HEPA: The Must-Have Vacuum Filter for Fighting Dust and Pollen Allergens

Dust, pollen, and dander allergens are everywhere

When you spot specks of dust and debris, it’s hard to know exactly where they came from. “The main sources of these small particles are pollen, mold, pet dander, bacteria, viruses, tobacco smoke, and dust mite particles,” says Joe Perry, Director of Product Engineering at BISSELL.

It’s also impossible to see them all. Allergen particle sizes vary, but generally range from 0.1 to 100 microns – or just 0.0000039 to 0.0039 inches across – making many invisible to the naked eye. And they’re plentiful: some estimates suggest a single square meter of carpet can hold tens of thousands of unwanted particulates.

“These things are everywhere in the house,” says Joe. “They’re on your hard surfaces but a lot live on and in your soft surfaces, too, like down in your carpet. They can form an almost sediment, where the particles rest down in there and collect. When you disturb them, even by walking over the carpet, they get kicked back up into the air.”

Fine particles can trigger allergies and illness

While a buildup of pet dander, pollen, and dust in your carpets sounds gross, these tiny bits may be most problematic when they’re in the air.

“As these particles float around you’re breathing them in which can lead to allergic reactions, asthma issues, and other illnesses,” says Joe, who has been with BISSELL for nearly 17 years.

Although spring typically means lots of pollen is floating around – and for pet owners, extra shedding of hair and dander – the need for clean surfaces and air isn’t limited to a single season. A summer spike in wildfires can add more smoke particles to the environment while being cooped up in fall and winter creates a closed environment where you’re continually recycling the air in your home.

A HEPA air purifier traps particulates while they’re airborne. But once they settle on a surface – especially carpet – a vacuum with a HEPA filtration system is the best way to remove and capture them.

HEPA filtration captures small particles

Simply vacuuming isn’t always enough to remove super small particles including dust, pollen, mold spores, dander allergens, and dust mite debris. (Read this how-to article to learn how to best remove this microscopic matter.)

“With units that don’t have HEPA level filtration systems, all of that fine dust you’ve kicked up will come up into the vacuum and then be released back into the air,” says Joe.

Here’s why: Most vacuums are designed so that a spinning brush roll hits the floor, kicking up dust and debris. The negative air pressure created by the vacuum cleaner lifts the debris up into the machine’s dirt tank or bag. Larger particles like dirt and pieces of dog food are heavy enough to stay put. But the air must exit the machine, which is when small particles have a chance to escape. Without a strong filter in place, fine particles will hitch a ride on the exiting air stream and float right out of the dirt tank and into the air of your home.

In a vacuum with a HEPA filtration system, the exiting air first travels through a layer of foam that traps some of the particles. Then the air passes through a HEPA filter, which Joe describes as “a dead-end maze for small particles.” On BISSELL® vacuums, HEPA filters are generally pleated, plastic-like, and – under a microscope – resemble a super-fine mesh that allows air to pass through but traps fine particles.

“In order to meet a HEPA requirements, our HEPA filters need to capture 99.97% of all particles down to the 0.3 micron size,” says Joe.

One often overlooked aspect is that a vacuum can have a HEPA filter without delivering the expected experience. “A filter can meet HEPA requirements when tested by itself,” says Joe. “But the vacuum may be designed to allow for leaks, such as the air going around the filter as it exits.”

Products such as the SurfaceSense® Allergen Pet Lift-Off® vacuum and the PowerClean® FurFinder™ stick vac are engineered with a HEPA Sealed Allergen System. Both the filter and the system itself have to meet the HEPA standard to be called HEPA.

Proper maintenance improves HEPA filter performance

BISSELL® vacuums with HEPA filtration systems include two components: a foam “pre-filter” and the HEPA filter itself.

“The foam pieces need to be regularly cleaned and dried,” says Joe. By rinsing the foam under running water you’ll free up trapped dust and debris, creating a clearer path for airflow and ensuring vacuum suction isn’t compromised. The foam should be fully dry before returning it in your machine so you do not damage the vacuum.

Several different HEPA filters are used across BISSELL® products, so it’s best to follow care instructions specific to your vacuum. (Owner manuals can usually be found on individual product detail pages or the BISSELL Consumer Support section of the website.)

“Some HEPA filters are washable and some aren’t,” says Joe. “If you wash one that should not be washed, it can lose its ability to capture at a HEPA level.” For instance, some HEPA filters may need to be replaced after a certain number of months or uses, while others require rinsing and drying every 60 days, then replacing after 3 washes.