New EU ratings are a joke!

[marcusprit]

So Dyson give their DC41 an A rating for performance on carpet and Miele has a C rating.
Are we supposed to believe that the Dyson's performance on carpet is 2 classes higher than the Miele S7????

 

[sebo_fan]

Yep, in the same way that certain washing machines, fridge freezers and other large appliances are supposedly eco efficient with A ratings but carry high power motors on board.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

The DC41 MK2 (which I made a thread on) which got an AAAA rating is fantastic at carpet pick up performance, agitates the carpet better than an S7. I had two S7's, I know what they are like. Although, these ratings are rather subjective as they are done by the manufacture.

 

[marcusprit]

I would be VERY surprised if it performed better on carpet than the S7.I'd like to see a comparison video. Anyway there's too many drawbacks to the Dyson ball for me.

 

[sebo_fan]

I dont know if these EU labels that manufacturers are supplying will be independently investigated. At present it is turning the EU labels into additional selling marketing guff, especially if brands are not testing the models fully on the subjective testing criteria set by the EU.

Take for example the Hoover Idol Stick vac I bought recently. Hoover claim A rated for hard floor cleaning performance. Darn shame I can't seem to move mine along the hard floor because it sticks to it and fails to move. Not sure if Hoover counted that into the design - obviously not.

 

[super-sweeper]

Sounds like a horror story, "In a land where tests are conducted incorrectly, a consumer has to dodge his way past insistent commercials and inaccurate results to make a purchase they can be pleased with "....Premieres Tuesday on The Twilight Zone! 

 

[bagintheback]

Doesn't that rating system judge cleaners based on efficiency? I see in the UK the S7 operates at 1500watts, while the DC41Mk2 operates at only 700watts. Maybe the Dyson picks up more dirt per watt? Maybe I'm wrong.  


 


On the other hand, I'm really surprised that the ratings are reported by the manufacturer. That doesn't sound right. That would be like Ford or Toyota publishing their own MPG numbers for their hybrids. Those tests better be either strictly regulated or have a plan to move towards independent testing. 


 


 

[this post was last edited: 10/9/2014-18:44]

 

[sebo_fan]

This is the problem all along that some other UK members including Chris and I have discussed on here (Turbo500) that the EU ratings, whilst they may pressure brands to produce better quality vacuums, are not exactly fair.

The ratings are based on overall efficiency that counts electricity used (but it isn't that exact even if it is based per annum since how can it be possible to even measure how many times a general person uses a vacuum cleaner in a week?) but there are three other ratings such as Filtration, Hard floor performance, carpet performance and then on top a statistical data of "actual" electricity consumption.

No wonder the UK has seen an influx of cordless vacuums recently. Some brands are doing more of them to counteract their mains power vacuums when it comes to the actual ratings given.

Clearly the ratings on the labels are totally subjective when the owner in question finds out the actual performance in their own home. It's not an ideal solution in my mind and buyers will be pushed to fork out lots of money for top rated vacuums, even if they don't want to stray from their previous brand.

Whilst I welcome the law to lower motor watts, I think the labelling goes too far.

 

[marcusprit]

Like i say if these tests were accurate and independent it would be a good thing. Sadly they are not and we are relying on the honesty of the manufacturer.

Just have to see how it goes, if it leads to better quality vacuums then thats fabulous! Only time will tell.