Why should you buy a vacuum cleaner with HEPA Filter

Whenever one vacuums their house, they want to ensure that they do it thoroughly. They want to create a super clean, healthy environment in their home. This involved getting rid of all the bacteria, pollen, dust and other debris that plague many homes in the air and the carpets.

This is where the High-efficiency particulate air filter- commonly abbreviated a HEPA- comes into play.

Similar to other government standards, HEPA has been termed as the most efficient way to decontaminate our houses. Attached to the vacuum cleaners, these filters captures the tiny particulates, adding relief for allergy victims and ensuring clean air supply for all.

In this post, we will discuss in details why a HEPA filter is a necessity for all homes.

First Things First:

What Exactly is a HEPA Filter?

As aforementioned, HEPA is the acronym for High-efficiency particulate air. This is basically a type of filter that is capable of trapping significant amounts of small particles that the conventional vacuums tend to re-circulate back into the air in your house.

Given that there are a couple of different categories of these filters, understanding of the capabilities of your filter might be a bit confusing.

Differentiating Types of HEPA Filters

True or absolute HEPA filters ought to pass a particular test for them to be considered HEPA worthy.

According to the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a true HEPA should be able to trap up to 99.97% of all the dust as well as other particulates that are 0.3 microns in diameter. Keep in mind that the 0.3 microns diameter here is used to describe the size of particulates that are most likely to go through this filter.

Particles smaller and larger than this are trapped more efficiently.

A certified HEPA filter is much more is much more efficient compared to the ordinary one as it can stop mold (and even some viruses and bacteria).

When it comes to the HEPA filters suitable for use in respiratory equipment, NIOSH recognizes up to 9 grades- based on three different efficiency levels of 95, 99 and 99.97% and three filter degradation resistant levels N, R, and P.

-N means not oil resistant

-R means oil resistant

-P says oil proof

Why Should You Buy a HEPA Filter?

A HEPA filter traps tiny particles that may cause serious problems to allergy victims and other house occupants with health issues. Reducing or totally eliminating these particles creates hygienically cleaner air for all the residents of your home.

According to Jeffry May, the author of My House is Killing Me and air quality consultant, a true HEPA filter plays a prominent role in contributing to a healthier home environment, even for people without allergy and asthma.

This is in line with the fact that the filter absorbs most pathogens, bacteria microbial spores, combustion soot particles, tracked-in soil particles, construction dirt, and even some virus particles stuck on larger particles.

Dr. Clifford Basset, the Ney York-based allergist, recommends all the allergy suffers to look into vacuum cleaners if they want to find a complete solution to their asthma and allergy issues.

This further shows why everyone asthma/allergy patient should consider looking for a high-quality upright vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter.

How Do You Pick The Right HEPA Filter Vacuum Cleaner?

Now, if the HEPA filter is what you are looking for, the Only Canister Vacuum states

“If you want to enjoy cleaner air in your house, vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are incredibly efficient at eliminating pollen, dust and other forms of allergens.”

They go on to explain that the filter should be made with a pleated, semi-grid material that’s contained in a frame. This frame must be tightly held in place using an airtight gasket. Why a gasket? Well, this prevents the allergy-laden air from bypassing your filter.

Some vacuum cleaners feature a flimsy, pleated paper filter that resembles the material in a genuine HEPA filter. Other come with an efficient filter suited in a rigid frame. However, this frame is not tightly held in place which translates to allergens passing around the filter rather than through it, and eventually escaping from the vacuum.

Note: A foam filter is NOT a HEPA filter.

Final Verdict

So, that’s everything you need to know about the HEPA filters. Unlike the ordinary vacuum cleaners, model fitted with HEPA filters do an excellent job at hygienically cleaning the air around your home by getting rid of all the bacteria, pathogens, pollen, dust, some viruses, among other undesirable particulates. This means that vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are a necessity not only for asthma/allergy sufferers but also for all homeowners who value the health of their families.


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Matthew Okafor