Nilfisk Combat Ultra Series 12404901

The best Vacuum ever – I used on hard floor and carpet. The suction is great picks up everything you hold it over. Very happy with my decision and It beats any higher priced vacuums. Show details

Cant fault it – Vacuum travels flat good. Has plenty of adjustable suction. I like the different heads for flat floor etc. Its strongly built. It runs quite warm at times but thats because its over powered and the speed can be reduced. Its important to watch if the warning light is on for emptying and especially to clean the filter which fills up quickly  Show details

Unimpressed – We had an older Nilfisk GM 410 model which was/is an excellent machine. However the bags are pricey and end up costing more than the vacuum cleaner itself. Wife bought the Combat Ultra for a good price at Bunnings thinking that being bag-less would be a bonus. The suction is good until the filters clog up, which seems too soon. You need an air… Read more

compressor to properly clean out the foam filter and most households would not have an industrial air compressor. Storing the accessories on the suction handle makes them get in the way in tight situations. The flexible tubing and suction head have the most irritating feature of clogging up and are a major hassle to unblock. Nilfisk use to be known for making quality machines, they seem to have slipped a bit. The design team has gone missing. This vacuum will drive you to drink.

Post script.

After owning the vacuum for a fair while I may have been a bit harsh in the initial review. Yes, it does clog up quickly. Yes a compressor is really needed to clean the filters properly. It does tip over easily BUT you don't need to buy bags and it has great suction.

Requires Constant Careful Maintenance – Bought very cheaply to do wooden floors, otherwise we use a Dyson upright for carpeted areas. The Nilfisk does the job as wanted and has powerful suction when clean,but after each use the dust collection system must be stripped for cleaning and the filters, both paper and foam, back blown with compressed air. Without this maintenance it would… Read more

become useless within a month. It is just as badly designed as others reported but after a year is still working well because it gets cleaned out after every use!

Died in 6 weeks, Cant return cost bought cash and lost receipt – It died 6 weeks after purchase. When I called for warranty they want me to get an affidavit made and signed by JP and than I have drive 45 min to see if their 3rd party will fix it. Cost are too high so I am telling you never buy Nilfisk because they are Fishey  Show details

Poorly Designed – Bought this back in 2011 for spare room. Filter system all hype, in this case it really didn't do anything. The spongy filter deteriorated after couple of months use, no on-board storage for attachments, water gets trapped in the compartment when washed, dust goes everywhere when emptying - definitely not suitable for sensitive people with… Read more

respiratory issues. Very poorly designed and inefficient. Explains why it was on sale. Have since binned. Back to bagged vacuum cleaners.

Great suction. Useless tools! – I have no problem with the suction as long as I empty the cleaner frequently, and clean the filter. But the floor tools are USELESS. All the suction seems to be lost by the design of the tools which just roll dust up into balls, and leave them on the carpet. I hate the thing!  Show details

mad costumer – Had mine 3 months gotta send bk to wea I purchased it frm lost its suction with a foot piece on even with other parts that come with it gna take bout 5 wks before I hear wats wrong with it till then wat the hell meant to use now great waste my bux  Show details

Brand New today- not so sure – Brilliant suction and manoeuvrable. I used my new Nilfisk for the first time today. Very frustrated how often I needed to empty the vacuum and clean the filter. Red LED seemed to be on all the time (my home is not THAT dirty!!). Heavy compared to my previous vacuum. Would have been good if the electric cord was a bit longer.  Show details

12 years and still going strong – 12 years still using original filters. I just keep them clean, about once a month. It's not hard. Will buy another as the hose connection has finally clapped out and one of the lugs on the barrel has recently snapped off. Well done Nilfisk - 12 years out of a $200 vacuum? You gotta be happy with that. Highly recommend!  Show details

Perfect – Love it have had it for over 6 years and use it almost every day suction is as good as when I first brought it. Sure I have to empty it and clean filters every few days but it's no hardship considering the job it does. Will be replacing it when the time comes with the same make.

Total Crap – Worst vac ever made. Hates cat hair which blocks it's 1st filter pretty quickly. The hard surface brush clogs with hair very quickly. Constantly have to stop and clean it out, just ridiculous really. HEPA filter is disposable, very hard to clean and costs $26. Leaving out the 1st plastic filter and removing the foam filter helps but the suction… Read more

has really dropped off in a relatively short time. Doesn't like going around corners and leaves marks on the walls.

Don't waste your money – Worst thing I have ever bought I have a tiny house doesn't do the job needs cleaning all the time as filters clog up no suction worst thing I have ever owned I will never buy another nil fish product again and will let everybody I know how bad it is

Absolute Garbage – After 10 minutes of use, the red overload light comes on, suction is pathetic and the filter requires cleaning every 10 minutes or else it won't pick up anything and will emit a disgusting smell. It's simply an extremely poorly designed vacuum. Cheap, nasty and painful to use. Buy a Miele instead.

One of the Best vacuum Cleaners Under $215 - Absolutely Amazing - Here's why! – In reading these reviews one can get very confused by the polarized views but the explanation is very simple. Those that complain about cleaning filters and poor suction have absolutely no idea or are very lazy people. All vacuum cleaners today include multiple filters including one HEPA filter. In the absence of the old cloth dust bags or… Read more

disposable bags It is the job of these filters to capture dust with the HEPA filter capturing the very fine dust particles. The idea is to prevent fine dust from being blown back out of the vacuum cleaner. Those who suffer asthma, hay fever and dust allergies will understand. So if the filters need cleaning regularly, then both the vacuum cleaner and the filters are certainly doing their job properly. Make no mistake!

So LESSON 1 is to understand that no matter what brand of vacuum cleaner you buy today under $300, you will need to spend time REGULARLY cleaning the filters if you want to maintain good suction and performance. Some cheaper brands may require cleaning after every couple of rooms. Others after each house clean. Also obviously depends how regularly you vacuum your floors. Ho-hum. The only exception are Dyson vacuum cleaners as these have unique cyclonic technology to capture the dust and those who complain about cleaning filters and loosing vacuum should spend the extra money and buy a Dyson. Alternatively as another reviewer stated, buy a vacuum cleaner that utilizes disposable bags instead -- But that is even more inconvenient when you have a full bag and no new ones. Worse still when you can’t buy them anywhere close and they cost a small fortune. Good luck!

LESSON 2. If you clean the filters regularly with a soft brush they won’t need to be changed for a long time. The more often you empty the dust chamber and clean the filters, the better will be the performance of your vacuum cleaner and it will last much longer since the motor wont overheat because of clogged filters or poor air circulation. Personally I do not recommend washing them as this is a great way to distort and destroy them.

Now for this Nilfisk cleaner... I acquired mine second hand. The prior owner had only used it 5 times and never bothered to empty the dust chamber or clean the filters. Oh, how typical! First thing I did was to thoroughly clean it, especially the 3 filters.

When I powered it on....WOW. This thing just sucks like crazy. It sucked out a whole lot of the finest dust from my carpet that none of my prior vacuum cleaners had ever removed before. What’s more, it sucked up most of the stubborn dust that just seems to stick to the carpet. What a surprise.

Oh yes, the main filters on the back of the dust chamber became somewhat clogged after a couple of rooms but what do you expect when a vacuum cleaner does such a thorough job ?..I mean like a really deep clean!

This thing has a huge 2200 watts of suction power. I mean that is really powerful. My old ones each had 1100W, 1350W and 1600W. Let me tell you from experience that the more power they have, the better they clean and this one is by far the best.

Now as far as cleaning the filters goes, really there is nothing to complain about. The filters that need regular cleaning are attached to the dust chamber anyway. So when you empty the dust chamber into the bin you spend just a few more seconds cleaning the filters. Trust me, its no big deal.

The overall construction of this vacuum cleaner is very good indeed. Nothing really that seems brittle or easily breakable. Everything clips together and pulls apart very nicely. It's also quite compact for such a powerful vacuum cleaner so it’s very easy to tuck away in a cupboard or pantry. The telescopic shaft also helps. And if you like you can actually store it upright in a corner.

I'm extremely happy with mine even though its second hand. Its the best vacuum cleaner I have every used. Like I said before…. For those that don’t want to spend a few seconds cleaning the filters regularly, go and spend at least twice the money instead and buy a Dyson because you won’t get a better vacuum cleaner under $215 (Bunnings price 2/17).

Just Dont – Poor design fault, foam filter blocks after one clean due to poor fitting component. Had the first replaced under warranty in the first six months. The new replacement was worse, got sick of cleaning the filter after every clean, took back for full refund. I would be very surprised If Nilfisk aren't aware of fault.

Only Hood On Hard Floors – Great suction on the hard floors but no deep cleaning Carpet tools, very expensive filters at $25. Not a bad machine if you don't have any carpet

Filters cost more than the machine – The filters fill in no time flat and cost as much as the machine to replace. Suction not great either.

Nilfisk Combat Ultra is complete rubish – Funnily enough Nilfisk replaced a previous Combat with the Combat Ultra after we contacted them about the disaster we had with that vacuum cleaner. We had to laugh as the replacement was just as bad as the other onw. Complete rubbish - experiencing all the same issues as everyone else - my recommendation is to avoid this vacuum cleaner at all costs. Poor suction, have to clean filters every five minutes

Very good suction and no problems after 2 years of use – We bought this vacuum as a significant step up from our previous antique. S admittedly we were coming from a pretty low base, but it really has been excellent. With 2 young children and a fully carpeted house, we needed something that would get through the whole house at least 3 times a week. It has been excellent in that regard. Not cheap, but well worth it. Excellent suction Filter needs regular cleaning

don't believe all you read! – just purchased a combat ultra after trialing both both an electrolux and airflo. This unit is fantastic he every way! Design and is suction is fantastic. Well and truly a high end unit! Those who have rated the unit as poor must have no understanding of how to maintain a bagless vac as the filters must be cleaned as on a regular basis. To those I'm talking about, go buy a bagged unit! power. Ease of use. Robust design. none!

Good Value for money – Have had this for almost 12 months and had no trouble at all. Great suction. Easy to clean but need to read book so you clean it properly as it has many filters. Ease of use , even my teenage boys use it. I really don't know what the others are talking about I have no problems with the suction at all.

Terrible Ultra – Very, very disappointed. Don't buy it. Suction is fine......when the filter is clear......which is only for 5 to 10 min's after emptying it. We tried a new fliter, this too clogged. Now we rotate them, but we still need to buy another foam layer that goes over the filter...that clogs up fast too. I hate using this machine. poor design. Fliter blocks easily. We bought a replacement filter...did'nt help.

Terrible – Poor product - appalling customer service. If you live in Australia - especially Adelaide - avoid buying a Nilfisk product lest it breaks on you and you have to be insulted. Worked until it stopped working. Then the real trouble began. This unit broke after one year of light use. When the company's warranty department was contacted we were… Read more

directed to a service centre that insulted us and insinuated that we had broken the unit without any assessment being done. Avoid this product and avoid this company.

Very Disappointing – Terrible - Buy a broom instead. It has poor suction even when the filter has been cleaned. We empty it constantly. It makes vacuuming a horrible job. We wish we had never purchased this product. We have had cheap vacuum cleaners in the past that were fab but not this one.

It works - for a while – As with most cheap vacuums, they all lose their suction eventually so off we went to buy a new vacuum - we came home with the Nilfisk Combat Ultra. At first I thought it was great - great suction, I liked the idea of the turbo head. Then I decided to have a look at the reviews..well I wish I'd seen these before buying it! I hoped that maybe my… Read more

experience would be different with the Combat Ultra but I'm disappointed to say it wasn't.

After about a month of regular use, the suction weakened. We pulled it apart, cleaned everything possible and the suction improved but was not, and has not ever been like when we first bought it.

Here we are 4 months later and it's basically useless and I'm on the hunt for yet another new vacuum.

I will say the dirt compartment is also ridiculously small for a family household. The colour (HA) Dirt compartment too small, lost suction very quickly

This product is really terrible – This vacuum cleaner does not work very well at all. It loses suction after a small amount of use and needs constant cleaning. I only used it a few times and now it makes a burning smell and the suction has virtually all gone. Do not buy this vacuum cleaner. It is a dud product. It was cheap Hardly works at all

A very poor product – A very disappointing vacuum cleaner. After a few weeks it just refused to work. Ater taking it back to the Good Guys, we were referred to a service centre. They told us it was basically our fault and we had to pay $75 for service fees!!!! It virtually has no suction at all now -totally useless avoid at all costs.

Great Suction – Great suction had problems with it as many others have put not having owned a bagless vacuum in the past however it just requires the filter / sponge to be whacked against the wall when emptying the contents. best suction for a vacuum I have had would refer to a friend  Show reply

Absolute rubbish! – I bought this last year as it was reduced to clear, about $200. I thought that as it was Nilfisk it was a good buy but I was wrong. The suction was great for about 4 months and since then has been hard work. I tend to use a broom now as we have mostly wooden floors and a small house. Am researching a new vac as I write this! Compact, easy to store, inexpensive. Stopped working properly within months of purchase.

Worst vacuum cleaner ever!! – Complete waste of money, I was recommended it by The Good Guys, I won't trust them to pick out my vacuum again, it's messy to empty, poor suction, the little light that indicates when to empty the dust barrel stays on all the time, the turbo head clogs up very easily and you have to sit for 15-20 mins and pick bits out, I generally like Nilfisks, but this one is a complete dud, don't buy it!!

Terrible – What a waste of money!! Wish I had have read the prevous reviews on here of the other Combat model prior to purchasing. It seems the poor suction is a common trait. It's got to be the most useless machine I have ever owned. I tried my mothers cheapie machine for a comparison, which is an 1100 watt. It's a dream in comparison. The Nilfisk Combat is… Read more

hopeless!!! Do not buy!!! I didn't want to rate it as I don't believe it rates however, I have to, to submit my review :-( The idea of having a bagless cleaner Pitiful suction for a 2200watt

The power cord is too short

Terrible – A really poor piece of engineering and not worth the price. Spend a little more and get a better brand. It's lightweight, the only benefit to an otherwise very disappointing piece of equipment. For 2200 watts, it is pathetically feeble.Every square metre of carpet has to be gone over a dozen times to get rid of even surface fluff. The filters… Read more

are ghastly to clean out, filthy and clogged after a short session or two. Bagless sounds great but I would never buy a bagless vacuum again. Messy and inefficient.

Terrible – Wish I had bought a vacuum with bags. Only found out after buying and looking at getting power head repaired, that closest service centre was a 40 minute drive away. Great suction and great at picking up pet hair. Could live with having to empty after every use as saving heaps on bags BUT having to clean out HEPA filter and foam after every… Read more

second use very time consuming and annoying. When removing caught up hair from bristles in Power Head brush, bristles started to break off.