Not necessarily. Look for vacuums carrying the CRI vacuum cleaner testing program label. Many units are not HEPA filter units, yet are very effective in dust containment. HEPA filters may add additional cost to the overall operational cost of the vacuum. No seam is invisible, seams should be kept to a minimum, running the length of the area making sure the natural light does not strike across the seam.

HEPA (pronounced HEP-ahh) is short for High-Efficiency Particulate Air which is a filter capable of removing particles of 0.3 microns or larger from air at 99.97 per cent or better efficiency. You'll see HEPA filters on air-purifying systems, power tools, and vacuums, both industrial and residential. When lead paint is disturbed (by opening and closing a window, for instance, or by sanding or scraping, or by the weather), the paint deteriorates by turning into extremely tiny particles of dust.

High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters (HEPA) are a type of media filter that is very tightly woven. This unique filter was initially developed during World War II to prevent discharge of airborne radioactive particles from the exhaust of nuclear reactors. HEPA filters have since become the Gold standard technology in purifying the air in industrial, medical, and military settings. HEPA filters are now the most popular choice for portable residential air cleaners.

Determine your vacuuming needs: Are you looking for something light and mobile? Do you need attachments? Will you be using your vacuum for hardwood floors, carpet, and/or upholstery? How often will you use your vacuum system? All these questions will help you determine what you need. Before you buy, ask question and ask for a demonstration. Copyright © 2004 The Vacuum Clinic. All Rights Reserved. All brand names are protected trade marks of their registered

The HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter was developed by the US Atomic Energy Commission to filter out sub-micron particles. All True Medical HEPA is laser-tested and must remove a minimum of 99.97% of all particulate matter greater than 0.3 microns in size. A human hair is about 300 times too large to penetrate a HEPA filter.

The Hypo-Allergenic Oreck XL deluxe model has an outer vacuum bag that's made of 30 layers of filtering material - the same material surgical masks are made of. This outer bag traps 99.7% of all dust and irritants that are in the air. Hypo-allergenic inner vacuum cleaner bags are also used inside of the outer bag to cut down on dust and allergy-producing irritants.

Generally, one (1) gallon will clean 2,000 square feet when mixed at a ratio of 9:1 with water. Two (2) gallons is usually sufficient to clean the average roof.

The problem there is that they can only clean the air that actually passes through the filter, so they can only purify a portion of the air in a single room. However, most of the airborne particles in a single room will not line up single file and pass through a stationary filter, let alone an entire home. They also cause noise pollution, waste hundreds of dollars a year in electricity, are limited to collecting particles over .30 microns, and feature costly replacement filters.

Call a professional to assess the problem. and use a true air purifier to trap the mold spores so the mold will not grow. It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors.

The difference is huge. According to the American Lung Association, the efficiency of HEPA-type filters "may be 55% or less at 0.3 microns," which means that at least 4,500 out of 10,000 0.3 micron particles will pass through. The true medical grade HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, like those used in the CAP600 & CAP1200 models, are certified to a minimum efficiency of 99.97% at 0.3 microns.

While vacuuming, a large variety of bacteria and particles are accumulated inside the cleaner. For instance, pet hairs are picked up by the cleaner and then remain inside the dust bag. This environment is ideal for bacteria to develop bad odours inside the dust bag. When vacuuming, the air passes through the dust bag, making the air going out of the cleaner smell bad.

If your vacuum cleaner suddenly becomes very loud, it is a good indication that you may have picked up something that broke your fan (or impeller). Shut the vacuum off immediately and have the broken fan replaced. If you continue to use the vacuum with the fan broken, you run the risk of damaging the motor which will then be a very costly repair.

A vacuum cleaner should be able to collect 99.97% of all particles down to and including 0.3 microns in size. To put a micron in perspective, a human hair measures 80-100 microns in diameter. This level of filtration is known as 1-IEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration.