Can a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
Benefit Your Health?
HEPA filters were originally developed in the 1940s and
used in the Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of airborne
radioactive contaminants. After the 1950s, HEPA filters were later
commercialized and the term became trademarked and known as a generic
term to describe any high efficient filter. Over the years, because of
demands for improved air quality in various industries such as
aerospace, pharmaceutical processing, and healthcare, HEPA filters
became commonly used in these industries to help eliminate airborne
particulates such as dust, dander, mold, and asbestos.
In order to be considered a True HEPA filter, a filter must be capable
of removing at least 99.97% of particulates as small as 0.3 microns.
Particles of this size are the most difficult to filter, and they are
thus considered the most penetrating particle size, or MPPS. HEPA
filters consist of a mat of randomly arranged fibers that target and
trap small particles by one of the following three mechanisms:
1. Interception - When particulates follow a line of flow in the
airstream within one radius of a fiber and sticks to it.
2. Impaction - When large particles cannot avoid the HEPA fibers
and are forced to imbed in one, which also increases with diminishing
fiber separation and higher air flow.
3. Diffusion - When an enhancing mechanism results from the
collision with gas molecules by small particles, which are impeded and
delayed through the HEPA fiber.
Therefore, because of the superior filtration abilities
of HEPA filters, they are extremely effective at removing particulates
from the air and from surfaces such as carpets and upholstery, and their
use can help make the air we breathe significantly healthier. Because
our indoor environment contains allergens, chemicals, gas, dust mites,
mold, and other harmful microorganisms, the respiratory tract struggles
and suffers daily from these harmful pollutants. Poor indoor air quality
can also cause symptoms such as itchy eyes, headaches, digestive
problems, fatigue, congestion, and many more chronic and acute diseases.
In fact, studies have shown that more than every one in three adult,
child, or infant suffers from allergies, asthma, or respiratory
diseases, and currently, asthma is one of the leading causes of upper
respiratory illnesses in children.
Today, most HEPA filters can be found in air purification systems and
even vacuum cleaners. HEPA vacuum cleaners use HEPA filters as
part of the filtration process, and they are extremely beneficial for
asthma and allergy sufferers, as the HEPA media is able to trap the fine
particles that can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. For a HEPA
filter in a vacuum cleaner to be effective at particle abatement, the
vacuum cleaner should be designed so that all of the air that is drawn
into the machine is passed through the filter, with none of the air
leaking past. In addition, because of the density of a HEPA filter, a
HEPA vacuum cleaner will need a more powerful motor to provide
sufficient cleaning power.
There are essentially two basic styles of HEPA vacuums: canister and
upright. HEPA canister vacuums usually have smaller, stronger
cases that can roll along and follow behind you as you vacuum carpet,
furniture, or the floor. A long hose attached to a HEPA canister vacuum
cleaner will help you clean hard to reach places. HEPA canister vacuums
also often feature detachable rug beaters that are more powerful when
compared to those found on upright HEPA vacuums. When the electric motor
powered rug beater on a canister vacuum cleaner stops working, the unit
can still be used to clean other surfaces. Overall, for homes with
mostly bare floors and sparse rugged areas, canister vacuums can help
you move seamlessly from one area to the next without scratching your
floors.
On the other hand, upright HEPA vacuums consist of a single unit
that may or may not come with an attachment hose to help clean hard to
reach areas with specialized vacuum tools. Upright HEPA vacuums may leak
dusty air back into your home, and since the rug beater bar is
permanently attached to the vacuum's case, once this important component
breaks, the entire vacuum will have to be replaced. However, if your
home is mostly carpeted, a traditional upright HEPA vacuum may be a
better choice, as its beater bar can better churn up dirt and dust
embedded below the surface of your carpeting.
In terms of design differences, that are different styles of HEPA
canister vacuums available, with the most common being those units with
plastic cases utilizing a disposable dust collector bag made of plastic
used to catch the dust from your carpet and into the vacuum cleaner.
Keep in mind that with these types of models, dusty air may still leak
through gaps in the plastic gases and even pass through the exhaust and
back into your home environment.
When choosing a HEPA vacuum, also be sure to pay attention to the power
of the model, as this is rated by its suction force in inches of water
lift and by its air flow (in cfm). Anything with a 90 cfm or above is
considered a powerful model and will effectively remove pollutants from
your home. Also look to the position of where the HEPA filter is placed.
HEPA filters in vacuums can be placed either before or after the motor,
and some studies have suggested that a filter after the motor can help
catch any fine carbon dust that is generated by the vacuum's motor.
Strong seals to prevent leakage are also extremely important in vacuums
that the filters after the motor.
Nevertheless, whether you choose a canister or upright HEPA vacuum
cleaner, rest assured that it can help eliminate dust and dander from
your home, and also alleviate your asthma-induced symptoms.
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