Shark Apex AZ1002 - 2 Years Old, How'd It Hold Up?

[@sarahmunromaddonna6264]

So I was so excited to buy this vacuum. It was my first "big purchase" as a new appliance and I thought the thing to prevent hair from wrapping up on the roller was a Godsend, as I have three long haired females in my home! I wanted to love it, I still do! It's suction is great but it is messy (bagless soubds great in theory, but...). The hair still wrapps on the rollers, but maybe not as bad? My biggest issue is, I believe, where the hose connects to the body of the unit. The pins are clean, fully extended, undamaged. It clicks into position nicely and turns on. The lights and brush roller are powered as you begin to vacuum... Until you pull the unit back. Then the electrical connection is lost. Till you push it again. I am trying to troubleshoot this myself but I can't find a forum to get advice that is still active. Reddit, for example, even on posts with activity in recent months, cannot be interacted with. I can't find any troubleshooting for the model and the problem, past a sentence telling me to make sure the hose is firmly connected. No kidding. If anyone has suggestions, I would love to hear them! I couldn't, in good conscience, recommended this product to anyone at full price. Maybe as a cheap secondhand vacuum.

1:20 Holy $#!+ Did this person go rallying with this vacuum??? Sheesh, I have an Apex (non Zero M) and the only issue with the head is the locating drive at the end of the fluff roll is broken, likely due to my opa keeping the thing in the garage where it gets very cold. That small plastic likely got brittle and broke during one of the winters. But I've had this thing since 2017 and it's still going just fine. I mean... Are they flailing it over their head, beating the dirt with it like it's a Mourning Star? 😂

[@HouseOfVacuums]

I don't know what the cause is, but that chewed up rubber strip on the front is fairly common. I now can't surmise what the variable is when so of them don't have that damage. It is certainly interesting. Cheers!

[@Megellin]

I noticed when I had a issue with the roller on my old shark getting parts for them can really be hard. I managed to snag the entire head assembly on ebay for fairly cheap after some major digging, and finding out the roller by itself of my pedicular model was not obtainable was definitely a eye opener. Considering it was a $280 vacuum when it was new, and just about any other piece of tech/machinery out there that cost that much or more new and is less than 15 years old is easy to get parts for it is weird to say the least.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Thanks for the comment! You are right, for the price these machine cost part should be available. Shark has heavily leaned into the consumer electronics disposable mindset, whereas some other legacy manufacturers still consider the vacuum a repairable appliance.

[@dancollins2546]

Did you look on Amazon?

[@Megellin]

@@dancollins2546 yes that is the first place I looked

[@Danette2007]

I have the same vacuum, but an older model (without the yellow band and teeth on the roller). I thought mine died and ordered a new one just like this one you’re fixing. I didn’t like it. You could hear the roller bands hit the carpet and you could see the band marks on my carpet. It didn’t seem as strong either. I sent it back. I got my older one to work again. It still looks brand new. I am waiting for it to die so I can purchase a Riccar at your recommendation.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Right on, Danette! I think you made a good decision.

[@ju66er1]

I have this model. The roller stopped spinning one day so I called customer service. Turns out the mechanism sometimes gets stuck if you start the unit standing straight up. I was instructed by the customer service rep to let it sit for a minute or two, then lean the vacuum back out of the standing position and push start. I was surprised it worked. The vacuum in your video looks beat up. I have a lifetime warranty that I got for free on a Black Friday deal. If it breaks, I can get a replacement, no questions asked. I've had my unit for 2 years and just this week bought 3 replacement filters and the orange spin brush. Moved to a new place and I'm going to attempt getting rid of the dog smell by cleaning the hose, the can and the brush as thoroughly as possible without major disassembly.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Thanks for sharing!

[@thomascunningham6527]

Thanks again for a great video. Seriously, these things... My wife gets these big discounts from Kohl's and so the initial investment isn't quite the hit, but I always end up fixing them. Now we had a front roller belt go bad, and your video was the absolute best. But I don't know if I fouled up getting it back together, or what. There is that little switch and a spring mounted slider by the front belt roller. Do you know it's function? Because now the rollers turn, so obviously the motor is turning; but it it seems to only be turning in "bare floor" mode. I'm going to pull the side cover off again and see if I can test that little switch electrically, then figure out why/what that little slider is supposed to do to maybe kick more power to the motor. I really appreciate your time if you can comment.

[@huskyvacs]

7:36 not true, you can replace every little diode and capacitor on the board. that's why all the circuits are numbered and coded. just google the part # and you can order an entire bag of them for a couple bucks or so. then multi-meter each part and find who has gone bad on the board, de-solder and replace with new diode.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

True, and I have replaced parts on a circuit board before. There are a couple reasons why I think it isn't worth it... first, if a component is replaced, there is often another factor in play like bad voltage from a resistor or something like that. Then it is a matter of chasing down bad components. Second is time. By the time they pay me for diagnosing and repairing a PCB, they could get the hole need nozzle anyway. From a cost/benefit comparison it just doesn't make sense for me or them. Cheers!

[@sprockkets]

Well, um, sure. Good luck changing the brush roller on it when it wears out in a year or two.

[@huskyvacs]

@@sprockkets Sure are lots of lazy people around.

[@silverado5469]

Wow an expensive throw away vacuum. My opinion is I would buy a better vacuum from you. If the machine costs 300 new and you spend 100 or more bucks fixing this one and something else goes wrong that's 100 bucks wasted. As you pointed out their household is way too rough on a vacuum from seeing the condition of the brush roll wow, I was shocked by the damage to the brush roll, way too rough on this or this is just a wimpy machine. I hope they decided to replace now before it ends up costing them more later down the road. Thanks for another really interesting video Matt. John in Ohio

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Glad you enjoyed the vid, John. I think they would be better off with something else, but as of right now it's still waiting for the customer to make a decision on. We'll see what happens!

[@fanguy247b9]

So glad I returned mine and got a Hoover high capacity with wind tunnel 2. Never had a single issue with it at all and it cleans well. I returned two shark apex just like this before exchanging it for the Hoover. The first shark quit after two times of use the second one started flashing it’s lights and brush rolls would stop and then go right out of the box. I knew then and their shark vacuums were complete garbage.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

I've never understood the loyalty to Shark given the amount of issues people have with them, particularly the newer, more complex units. My big beef with them remains that there aren't parts available. That's just inexcusable if you pay $3-500 for a vacuum. Thanks for watching!

[@seana806]

This is the reason why I only like Kirby’s, literally the only vacuum company that hasn’t cut corners or cheapened their vacuums up significantly like everyone else has since the 90’s and 2000’s. Of course people will whine that they are expensive but if it lasts 30 to 40 years, it’ll pay for itself many times over since it will outlast most consumer vacuums sold today not to mention it will make carpets and rugs last longer with it’s high airflow along with the ability to shampoo you carpets or rugs every 3 to 4 months which definitely will keep them spotless.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Thanks for watching and commenting! While Kirby's are certainly stout machines, there are a lot of other good brands as well. Sebo, Miele, Lindhaus, Aerus, etc. are all very nice quality as well and, when maintained, will remain trouble free for as long as a Kirby. Berkshire-Hathaway just sold Kirby to a private equity firm, so it will be interesting to see what the future brings for the brand and if they cheapen it at all. Cheers!

[@appledolphin8157]

I used to love Riccar. The one I wanted was made in china, so I figured I might as well try a Dyson. I love it. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 has been a great machine for me.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

I might be in the minority, but I still prefer Chinese made vacuums to the Dysons in made in Malaysia. Mostly because Malaysian labor is almost universally abused and boarding on slave labor. But I'm glad the vac is working for you! One thing I've learned is that you can make a good vac anywhere. Country of origin isn't as important as design and quality components. Cheers!

[@andrewdonohue1853]

@@HouseOfVacuums i like sebo, made in germany..... i do have a 45 year old kirby tradition i use occasionally. it's literally a classic American vacuum, runs like new

[@VacMaster2020]

Do you have a link to the torque bits

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Here ya go! www.wihatools.com/bits/standard-bits/torx

[@VacMaster2020]

@@HouseOfVacuums Thank you

[@ouis-xv3vp]

The cleaner head is not covered under the Shark warranty the only thing covered under the warranty is the suction motor Shark has a shady warranty practice that no other vacuum manufacturer does in the industry.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

You are exactly right, which is why the customer is better off to have the vacuum diagnosed locally in this case. They are very selective in their warranty coverage.

[@huskyvacs]

Shark has 0 spare parts. Therefore any warranty coverage is null and void because not even they can fix it. So what is the point of the warranty? You have to pay your own money to ship the vacuum to them ($100 for some), just for them to say "this is not covered" or their "solution" is to just send you a refurbished model and hope you're too dumb enough to not know you got a refurbished model and not a brand new one. Furthermore these $290 vacuums will depreciate to just $40 in less than a year - so that shows you their true price. All my Sharks I bought from a resale shop that sells store returns for $30 a pop, some not even 6 months old.

[@lisaangel1617]

SHARK COMPANY ARE SCAMMERS, THE COST OF REPLACEMENT FILTERS IS HUGE AND THE APEX FOAM FILTER DONT FIT ALLOWING DUST TO RUIN HEPA FILTER. BAD VACS!!!😢

[@kingnvg2585]

I don't know why this video came up to me. I've stumbled upon a VERY niche community. Reasonably entertaining video though. Right to repair! Get them circuitboards!

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Right to repair, indeed! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers!

[@ouis-xv3vp]

Great video on the disposable Shark or as people know it’s as the vacuum devil.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Disposable is the right word. Complicated and inexpensive don't mix well!

[@WeSRT4]

Someone beat the heck out of that machine! I see some people constantly ram the floor nozzle into baseboards and furniture. That's operator error.

[@gmlover82]

Crazy people buy those to clean, just a surface cleaner. I have one in my collection and its simple, vacuum with it then run over it with a Riccar or Kirby. You’d be surprised what the Shark leaves behind. People just see the surface dirt and carpet shreds in the Sharks bin, very little dirt.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

When I bought my AZ1002 for review I used it in my house exclusively for almost a month. Afterward I vacuumed with my Sebo E3 and immediately saw what the Shark was leaving behind. The Duoclean heads in general struggling with concentrating air flow to the carpet... and just don't clean well as a result.

[@huskyvacs]

@@HouseOfVacuums They do great on hard floors. That fluffy roller actually charges itself with static electricity as it spins. It will pull junk from the grooves of my unsealed hardwood floor like you wouldn't believe. But the problem with the lack of deep down suction is not a problem exclusive to Shark. This is an issue with all modern vacuums that 1) have a non-adjustable head, 2) have no beater bar or agitation, and 3) are not heavy enough to sink into the carpet. All the fundamentals of getting carpets properly cleaned that took 30-40 years of evolution from when the vacuum cleaner first came out in the 1800's have all been thrown away.

[@matthewantonucci6751]

Hey Didn't You Know That They Updated That Shark With DuoClean PowerFins Now?!

[@HouseOfVacuums]

LOL, yeah, nothing like those flippity floppity PowerFins.

[@mikebranum5633]

Questioning validity of this example. It’s clear whoever owns this vacuum wasn’t taking good care of it. I have this exact model. Still works excellent after 3+ years. Suction is greayt to this day. Use it on hardwoods, tile, rugs, and carpet daily in a house with kids, cat, and large shedding dog. Every few months pop the roller cover off to “clean” it. Basically pull a few fibers and hair out. Nothing compared to other vacuums without the self cleaning brush head.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Certainly there will be variation between machines. The household, flooring, hours used, maintenance it all makes a difference. This particular unit is meant to represent a data point of what can go wrong with an Apex at the end of 2 years. Thanks for watching!

[@rexoliver7780]

Best place for busted Sharks is---THE DUMPSTER!!!!I watch trash truck videos on KZbin-and lost count how many Sharks get crushed in trash trucks!

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Yup! Disposable vacs in their purest form! Thanks for watching.

[@charlesrodriguez7984]

@@HouseOfVacuums the duo clean models certainly aren’t great.

[@michaelharness3258]

300.00 plus for a piece of plastic crap vacuum ? Outrageous me thinks.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

Yup, it is a lot of money to pay when for $200 more you can get a vacuum that will last you 15-20 years.

[@charlesrodriguez7984]

@@HouseOfVacuums sounds like Miele plastic crap.

[@Xwolverine81X]

@@HouseOfVacuums What do you recommend for $500?

[@Sysiphus777]

What a waste of money.

[@HouseOfVacuums]

I know, right?!