Few people actually know what "HEPA Vacuum cleaners" actually means. The proper name should be HEPA filter vacuum cleaners because HEPA ( High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) usually refers to a special filter that can absorb 99.97% of dust, bacteria, mold, pollen and other airborne particles out of the air. This basically means that it should (at least theoretically) remove almost all malicious objects that are around 0.3 micrometers wide.
A human being can not realize how small dirt actually is. The fact that a HEPA filter absorbs it to such a degree creates one normal question: "How is that possible?" The filter is created out of fibers. All is done through the spaces between them. They are big enough to trap dirt by impaction, interception or diffusion. Nowadays HEPA filters are used in many industries because of the constant need to protect air and clean it of impurities. Although first developed in 1940, HEPA is now a trademark that refers to any filter that can reach the 99.97% margin set by the definition.
By reading the above written lines we realize that a HEPA vacuum cleaner is any vacuum cleaner that uses a HEPA filter. This sometimes changes the name of the model in the perception of the customer. For instance, a Bagless upright hoover vacuum cleaner that features a HEPA filter is sometimes named a Bagless upright HEPA hoover vacuum cleaner. Although this is not used in the official description of the project it is used in the arsenal of a salesman. Many customers get tricked by them. This causes people to not trust them anymore and also reduces sales. The truth is that HEPA vacuum cleaners are very good for the house.
What to look for when purchasing a HEPA vacuum cleaner? First of all there are two main types of HEPA vacuum cleaners: canister and upright. All upright vacuum cleaners tend to send back more dirt filled air back into the atmosphere. Several tests have been performed in the past on hundreds of vacuum cleaners. HEPA is clearly something that needs to be included in any of them. This is because all models leak air filled with dirt, bacteria, pollen and so on. A good HEPA filter will keep all of it where it should: inside the vacuum cleaner. Problems still appear with many of them. Unfortunately many models out there that have such a filter included lack other key features, especially a proper finish. Dust is easily absorbed, only to be released in the environment through binding cracks in the body of the vacuum cleaner. This happens with many popular models out on the market today. Some of them are also labeled as vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters included. They might have it but that does not mean that dust can not come out through other small gaps between vacuum cleaner pieces. Basically, it is not enough to have a HEPA filtering system if the rest of the design is faulty.
Always look for a HEPA filter system if possible. Be sure that proper tests have been done on the model you are going to purchase and give it a test run. Some stores will even offer to test the HEPA vacuum cleaner through smoke-dye. If you get this opportunity do not miss it. It can point out something you were not expecting: smoke-dye will go back into the air even in some very popular models. With this in mind always double check references and do not overlook proper research just because the vacuum cleaner has a HEPA system.
HEPA vacuum cleaners come in two main types : canister and upright
