What are HEPA Filters?

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter is an air filter that can remove more than 99.9% of airborne particles. It was originally designed in the 1940’s for industrial, medical, and military use. Today the HEPA filter is used in many homes, hospitals, and high technology industries: the ability to filter particles as small as 0.3 micrometers makes a HEPA filter a necessity for many environments.

In the home, HEPA equipped vacuum cleaners greatly reduce allergens and asthma triggers in the air. These triggers include: dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, and tobacco smoke. With the prevalence of allergies and asthma, it is easy to see how helpful a HEPA filter can be. Over 20% of Americans are affected by allergies, and over 22 million Americans suffer from asthma. Simply using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can aid in lessening the symptoms from these conditions. Specific allergy symptoms that can be treated with HEPA filtration include: rhinitis, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis.

In order to get the maximum benefit from a HEPA vacuum cleaner, the vacuum must filter all the air it brings in through the HEPA filter before expelling it, with absolutely no leaks. Such a vacuum cleaner is labeled “Sealed HEPA” or “True HEPA”. The benefits of these vacuums do extend beyond persons with asthma and/or allergies. For those without these conditions, the HEPA filter can be beneficial by protecting against airborne diseases. The filter’s ability to trap bacteria and viral organisms combats the spread of infection. For this reason, they are widely used in hospitals and doctors’ offices.

Owning a HEPA equipped vacuum will cost more than a traditional vacuum for two reasons. First, the filter itself can be rather expensive. Alone, it can cost $25.00 or more. The filter needs to be replaced periodically depending on how often it is used, whether or not a pre-filter is used in combination, and the type of environment the filter is used in. Environments inhabited by smokers or pets will require the filter to be changed more often. The extra density of a HEPA filter requires a vacuum with a more powerful motor in order to move air through the filter, thus adding to the cost.

When shopping for a HEPA vacuum cleaner, be sure to read closely to see if the vacuum has a “True” or “Absolute” HEPA, or a “HEPA-type” or “HEPA-like” filter. A true or absolute HEPA filter has passed a test to get this label. The test results are printed on the filter itself, and indicate that the filter performs at a certain standard. These filters will likely be more expensive than HEPA-type or HEPA-like filters. HEPA-type and HEPA-like filters are not made to the same strict standards as true or absolute filters. Although their construction and appearance is similar, they capture less than 90% of particles, as opposed to the more than 99.9% that true and absolute filters catch. In order to tell if a filter is a true or absolute HEPA filter, look for the test results on the filter. They should indicate 0.3 microns at 99.97% or above.

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