If you want a decent vacuum cleaner buy one now. More EU madness.

If you want a decent vacuum cleaner don't leave it too long to buy one. The EU is banning vacuum cleaners that clean carpets.

EU ban on powerful vacuum cleaners prompts anger and legal challenge

Which? tells consumers to buy now as Best Buy cleaners fall foul of EU energy label that prohibits motors above 1,600w

Consumers are being urged to buy powerful vacuum cleaners while they can after it emerged that some of the most powerful models on the market will disappear in September when a new EU rule comes into force.

An EU energy label, to be introduced from 1 September, means manufacturers will not be able to make or import vacuum cleaners with a motor that exceeds 1,600 watts.

The Which? consumer group said many of its Best Buy models had motor sizes that exceeded this, "so if you're in the market for a powerful vacuum, you should act quickly, before all of the models currently available sell out". The wattage will be limited to only 900 watts by 2017 – further restricting choice. Current cleaners typically boast an average of 1,800 watts.

Which? warned that many of the models that appear in its Best Buy tables have motor sizes in excess of the new limit.

Of seven awarded Best Buy status since January 2013, five have motors of more than 1,600 watts. A Best Buy 2,200w vacuum costs around £27 a year to run in electricity – around £8 more than the best-scoring 1,600w it has tested.

The consumer group argues that the move is self-defeating – claiming that householders would simply use the less powerful models for longer to achieve the same degree of cleaning.

The move has also angered manufacturers who agree the move will do nothing to make cleaners more environmentally friendly and will simply reduce efficiency in the home

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/21/anger-as-eu-bans-most-powerful-vacuum-cleaners

I can't see what possible good this is for ... just keeping pen pushers in a job if you ask me. Washing machines next, closely followed by a tax on 13amp fuses.

I can't see what possible good this is for ... just keeping pen pushers in a job if you ask me. Washing machines next, closely followed by a tax on 13amp fuses.

... followed by a total ban on four-slice toasters in single occupancy homes?

But....

Less powerful = turned on for longer to get the job done, which = more energy used overall per task/job! :S

Stupid..

Or you could all buy an efficient machine.

Try a Dyson.

Or you could all buy an efficient machine.

Try a Dyson.

That's fine if you have £200 to go out and spend on a Vacuum cleaner...

What when you don't?

Ive just given mine away,well it was only collecting dust.

Buy a cheaper, but efficient machine.

I only mentioned Dyson because I know that they meet the new requirements.

Ive just given mine away,well it was only collecting dust.

Excellent!

A guy from Killi's cleaners was on radio2,been in the vacumn cleaner business 54years,he agreeded with the change...a well designed cleaner is more important than the wattage ,they amazingly test the cleaners for the vacumn created in "inches of mercury"

I have a 1200w cleaner. that is twice the machine of a 1800w I also have misfortune to use.

When he came into the business the average cleaner was 450w......