Frequently Asked Questions

What is your normal delivery time?

Machines in the Domestic section ordered before 12.30pm will be dispatched that day (or next working day if a Saturday or Sunday).
PLEASE NOTE: Through December and over the Christmas period we cannot always guarantee next working day delivery due to the volume of parcels that the couriers are having to process. We will always do our utmost to ensure next working day delivery where we can but unfortunately we cannot guarantee it over this time. Machines in the other sections we aim to deliver in 3 to 5 working days - if you need your purchase any faster, please contact us. Most low voltage machines are built to order so these can take up to approximately 14 working days if there are none in stock at time of order.

PLEASE NOTE some of the commercial and industrial machines are built to order and can take up to approximately 10 working days for delivery. If you need your machine in a hurry please enquire about stock before placing your order.


What happens if I have a claim under the manufacturer’s warranty?

Email us at jim@affordablegroup.co.uk with a brief description of your fault and we will arrange collection of your machine, repairs or replacement as necessary and return the machine back to you. DO NOT contact the factory direct as they will just refer you back to us as the supplying dealer.

What’s the difference between Henry and the colours/Hetty?

There is no difference other than the colour (and the name in Hetty’s case).  Henry comes in red, yellow, blue and green and Hetty just comes in pink.  All of these machines have the same motors, suction and come with the same A1 toolkit.

What’s the difference between Henry & Henry Xtra?

The Henry Xtra has the same motor and suction as the Henry and comes with all the tools PLUS two additional floor tools, the Airo Brush and the Hard Floor Brush.  The Henry Xtra is a more suitable machine for pet owners or for areas with a mixture of hard and carpeted floor surfaces.

What is the Henry Micro, Is it smaller?

No. It is the same as the normal Henry above and comes with the same A1 toolkit but it is different in one important area. It is fitted with Numatic’s “Microtex” filter system. This is where the “Micro” in its name comes from.

Approved by the “British Allergy Foundation” Henry Micro is designed for users who have dust related allergies; purported to affect between 20% and 30% of the population, especially the very young and the elderly.

Can I upgrade my normal Henry to the same filtration as the Henry Micro above?

Yes, you will need to purchase a Microtex filter, look on our website under “Accessories – Filters” for the Microtex Filter ref.604377. Fit this in place of the existing Tritex Filter. Provided you also use a Hepa Flo’ bag ref. 604015 you will have the same filtration level as the Micro.

How long does it take to fill a dustbag?

How long is a piece of string?! It depends on use and what type of material you are vacuuming.  The NVM 1CH bags are designed to take slightly in excess of 9 litres, the same capacity as the drum of the machine.

What’s the difference between Henry and the commercial version?

If you were to compare Henry and his direct commercial equivalent, this would be the PVR200A.  The machines have the same motors, suction and both come with the A1 toolkit.  The only difference is the PVR200A has a longer 12.5m cable, bigger 50mm castors for increased stability and a protector skirt around the castors.

What’s the difference between Harry and Henry Xtra?

These machines have both been designed for homes with pets.  The Harry is green in colour and comes with an Odour Control Filter and a Hairo Brush.  The Henry Xtra is red in colour, and comes with a Hard Floor Brush and the Airo Brush and a Standard Tritex Filter.  The Airo Brush is slightly bigger than the Hairo Brush and is designed for ease of use on larger carpeted areas.  The Hairo Brush was designed smaller (approximately 195mm in width) to make it easier to use on stairs and on upholstery.  Both machines also come with the 300mm Combination Floor Tool as standard.

I’m confused by the range?

Numatic are the manufacturer of Henry and all of the machines in our commercial, industrial and specialised use sections.  When a machine has a name on its motor head i.e. Henry or Hetty, this means it is from the domestic Homecare range.  If a machine has Numatic on the motor head it is from the Cleancare commercial or industrial range.

Within the ranges there are dry vacuums, wet vacuums, wet and dry vacuums and carpet and upholstery cleaning vacuums to name but a few.  If you know what you’d like a machine to do but are not sure which would best suit your needs, please call us and when can advise you on the best machine for the job.

What to do when Henry loses suction?

Henry’s will normally only lose suction for three reasons; their bags are full, their filters are clogged up or there is a blockage in the system.

This is our most commonly asked question and it is simple to find the answer.

·         Undo the clips to the side of the machine, remove the filter and the bag (if a bag is being used)

·         Replace the head and make sure it is securely clipped to the drum

·         Unscrew the hose so you are left with just the motor head and drum

·         Start up the machine on ‘hi’ power and place the palm of your hand against the inlet of the drum

·         The suction should feel very strong at this point, if this is the case this means there is a blockage in the system between the hose and the floor tool

·         You will need to re-attach one accessory at a time i.e. hose first and try the suction at the end of the hose, then the first straight stainless steel tube etc.  It will become apparent where the blockage is as you will notice a loss in suction when the accessory in question is attached.

·         The most common blockages are found in the elbow joint of the floor tool or in one of the threads of the hose

·         To remove a blockage try dropping a marble or equivalent through the hose/pipes to dislodge a blockage or if in the elbow joint use a flexible wire or similar.

When a machine has a blockage it restricts the airflow of the machine.  When the airflow is restricted the machine can get very hot.  The machines have a thermal cut out in the motor which will shut it down when it reaches a certain temperature.  Once this has happened the machine needs to be left for at least 3 – 4 hours and left to cool before starting up again.

Can I adjust the working height of the metal wands?

The bend in the curved metal wand is offset. If you find the height too high or too low remove the curved pipe wand reverse it. This will either raise or lower the working height (depending which way around it was before).