Hoover H-Free HF18DPT 019 Review After a Year of Use

Hello everyone! You are on the channel. robovac.washerhouse.com! This review will be the first time I've tested a handheld upright vacuum cleaner. We'll be testing the Hoover H-FREE, model HF18DPT 019. I've been using this vacuum cleaner for about a year now, and it's been helping my Roomba i7+ Perform additional cleaning in areas where a robot vacuum can't reach. It costs around $100 on the manufacturer's website, making it a budget-friendly option. Popular upright models cost $150 and up, so this vacuum requires a bit more flexibility, as it's at least half the price. Let's take a look at how effective this cordless vacuum is, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether it's worth considering. Let's get started!

Equipment

Let's start with unboxing. The vacuum cleaner comes in a branded packaging that lists the model's main features. Inside the box, you'll find manufacturer's documentation in multiple languages, a connecting extension tube, the main nozzle with an electric brush, a narrow electric brush, an additional brush for cleaning furniture, a crevice tool, a power adapter for charging from the wall, the main unit with the battery and dust container, two rubber inserts for more effective cleaning of carpets, a wall mount bracket, and screws for mounting the bracket. This is the entire Hoover H-FREE package.

Personally, I miss a replacement lint roller for laminate and parquet floors. It's available as an option and costs about $15 on the manufacturer's website.

Appearance

Now let's take a closer look at the vacuum cleaner and its components. Let's start with the main unit. It's black. All latches and buttons are painted blue for easy identification when getting to know the vacuum cleaner.

The company logo and turbo mode button are located at the top. The button placement isn't ideal. When using the device, you have to use your other hand to activate turbo mode.

The battery is installed underneath. It has 18 volts and a capacity of 2500 mAh. An exhaust filter is located above the handle. A charging indicator is located underneath the handle on the battery. When the battery is charged, it glows blue. When charging, it glows red.

The dust bin empties with the press of a button, and all debris falls out from the bottom. The power button is a trigger. Press it, and the vacuum cleaner turns on; remove your finger, and it turns off. A mechanical lock is included to secure the button and eliminate the need to constantly hold it down while cleaning. This is convenient and significantly simplifies the cleaning process.

The dust collector is a cyclone filter with a dual air filtration system. These filters are washable with water.

Now let's look at the main brush head. The brush itself is bristled, the build quality is on par with budget devices, and the bristles aren't too thick.

The front features LED lighting, which improves cleaning performance in dimly lit areas, such as under furniture. The nozzle itself rotates 90 degrees left and right, increasing maneuverability and ease of use.

One of the Hoover H-FREE's biggest flaws is the nozzle lock in the parking position. It has to be roughly removed by stepping on the brush with your foot and pulling the tube toward you. Or you can do it manually. This lock really detracts from the user experience, making the vacuum cleaner feel cheaper. Couldn't they at least have included a mechanical button?! However, it's worth noting that after a year of active use, the lock hasn't broken, meaning it's reliable, but not convenient.

By the way, the electric brush itself is removable for cleaning. But there's a catch. The kit doesn't include a cleaning tool for the central brush, like robot vacuums. You can't do it by hand. You have to use a knife or scissors, which isn't ideal either.

It's also important to note that the main brush and mini electric pet hair brush are equipped with locking devices. However, the narrow furniture brush and crevice tool lack locking devices and may slip off the main unit during cleaning.

Another point: the mini electric brush is marketed as an effective attachment for removing pet hair. But it doesn't even come apart. If it gets tangled up in fur and hair, it's unclear how to clean it.

Ultimately, the Hoover H-FREE has many shortcomings in terms of ergonomics. The main one is the effort required to remove the brush from its parking position. Other shortcomings are less critical, but they still detract from the vacuum's overall impression. The only positive feature worth noting is the LED backlight, which is beyond reproach. The lightweight body and maneuverability are also key.

Regarding vacuum cleaner storage, it can be wall-mounted in two positions, or parked standing. Parking standing is not very secure; the vacuum wobbles and could fall if accidentally knocked over. The most secure mounting is on the wall, with the main unit facing upward.

Technical specifications

Let's take a quick look at the characteristics of the Hoover H-FREE HF18DPT 019, the main ones we would like to highlight are:

• The dust container holds 0.8 liters. In reality, the usable volume is about 0.5 liters.
• Charging time is up to 5 hours. In our case, a fully discharged battery took 5 hours to charge, just as the manufacturer claims.
• Operating time is up to 25 minutes. In one of the tests in the video review, we'll demonstrate that this information is accurate.
• Battery capacity 2500 mAh.
• The weight is 2.4 kg with the main nozzle and extension tube attached. This is quite good. The vacuum cleaner is lightweight and doesn't tire your hand after cleaning.
• According to our measurements, the noise level is up to 79 dB in Turo mode.

Functional capabilities

Among the main features of the Hoover H-FREE, we would like to highlight:

1. Turbo mode.
2. Illumination of the area in front of the main brush.
3. Electric brush gets blocked when winding.
4. Fixing the power button.

To explore the full functionality of this handheld vacuum cleaner, we recommend watching our detailed video review and test:

To briefly summarize the work done:

1. The vacuum cleaner, without the extension wand but with the crevice tool, ran for 22 minutes and 30 seconds with a fully charged battery. This is a good result, considering that Turbo mode was enabled, not standard mode. It's also important to keep in mind that the vacuum is over a year old, so the battery is worn out, not new. The manufacturer claims a runtime of up to 25 minutes, so they're not lying. In theory, this time is enough for cleaning a car or spot-cleaning furniture.
2. With the extension tube and the power-consuming electric brush attachment installed, the Hoover H-FREE lasted about 19.5 minutes. This is a good runtime, considering it's in Turbo mode, not standard, and the power-consuming electric brush attachment is enabled.
3. The noise level in standard mode was 79 dB. This is a typical noise level for cordless upright vacuum cleaners. More powerful models can reach up to 90 dB.
4. During cleaning, some debris remains in the so-called blind spot between the baseboard and the brush. The vacuum cleaner can't pick up debris directly in front of it if it bumps into something. You have to rotate the brush in different directions to get it to pick up the debris.
5. When moving backwards, some debris may fall out of the nozzle, especially if the vacuum cleaner is turned off.
6. Hoover H-FREE HF18DPT 019 cleans well even seemingly clean carpets.
7. This model is ideal for cleaning furniture and car interiors.

Let's sum it up

In conclusion, we'll highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of the Hoover H-FREE HF18DPT 019, taking into account its price and a year of use. For convenience, we'll rate the vacuum cleaner on a 10-point scale based on various criteria.

Ergonomics: 6 out of 10I argue this is due to the impractical brush lock in the parking position, the non-detachable mini electric brush for cleaning pet hair, the awkwardly placed turbo mode button, and the poor battery status indicator. Furthermore, there's no display, and two of the four attachments can become detached during use. Positive aspects include the multiple attachments included, the light weight, compact storage, the maneuverability of the central brush, and the LED lighting.

Cleaning quality: 7 out of 10Yes, it passed the tests, but only in Turbo mode, and even then, there are blind spots where the robot can't pick up debris. In Standard mode, the suction power is low, and the vacuum cleaner can't always pick up small debris from the floor. However, in Turbo mode, the robot can run for up to 20 minutes, which is enough to clean 4-5 rooms. In my case, that's an area of ​​about 70 square meters, and the battery charge is enough to clean the furniture, dust the baseboards, and finish cleaning up any small debris the robot vacuum left behind. However, the suction power is still weak, in my opinion.

Reliability and build quality: 9 out of 10After a year of use, the Hoover H-FREE hasn't caused any issues with components breaking down or being damaged. Everything works like clockwork, the battery holds its charge well even over time, and the plastic is virtually free of scratches and visible damage. Therefore, in terms of reliability, this vacuum cleaner left a good impression. It's also important to note that the manufacturer provides a warranty and service support. Overall, the Hoover brand is renowned worldwide and is considered high-quality.

In summary:

22 points out of 30

Considering this is a budget upright vacuum cleaner and the first one I tested, my rating may be a bit low. As I gain more experience, I'll see how this model compares to other cordless vacuums. In any case, the Hoover H-FREE is currently a useful tool for me, helping me keep my home clean. If I could address the ergonomic issues and improve the suction power, I'd have a good budget vacuum.

That's all I have for now. I'd love to hear in the comments how you liked the review, what points were missed, and how you like the new summary format. We'll be testing flagship upright vacuums from popular brands soon. Happy shopping, everyone!

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