A Riccar is the kind of vacuum that’s meant to stick around. It’s engineered for frequent use and years of regular service, which is why most Riccar uprights feature chrome steel and extruded aluminum in the nozzle, and several models use replaceable brush strips that can be renewed as they wear. Construction of that caliber accounts for much of what a Riccar costs.
So are Riccar vacuums worth the money? For homes that vacuum often, especially homes with a lot of carpet, pets or allergies, a Riccar can be a strong long-term value. The advanced features that raise the price are the same ones that help it clean deeply, trap fine dust and stay in service for a long time.
Today’s Riccar vacuums include uprights from the 8-pound SupraLite R10E to the 23-pound R40P Tandem Air Premium Pet, along with a portable canister, a cordless stick vacuum, a handheld, and even a cordless smart mop. Within that range, the single-motor Clean Air uprights, the dual-motor Tandem Air models and the lightweight SupraLites are each designed around a different kind of home. The best fit for your home or business depends on the floors, the stairs, and how often vacuuming happens.
Is Riccar a Good Vacuum Brand?
Yes, Riccar is an excellent vacuum cleaner brand for households that want a machine built for frequent use and long-term ownership. That verdict rests on three things: decades of manufacturing in Missouri, durable materials in the parts that take the most wear, and a network of independent vacuum retailers that service the machines they sell.
Riccar has a long track record behind it. Tacony Corporation, the family company that owns them, got its start in 1946, when Nick Tacony began selling and servicing sewing machines out of his basement. Tacony bought Riccar in 1988 and moved its vacuum production to St. James, Missouri, in 1997, and that plant has since turned out more than a million upright vacuums for homes and businesses.
The company sums up its approach in one line: “At Riccar, we only make one thing: extraordinary vacuums.” Most of their uprights use chrome steel and extruded aluminum in the nozzle area, and many have metal brush rolls and handle tubes. The R40P Tandem Air Premium Pet, at the top of the lineup, carries the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Gold Seal of Approval.
Riccar sells its vacuums through independent vacuum shops, and its support pages send owners back to those retailers for diagnosis, service and repair. That way, owners have a local place to turn for service, parts and supplies.
Why Riccar Vacuums Cost More
A Riccar’s price reflects how it’s built. Each of the features below adds to what it takes to make the machine, and each one has a job in how the vacuum cleans or how well it holds up.
| Feature | What it does | Riccar models |
|---|---|---|
| Metal in high-wear parts | Metal brush rolls, handle tubes and nozzle parts, where a vacuum sees the most wear | R10S, R10P, R17, R10CV, Spirit, Spirit Plus, R30D, R40P |
| Two motors (Tandem Air) | One motor drives the carpet cleaning, and a second powers the hose and filtration | R30D, R40P |
| Pleated HEPA filter | Riccar rates it to capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns | R27D, R27P, R27CV |
| Charcoal HEPA media bags | Trap fine dust as the bag fills and help control odors | R10S, R10P, R17, R10CV, R30D, R40P |
| Jam sensor | Stops the brush roll or vacuum if something gets caught, which protects the belt | R10P, R17, R27CV, R30D, R40P |
| Dirt or allergen sensor | Lights up when the vacuum picks up dust, dander or dirt | R27P, R40P |
| Six height settings | Matches the nozzle to everything from bare floors to deep carpet | R30D, R40P |
| Up to 15 feet of reach | A long hose and wand for stairs, upholstery and above-floor cleaning | R27P, R27CV, R30D, R40P |
Bags and filters are part of the cost of owning a Riccar, too. Most models use HEPA media bags that seal as they come out, which is one of the advantages of a bagged vacuum. For the Clean Air uprights, Riccar’s manuals call for a fresh bag once a month or whenever the full-bag light comes on, and all three R27 models take the same R27 bags and filter set.
How Long Do Riccar Vacuums Last?
Premium corded vacuums like Riccar’s typically last 10 to 20 years with regular care, or about 7 to 12 years in homes that use them heavily. Hours of use count for more than years on the calendar, so a vacuum that runs every day will wear faster than one that comes out once a week.
Riccar builds in several features that protect the motor and belt. The jam sensors on models like the R10P, R30D and R40P stop the brush roll or the vacuum when something gets caught, and the corded R27D and R27P Clean Air uprights have thermal protection that shuts the motor off if it starts to overheat, usually because of a full bag or a clog. On models with replaceable brush strips, worn bristles can be replaced without buying a whole new brush roll.
Parts support is another good sign. Riccar still sells bags and filters for many earlier model families, including the Vibrance, Brilliance and Radiance uprights, the Prima canisters and the 8000 series, so owners of older models can still find the supplies they need.
As a rule of thumb, a vacuum repair makes sense when it costs less than about a third of the price of a new machine, and replacing the vacuum makes more sense once repairs would run past about 60 percent of that price.
The manufacturer also recommends a yearly checkup at a Riccar retailer. Between checkups, regular bag and filter changes and a brush roll kept free of hair and thread help keep a Riccar running well.
Where Riccar Vacuums Are Made
Riccar is an American brand owned by Tacony Corporation, which is based in Fenton, Missouri. In 1997, Tacony moved its vacuum production to a plant in St. James, Missouri, about 90 minutes from St. Louis, and Riccar lists the Spirit and Spirit Plus uprights as assembled there today.
How Much Is a Riccar Vacuum?
Riccar’s prices follow its product lineup: The SupraLite R10E is the most affordable Riccar upright, and the R40P, one of Riccar’s two Tandem Air models, sits at the top of the range.
Within each family, the price climbs with features, so a Premium model costs more than the Standard or Deluxe version in the same series.
The R10E SupraLite Entry, the R27P Clean Air Premium Pet and the R40P Tandem Air Premium Pet give a good sense of the range, from the most affordable upright to the top of the line, and each product page shows the current price. Beyond the purchase price, it helps to plan for bags, filters and an occasional tune-up, which are the ongoing costs of owning any bagged vacuum.
Which Riccar Fits Your Home?
Just like many other home electronics, a Riccar gives you the most for your money when its features match the way you clean. The two-motor Tandem Air design makes the most sense in a home with a lot of carpet, while an 8- or 9-pound SupraLite can be the better pick for a home with stairs and mostly smooth floors.
| Your home | Riccar to look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of wall-to-wall carpet | R30D or R40P Tandem Air | A dedicated carpet motor and six height settings |
| Pets or allergies | R27P or R40P | Dust or dirt sensors, HEPA filtration and tools for pet hair |
| Stairs and lighter lifting | R10E, R10S, R10P or R17 | SupraLite uprights that weigh 8 or 9 pounds |
| No cord to manage | R10CV or R27CV | Up to 50 or 55 minutes on a charge |
| Small spaces, cars and shelves | SupraQuik, Gem or R65 | Portable designs with tools for tight spots |
| Mostly hard floors | R70 Multi-Clean Deluxe or a SupraLite with a bare floor squeegee | Mopping and vacuuming for hard floors, or a squeegee for smooth surfaces |
Common Questions About Riccar Vacuums
Q: Are Riccar vacuums worth the money?
A: For homes that vacuum often, especially homes with carpet, pets or allergies, they can be. Riccar’s metal parts, HEPA filtration and protective sensors are built for long service, and premium corded vacuums like these typically last 10 to 20 years with regular care.
Naturally, the value is highest when the specific model fits the home it’s used in. For example, a Tandem Air upright, with its dedicated carpet motor, suits homes with wall-to-wall carpet, while a SupraLite handles stairs and smaller spaces at only 8 or 9 pounds.
Q: Are Riccar vacuums reliable?
A: Riccar builds in protection for its motors and belts. Jam sensors stop the brush roll if something gets caught, and the corded R27D and R27P shut the motor off if it starts to overheat, then start again with a reset button on the back of the vacuum once the clog or full bag is cleared.
Riccar also still sells bags and filters for many older model families, from the Vibrance and Radiance uprights to the Prima canisters, so owners of older machines can still find the supplies they need.
Q: Why are Riccar vacuums so expensive?
A: The price reflects metal construction in high-wear parts, HEPA media bags and filters, sensors that protect the motor and belt, and a second motor on the Tandem Air models.
Q: Are Riccar vacuums made in the USA?
A: Riccar is an American brand, and its parent company, Tacony, has built vacuums at its plant in St. James, Missouri, since 1997. Riccar lists the Spirit and Spirit Plus uprights as assembled there.
Q: Are Riccar vacuums still made?
A: Yes, Riccar is very much still making vacuums. Their current lineup includes the SupraLite, Spirit, Clean Air and Tandem Air uprights, along with a portable canister, a cordless stick vacuum, a handheld and a cordless smart mop.
Q: How long do Riccar vacuums last?
A: Premium corded vacuums like Riccar’s typically last 10 to 20 years, or about 7 to 12 years with heavy use. Regular bag and filter changes and a yearly checkup can help a Riccar reach the longer end of that range.
Q: How much is a Riccar vacuum?
A: It depends on the model. The SupraLite R10E is the most affordable Riccar upright, the R40P Tandem Air Premium Pet sits at the top of the range, and current prices are listed on each model’s product page.
