before I begin to review this , I want to preface this entire statement with the fact that I be obsessive about my carpet . I have severe allergy to dust , mold , mite and pet dander . -lrb- I do have a cat and this be a older home , so I have to stay on top of these thing . -rrb- I rent so I can not do much about it other than clean it once a week with a steam cleaner and vacuum a couple time a week . as a result , I be very hard on vacuum . they tend to break for I because I use they so often . I also have work as a housekeeper for several year and have have experience with professional quality machine and low end budget machine . now . that be say . I have go through three vacuum in the last five year . at a certain point , maintenance just will not fix it anymore . I buy this one to replace a replacement -lrb- it be a cheaper brand I buy at a local store -rrb- that last for about three week . in a nutshell : it be heavy and hard to pull back when you have it turn on . you literally have to fight against the suction . I personally like this , but someone who have shoulder and back problem , or muscular problem may find this to be a difficult unit to work with . it clean beautifully ! I have ten year old carpet -lrb- in a rental -rrb- and it fluff everything right back up . it do seem to pick up a great deal of the thing float around in the air\/on the carpet . I be breathe much easier after use this . to I , this feel like a light version of a industrial machine . it clean like it anyway . I could not be more pleased . if there be any room in you budget for a more expensive machine , I recommend get one . you can see and smell the difference .