It’s hard to compare two products when they have so many similarities, as in the case of Kenmore BU4022 vs BU4020. After a while of experimenting, I finally found the winner, Kenmore BU4022.
The BU4020 is a great bagged upright vacuum cleaner. It’s compact and easy to carry anywhere you want. It has good dust capture ability on both hardwood floors, low pile carpet and high pile carpet. Especially it is also quite quiet compared to many other machines that I have used before.
Besides having the same features as the BU4020, the BU4022 is also slightly improved, adding some other useful accessories such as 6pcs HEPA bags and the Pet HandiMate tool.
Kenmore BU4022 vs BU4020: Comparison Chart
Kenmore BU4022 vs BU4020: Differences
After comparing the capabilities of the two upright vacuum cleaners, I concluded Kenmore BU4022 wins 1:0 and ties 3 against Kenmore BU4020. From my experience, I found that these two machines work similarly, and there are not too many differences. For a better understanding, please read the analysis below.
cleaning performance
Tie
Performance on hard floors
Kenmore BU4022 and BU4020 both work well on hard floors. Dirt and small debris can’t make it difficult for them. The brush roll can be turned on and off at will to help users clean wooden floors more gently and limit scratching the floor.
When it comes to larger debris, such as Goldfish cereal or Froot Loops, the machines struggle and only pick up a few crumbs inside. The wand will help you deal with the remaining mess at such times.
Performance on carpets
Although there is no carpet height adjustment mode, these machines have a fixed height gate system which helps them work better with larger debris on carpet surfaces. Besides, the brush roll turn-on mode helps the cleaner pick up pet hair on the carpet easier without scattering them.
Although they both weigh 14 pounds, they are actually not as heavy as you might think and are easy to push on dense carpets. Moreover, thanks to their lift-up mode, you can easily clean flat carpets on the stairs. I can see a noticeable difference after using these two machines to clean carpets in another room and my bedroom. They all look brand new and much nicer than before.
Suction power
The suction power on both is fantastic, and their suction strength is equivalent. I tried to measure and found the airflow at the hose is 87 CFM, and at the head is 72 CFM. If you don’t know what CFM is, it is one of the units that measure the airflow within 1 minute. For vacuum cleaners, the higher the CFM value, the greater the suction power, and vice versa. Compared to other machines I have reviewed, their suction power is quite impressive.
Some other upright vacuums often have a knot to adjust the suction power to suit different carpets and hardwood floors. Therefore, users have to change the suction power of these machines when using them on specific types of surfaces. You won’t be able to do the same with these two Kenmore machines. However, this also means that they always work at full capacity and work great on all types of surfaces.
dirt bin & filtration
Tie
Dirt bin
Both of these machines are bagged models. Specifically, Kenmore BU4022 comes with 6pcs HEPA bags, and Kenmore BU4020 comes with 4pcs HEPA bags. The body has a bag fill indicator, which lets users know when the bag is ready to be replaced. I think this is such a convenient feature.
Besides, the inside of the bag compartment is designed to help the machine still operate strongly even when the bag is almost full. Once the bag is full, it only takes one button to open the entire top of the bag. There’s no need for anything else like cleaning the dust cup, and no dirt is diffused back into the air or stuck to your clothes either. I really like this convenience.
Also, if you are worried that using a vacuum cleaner with a bag will be expensive because you have to change the bag often, don’t worry. These machines do not lose capacity even when they are almost full, and the average use time of a bag is quite long (about 1-2 months).
Filtration
Both machines share a sealed system which I’m a big fan of. They have a three-way filter with a bag, a small foam filter, and a larger HEPA filter. No filters need to be washed or replaced, as bagless vacuums do. With these two models, you just vacuum and put them away.
Their HEPA filter works really well. It traps 99.97% of dirt and keeps them out of the air you breathe. Besides, this filter also helps to remove odors in the air, such as pet odors, pollen odors, etc. It is suitable for people with allergies. With Kenmore 2022, you get 6pcs HEPA filter bags, which are the thickest vacuum bags I have ever had. I feel like the air quality is so much better after vacuuming with this vacuum.
design & convenience
Tie
Build quality
These Kenmore vacuums have good build quality. They are mostly made of plastic except for the handle, wand, and rubber wheels. Overall, though, they’re still pretty solid.
They are also identical in size and weight. Compared to the common ground, the size (WxLxH) 12.0″ x 13.0″ x 34.0″ is quite compact and takes up little space. Weight 14 pounds is great for above-floor cleaning or carrying up and down stairs.
Besides, both are easy to assemble, and completing them only took me a few minutes. Everything just snaps together.
Maneuverability
According to my experience, both vacuums are easy to maneuver. They are lightweight and have a lift-up mode, so users can easily carry them around the room or up and down the stairs. In addition, they are also equipped with a removable sweeper to increase the range of the machine and support floor-to-ceiling cleaning.
In addition, their cleaning head can rotate independently, allowing you to vacuum in places with lots of nooks, crannies, and furniture. In addition, the LED light on the front of the machine helps illuminate dark spots, dark corners, and other places that are not visible to the naked eye for more thorough cleaning.
Their power cord is 30 feet long enough to clean a large room without changing outlets. However, the length of the hose is only about 3 feet, which is quite short compared to the hose length of many other upright vacuum cleaners.
Noise level
In terms of noise levels, I didn’t notice much difference between them. In general, they all make noise that is not too loud, at 78 dB. The noise level when cleaning bare floors or carpets is not much different.
For ease of visualization, noise levels above 70 dB are considered disturbing. Exposure to such sounds for too long can affect your hearing. The average noise level of upright vacuum cleaners ranges from 60-75 dB, so I rate these two Kenmore machines as not too noisy. You can still vacuum and normally talk without raising your voice.
accessories
The winner: Kenmore BU4022
These machines come with a few specialized tools and brushes. Both machines have an upholstery tool that is used to clean upholstered furniture, such as upholstered chairs or sofas.
Besides, these two machines also provide users with a 3-in-1 combination tool that acts as an all-in-one upholstery cleaner and a hard bristle brush tool for removing stubborn stains.
In addition, the Kenmore BU4022 comes with a turbo brush to remove pet hair trapped on the fabric surface.
Quick Rundown Of Kenmore BU4022
- Lift-Up enables versatile handheld freedom to clean above floors and stairs. Simply press a button to lift away from the floor nozzle to clean all of your hard to reach areas
- No Touch Bag Technology eliminates the annoyingly stains process of emptying and cleaning a full cup with a single button press to get rid of your stains. No need to touch dirty cups or bags again, hands free operation and self-sealing bags keep your home environment clean – no touch and no messy cleanup
- PowerFlow bag chamber is designed to enable strong suction even as the bag fills. This means that you can still expect excellent cleaning up until your bag needs emptying
- Lightweight and Maneuverable – weighing only 14lbs. and with swivel steering, this lightweight and maneuverable vacuum achieve cleaning.Height adjustments for optimal airflow and cleaning efficiency with LED headlights lighting the way to a cleaner home
- Filtration System- This High Grade HEPA filtration is combined with a completely sealed system to provide excellent filtration
Quick Rundown Of Kenmore BU4020
- Lift-Up enables versatile handheld freedom to clean above floors and stairs. Simply press a button to lift away from the floor nozzle to clean all of your hard to reach areas
- No Touch Bag Technology eliminates the annoyingly stains process of emptying and cleaning a full cup with a single button press to get rid of your stains. No need to touch dirty cups or bags again, hands free operation and self-sealing bags keep your home environment clean – no touch and no messy cleanup!
- PowerFlow bag chamber is designed to enable strong suction even as the bag fills. This means that you can still expect excellent cleaning up until your bag needs emptying.
- Lightweight and Maneuverable – weighing only 14lbs. and with swivel steering, this lightweight and maneuverable vacuum achieve cleaning.Height adjustments for optimal airflow and cleaning efficiency with LED headlights lighting the way to a cleaner home.
- This High Grade HEPA filtration is combined with a completely sealed system to provide excellent filtration.
Product Video
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Related Articles to Kenmore Bu4020
References:
- Kenmore BU4022: https://www.kenmore.com/products/kenmore-bu4022-intuition-bagged-upright-vacuum-cleaner/
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.