VACUUMS WITH HEPA FILTERS
We Use: ProTeam™ : Gold LEED Certified : HEPA Vacuums
HEPA and Indoor Air Quality
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter. This type of filtration can remove 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. HEPA vacuums are essential for mold clean-ups and they can make an exceptional difference in the quality of your air. You can often smell the difference between rooms that have been purified using a HEPA filter, and those that have not. Most vacuums can only collect the largest particles like pollen, mold spores, and lint.
You should know that Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is affected by everything brought into an existing indoor environment which is the air we breathe. This air is constantly recycled by the HVAC system - though it may be filtered air. Vacuums using paper and cloth bags drive a lot of air through their systems in order to pick up the dirt and dust. Vacuums are essentially air movers and this includes anything in that air path. If you have ever vacuumed and seen the outside light illuminating the particles in the air after you vacuum, you see evidence of harmful air pollutants. Vacuums can pick up and stir pollen, allergens and other unwanted particles, unfriendly to the buildings occupants.
HEPA vacuums use a better system to collect and hold these pollutants before exhausting filtered, clean air back into the room. The HEPA filter is actually a second filter, cutting down the recycling of dust and dirt back into the air.
HEPA vacuums have been criticized for inadequate suction power due to the filtering process. This has been addressed by commercial manufactures and these HEPA vacuums do a more than adequate job. To enhance the units ability to perform optimally, faithfully empty the vacuum dirt and clean/replace the HEPA filter twice per year.
Should you be using CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) approved vacuums with HEPA filters, maintenance of these filters are vital to the certification of the performance of the unit. Replacement of the HEPA filter is required every 6 months and the filter bag must be emptied when ½ full.
“HEPA filters will take PARTICULATES or particles out of the air. Smoke has particulates from the burning process. We will next talk about VOCs, which are gases or vapors. HEPA will not clear out vapors and this is why we need to reduce the introduction of VOCs into a facility. Once in the building, VOCs are more difficult to remove.”