I do realize this thread topic was a generality regarding things breaking, but vacuums were used as the example. Noting that I am not a vacuum repairman, I have learned a few things over the years regarding keeping them working. Not necessarily earth-shattering enlightenment, but rather things that people may forget to do. First and foremost is to not overfill the waste bag or waste bin. Nothing worse you can do to your vacuum that to try and keep sucking up more waste into an overloaded bin. Nice way to burn out the motor. Second, clean the roller brush occasionally. The units I have had in the past eventually would get wrapped with carpet threads and hair and such. Follow the manual and you should be able to clean those off. And third, check the internal vacuum hose leading from the roller brushes to the waste bin. I once cleaned one that was just plugged with cat hair. A cost hanger worked well for me.
 
My wife bought one of those Dyson's. Man, it cost about $400-500. I almost fell over. And then I see it and it is all plastic. But honestly, it does work really well. Just have to take care of it (e.g., don't drop the waste bin on the way to emptying it). Clean it periodically. Empty waste bin.
 
I do agree that in the older days many things were built to last. Different times though. Different technologies. Different mindsets.

craigb
But what if you really need to hold a bowling ball up with your vacuum??? 

Your idea of the perfect girlfriend?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oh no....... I dinnint just say that did I?

Rain
Our second Vacuum Cleaner in 2 years just died on me.
 
 
The first few weeks, I was amazed at how well it worked. But that didn't last long and for the last 8 months, judging by the time it takes me to do the stairs, I'd say that it's become at least 4 times LESS efficient than it was out of the box.
 
 

It's all that cat hair that's your problem.......
 
 
 

bapu

craigb
But what if you really need to hold a bowling ball up with your vacuum??? 

Your idea of the perfect girlfriend?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oh no....... I dinnint just say that did I?

Depends on whether it comes with free pizza or not.

paulo

Rain
Our second Vacuum Cleaner in 2 years just died on me.
 
 
The first few weeks, I was amazed at how well it worked. But that didn't last long and for the last 8 months, judging by the time it takes me to do the stairs, I'd say that it's become at least 4 times LESS efficient than it was out of the box.
 
 

It's all that cat hair that's your problem.......
 
 
 

It's going to be a real problem if I can't fix it or get a replacement soon enough...
 
But I'd say that the problem isn't so much cat hair as it is the weird concept of putting carpet (and usually, the lightest shade possible) everywhere in houses here in Vegas.
 

Just get a place with hardwood floors. Get a broom and a mop, and end the abuse out of  these type of people.
They have their reasons none of which satisfy me in any way, shape or form.
 

spacealf
Just get a place with hardwood floors. Get a broom and a mop, and end the abuse out of  these type of people.
They have their reasons none of which satisfy me in any way, shape or form.
 

That's the point - houses w/o carpets are virtually inexistant here in Vegas.

Rain

spacealf
Just get a place with hardwood floors. Get a broom and a mop, and end the abuse out of  these type of people.
They have their reasons none of which satisfy me in any way, shape or form.
 

That's the point - houses w/o carpets are virtually inexistant here in Vegas.

Now that would kill me. It's the same back in the UK, you're almost expected to have carpets down (at least it was when I was last there). I remember at school there was a kid who didn't have carpets in his house and he was mocked for it 
 
But I've always hated them. Give me hardwood floors any day. Or even raffia...when I was a kid our apartment was carpeted with raffia throughout and I loved the feel of it on my feet...

sharke
 
 
Now that would kill me. It's the same back in the UK, you're almost expected to have carpets down (at least it was when I was last there). I remember at school there was a kid who didn't have carpets in his house and he was mocked for it 
 
But I've always hated them. Give me hardwood floors any day. Or even raffia...when I was a kid our apartment was carpeted with raffia throughout and I loved the feel of it on my feet...

When we do buy our own, first thing in order will be to remove all carpets. 
 
I just don't get how one can expect to actually live in a house with eggshell carpets and not having the place looking like a pig sty after a few months. Even my studio, which is the only 100% cat-free zone and where I never wear shoes looks bad.
 
Every time we visit friends in their new houses, one of my hobby is to try and figure out how bad their carpets look compared to ours. So far, I haven't seen one that looked amazingly better. Stairs are usually the worst.
 
And in the end, I may understand that some people hate to walk on a cold floor, especially when they get out of bed. But this is Las Vegas - it's NEVER cold.
 
Plus, walking on a cold floor is one of the few things that seem to help me with night time leg and feet cramps, so, to me, that would actually be a plus...

Not a fan of light-colored carpets, but I LOVE carpets!  I think having rooms completely carpeted (floor, walls, ceiling) would be great - lol!
 
Ok, maybe not that far...