Here’s What To Look For In A HEPA Vacuum

In the past 50 years, the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter has gone from very specialized uses in selected industries to a device found in hundreds of applications.   What started life as a means of cleaning the air for clean rooms used in the Manhattan Project that created the world’s first atomic bomb has now found its way into such everyday uses as cleaning up and abating asbestos and lead-based paint (i.e. HEPA Vacuum).

What eaxctly is a HEPA filter? The HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum filter was developed during the 1940s as part of the Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of radioactive particles. These filters are designed to capture at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter, a size that’s particularly challenging to filter. Over time, HEPA filters transitioned from nuclear applications to various industries, including healthcare and aerospace. In the consumer market, they became popular for their ability to trap allergens, dust, and pollutants, providing cleaner indoor air. Today, HEPA filters are a gold standard in air purification, ensuring environments remain free from harmful particulates.

Along the way, many vacuums and filters have called themselves HEPA, but they aren’t necessarily the real deal.   The following is a guide to ensure you get the most filtration for your money when investing in a HEPA system.

6 Tips to getting the most out of your HEPA filter industrial vacuum system

1. Make sure your vacuum is HEPA certified. A true HEPA filter will remove 99.97% of all particles that pass through it down to .3 microns (a micron is one-millionth of an inch).  Small particles – such as bacteria — are invisible to the human eye.  Many vacuums may claim HEPA levels of filtration but won’t give you those numbers.  They are not true HEPA filters if they aren’t individually tested and given a serial number.
2. Look for a solidly built case, including heavy-duty seals and connections at seams, joints, or any location where air might leak out.  A poorly constructed HEPA vacuum might have a true HEPA filter but perform poorly because the case leaks.
3. Another tip – get a vacuum with a bypass motor.  A bypass motor is sealed and separated from the impeller, which creates a vacuum.  Because it has its filtered air supply, it can’t pick up particles that get past the filters, particles that can reduce the motor’s life.
4. Also, look for a pre-filter that will capture most of the larger particles flowing through the vacuum cleaner before they get to the HEPA filter, extending its life.  Even better are multiple pre-filter layers, which will further extend the life of the HEPA filter.
5. There is debate about where the HEPA filter should be placed for best results – at the air inlet or the outlet.  While putting the HEPA filter on the air inlet side may protect the motors a little and lessen the possibility of particles escaping through leaks in the vacuum’s case, placing the filter on the exhaust side will capture any carbon dust the motor creates and brushes.
6. Ensure that your HEPA filter is certified to work at the speed at which your vacuum operates.  One certified at a different rate might not work at your vacuum’s rated speed.

Over the years, HEPA vacuums have become an important part of the building maintenance professional’s arsenal in the fight against particulate contamination.   They are used daily in thousands of jobs as diverse as mold remediation, asbestos, lead paint cleanup, and the daily cleaning and maintenance of food, pharmaceutical, and electronics companies.

Next Steps:

• Need information on HEPA vacuums? See a complete list of Goodway HEPA vacuums here.
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