HEPA Vacuum Cleaner Buyers Guide
HEPA Vacuum Cleaner Overview
HEPA vacuum cleaners with a totally sealed body have become the gold standard in the vacuum cleaning industry, especially for those who suffer from indoor allergies and asthma. The difference in quality is considerable and to some extent you get what you pay for. Whether you prefer a canister or upright type of model, it comes down to your floor needs (rugs, hardwoods, or a mix,) suction power, performance, and durability.
Do I need a HEPA Vacuum?
We recommend that everyone buys a good HEPA sealed body vacuum cleaner whether they have allergies. At the end of the day, you do not want dust particles escaping back into the air you breathe at home or the office, where you will have to vacuum them up again.
How does a HEPA Vacuum Work?
The question here is not how it works, but how effectively it works. There is a huge difference between a vacuum cleaner that will clean up all or most of the dirt visible to the naked eye, and those vacuums that will penetrate deep into a carpet’s fibers and suck up the embedded dirt.
HEPA vacuums capture particulates from the air that has been drawn into the vacuum, and as long as the HEPA filter has been placed after the motor, the best vacuums will leave a room with cleaner air and less particulates than when you started vacuuming.
The better vacuum manufacturers invest time and money in nuanced features that improve vacuum performance. Read our expert product reviews carefully as each of our manufacturers tackles performance issues differently, but keep in mind we only rate a vacuum as five stars if we think the vacuum actually performs very well.
Selecting a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
- Your first task is to decide whether you want a handheld, a cordless stick vacuum, or a multi-purpose vacuum, which can be a canister or upright. Most U.S. households contain more than one vacuum appliance, but an upright vacuum cleaner is preferred by most, except in the North East where bare floors are more prevalent and canisters are more popular.
- Choose a manufacturer with an impeccable reputation especially for longevity, customer service, and safety.
- Decide as to whether your goal is to primarily clean carpets, in which case you are more likely to choose an upright vacuum for your needs. For a mix of bare floors and thinner rugs, a canister model might be the best option.
- We strongly recommend a vacuum cleaner with cloth/ fiber type bags for more sanitary disposal, more suction, and less chance of ripping.
- Pay attention to the quality of the additional tools, especially the soft horsehair floor brush, and anything designed to clean upholstery like a mini turbo brush.
How to Use a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
Follow your manufacturer’s instructions carefully, including those on the yearly filter changes. If you think your vacuum cleaner is losing suction, check for clogs, brush roll tangles, and an over full bag. A powerhead on a canister is used for thick to medium carpets, a turbo brush is for thin carpets, and a smooth floor brush is for hardwoods and tile.
Where to Use a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
You can use a HEPA vacuum cleaner on your carpeted and tiled floors and stairs, which is its most common use. However, you can also use them for cleaning drapes and blinds, upholstery especially pet fur, car upholstery, and all hard surfaces where dust has settled.
HEPA Vacuum Features:
- Completely sealed body for zero particle emissions.
- Triple filter system with pre, HEPA, and post motor system.
- Dual bypass system for increased air flow and power.
- Easy finger-tip control adjustments.
- Automatic height adjustment when moving from different thicknesses of carpet and bare floors.
- Machine with edge guards to stop accidental bumping around corners and furniture.
- Sufficient cord length, so that you do not need to keep unplugging your vacuum.
- Sufficient hose length for accomplishing non floor tasks.
- Excellent grade tools, which can be snapped on and off easily and are easy to access.
- Material fiber bags for superior air flow.
- Manufacturer with excellent safety record.
- Light bag full indicator.
- At least a five-year warranty. The best vacuums should last you easily over ten years if not more with only modest repairs.
Shop our top rated HEPA Vacuums here!