Dyson DC14 Animal Vacuum Cleaner Review 

Numatic George in the background curiously judging you for buying a Dyson.

I got rid of my Hoover and purchased a Dyson DC14 about 19 years ago. As a auto mechanic I was interested in the new technology and made the purchase. The unit I purchased was a "rebuilt" model, but came in the box just like new. Over the years I have serviced this unit and had amazing results. My clutch has never worn out? I clean the brushes often. I dump the canister and take to kitchen sink to completely wash out with hot water. Maybe it is being a mechanic, but I am very happy with my DC14 Animal, mine does not say Animal. I would not trade it for a NEW Vac of any other name brand.

When I volunteered at a pet store, this was the machine we used for 8 years to maintain it. My mentor and owner of the store had to replace the clutch quite a few times over the years (considering the environment this vacuum had to survive in) and with my mentors help, teachings and the constant maintenance I performed over the years spawned my inclination to actually fix vacuum cleaners. I’m now a repair technician for all makes and models of vacuums and of course I have my friend and owner of that store to thank for my success along with the Dyson DC14 Animal.

I’ve had mine since 2003 and it still works fine.👍 Amazing product!

I have a slightly modified DC14 as a daily driver. I have a bunch of OEM tools for the early american Dysons. 1 modification is square leather boot laces cut to fit the front and rear floor head rope seal grooves. The other mod is weight on the brush holder head leaving the small hose on the head as a dirt feed primarily. ( A fee ounces is all you need) Also the upper cord release hook can be replaced very easily just pry off the center cap and unscrew the holder. Screw,spring, and holder can be found anywhere. The floor head and motor is basically the same on the DC07,14,33

These were great here in the UK, I had an origin in my collection years ago. Despite being so noisy, it was a powerful and sturdy machine. Mine had a Samsung motor too

2:49 Ironically, I picked up a DC15 Animal by the side of the road. I figured I could work on it to see if I could get it working. The primary problems it had was that someone disconnected the switch from the wiring for some reason and the duct assembly was broken where the wiring housing connected to the main body. After using an air compressor to blow out a considerable amount of dust (the cyclone assembly was, basically, compacted with dust from the previous user) and using some tape and string to hold the body together until we could get replacement parts, we tried it out and it still functioned. We'll admit the fact that the plastic is now brittle is somewhat annoying. The high price value is why we went with a cheaper, smaller model at first: the Dyson Small Ball Multi Floor Upright Vacuum. But, the fact that I could get a hold of this and the money that would have gone towards the potential $500 price tag can go towards replacement parts, I consider this a bargain.

When I married my husband he owned one of these. We’ve kept it for 14 years and it’s still working! It has had issues here and there but overall it’s worked fine. I’m now building a new home and looking to install a central vac system.

I love these long 30 minute review videos on interesting machines of the past or present! I don't like dyson as a company and I am not afraid to call them sh** However, 90's and early 2000's dysons like this DC14 kinda grew on me and as a collectible I like them.

I have a DC14 all floors which I really like it’s a fun machine to use. However like you said it has a lot of quarks and isn’t the best at carpet cleaning. I personally love these older Dysons they’re a lot better than what Dyson makes today.

I have this dyson! I wanted to see how to clean mine and this video popped up. I got mine brand new and after looking at it you ate so right and I never noticed how bad it actually is. Thank you for sharing and now it's time to buy a new one!!!

Unpopular opinion but I honestly love dysons. Sure, they’re not perfect but I love them personally. Great video as always

I have a DC07 Animal from 2002 that has never had any belts changed. Last week the motor failed after 21yrs of regular use in 3 different homes, the first 2 had open coal fire heating. It now needs new brushes on the motor, So I'm going to renew the clutch and give it a full clean. Overall it's been very reliable BUT high maintenance vacuum cleaner especially the brush roller & turbo tool that needed to be de-haired weekly, but with two cats and a Shi-tzu that was to be expected. People knock the build quality and reliability of Dysons but on the whole I've not had any problems in the last 21yrs from a piece of "plastic rubbish".😉

I have one that my mom gave me 12 years ago!! Haha someone did vacuum a pen and it got stuck in that part you talked about. I finally got into it and found the issue. I loooove this vacuum so much!

Love my Dyson. Not a single problem with it in over 20 years

That explains a lot. I have a DC33 in my collection which just does not clean well. I found and bought a matching floor tool to my DC04 De Stilj in mint condition and I now know why. They never used it!

This machine brings back memories for me. My best friend's family has had one from new and they just retired it as their main vacuum a little over a year ago. Clutch has been replaced twice, and it still runs well to this day. As far as performance goes, they're meh on carpets, great on hard floors, and pretty good with above floor cleaning. Caught the Doug Demuro reference as well, This machine has lots of quirks and features 😂😂😂

I love this video. Thank you! I bought a DC14 Plus in 2010, at the advice of my pulmonary doctor, to help me deal with asthma. It actually looks a little different than yours, but is very similar. My doctor swore this was the best machine made because it didn't release any dust into the air. Well, it cost me a small fortune. (Like an idiot, I gave my trusty old Hoover to charity. It had never given me a bit of problems.) Anyway, this Dyson weighs more than I do. (Not really, but is sure seems to.) I have to disassemble it to carry it up and down stairs. So since I moved here in 2020, I no longer take it downstairs. Not worth the trouble. The machine still works, but it almost pulls my shoulder out of the socket to work it. I talked to Dyson about this years ago,, and they instructed me how to make it not suck on the carpet so hard, but their fix didn't last. I have never replaced the Hepa filter because it says "lifetime." Lifetime of what? I bought a Hepa filter two years ago from an online company. When I opened the package, it looked different than my filter. Well, turns out, I thought the filter on the top of my machine was the Hepa filter. I didn't know there was a filter on the bottom of the machine. You have enlightened me. So now I need to find the filter I bought two years ago and install it, but I'm sure my rubber seal is shot, because dust blows all over my machine when I use it. You pointed out why that is. So much for having a machine that doesn't blow dust, which was the whole point of buying this thing. Wish me luck on finding my filter and buying a new rubber seal. I'll keep the machine until it stops working. Then I will never buy another Dyson.

I picked one up at Goodwill for 25 and bought a new replacement hose (complete) for another 25! I sure couldn't figure out how to push the hose back down, so thanks for the video!

Loved this video! Would love more content like this is the future

Oh my goodness I have so many memories with these machines! One of my grandmother's had a Dyson Dc14, I have no idea what happened to it after she passed. Fantastic job!

My grandmother moved from an Oreck XL to one of these. Kind of a step down. I think the one we have at the store is a 14; it needs a good refurbish as it isn't picking things up off very low-pile industrial carpeting. Ended up finding the janitor lady's backpack vacuum to pick up after it and it was friggin awesome. Golf ball through a garden hose and all that.

My mother in law has a clutchless DC-17 that she bought brand new to replace her ancient Kirby Heritage. The plastic has several cracks in it. The top part of the bin that says Dyson has long since broken off, and the bin is completely opaque. I have a 25 and I have used them side by side and I think the 14 cleans better, but of course the 25 handles better because of the ball. But overall I like the classic Dysons. They are fairly reliable and weren’t the piles of poop they are now.

I found a discarded dc14 the hose was beat up the u-bend was gone it needed both filters, I replaced all of those things it has great suction on the wand but it has beater bar problems. I cleaned the beater bar and a new bekt is coming but I'm afraid it's going to need a clutch. I'm not sure that's something I can do but don't want to give up on it. As a straight shop vac it's fine but not a carpet vac. Meanwhile, I love your videos and your very thorough explanations, I learned a lot from your research, thank you!!

I remember my grandmother bought one of these when they first came out. I also remember after decorating a Christmas tree there was small Pineneedles all over the carpet, I had volunteered to vacuum with her DC14, gosh it could hardly pick up any of the pine needles, it was truly abysmal. It sure did look cool though!

My favorite dyson besides the DC17. I first tried one at a best buy when they first came out.

Two years to find wow I guess it did take me a while to find a new replacement for my DC 07 pink I got a dc07 animal

I still have my DC14, but it's getting to the stage now where we need to replace it. It's a clutchless model and I've gone through so many rubber belts in the last two years that I'm ready to move on. Have enjoyed keeping it going for as long as I have, but the accessories etc are also showing their age. Can't wait to have a vacuum that actually has some decent suction... Looking at the Sebo Felix as a replacement

I have a Dyson 14 animal and I guess I got lucky with my machine because its lasted me 18 years. It still works but had to get the hose replaced the first of September 2022. I have the new hose and it works fine....so I thought until I watched this video. I just cleaned my machine and filters so have to wait for those to dry. Once dry, I'll put the machine back together and do a vacuum test to see how well it cleans my carpet. Because the Dyson wasn't working as well as in the past, I bought a Sebo and would love your review on those machines. I'm keeping my Dyson but putting it down in my finished basement and will use it there instead of my Sebo.

I love my dc14 its the overdrive one which has the dark purple cyclone.

I have one , lament wood floors. 5 little dogs. The fact this blows the hair away I stead of sucking it up drives me crazy. The reason it hasn't been thrown out is the wand and long hose... I use it for molding, cleaning blinds, under the couch. Thanks for the video.

24:20 for anyone trying to figure out how to use the hose

I had a co worker back in 2014 that said his Dyson bin filled three times after vacuuming his 400sq foot living clean with another bag less cleaner until he got nothing more out of it. We never talked model numbers. I picked up three used and needing repairs Dysons for $100 A DC 14 Animal like this and two other other models a DC25 and DC41. The DC41 just had a kids toy sword stuck in it so I unclogged it and cleaned up the bin and sold in with in two weeks for $130. Kept the DC25 for bit until I got the plumbers grease gasket fix done and I sold it too. In 2015 I started my current job and it's an Insurance agency with low pile commercial carpet and we have a DC15 Animal. The DC15 only contacts the carpet pushing it forward so I found myself using the DC14 in the office as it looked just like our machine. Even used the DC15 bin during the time my boss was bringing his Golden Retriever to work. Not overly impressed with the cleaning on them and hate the dirty caking in the bin. I blow the bin out when out doors often. I can't remember if I checked the Lifetime Hepa filter and will check that out soon. I also took some cardstock or an index card and covered the "suction relief" as you called in in the front channel and that did help it work better especially on the low pile commercial carpet. I've been pondering selling the DC14 and I am torn if it's something I should keep for it's historical reasons. I've also heard that a new genuine brush roll could be helpful too. Don't shot me for saying this but I think I've used Sharks that work better.

Got mine for $15 bucks at goodwill... minus attachments of course. And thanks to your vid (16:40), I got a free pen and two marbles ta boot, not to mention a much better working suction hose.

I have a dc15 with the original clutch, had it since 2010. Thankfully no problems though

I have mixed opinions on these Legacy model Dysons, I do like how they're not ball models (those are pretty overrated in my opinion), I do love how they feel when using them, but I'm not a fan of their performance, the brush roll is just way too soft, and the bristles are very sparse. I do have a bit of nostalgia for the DC07 mostly since my teacher from 2nd grade had an All Floors version, and I've used it a few times. My favorite model Dyson might at this point might be the DC17, it's the best overall performer that isn't a Ball model.

What vaccum would you recommend for a refurb corded with good suction

I got a free dyson dc14 animal from Facebook and it works but its going to need a new clutch,filters and brushroll which i plan on replacing in the future after i go to college

I see these everywhere

I had a dc07 and it had the same lifetime heap filter I was trying to open it and I did but I broke the tabs just trying to open it

replaced one clutch at 2yrs old after multiple carpet edge grabs. Not a single clutch issue in last 12 years. On an 07.

Thanks for this video, I've inherited this model from my parents and had no idea how to use the attachments 😅 The plastic on some parts, like the top of the hose when it's on the hoover, break easily, my hover went over and that just broke immediately, followed by the long purple plastic at the back. Apart from that, it picks up soo much rubbish, it's horrifyingly satisfying, I showed my boyfriend how filthy his carpets were, I took two cylinders full from one 12 x 12 carpet, that's how amazing it is, and you can actually see the original carpet pattern !!!! Still prefer my old Henry 😢but as we're being forced to pay more taxes and cost of living going up, I didn't want to shell out for a new one - my old one is a victim of divorce lol

I really want to see you review the dc28 20:29 thats whow dyson degrades carpet... ok i know a carpet guy he said its the stiff bristles...(?) then said idk maybe it sucks too hard. , i was blown away . didn't believe him either

I’ve always hated how the dyson hoses stored on the vaccum .

@performancereviews I have an original Dyson DC14 Animal vacuum cleaner that still works. I'm the original and only owner. Bought it in 2003 and still have it in 2023. Have all the attachments, including the purple colored handle flip cap and the pet floor tools, upholstery tool, turbo tools, etc. I clean the clear cannister regularly but did not take apart the cylcones housing (didn't want to buy a Torx screwdriver). How much would you pay to buy it for your collection?

Something you didn’t mention is that the DC07 and DC14 brushroll was made to clean British carpet. The DC17’s brushroll was made to clean American carpets. You even have vacuum enthusiasts from the UK that are jealous of the DC17 since it wasn’t released in the UK. I own our old DC14. It’s currently not the best preforming because it still uses original filters, brushrolls and clutch.

You couldn’t give me anything with that name on it!!

I got one for free when my neighbor threw theirs away. I deep cleaned it and it is So good! At one point after a lot of use I gor an oder and the normal cleaning of the canister and roller and filters didn't fix it. I did an extra deep cleaning and took apart the canister with a star screw driver and cleaned and soaked the parts, let them completely dry, put back together, no odor. I am so happy with this vacuum especially for $0 to me 😄 however I have cats, and it does this thing where it starts leave a line of cat hair behind it, and it will not suck it up no matter what I do, it just keeps dragging it back. Which is ridiculous especially since it's already vacuumed a ton of cat hair so why are you dragging this line of cat hair now?? Anyways great video 👍🏻

Could you do a review of the dyson dc17

I have that floor tool

How do you like the oreck

I had the DC14 full kit the white and yellow. It was terrible. Our previous dirt devil vision swivel did better.

Well, wool carpets, tiles like yours and 4 dogs in UK, which upright should I choose?

How much would these be worth today?

First Dyson I got was great. I ruined it by sucking up DIY waste (plaster dust). So i bought a ball Dyson. Absolutely terrible - cheaply made piece of cr*p. Extremely difficult to service (unlike my first model) and lasted about a year before playing up. I will never by another Dyson. The newer models are worse than older ones and yet they are more expensive. Brand goodwill destroyed.

I just got one and the air blows out of the top. Does anybody have this problem because I don’t know how to vacuum my floor.😂

I bought a used Dyson Animal DC14 at a Thrift Store -- now I realize the attachments don't fit. They're the wrong size. I'm gonna have to use duct tape!

hahahahahaha i have a dc14 on its original clutch and belts and its still going a year? please at least be honest.

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Are you going to review a fantom