Riccar’s story goes back to 1946, when a mechanic named Nick Tacony started selling and servicing sewing machines out of his basement. His company, Tacony Corporation, is still family-owned, and it bought Riccar in 1988, back when Riccar was a California maker of high-end vacuums. 9 years later, Tacony brought its vacuum production home to a factory in St. James, Missouri, and that’s where they still assemble uprights like the Riccar Spirit and Spirit Plus today.
Riccar builds its upright vacuums with plenty of metal: They typically use chrome steel and extruded aluminum in the nozzle, and often have metal brush rolls and handle tubes as well. Riccar sells vacuums through independent vacuum stores like Edison, and its signature design, Tandem Air, puts two motors in one upright, one for the carpet and one for the hose and filtration. Riccar calls it the only design of its kind.
Today’s Riccar lineup covers a lot of ground, from the 8-pound SupraLite lightweights to the full-size Tandem Air uprights, with a portable canister, a cordless stick vac, a handheld, and now, even a cordless smart mop in the mix! Edison Vacuum of Brentwood carries Riccar vacuums along with the bags, filters and parts that go with them, and handles Riccar vacuum repair in the shop as well, so supplies and servicing for your Riccar can all be found under one roof.
Clean Air vs Tandem Air
Riccar’s full-size uprights are built on one of two designs, Clean Air or Tandem Air. Just knowing which base design a machine uses can tell you a lot about how it cleans, and which replacement bags and filters it takes. (Riccar now puts the design right in the model name, so a Clean Air Deluxe and a Tandem Air Deluxe are easy to tell apart.)
A Clean Air vacuum has 1 motor. The air it pulls in passes through the bag and filters before it reaches that motor. That gives Clean Air machines strong suction at the hose and tools along with thorough filtration. Riccar’s R25 and R27 uprights use this design, and so does the Simplicity S27 from Riccar’s sister brand.
A Tandem Air vacuum has 2 motors. One is a direct air motor that sits close to the floor and powers the carpet cleaning, and the other is a clean air motor that supplies suction for the hose and tools and moves the air through the filters. Riccar’s R30 and R40 uprights use Tandem Air, and so do some of its Prima canisters.
| Design | How it works | Riccar models |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Air | Single motor, with the air filtered before it reaches the motor | R25 & R27 series, plus the Simplicity S27 |
| Tandem Air | Dual motors, one for carpet and one for hose suction and filtration | R30 & R40 series, plus select Prima canisters |
Since the carpet motor on a Tandem Air machine is a direct air design, dirt passes through its fan on the way to the bag. Hard objects like coins and bobby pins can get caught in the fan chamber, so it helps to pick those up before you vacuum. Edison’s comparison of Riccar Tandem Air and Clean Air goes into the trade-offs in more detail.
Riccar SupraLite Lightweight Uprights
The SupraLite line is Riccar’s lightweight upright family. The corded models weigh 8 or 9 pounds, every SupraLite has a headlight, and they all take Riccar’s R10 SupraLite bags. For above-floor jobs, Riccar lists its Gem handheld as a companion for the R17.
Each model in the line builds on the one below it, and the cordless R10CV brings the same lightweight design to a battery-powered machine. Edison’s guide to lightweight upright vacuums covers how they compare with other light uprights.
| Model | Weight and power | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| R10E SupraLite Entry | 8 lbs., 30-ft. cord | Wood brush roll, a large paper bag that seals when it’s installed, and a headlight |
| R10S SupraLite Standard | 9 lbs., 35-ft. cord | Metal brush roll, charcoal-infused HEPA media bag, two speeds, bare floor squeegee and a rear carry handle |
| R10P SupraLite Premium | 9 lbs., 40-ft. cord | Replaceable brush strips, a sensor that stops the vacuum if the brush roll jams, and a body that lies flat to reach under furniture |
| R17 SupraLite Premium | 9 lbs., 40-ft. cord | Nearly the same features as the R10P, plus a soft carpet baseplate and brush strips that can be matched to delicate floors and rugs |
| R10CV Cordless SupraLite | 44-volt battery, up to 50 minutes | Metal brush roll, charcoal-infused HEPA media bag, LED headlight and bare floor squeegee |
At 8 pounds, the R10E is the lightest upright in Riccar’s lineup, and it’s an easy one to carry up and down stairs. The cordless R10CV has a removable battery that you can charge off the vacuum, and Edison carries spare R10CV batteries for longer cleaning sessions.
Riccar Spirit and Spirit Plus
The Riccar Spirit has a nozzle that adjusts itself to the height of your carpet or rug, and it lies flat to reach under furniture. It’s built with a metal brush roll, a metal handle tube and a telescoping wand, and it comes with a hose and onboard tools, including a crevice tool and an upholstery tool. Riccar assembles the Spirit in St. James, Missouri, and it takes Riccar’s Vibrance bags, filters and belts.
The Spirit Plus is the same size as the Spirit. It adds LED headlights, a stainless steel telescoping wand and a bare floor tool with a washable microfiber pad, and it runs on a 30-foot cord. Both models use HEPA media filtration.
Riccar Clean Air Uprights
The R27 series is the current generation of Riccar’s Clean Air uprights, following the earlier R25. Each R27 uses a HEPA media bag and a filter set that pairs a pleated HEPA filter with granulated charcoal, and each one has an LED headlight.
The R27D Clean Air Deluxe runs on a 35-foot cord, reclines flat to reach under furniture, and gives you up to 11 feet of reach with its hose and wand, along with a crevice tool and a dusting brush. The R27P Clean Air Premium Pet adds two brush roll speeds, an upholstery tool, an edge cleaning nozzle and up to 15 feet of reach. It also has a dust and allergen sensor that turns on amber lights in the headlight when it picks up fur, dander or dust.
The R27CV Clean Air Cordless Power runs for up to 55 minutes on a charge. It has two brush speeds, a floating nozzle that adjusts to changes in the floor, a jam sensor that stops the brush roll, and up to 15 feet of reach with its 11-foot stretch hose and wand. Edison’s overview of the Riccar R27 series looks at how the three models compare.
Edison also carries the earlier R25 Clean Air uprights, the R25 Standard, R25 Deluxe and R25 Premium. They share the R27’s bags and its current filter set, which keeps them easy to supply, and Edison’s guide to R27 bags and filters lists the part numbers for both generations.
Riccar Tandem Air Uprights
Tandem Air is the top of Riccar’s upright lineup. Both current models have six height settings, a metal brush roll, a sensor that stops the brush roll if it jams, and up to 15 feet of reach with a telescoping aluminum wand and stretch hose. Both also use a self-sealing, charcoal-infused HEPA media bag inside a multi-stage filtration system.
The R30D Tandem Air Deluxe belongs to Riccar’s Brilliance family. It weighs 22 pounds and cleans an 11.5-inch path, with replaceable brush strips that can be matched to your floors, a light that tells you when the bag is full, and a dial that switches suction over to the tools. Riccar also released a limited Tandem Air 20th Anniversary Edition to mark 20 years of its dual-motor design, with a metallic grey finish and a dust and allergen sensor.
The R40P Tandem Air Premium Pet belongs to the Radiance family and is the larger of the two, at 23 pounds with a 13-inch cleaning path. It adds amber dirt-detection lights, sensors that let you know when the bag or filters need attention, and seven-stage filtration. It also comes with Riccar’s self-cleaning Fur-Get-It pet tool.
The R40P’s handle tube, bottom plate, foot pedal and wand are all metal, and the R40 carries the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Gold Seal of Approval. Edison’s R30 vs. R40 comparison looks at which homes suit each of the two Tandem Air models.
Riccar Canister, Stick and Handheld Vacuums
The SupraQuik is a small canister vacuum that you carry on a shoulder strap. It has a 25-foot cord, a 55-inch crush-proof hose, two 18.5-inch wands and a 10.5-inch floor tool with a metal base plate and a switch for rugs or bare floors. It also comes with a crevice tool, dusting and upholstery brushes and a set of mini tools, so it’s handy for stairs, light fixtures and car interiors. Riccar even notes that the exhaust port can work as a blower.
The R65 Cordless Stick Vacuum runs for up to 40 minutes and has five speeds, including an Auto mode that uses an infrared sensor to detect dust. It filters the air through Riccar’s three-stage SupraCyclonic system with two HEPA media filters, and its charging stand holds the four tools it comes with. Edison also carries R65 accessories, including a bare floor attachment, a pet and upholstery tool, a HEPA filter kit and a charging stand with battery.
The Gem is a compact handheld with a dust cup, a flexible hose, a crevice tool and a few small brushes, and it’s sized for jobs like keyboards, car interiors, craft tables and workbenches. The R70 Multi-Clean Deluxe is a cordless smart mop for hard floors with a detachable handheld vacuum. It mops up wet spills and everyday grime, then cleans and dries its own brush roll, with voice alerts that walk you through each stage. Edison’s guide to Riccar handheld vacuums compares the smaller models in more detail.
Choosing a Riccar for Your Home
The right Riccar usually depends on your floors, how much cleaning you do above the floor, and whether you’d rather have a lighter machine or more features. The pairings below match some common household needs with the Riccar models built for them.
Light and easy to carry
The R10E, R10S, R10P and R17 weigh 8 or 9 pounds, and the R10P lies flat to reach under beds and furniture.
Cordless uprights
The R10CV runs up to 50 minutes on a removable battery, and the R27CV runs up to 55 minutes and adds a hose and tools for above-floor cleaning.
Homes with pets
The R27P has a dust and allergen sensor and an upholstery tool, and the R40P comes with Riccar’s self-cleaning Fur-Get-It pet tool. Edison’s pet hair vacuum guide covers more options.
Wall-to-wall carpet
The Tandem Air R30D and R40P pair a dedicated carpet motor with six height settings, and the R40 carries the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Gold Seal of Approval.
Stairs, shelves and cars
The SupraQuik rides on a shoulder strap, the Gem fits in one hand, and the R65 stick comes with four tools for dusting and tight spots.
Hard floors and spills
The R70 Multi-Clean Deluxe mops and vacuums hard floors, and the R10S, R10P and R17 have a bare floor squeegee for smooth surfaces.
Edison also carries Miele and SEBO vacuums. Its Riccar vs. Miele comparison and its guide to SEBO vacuum cleaners cover how Riccar fits in with the other premium brands in the store.
Riccar Bags and Filters by Model
Most Riccar vacuums use self-sealing HEPA media bags, and many of those bags are lined or infused with charcoal to help with odors. Bags are matched to a model family, and Clean Air and Tandem Air machines use different bag housings and filter sets, so the model number is the best place to start.
For the Clean Air models, Riccar’s owner’s manual calls for changing the bag once a month or when it’s about two-thirds full, whichever comes first. If the model number isn’t handy, Edison’s walkthrough on finding a vacuum model number shows where to look.
| Riccar bag | Fits these models |
|---|---|
| R10 SupraLite HEPA bags | R10E, R10S, R10P, R17 and R10CV (the R10E also takes SupraLite paper bags) |
| R25 and R27 HEPA bags | R25 Standard, Deluxe and Premium; R27D, R27P and R27CV |
| R30D charcoal HEPA bags | R30D Tandem Air Deluxe |
| R40 Premium charcoal-lined HEPA bags | R40P Tandem Air Premium Pet |
| Vibrance HEPA media bags | Spirit |
| SupraQuik paper or reusable cloth bag | SupraQuik |
| No bag | R65 stick (cyclonic filtration), Gem (dust cup) and R70 Multi-Clean (wet and dry tanks) |
Filters follow the same families. Edison carries a HEPA and charcoal filter set that fits both the R25 and R27, an R25 Premium filter set, the R30 filter kit for the R30D and the HEPA filter kit for the R65 stick. Edison’s guide to Riccar R27 bags and filters suggests checking the filters every time you change the bag.
Older Riccar Models
Riccar has made a lot of vacuums over the years, and it still sells bags and filters for many earlier families. Its parts catalog covers the Vibrance R20, earlier Brilliance and Radiance models like the BRLD, BRLP, RAD and RADP, the Prima canisters, the 8000 and 4000 series, and canisters like the Moonlight, Sunburst, Pristine and Charisma. Riccar also lists bags and filters for its central vacuum systems.
For some older machines, Edison carries Type W bags and bags for the Riccar 1500 and Simplicity H. The older RAD and RADP Radiance models take a different filter set than the current R40. Edison’s post on Riccar parts and repair covers how to find the right part for an older Riccar.
Riccar and Simplicity
Simplicity is Riccar’s sister brand. Tacony launched Simplicity vacuums in 1989, the year after it bought Riccar, and in 1997 it moved production of both brands to the St. James plant. The two lines share engineering in places, and the Simplicity S27 is built on the same Clean Air platform as Riccar’s R25 and R27.
Edison Vacuum also carries Simplicity models like the Jill compact HEPA canister and the S20EZM upright, along with supplies such as Jill bags and the S20EZM filter set. Its comparison of Simplicity and Riccar explains how the two brands differ.
Caring for a Riccar Vacuum
Riccar designs its vacuums to be serviced, with replaceable brush strips on several models and bags, belts and filters sold separately for each family. A few simple habits keep a Riccar cleaning well between visits to the shop:
Change the bag
Swap the bag when the full-bag light comes on, or sooner if you notice the vacuum picking up less. The R25D, R30D and R40P all have a light that signals a full bag, and most Riccar bags seal themselves as they come out.
Check the filters
Look at the filters each time you change the bag. If suction is still weak with a fresh bag in place, the filters are the next thing to check, and Edison’s article on suction loss without a clog covers other possible causes.
Keep the brush roll clear
Clear hair and thread from the brush roll regularly. On models with replaceable brush strips, like the R10P, R17 and R30D, worn strips can be replaced on their own, and the jam sensors on several models stop the brush roll if something gets caught.
Schedule a yearly checkup
Riccar recommends an annual check at a Riccar retailer. Edison handles Riccar tune-ups and repairs in its Brentwood shop, and its post on how often to service a vacuum covers typical intervals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Riccar Vacuums
Q: Where are Riccar vacuums made?
A: Riccar is owned by Tacony Corporation, a family-owned company based in Fenton, Missouri. Tacony moved its vacuum production to St. James, Missouri, in 1997, and Riccar lists uprights like the Spirit as assembled there.
Q: What’s the difference between Clean Air and Tandem Air?
A: Clean Air models have one motor, and the air passes through the bag and filters before it reaches that motor. Tandem Air models add a second, direct air motor for carpet cleaning, which pairs deep carpet performance with strong suction at the hose.
Q: Which Riccar upright is the lightest?
A: The SupraLite R10E, at 8 pounds. The R10S, R10P and R17 each weigh 9 pounds.
Q: Do all Riccar vacuums use bags?
A: Most of them do. The R65 cordless stick uses cyclonic filtration, the Gem handheld has a dust cup, and the R70 Multi-Clean is a wet and dry mop with its own water tanks.
Q: What do E, S, D, P and CV mean in Riccar model numbers?
A: They describe the trim level. E stands for Entry, S for Standard, D for Deluxe and P for Premium, and models ending in CV, like the R10CV and R27CV, are the cordless versions.
Q: Are Riccar and Simplicity the same company?
A: Both brands belong to Tacony Corporation, and Simplicity launched in 1989, the year after Tacony bought Riccar. They’re separate product lines, though some models share engineering, like the Simplicity S27 and Riccar’s Clean Air uprights. (More about Simplicity vs Riccar here)
Q: Does Edison repair Riccar vacuums?
A: Yes. Edison’s vacuum shop in Brentwood, TN services and repairs Riccar vacuums, along with dozens of other brands, in the Nashville Metropolitan Area.
A SupraLite and a Tandem Air feel very different to push around… so it helps to see a few Riccar models in person before you decide! Stop by Edison Vacuum at 202 Wilson Pike Circle in Brentwood, and the team will be happy to walk you through the lineup and help match a model to your floors, your stairs and the way you clean.
Already have a Riccar at home? Bring it in for a vacuum tune-up, pick up fresh bags and filters, or call Edison at 615-255-3292 with any questions. You can also browse our online vacuum cleaner shop and find new models as well as Riccar supplies and replacement filters/bags—or just click here to contact us. Either way, the Edison Vacuum team would love to help!
