Who Makes Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners?
Kenmore is a name that has a long history in the United States and ranks as one of the best-loved appliance makers. It started out in the 1900s as a sewing machine manufacturer and then upgraded operations to start making various appliances.
Today Kenmore makes vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, washing machines and quite a few other small appliances as well.
It is a brand that has become synonymous with good old-fashioned quality and durability. You know that should you choose this brand, you are getting an appliance that has undergone rigorous quality checks and that has been made to last.
The company stands behind its quality guarantee and competes with some of the best manufacturers on a global scale. It may have started out small, but it has since grown to become a huge company, hiring the most innovative designers and precise engineers.
In this article, we’ll share a little history and the creators of Miele; as well as how they’ve impacted the vacuum industry.
History
This brand is sold through Sears, Amazon, and Kmart, and has over a century of experience in making appliances. From 1913 to 1919 (see our history timeline), it made a name for itself as a sewing machine manufacturer. It started its foray into the home appliance market in 1927 when it added a washing machine to the mix.
Just five years later, the first vacuum cleaner came off the production line. It would only be in 1976 when the range was expanded to include freezers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and refrigerators.
The company outsourced production of its appliances in 2017 to a range of manufacturers such as LG, Whirlpool, Panasonic, Daewoo an Electrolux. Most recently, there has been talk of enabling appliances to integrate with Amazon Alexa.
Essentially this means that you would be able to control your appliances by using the Amazon Echo, your laptop or smartphone. It also means that the devices could also start talking to one another, depending on how advanced the software becomes.
For example, the fridge could send a shopping list directly to your phone, or the kettle could be switched on remotely.
Who Manufactures Kenmore Vacuums?
This all depends on the models that you buy. Up until the end of 2016, Panasonic used to make the higher-end models of Kenmore vacuums. If you had ordered a lower-range option, it would have been made by TTI, PhoneMate or Eureka.
Since Panasonic shut down their operations in North America, this function was taken over by Cleva, a Chinese manufacturer. Additionally, the company did buy off some of the toolings from Panasonic.
A good few of the testing and engineering staff that was originally working at Panasonic are now working at Cleva. This, in conjunction with the tooling purchase, was done to maintain a seamless transfer and so that quality would not be impacted.
However, Kenmore does monitor operations to ensure that quality is maintained and does back up its range with good warranties. While Chinese manufacturers do get a lot of bad press, you can still get a great quality Kenmore product that is reliable.
The basic difference now is that instead of being manufactured in North America, it might be made in China.
You can check where your model is from exactly by seeing the serial numbers.
Why Are They So Popular?
Most American households either now have a Kenmore sweeper or had one at some stage or another. Even if you don’t use one at the moment, you probably grew up with one in the home.
The brand has distanced itself by offering exceptional quality and value. They have tailored their processes to meet demand, instead of compromising on quality.
You get what you have come to expect from the brand – excellent quality and superb reliability. The brand comes out tops in tests by Consumer Reports and won the Editor’s Choice award in 2016 from Reviewed.com. It has won several other awards over the years as well.
The cleaners bear up well under pressure and perform well over the long-term. You know that you can get a high-performance sweeper without having to pay an arm and a leg, and this makes the brand that much more valuable to consumers.
Types of Kenmore Upright Vacuums
Progressive
These perform consistently well during consumer tests and have become very popular over the years. With these models, the price is definitely right, especially considering that they have a HEPA filter and are very powerful.
This is not an upright cleaner, which might put you off if you have asthma or allergies, but there is no need to be concerned about blowback here, the unit is highly effective when it comes to filtering out particles of all sizes. So that puts paid to the myth about only using an upright.
It is on the heavier side, and that could be seen as a little bit of a problem if you have to lug it for longer distances or up some stairs, but it is still highly portable. One of the features that makes these models special are that the machine alerts you if the bag is full or the filter is clogged up.
Canister
The intuition canister range is part of the Elite range, so they do cost a little more. However, they are worth the extra investment, especially when you have pets. They also appear highly in the ratings that Consumer Reports gives out.
What makes these special is that they have more powerful motors and will make cleaning up pet hair a breeze.
Depending on the options you choose, you get attachments that work really well when it comes to deep cleaning very plush carpets or carpets that have a low to medium pile. These are not ideal if you have shag carpeting.
Some of the canister vacuums cleaners come with crossover nozzles that make it possible to switch between hard floors and carpeted floors easily. If you have ceiling fans, you will love the tools that come with some of these options.
These do come in at about the same weight as the progressive models so are also a little on the heavy side.
Bag vs. Bagless
There are both bagless and bagged options to choose from. The option that you choose depends on what you need from the sweeper. A bagless vacuum model has a filter that will need to either be replaced or cleaned regularly. A bagged vacuum has a bag that must be removed when full.
Being able to clean out a filter instead of replacing the whole bag usually works out more cost-effective over time as you need to buy fewer consumables. However, it is a messy job to undertake.
Having to replace the bag usually means having to buy more consumables, but it does mean that the process is less messy. You just get the old bag out and put a new one in.
Where to Buy
There are a lot of options when it comes to buying these sweepers. You can either go to your local Sears or Kmart stores. However, should you want access to the complete range, you should go and have a look at Amazon.
Delivery is fast; you get the same kind of guarantees that you would instore and you don’t have to fight your way through traffic to get there either. Pricewise, you will also get a better deal on Amazon.
Do check out the options available to you online before making your decision. If you cannot find the right option online, then you simply aren’t looking hard enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What is the Kenmore Elite Line?
A: This is the range of premium machines that are designed to give the best performance out of the lot. This is the company’s top of the line range, with the most advanced features and most powerful motors.
The Elite Range is where you will find the more specialized models like those with HEPA filters installed in them. There are other extremely good options on offer as well, but should you have allergies or asthma, these are the ones that you want to look at.
These machines are built to last and to perform consistently well. If you look after them, they will look after you.
Q:
Where else can I buy besides at Sears?
A: You can find a lot of these vacuums online and even at Costco. Your local mom and pop shop might have it as well!
After all, these are affordable vacuums, which means that they’re probably sold in most stores.
Conclusion
This is a company that you and your family can rely on. It is a company that your parents would have relied on and one that your kids will come to love as well. It is an American staple that offers great quality and great deals on that quality.
Sure, you could bring in a foreign brand like Miele, but you do pay a lot more for it. Kenwood offers similar quality and reliability at a much better price. You also get access to a much wider range of choices here.
Have a look at the different options on Amazon, and you will find that there is one to suit every budget and every need. If you want your home to be spick and span, it does not get much better than this.
These machines keep on going as long as they are looked after right. They are real Americans – they work hard and get results.
