Will I be happy with an 8 amp vacuum?

What flooring do you have?

Carpet that has a fairly short pile. It’s not flat like what you see in offices. It’s like level two builders carpet.

I have tile also, but I rarely use the vacuum on the tile.

Why not just keep the one you have?

The one I have is kicking back some dust I think. I don’t see dust, but when I use it, it’s smelling dusty. I cleaned all the filters that can be cleaned a bought a new hepafilter, but I think probably it needs to be taken apart down to the motor to really get it totally cleaned up.

Perhaps looking up reviews for a brand or two that you like would be helpful. Or looking at Consumer Reports.

For a vacuum to work, air has to escape from the bag and some dust escapes with it. It can’t be helped. If you want the best vacuum that keeps maximum power while emitting the least amount of dust, get a Rainbow or other vacuum that has a water filter. And change the water filter after every use or it will start to stink.
(I bought a used Compact Electra at a yard sale for $10. I ditched the power head attachment since I don’t need a powered brush, just maximum suck. And I LOVE it! It has a regular bag plus an extra foam filter that fits over the motor.)

Here is some light reading.
Things to Think About Before You Buy a Vacuum.

Happy shopping!

No. Don’t buy less than a 12 amp. The last time I looked at vacuums the boxes no longer give that information. Quite infuriating. Best go to a vacuum store and find what you want then shop for that particular model (my opinion here).

We have a canister vacuum with a HEPA filter on the output. That keeps the fine dust from blowing out, like in the old days. Not sure how many amps it draws.

I’m not sure dust is the problem, maybe it’s a belt or something that I smell? It makes more noise than it used to. I did a Q about it a while ago.

I had an old Electrolux that smelled like it was burning something. Maybe the rubber drive belts were slipping. I eventually got rid of it.