If you suffer with asthma or a dust allergy, the filtration system should be an important factor to determining which vacuum cleaner you'll buy. This is because the filtration system will determine the size and number of dust particles that'll be in the air when it is exhausted out of the vacuum.
Micro filter: The type of filtration found on basic vacuum cleaners. Ideal for general use, some can be washed while others need to be replaced.
HEPA filter: First used in the medical industry, Hoover’s High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters trap and capture 99.9% of small pollutants and pollen particles, making them suitable for allergy and asthma sufferers. Most tend to be washable and reusable.
For a bagged vacuum cleaner, the HEPA filtration is delivered via the materials used to construct the bag. For a bagless vacuum cleaner, the air and dust is forced up and round towards the HEPA filter. As it spins, the dust is thrown out and settles at the bottom of the bin. The faster the airflow, the greater the amount of dust thrown out. With top rated vacuum cleaners, such as Hoover Freedom, almost all dust is removed, so the filters do not clog and constant suction is maintained.
