HEPA Filter Vacuums - Breathe Easier at Home

Vacuum cleaners equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters capable of trapping 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). They are especially beneficial for individuals with allergies or asthma.

HEPA Filter Vacuums FAQ

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What is a HEPA filter in a vacuum?

Often found in air purifiers, a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter is designed to remove at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 micron in size or larger. Are all vacuum filters HEPA? Can you clean a true HEPA filter? How do you clean a HEPA-like filter? When do you need to replace HEPA vacuum filters? What about robot vacuums?

Does a vacuum cleaner have a true HEPA filter?

Just because a vacuum cleaner carries the HEPA label doesn’t guarantee it contains a true HEPA filter. Many HEPA-type filters look like true HEPA filters but capture a smaller percentage of particles in the 0.3-micron range. A true HEPA filter has been tested to ensure it filters out 99.7% of these particles.

How does a HEPA vacuum work?

A HEPA vacuum is sealed and doesn’t allow air to pass anywhere except through the filter. In a HEPA vacuum, the filter is mounted in an airtight casing that forces air to pass through it. The bag or collection chamber, as well as the motor exhaust, are sealed. Without these features, the filter would catch many of the finest particles, but not all.

What is a true HEPA filter?

A true HEPA filter is what we mentioned above — a filter rated to capture at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 micron or greater. That’s a lot of air particles, including anything that might be dangerous like viruses, pet dander, and even the tiniest pollen particles.

Does my vacuum have a HEPA filter?

There are HEPA filters on vacuums that remove 99.99% of particles up to .3 microns, and even some that are rated for even smaller particles, around .2 microns. Many good vacuums these days come very tightly sealed. If you are an allergy sufferer, you need to make sure that the vacuum with a HEPA filter is among them.

What is a HEPA filter?

A HEPA filter is a high efficiency particulate air filter, designed to remove 99.97 percent of all particles that are 0.3 microns in size that pass through it. The HEPA standard is set by the U.S. government’s Department of Energy, and was developed for use in nuclear facilities in the 1940s.

Does a HEPA filter remove a lot of dust?

HEPA filters remove 99.97% of particles that are .3 microns in size—exactly the size of a lot of viruses and bacteria. Becky Rapinchuk, founder of Clean Mama, says, “ [It] traps dirt, debris, dust and filters the air that the vacuum cleaner uses. I find that they kick up much less dust than a non-HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner.”