HEPA Filters – Important Facts about HEPA Filtration Systems
What is a HEPA filter?
A HEPA filter is a high efficiency air filter that is made of a variety of fibers that catch airborne particles as they pass through the filter. The US Department of Energy has set standards for air filtration and they define HEPA as a filter media that removes at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger with each air pass. Most HEPA filters are made of fiberglass and/or a paper material and are most commonly used in air purifiers and vacuum cleaners. Due to the sensitivity of the filter media, it typically cannot be washed since that could damage the fibers.
HEPA filters were first developed in the 1940's during World War II to filter radioactive particles. Shortly thereafter they available for commercial use and have evolved over the past 70 years and can be found in respirators, airplanes, hospitals, as well as many other applications and industries. It is interesting to note that the HEPA filters used on planes are quite similar to those used in clean rooms. On a plane, the air is circulated 10-15 times per hour (every 4-6 minutes) which contributes to the noise level although provides the passengers with the cleanest air possible.
What do HEPA Air Filters Remove From the Air?
The benefit to a HEPA filter is that it provides the highest level of filtration. In removing over 99% of particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter means that it will effectively remove common allergens such as dust, pollen, and mold spores from the air. The most critical particles to remove are the smallest one's since they stay suspended in the air the longest and are small enough to be breathed into your lungs. These particles are between 0.3 and 1 micron in size and too small to be seen with the naked eye. As a reference point, a pollen particle is about 5 microns in diameter and 90% of all airborne particles are less than 10 microns in size, both of which are smaller than what we can see.
Through the use of a HEPA air purifier and to a lesser extent a HEPA vacuum cleaner there is less to dust which is a nice benefit. While the HEPA filters help with dust removal they will not remove the larger dust particles which settle to the ground and on surfaces. In addition, HEPA filters do not remove gases so they do not help with common odors such as smoke.
Resources
- HEPA Air Purifier Reviews - easy to read comparison of the top rated air purifiers with recommendations based upon user needs.
- Browse Air Purifiers - a listing of the air purifiers we sell sorted by customer rating.
- Browse Canister Vacuum Cleaners - browse our canister vacuums, perfect for cleaning hard floors.
- Browse Upright Vacuum Cleaners - a listing of upright vacuums from the top brands.
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