along and give you tips and support.
The dust filter on the Roomba 980 isn’t HEPA standard, but it catches particles as small as 10 microns in size. That eliminates a large percentage of allergens and dander from your floors. When the 980 works on carpet, the Carpet Boost feature automatically increases the motor’s power to suck up dirt.
The Roomba won’t fall down your stairs because it has a cliff sensor. It won’t get lost because it uses an onboard navigation camera to map your home. It’s short enough that it passes beneath most furniture, getting rid of dust bunnies from under your bed. The only thing it doesn’t do it clean its own brushes, bin, and filter.
More features of the iRobot Roomba 980 robotic vacuum:
- Comes with charging station, two Virtual Wall Barriers, extra filter, and extra side brush
- Covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, a 1-year limited warranty on the robot, and 6-month warranty on the battery
Recommendation
Robot vacuum cleaners save a lot of money and time over the long run. Using them regularly cuts down on the money you’ll spend cleaning carpets. They help keep your home clean and free of allergy-causing dust and pet fur. Plus, you can schedule cleaning even if you aren’t home.
Choosing between these two models is a little difficult because while Roomba has the well-established reputation for robot cleaners, Hoover has a history of making reliable vacuums. Users seem happy with both robots.
If you want a better warranty, two Virtual Walls to corral your robot without shutting doors, and a better dust filter, get the Roomba 980.
Otherwise you may save some money by getting the Hoover Quest 1000 (BH71000).
Click here to purchase Hoover BH71000 on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase iRobot Roomba 980 on Amazon.com!