WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT NEW VACUUMS?

QI see there is a new EU rule banning the manufacture of powerful cleaners from this month. Can I still buy one somewhere or are they all gone?

ASince September 1, manufacturing or importing vacuum cleaners that consume more than 900 watts of energy are banned.

I had a quick look at retail websites and didn’t see any cleaners rated above 900 watts, so I presume they are all gone at this stage.

You could buy a second hand cleaner through websites such as donedeal.ie or adverts.ie. There are lots of bargains with cleaners costing from €40. You are taking a chance on buying a dud but if the cleaner works with no funny noises and good suction it should be worth taking a chance on.

Don’t forget the new EU rules were brought in for a reason – to improve energy efficiency. There is a price for extra power – in your pocket and for the environment.

Experts say the measure will save the equivalent of Belgium’s annual household electricity usage by 2020, saving a lot of money and carbon footprint.

The bid to reduce vacuum power started in September 2014, when the EU ordered the energy consumption of new cleaners to be limited to 1,600W as part of its ‘Ecodesign’ regulations. If a second-hand model has a higher rating, it’s more than three years old. Prior to this, the average cleaner had an 1,800W motor.

However, more powerful machines eat electricity and could take you to the cleaners in terms of energy costs!

Wattage can be reduced without much reduction in suction. Manufacturers have been busy making cleaners just as powerful as the old ones but far more energyefficient. The new rules aren’t just about power either – they also impose noise restrictions, limiting cleaners to less than 80 decibels and make them more durable. So the old cleaners could soon be looked back on as noisy, costly and less reliable dinosaurs.

Consumer website and magazine Which? said: ‘We have tested vacuum cleaners with 900W motors that do a better job of dust-busting than vacuum cleaners with motors two or three times the size. What’s more, we’ve reported on vacuum cleaners in the past that are so noisy, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were using a lawnmower to clean your living room. So the maximum noise restriction could be good news for your ears.’

Check out the cleaner label. It will show how well it: • Cleans carpet • Controls dust re-emission • Cleans hard floors • Limits the noise level There is also an energy rating on a scale of A++ (the most efficient) to E. The annual energy consumption will be in kWh per year.

QHealth insurance costs are phenomenal. Would we be better off setting up a long-term savings plan to cover my medical expenses?

ANormally, with ‘small ticket’ insurance such as for pets, or mobile phones, I would say yes, that’s a good idea - set up a savings scheme and you’ll end up better off.

With health cover it’s different because the consequences of not being covered can be so great. A major operation could cost tens of thousands of euro – or ongoing expenses for serious health issues could cripple you financially.

‘If one of your children needs to get their tonsils out, a tonsillectomy would cost €5,000 to €7,500 privately. And if you go public the child may have to wait six months right now,’ said Dermot Goode, insurance expert at totalhealthcover.ie.

If you go public, the costs can mount at €80 a night in hospital without a medical card. If you insure yourself, you would need to put away a lot of money and be very disciplined in not spending. Is it worth the chance?