Need something versatile without having to spend upwards of $300?
This might just be the product you might be looking for – it’s the Black & Decker PowerSeries Pro HCUA525JA.
Most Black and Decker 2-in-1 vacuums are hand-held brooms that are pushed into a stick body.
While these products offer versatility, strength will be an issue and consumer reviews have proven this.
With the new PowerSeries, power shouldn’t be an issue. Black & Decker calls this their “most powerful cordless vacuum series”.
The removable canister, flexible hose, and interchangeable tools turn this wand into a canister capable of cleaning every nook and cranny inside your home.
This is a great cleaning option that is compact and has good suction and will run for 60 minutes.
And since this is a real vacuum cleaner, it holds more dirt than other portable 2-in-1s disguised as a stick.
Table of Contents
Quick look at the features
- This stick vacuum turns into a cylinder vacuum thanks to the detachable hose and interchangeable parts
- AutoSense automatically adjusts suction when moving from bare floor to carpet and vice versa
- FilterSense tells you when you need to clean the filter
- High performance, hypoallergenic filter that traps 99.99% of lint, dust particles, etc. inside the container where it should remain
- Built-in dust compressor pushes dirt down to create more space and more dirt
- The extension wand will add more access to cleaning areas such as ceiling vents or fans
- 2 years warranty
Positives
- A versatile machine for cleaning floors, upholstery and everything in between
- A decent sized container will hold more dirt than a traditional hand vacuum
- Equipped with HEPA filtration which makes it suitable for people with allergies
- The container is easy to empty thanks to the dirt pressure feature
- The swivel steering enables this to easily move around the furniture
- long term time
Negatives
- Won’t clean carpets or rugs with thick pile
- The extension stick can use more length
- Long charging time
What do you expect from the Black & Decker PowerSeries Pro HCUA525JA?
I like what Black & Decker has done with PowerSeries. Instead of using the same design on their previous 2-in-1 hand/stick broom, they completely redesigned it and created this one.
Instead of starting with a portable base, they created a true vacuum cleaner with a larger dustbin that has more capacity.
That was the problem with the older HS series – it lacks power and has a really small box.
The PowerSeries solves this by having a larger motor and battery that lasts up to 60 minutes, according to Black & Decker.
They also claim that this is their most powerful cordless vacuum to date with a suction capacity of 50W pneumatic. That’s more than the Dyson V8 Absolute in normal mode.
Touch screen interface
The HCUA525JA also comes with a touch screen interface on the top of the case. It makes switching between modes easy, shows you other information like battery status, and gives you the option to turn on AutoSense or not.
stick extension
In the case position, there is an extension wand that you can attach to the hose that will extend the reach.
At the end of the stick, you can attach any of the tools that came with this.
Tools included
This alternative comes with the following tools that will help you clean every part of your home and even your car:
- 3-in-1 accessory tool
- extension stick
- Khartoum
- Long brush and nozzle tool
The 3-in-1 attachment tool is a versatile tool that allows you to clean stairs, the areas between sofa cushions, blinds, and more. This tool comes with a 6-inch nozzle, crevice tool, and upholstery brush.
the show length
Thanks to the large capacity lithium-ion battery, this vacuum cleaner will work for up to 60 minutes – at a low speed. But recharging will take up to 6 hours which is much slower than a Dyson V8 or Shark IONFlex.
large capacity container
This vacuum cleaner can hold up to 1 liter of dry dirt. And when you add the dirt compaction feature, it provides more room to pick up more when dirt is squeezed into the container.
A very useful feature if you brush a lot of pet hair.
Floor cleaning
On a bare surface such as hardwood or tile, this product will have enough suction to clean it.
It does not have a brush roll on/off feature but it does have an automatic height adjustment feature so that the brush keeps contact with dirt on the floor.
I have to warn you that because of the low head it may be snowing through big piles of dirt. It has a raised bore for large particles like the Hoover Linx but don’t expect it to perform like a Dyson V6 or Shark DuoClean soft cylinder head.
Carpet cleaning
Although it has more power than older Black and Decker vacuum cleaners, this one won’t clean carpets as deeply. It is able to pick up surface dirt but expecting it to pick up dirt deep under the carpet fibers wouldn’t be a fair expectation.
But as an in-between cleaner, it does a pretty good job of keeping dirt at bay. If you have one or two dogs, this may be a good solution because of the larger crate – you don’t need to empty it as often.
upholstery
Apart from cleaning floors, Black & Decker also provides several tools to help you clean over floors. The 3-in-1 tool is great for cleaning different parts of upholstery.
Although one concern would be how it is built. Several reviews indicate that when the upholstery cleaner is folded, it looks flimsy and appears to break.
It won’t be as effective as a small turbo brush at picking up pet hair on fabric, but it works for just about everything else. You can attach the tools directly to the hose or to the extension wand so that this has good flexibility.
product specification
Model | HCUA525JA |
attachments | 3-in-1 accessory tool
long brush nozzle/brush tool |
LED lamp |
no
|
Roll brush on/off |
no
|
battery |
lithium ion
|
Charger |
plug charger
|
Shipping time |
Unavailable
|
Battery life |
Up to 60 minutes.
|
Net weight |
8.25 lbs.
|
Purchase Weight |
6 lbs.
|
cleaning path |
8.9 “
|
total length |
33.67 inches
|
battery indicator |
yes
|
filter type |
washable
|
dust capacity |
1 liter
|
Energy |
50 or
|
Made in |
China
|
Guarantee |
Two years
|
What do consumers say?
One thing that consumers love is the versatility that this product brings to the table. It has a kit that is diverse enough to clean every part of your home.
At 50 watts of suction (in maximum mode), this vacuum cleaner has good power. It’s actually more than a Dyson V6 or V8 in normal mode (about 28 watts antenna).
So cleaning up things like pet droppings on the couch or cherry blossoms shouldn’t be a problem.
It will have enough suction to clean pet hair on upholstery.
Ease of use also scores high points. It is easy to assemble and the swivel steering allows it to wrap around the furniture. The only problem I have with the design is how far it can get under the beds.
Unlike a Dyson V8 or Dibea C17, the massive case will get in the way and won’t go as deep.
Another drawback will be the inability to deeply clean the carpet.
If you’re buying this for carpeting, I’d suggest you use the more exciting Shark IONFlex system with the DuoClean system – it’s a bit more expensive but has better performance.
Where can I buy this?
This 2-in-1 multi-function vacuum cleaner is available on Amazon for less than $200. This qualifies for free 2-day shipping if you join Prime. Amazon also sells an extended warranty of up to 3 years if you want that extra peace of mind.
to finish
Black and Decker offers a versatile solution for small to medium sized homeowners looking for something that cleans all the nooks and crannies. A larger container will easily hold more dirt versus a Dyson wand or Dibea vac. They are detachable for use above decks.
It won’t clean carpets or rugs deeply, so keep your expectations under control. But it will build up dirt during the week the shaft is inside the cabinet.
One of my concerns would be a large container in the middle which would prevent this from getting deeper under the furniture.
But it does have enough tools on board to make up for this limitation that it will be able to clean other things like sofas, chairs, and stairs.