Simple design and lots of power. Commercial vacuums are meant to clean a lot of space efficiently.
Oreck has a few popular commercial upright vacuums. I want to look closely at 3 of the leaders.
Whether you are a commercial cleaning business, hospitality, or just looking for an upright vacuum cleaner for your home, an Oreck vacuum can get the job done. There are a few features that are common to all Oreck Commercial upright vacuums, so let’s get that out of the way.
What can you expect from a Oreck Commercial Vacuum?
- Wide cleaning path
- Light weight (About 8 lbs)
- High capacity bags
- Excellent suction and cleaning power
- Long cord
- Same Form Factor
Ergonomics
Since commercial vacuums are designed with lots of hours of use in mind, ergonomics and ease-of-use are important. Oreck vacuum handles have received a commendation from the Arthritis Foundation. It’s important to note here that the Oreck commercial vacuums are not self-propelled, as in the wheels are not motorized. The brushroll will, however, provide some assistance when moving forward.
On that note, it’s also important to mention the weight. Most Oreck commercial uprights are 8 to 9 lbs. Compare that to the Miele Maverick (20 lbs) or the Dyson Multi Floor 2 (15 lbs), and you can see that the simple design means a much leaner vacuum.
Now:
Let’s get to the details on a few different Oreck Commercial vacuums.
- XL2100RHS Upright: Simple reliable commercial upright vacuum with the necessities.
- U2000R-1 Upright: Simple reliable commercial upright vacuum with a pigtail cord for easy replacement of a damaged cord.
- U2000RB2L-1 Upright: Oreck’s most feature rich commercial upright vacuum. Comes with pigtail cord for easy replacement of a damaged cord.
Yikes those are some long names.
The Oreck Commercial U2000R-1 Upright Vacuum
With a 40 feet cord, 12-inch cleaning path, and 2.7-gallon bag, the Oreck U2000R-1 is just what you would like to see out of a commercial upright vacuum.
These features all standard with most Oreck Commercial vacuums:
- Disposable Top Fill Bag
- Low Profile Design
- Side Edge Brushes
- Non-marring Bumpers
- Helping Hand Handle (Convenient grip if you have Arthritis or try to prevent it.)
You turn the upright vacuum cleaner on/off with a switch at your fingertips on the handle. The 40 feet cord is standard with the U2000 series, but the XL2100 series has a slightly shorter cord at 35 feet.
But what’s unique about the U2000R-1?
Two things: the 40 ft. power cord with pigtail extension and the belt is not permanent.
The 40 ft. power cord connects to the pigtail using a cord clamp, which means if the cord gets damaged you simply replace it and don’t have to worry with rewiring onto the vacuum cleaner. Excellent for heavy duty applications.
Unlike the U2000RB-1 model, the U2000R-1 has a belt that may need to be replaced. The U2000RB-1 has an Endurolife belt and advanced circuitry that prevents the motor from tearing up the belt when unexpected jams occur (something gets wrapped around the brushroll and causes the motor to break the belt).
If you would like more details on the Oreck Vacuum U2000RB-1, click here.
Cleaning Performance
Carpet – For cleaning carpet, you’re looking for a powered brushroll with height adjustment for different carpet thickness. If you’re using this upright vacuum cleaner commercially, you’ll mostly be dealing with low-pile carpet. The U2000R-1 will have no trouble at all, and with its powerful brushroll spinning at 6,500 RPMs, you will be able to handle just about any carpet.
The height adjustment is automatic so no need to bend down and change settings when transitioning to hard surfaces.
Bare Flooring – the powerful suction and auto adjusting brushroll will perform well on bare floors.
Oreck U2000R-1 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Bags
Much more affordable that your typical household vacuum bags, the Oreck Vacuum U2000R-1 uses the PK800025 disposable bags which come in sets of 25. They are about 2.7 gallons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Severe arthritis makes other vacuums hard to use. Is it as lightweight and easy to use as advertised?
A: Yes it’s very light. However, it will get heavier as the large bag fills up. No way around that.
Q: How powerful is the suction?
A: Very good, especially for a cleaning business or commercial property cleaning. Very powerful on carpet and heavy traffic areas. A lot of people say the performance is better than Dyson or Hoover vacuums.
Q: How does the upright vacuum cleaner work on hardwood and tile?
A: Very well, the self-adjusting height of the brushroll works as expected.
Q: How often will I need to change the belt?
A: Every 6 months is best.
Q: Does it have HEPA filtration?
A: Not standard, but you can buy bags with HEPA filtration.
Summary
Oreck Commercial vacuums are simple uprights with a bag, long cord, and powerful suction that can clean carpet or bare flooring. The pigtail is a must have if you’re doing commercial cleaning.
There are no attachments, so you won’t be able to clean upholstery or above-the-floor crevices.
Like most other Oreck commercial vacuums, the belt will eventually need to be replaced and can break if you jam up the brushroll. Oreck does have the U2000RB-1 model, which has circuitry to stop the motor in the event of a jam to prevent the belt from breaking.
You can check out some of the bundles below if you like the Oreck Commercial uprights but still need a more versatile option like a handheld vacuum.
The Oreck Commercial Upright XL2100 RHS Vacuum
The noticeable difference between the Oreck Commercial Upright XL2100 RHS series and the U2000 series is the cord is 5 feet shorter. Other than that, they are extremely similar.
They use the exact same bags, the PK800025 and brushroll/belts.
The Oreck XL 2100RHS does not have a pigtail, which is a sore spot, but you do get a cord guard that helps protect it from damage. Like the U2000R-1, the belt is replaceable, and it does not have the belt protection circuitry in case of a jam. This model comes with a 1-year commercial warranty as well as a 1-year warranty on the belt.
All of the Oreck commercial uprights have the comfortable Helping Hand Handle, which makes pushing the upright vacuum cleaner easy on your wrists.
Cleaning Performance
With the self-adjusting brushroll, you can easily transition from carpet to bare flooring. Additionally, the Microsweep feature helps get fine dust off bare flooring.
The non-marring bumpers and soft wheels keep you from scratching furniture and hard flooring. Getting up close to baseboards and cabinets is no problem. Like all of Oreck’s commercial uprights, it can go nearly completely horizontal and fit under most furniture.
Oreck XL 2100RHS Upright Vacuum Cleaner Bags
Much more affordable that your typical household vacuum cleaner bags, the Oreck XL 2100RHS uses the PK800025 disposable bags which come in sets of 25. They are about 2.7 gallons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are there HEPA bags available for this upright vacuum?
A: Yes, if you’re looking for better filtration than the standard commercial bags check out these HEPA Media filter bags.
Q: When you lay the handle flat horizontally, how tall is the upright vacuum body?
A: About 6 inches. You can fit it under beds, desks, tables, etc… no problem.
Q: Does it do well on thick carpet?
A: It does a great job on even plush carpet. Very impressive compared to most other uprights on thick carpet.
Q: Does it do well on hardwood floors?
A: Yes it doesn’t kick around dirt, and the soft wheels don’t leave any scratches.
Q: Does it perform well on cement floors?
A: Yes it performs just as well as on hardwood or tile. Excellent performance.
Q: Is it self-propelled?
A: No, but it’s light, and the handle is specifically designed to make pushing it easy on the wrist.
Summary
The Oreck Commercial XL2100RHS is the most affordable Oreck vacuum cleaner.
The major features that it’s lacking is the pigtail cord and permanent belt. Though not critical features, if you’re willing to spend a little more then the U2000RB-1 model may be right for you.
Remember, there is no permanent filter system on the Oreck commercial uprights. The filtration is provided by the bag, and there are options for basic filtration or HEPA-like filtration.
The Oreck Commercial U2000RB2L-1 Upright Vacuum
The most feature-rich of Oreck’s commercial uprights, the U2000RB2L-1 still has the same simple low profile design but comes with a few convenient improvements.
The 2-speed on/off switch on the handle is convenient when you don’t need as much power on certain floor types or rugs. With the Endurolife belt, you get a 5-year warranty and a built-in auto cut-off for when the brushroll gets jammed (Hall Effect Sensor). This helps prevent the belt from getting torn apart.
Cleaning Performance
The high speed, 5000-6500 RPM, brushroll provides superb agitation on carpet. Remember, however, that Oreck commercial uprights are not self-propelled. Vacuuming very thick carpet will be difficult. Having the two-speed QuickSwitch on the handle lets you switch to less power if the suction is too strong, which may be useful on rugs.
Due to the auto height adjustment of the brushroll, transitioning from hardwood to carpet requires no manual switching.
This upright vacuum cleaner has the performance you expect from a commercial upright.
Oreck Commercial U2000RB2L-1 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Bags
You have the option to use either the standard commercial bags or the hypoallergenic bags pictures above. The bags are Type CC, part number CCPK8DW.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the 2-speed switch mean more suction power or just faster brush rotation?
A: Both, as the single motor controls both suction power and brush speed.
Q: Does it pick up pet hair on carpet?
A: Yes, big dogs or small dogs/cats, this upright vacuum has no trouble pulling debris from carpet.
Q: Is there an “off” option for the brushroll?
A: No, but there are 2-speed settings. With the automatic height adjustment, there is no need to worry about making manual adjustments for carpet or bare floors.
Summary
With the Endurolife belt and Hall Effect Sensor, not having to worry about jamming up the brushroll is nice. If you’re prone to vacuuming around a lot of debris that can get tangled up in the brushroll, then this is a critical feature. Rugs or even curtains can get caught in the brushroll and break the belt if you’re not careful.
On thicker carpet and rugs, the high-speed setting may be too much. At least you have the option to use low power, which should make it easier to push on thicker carpet.
Overall, the U200RB2L-1 is a great buy if you don’t want to have to worry about belt replacement or cord damage (since you have the pigtail).
It is slightly more expensive than the other Oreck commercial uprights, but it seems to be worth it.