Thread Number: 37543
/ Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
Home air quality rants |
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Post# 400496 , Reply# 4   11/6/2018 at 23:07 (1,968 days old) by myles_v (Fredericksburg, VA)   |   | |
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It's interesting that you believe HEPA filtration vacuum cleaners have negative affects on long term health because of how clean they leave the air, but you also seem to suggest using whole home air filtration in HVAC systems. If anything I could see the HVAC filtration having a negative long term affect since they're more effective at maintaining the IAQ, since it seems like you think overly clean air causes allergies.
I think that some of the <$100 bagless vacuums on the market right now filter the air poorly enough to be a concern. I haven't used many current machines in that price range lately, but I know that as of just a couple of years ago Bissell and Dirt Devil machines tended to blow quite a bit of dust past the filters. Sharks and most Hoovers seem to be decent, however. I think that HEPA is just a marketing gimmick on many budget machines, the machine as a whole often lacks seals needed to effectively filter all of the air that passes through the machine so you'll often see them labelled as having filters made with HEPA media rather than just saying HEPA. I believe vacuums need to filter very well in order to be effective, just for the fact that it makes no sense to pick up dirt that's deep inside of carpeting just to spew it back into the air. The smallest particles are the ones that are most likely to become lodged in your lungs, your body is able to maintain itself but it has a harder time dealing with the smallest of the particles. I once read that the best air cleaner you can have is a nice large rug that's properly maintained; this is because carpeting traps all of the dust from the air, unlike hard flooring. Sure, there isn't a huge amount of air passing through a vacuum cleaner relative to an HVAC system, but there's a huge amount of dust entering the machine that needs to be trapped. I am genuinely concerned about IAQ and I am aware that a good-filtering vacuum cleaner is only one small piece of the puzzle. I think that fresh air intake should be a larger concern than particle collection, which is something that can be aided by a central vacuum system exhausted to the outdoors. I'm also a fan of heat recovery ventilators, they exchange indoor air with outdoor air but they're designed to transfer the heat energy from the indoor air that's being exhausted to the outdoor air that's being brought in. This is an interesting topic for me, thanks for bringing it up. |
Post# 400601 , Reply# 10   11/9/2018 at 10:16 (1,965 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)   |   | |
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There is another way to look at air 'quality' inside the home. For decades, manufacturers like HOOVER didn't care a thing about filtration. The first few models of Hoovers used two bags, one inside the other, with one made of cheesecloth and one of satin. The user had to clean the bags outside. Air-Way was the first to care about filtration - they invented and perfected the disposable bag made of 14 layers of cellulose. Rexair (Rainbow) wasn't invented for filtration either - it was invented to be a machine that maintained airflow always. The 'filtration' aspect of using water was an added feature that came after the invention of the machine. People kept their windows open 9 months of the year (air conditioning hadn't been invented yet). No one died from dust in the air.
Today, I believe a lot of the 'hype' of HEPA filtration is "Made Up"! There's big money in Hepa filters (Miele's filter is $50 once a year). I feel that most vacuums today are not running long enough to really contribute to any significant amount of dust in the air. I would use a 1926 Hoover 700 with the cloth bag, and still feel my house was clean after. I would just hate emptying it. With that said, I do have a central vacuum system in my house, VENTED outside because it's a Vacuflo. I didn't have it installed because I was concerned about air quality - I had it installed because it's so powerful the windows bow inwards when I turn it on (not really). I actually like it because I can't smell last week's dog hair and dirt when I use it. I love my attic fan too, but talk about bringing in the dust. |
Post# 400691 , Reply# 13   11/11/2018 at 23:26 (1,963 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)   |   | |
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Post# 400765 , Reply# 15   11/13/2018 at 08:52 (1,961 days old) by kloveland (Tulsa)   |   | |
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I often thought those thick HEPA filters looked too restrictive to me. I use the plain fiberglass filters as well. I have an older unit and will eventually have the ductwork replaced in my home because it runs underneath a concrete slab. Metal ductwork in the ground wasn’t a good idea to begin with. They must have thought it was a good idea in the late 60’s when my home was built. They did somethings well back then and others not so much. That was 51 years ago!
Filters are made to protect the unit not you! I totally agree. You don’t need an expensive Hepa filter to keep dust out of the blower, A frame and furnace. I haven’t totally bought into the Hepa hype. For me personally it’s just another sales pitch to sell the consumer on a new vacuum cleaner or furnace filter. |