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Hoover Windtunnel T-Series Review

Derek Hales

Written By: Derek Hales

Updated on:

Interested in the idea of having an upright vacuum? How about one with a cord rewind system and a maintenance indicator? 

The Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum does just that. Curious as to whether or not this upright vacuum is the one for you?

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Hoover Windtunnel T-Series

The Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum is a powerful upright vacuum that performs better on carpeted surfaces. The Windtunnel includes variable height adjustment, so it can be used on different carpet heights or services. If you’re vacuuming mostly on carpet and don’t mind the noise, the Hoover Windtunnel is an inexpensive upright that can meet many needs.Check Price

Pros

  • The internal cord wrap system on this Hoover gives the unit a clean aesthetic with no baggy cords.
  • The Windtunnel T-Series does a fine job of lifting dirt and debris from carpeted surfaces.

Cons

  • The Hoover Windtunnel struggles on hard floor surfaces.
  • This vacuum is on the louder side in terms of decibels compared to other vacuums

Table of Contents

Design

The Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum utilizes some features of a standard upright design in addition to a few others. A green and gray color scheme make up most of the unit while hints of red add a bit of pop to certain areas of the vacuum.

Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum

This Hoover upright vacuum has a sturdy handle for carrying the vacuum as needed. It also contains an easy-to-read cleaning mode knob, which allows users to change the mode of the vacuum depending on the style of cleaning they’re trying to complete.

Probably the most notable feature about this vacuum is the cord rewind system.

25′ cord is stored inside of the vacuum and can be pulled out to the desired length. To replace the cord users can press down on the “rewind” switch located at the base of the unit.

  1. Handle / power button
  2. Cleaning knob
  3. Cord rewind system
  4. Dust bin
Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum parts labeled

There is also a “system check indicator,” which notifies users when the HEPA filter needs to be cleaned or changed.

While this Hoover utilizes the standard upright look, there are certainly some design features that separate it from the rest of the pack.

How It Cleans

The Hoover Windtunnel upright vacuum offers a few different cleaning styles, but each style does use the same amount of suction power. Five different floor height settings are available, which can be adjusted to the appropriate floor type.

Close up shot of the floor head offered by the Windtunnel T-Series vacuum
Close up shot of the floor head offered by the Windtunnel T-Series vacuum

Size & Dimensions

This Hoover upright vacuum is about average with regard to overall size and weight. The unit stands 44″ tall, 16″ wide, and 12″ deep. Additionally, the Windtunnel T-Series weighs 16.5 pounds.

  • Height – 44″
  • Width – 16″
  • Depth – 12″
  • Weight – 16.5 pounds
Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum review - size and dimensions

Accessories & Parts

The Hoover Windtunnel upright vacuum comes with a few different parts and accessories, including:

  1. Motorized brushroll
  2. Accessory clip
  3. Crevice tool
  4. Dusting brush
Accessories included with the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum

Cleaning Tests

The following vacuum cleaner tests are designed to show how the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum performs on different surfaces, picking up a variety of debris types.

Overall

85%

Hardwood

57%

Low Carpet

100%

High Carpet

97%

We test on three different floor types, including hardwood floors, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet. For each floor type we test the vacuum cleaner against:

  • Rice – 3 ounces
  • Dry Cereal – 1 ounce
  • Kitty Litter – 3 ounces
  • Sugar – 3 ounces

Each of the aforementioned debris types was spread across our testing lane. The base surface of our testing lane is an engineered hardwood floor. For our carpet tests, we slide in a low pile and high pile carpet insert on top of the hardwood floor.

Cleaning test debris types
Testing Debris – From left to right: Rice (3 oz.), Kitty Litter (3 oz), Cereal (1 oz), Sugar (3 oz)

Our vacuum cleaning process strives to be as consistent, fair, and true to real world use as possible. Our tests utilize the following procedure:

  1. Measure the weight of the testing debris and the weight of the empty vacuum debris container.
  2. Spread the respective debris type evenly across the central portion of the testing lane.
  3. Run the vacuum cleaner over the testing lane.
  4. Measure the weight of the now filled container and take notes on the cleaning performance.

RELATED – Who is the best of the best? Find out in our best vacuum cleaner roundup.

Hardwood Floor

The hardwood floor tests were a struggle for the Hoover Windtunnel. The motorized brushroll was virtually launching each of the debris types around our testing lane, creating a larger mess than the one we started with.

Cereal

10%

Kitty Litter

63%

Rice

71%

Sugar

83%

After completing all four tests, the Windtunnel was not able to pick up more than 83% of debris for each type.

I was a bit surprised to see the vacuum struggle on the hardwood surface. With so many cleaning options available, I expected to see this Hoover upright vacuum breeze through these tests.

FAQ – What is the Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors?

Hoover Windtunnel hardwood cleaning test

Low Pile Carpet

The low pile carpet was a much larger success for the Windtunnel vacuum. Each of the four debris types were cleaned up at a level of 99% or higher.

Cereal

100%

Kitty Litter

100%

Rice

100%

Sugar

99%

The friction between the carpet and the debris allowed the motorized brushroll on the bottom of the vacuum to lift and suck the debris instead of flinging it around.

Hoover Windtunnel low carpet cleaning test

High Pile Carpet

The high pile carpet tests showed results similar to the low pile carpet. The least amount of debris sucked up was the sugar, which was cleaned up to a level of 90%. Rice, kitty litter, and cereal all reached levels of 98% or higher.

Cereal

100%

Kitty Litter

98%

Rice

98%

Sugar

90%

Being a finer debris, the sugar fell deeper into the carpet. The Hoover Windtunnel did a nice job of reaching down into the thicker pile, but the suction power wasn’t quite strong enough to lift all of the sugar up.

Hoover Windtunnel high carpet cleaning test

Aside from sugar, the Windtunnel was virtually flawless on the high pile carpet tests.

Usability

Using this Hoover upright vacuum is simple. The setup is quick and painless, but it does require a screwdriver. Once all of the parts are unboxed, the handle portion of the unit must be screwed into the base of the vacuum.

After completing this step, setup is finished. Next up, plug it in and put it to work.

RELATED – Looking for something even easier to use? Check out our robot vacuum reviews, including our favorites the Roomba 690Roomba 980iLife A4s, and Ecovacs Deebot N79.

As you use the Windtunnel T-Series, changing between floor types is as easy as turning a knob. The floor type (cleaning mode) knob is located on the floor head portion of the vacuum.

Select the floor type you’d like to clean and proceed on with your vacuuming. Each of the five options offers a different height level, allowing you to make the adjustment for floor type as needed.

Users have the option of rotating between five cleaning modes with the Hoover Windtunnel
Users have the option of rotating between five cleaning modes with the Hoover Windtunnel

The retractable cord is one of the neatest features associated with the Hoover Windtunnel. Users have the option of puling out a few feet of cord or all of it.

Either way, the rewind system allows you to push a button and have the cord wrap itself back up inside of the vacuum.

Therefore, there is no messy cord wrap on the vacuum and no need to completely unravel the cord every time you need to use the vacuum cleaner.

Maneuverability

Maneuvering the Hoover Windtunnel upright vacuum is simple, but there are a few flaws. Pushing and pulling the unit initially was easy, but there came a time where the finer debris started to stick to the wheels, which made pushing / pulling a touch more difficult.

  • Weight: 15.6 pounds
  • Power: 25′ cord
  • Hose: 8′ max length
  • Turning: 45°

By no means is the vacuum impossible to push or pull with debris on the wheels, but it adds a certain level of extra effort that is not initially required to maneuver the vacuum cleaner.

With regard to turning radius, the vacuum is able to swivel from side to side fairly well.

That said, it does require a bit of force from the user. The heavier weight of the Windtunnel makes maneuvering turns a bit tougher than some other uprights we have tested.

RELATED – Wanting an upright vacuum that maneuvers with ease? Check out the Shark Rotator or the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.

Being a corded unit, users can feel limited with regard to maneuverability as well. Yet, the 25′ cord that comes with this Hoover vacuum is a nice plus as compared to a smaller cord used by some other corded units.

Maintenance

The following table indicates the frequency at which you will likely want to replace the various parts and components of the vacuum. The following replacement frequencies are what the manufacturer recommends. However, your individual experiences may vary.

Accessory / PartReplacement FrequencyReplacement Cost
Stretch belt12 monthsCheck Price
HEPA filter6 monthsCheck Price
Primary filter
6 monthsCheck Price

Users can expect to spend around $23 a year on maintenance costs for the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum.

Maintenance is a simple, but important task to keep track of with regard to the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series. The most important areas to pay attention to are the filters and the belt. Two filters keep this vacuuming in proper running condition, in addition to the belt.

A colored label notifies users when maintenance is required - color will go from green to red

A colored label notifies users when maintenance is required – color will go from green to red

Noise

All vacuum cleaner reviews on Modern Castle are put through our standard noise test. For this test, we use a sound meter to measure noise in terms of decibel level approximately 3′ away from the vacuum.

Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum noise test

Value

This Hoover Windtunnel vacuum offers a good value overall. There were times when the unit struggled during our cleaning tests, but there were also times when the vacuum exceeded expectations.

Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum review

When comparing the price to the cleaning performance, I could not expect too much more out of this vacuum.

2-year warranty is included with this vacuum, in addition to a 30-day return policy (offered via Amazon).

Maintenance costs are also low on this particular Hoover upright vacuum, which helps raise its value.

RELATED – See more excellent value vacuums in our best cheap robot vacuum guide.

Specifications

Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum:

Specifications
TypeUpright
ManufacturerHoover
ModelWindtunnel T-Series Rewind
Length (inches)44
Width (inches)16
Weight (pounds)16.5
Floor TypeAll (indoor)
Dust Bin Capacity3 liters
CordlessNo -25' cord
BaglessYes
ReturnsVaries by retailer
Warranty2 years
PriceCheck Price

Who Should Buy the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series vacuum?

Hoover Windtunnel T-Series is a low cost upright vacuum that offers five different cleaning height levels and a couple of extra features.

I would recommend the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series if you’re looking for the following features in an upright vacuum:

  • Floor cleaning options – The Hoover Windtunnel offers five different floor cleaning options. Each of these options are designed to be used on a variety of surfaces. Some of these surfaces include hardwood floor, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet.
  • Cord rewind system – Instead of having a 25′ cord wrapped up in the back of the vacuum, this unit stores the cord inside of a clear casing. After the cord is pulled out, users can press down on the cord rewind lever to retract the cord back into its storage compartment.
  • Filter indicator – A colored label sits near the handle of the vacuum and goes from green to red when maintenance on the filter is needed. This is a nice extra for those who need to be reminded on when to change / clean the filter on their vacuum.
  • Strong performer on carpet – While hardwood floors were not part of the Windtunnel’s strong suit, both low pile and high pile carpet proved to be less of a challenge for this Hoover upright vacuum.
  • Don’t have hard surfaces – The Hoover Windtunnel left much to be desired on our hardwood floor cleaning tests. If you have hardwood, tile, laminate, or other hard surfaces that you plan on vacuuming I would recommend you choose a different vacuum. See our best vacuums for hardwood floors for more information.

For more information on the Hoover Windtunnel T-Series visit here.

Update Log

  • August 7, 2018 – Updated the review score as part of our site-wide 1.0 scoring overhaul. Score increased from 89% to 93%.
  • Design - 92%
    92%
  • Performance - 93%
    93%
  • Quality - 93%
    93%
  • Usability - 92%
    92%
  • Value - 97%
    97%
93%

Summary

The Hoover Windtunnel T-Series is an upright vacuum designed to add a degree of convenience to vacuuming. The cord rewind system, colored filter indicator, and five different floor cleaning options all combine for an upright vacuum that could be beneficial for a wide variety of users.

About Derek Hales

Derek HalesDerek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ModernCastle.com. He has been featured in Fast Company, Reader's Digest, Business Insider, Realtor.com, She Knows, and other major publications. Derek has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University. Hales has been testing and reviewing products for the home since 2014.