Our rebuild process
How we rebuild every Kirby.
We don’t resell used vacuums. Every Kirby we sell goes through the same six steps: tested, taken apart, cleaned, rebuilt with new parts, reassembled and retested, then checked again by a second person before it ships.
The rebuild in numbers
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300 : 1
Vacuums rebuilt for every one warranty claim we receive
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4 tests
By three different people before the machine ships
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5 yrs
Warranty on all moving parts of your rebuilt machine
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61 days
Money back if it isn’t what you expected
Step 1: We test the Kirby before the rebuild starts.
Before anything comes apart, our rebuild tech runs the machine and checks how it performs. That tells us exactly which parts need replacing, so nothing is guessed at later.
Step 2: We take it completely apart.
Next we completely take the vacuum apart. Not only so we can clean the parts but so each part is inspected for wear and all metal parts are buffed to a new shine.
Step 3: We wash and clean every part, and buff the metal to a new shine.
While it is apart, every part goes through our industrial parts washer, and the larger components are power-washed by hand.
Then we buff every metal part back to a like-new shine.
Most sellers of used vacuums give the machine a wipe-down and list it. They never take it apart and never clean inside it. We go to this trouble because we want you to love your “new to you” Kirby for many years to come.
Step 4: We replace the worn parts with new ones.
Any part that is worn, or that we think might fail in the years ahead, is replaced with a new part. If a part is in good condition we do not replace it.
That is what lets us put a 5-year warranty and a 61-day money-back guarantee on all of our rebuilt machines.
Step 5: We reassemble it and test it again.
Once the Kirby is back together, our rebuild tech tests it again to make sure everything works the way it should.
Step 6: A second person tests it and boxes it up.
Before it ships, a different member of our team tests the machine one more time, then packs it for shipping.
People sometimes ask why we don’t ship in the original Kirby boxes the vacuums came to us in. The answer is experience. After shipping tens of thousands of Kirby vacuums, we use plain brown boxes on purpose. For one, a plain box doesn’t tell porch pirates what’s inside. And the original Kirby boxes were never made for shipping. Ours are designed to get your vacuum to you with zero breakage.
If it won’t turn on when it arrives, don’t panic.
Both Kirby and Rainbow build safety interlocks into their machines: if a part isn’t seated exactly right during assembly, the vacuum simply won’t start. It is the single most common thing customers contact us about, and it is almost always a five-minute fix — not a broken machine. Email service@greatvacs.com Monday through Friday and in almost every case we will have you up and running within minutes.
Every part inspected. Every worn part replaced.
So it qualifies for our 5-Year Warranty.
Every system gets inspected
On every machine, without exception
- Motor performance under load
- Suction and airflow
- Cord, switch and electrical safety
- Bearings, belts and drive components
- Seals, gaskets and filtration
- Power nozzle and brushroll
- Hose, wands and attachments
- Housing, finish and hardware
Any worn parts get replaced with new parts
New parts — not cleaned-up old ones
Any part that looks worn, or that we think might fail in the next ten years, gets replaced with a new one.
How much that adds up to depends on the machine. An older model gets a lot of new parts. The newest models need far fewer, because there is less on them that has worn.
It is probably why we rebuild roughly 300 vacuums for every one warranty claim we receive. We love these machines — but once one ships, we never want to see it again.
What “like new” means, honestly
We rebuild these machines to be mechanically like new. Cosmetically, they are still used vacuums, and we think you should know exactly what that means before you order.
All metal parts are buffed back to a like-new shine, with no scratches. Plastic parts are a different story — light scuffs and small scratches are normal on a machine that has been owned before, and they can’t be polished out the way metal can. If a plastic part is damaged rather than just scuffed, we replace it.
Most of our 100,000+ customers see the value here. They understand they are buying a reconditioned vacuum at about 60% less than the price of a new one, and they are completely fine with that. Their thinking tends to be: if a Kirby or Rainbow lasts 25 years on average, what is the harm in buying one that is a few years old and saving thousands?
If perfect cosmetic condition is what matters most to you, buy new directly from Kirby.com or RainbowSystem.com. We have no affiliation with either company. Their brand new machines are great, and we are sure you will love yours.
A five-year warranty is only worth the company behind it.
When GreatVacs.com started, five other companies were rebuilding Kirby and Rainbow vacuums online and offering warranties much like ours. Three years later we checked: every one of them had closed — several before their own warranty periods had run out, leaving their customers with no one to call. Several of their customers who ended up needing warranty work contacted us, and we took care of them.
We have been rebuilding Kirby and Rainbow vacuums since 1998 — 28 years now — and as a third-generation rebuild shop we plan on being here for many more. We will always be here to honor our warranties and take care of our customers.
Backed for five years, returnable for 61 days.
Try a rebuilt Kirby or Rainbow in your own home for two months. If you don’t love it, send it back for a full refund.
Our 5-year warranty covers all moving parts on your rebuilt machine. Wear items like bags, filters, belts and brushrolls aren’t covered — but we stock those parts at great prices for when it’s time to replace them.
