HEPA Bags-Are They Worth The Price?

[bagintheback]

Since a good number of vacuums in my collection have been vintage direct-air models, I am often forced to use plain paper bags. Hoover sells some excellent allergy bags I really like, but up until recently, paper was the only option. However, whenever I tried HEPA in my modern vacuums, such as a Hoover Windtunnel or Kirby Heritage II, I was never that impressed. I thought the extra cost of the bags was too much considering it didn't provide a significant increase in performance.  But recently I've been thinking of ways the price might be justified. Let me know what you think.


 


*Could the consistent use of HEPA bags, considering how little dust they allow through and their increase in airflow, lengthen the life of the motor and the machine? Less repairs and replacements would certainly save money.


 


*In your experience, has the use of HEPA bags reduced allergies or improved air quality? Less time dusting or a reduction of allergy symptoms could definitely be worth the added price.      


 


*Has anyone used these type of bags in a commercial environment? Since they maintain airflow longer than paper bags, less bags would have to purchased and less time would be wasted changing them. Plus, if they did increase motor life, vacuums would be replaced less often. Could these bags save money for a business?


 


*Are we aware of any environmental benefits? Polypropylene is a plastic, and plastic is produced from oil which is a non-renewable resource. Paper is technically renewable  since trees can grow back within a 100 years. I doubt there are any  environmental benefits, but would the high-volume HEPA bags result in less waste? 


 


Can you think of anything else? I'd love to hear from personal experience and maybe we can come up with some answers. 

 

[floor-a-matic]

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">I've been using HEPA bags in all of my Electroluxes that use style C bags & will never use the 4-ply paper bags anymore.  Their filtration is MUCH better than even micro-lined or 4-ply bags.  Ever since I got the HEPA bags, I have only changed the bags twice & when I wiped the bag chamber, there is NO trace of dust.  The bag chamber is 100% clean when I use a HEPA bag in a Lux; & the rubber seal seals tighter onto the bag fill tube, so the dirt doesn't spill out & collect around the opening.  When I use a HEPA bag in a Lux, the airflow does not diminish as much vs. when I used the 4-ply bags.</span>


<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">As for HEPA bags for other vacs, I haven't any experience with anything else other than a Lux, so I can't comment for the other brands.</span>

 

[thevacuumman]

I've been running HEPA bags in my Riccar Vibrance and I have noticed that my brother's allergies have been calm and there hasn't been dust in the bag chamber.

 

[vackid]

Are they worth their price?

YES! A few weeks ago I had a Miele Solaris Electro brought in that was about 10 years old. This machine was only ever used with Intensive Clean and Intensive CLean Plus bags. The bag chamber was so clean you could eat out of it and there was not a trace of dust in motor chamber. Of course there was carbon dust like you'd see in any vacuum but there was no trace of house dust.

A second example, except for the entry level Riccars, all of the machines come standard with HEPA bags similar to the old style Miele bags. We have Riccar's that are 3 or 4 years old and when customers bring them in for the Red Carpet Service Plan (Free maintenance for the first 4 years, Just like BMW Ultimate Service) and these machiens have absolutely not dust inside of them. The bag chamber is black plastic so any dust that escapes through the disposable bag will easily be seen in chamber and they're always perfectly clean.

It's just a simple fact that the cleaner the motor stays, the longer it's going to last. The less resistance of air that the motor is subject to, the cooler it's going to stay, the cooler it stays, the longer it lasts.

 

[vacman117]

I've noticed that the vacuums I use HEPA bags with tend to have less dust on the machine and in the bag chamber. But I have also noticed that they tend to smell like dog faster. I do think they are worth the price but I'm not one who likes to spend that much money on vacuum bags.


 


Chase

 

[electromatik]

I can't help but doubt the claims of "HEPA" bags... Especially since there is no law or regulations regarding it. Companies are free to put the HEPA claim to anything. According to the government standard, there must be roughly 40 feet of filtering media folded accordion style. It just makes me wonder if a "cloth" can really filter that well. I readily admit it may be possible, but given the history of unregulated fads, it really gives me pause. However, I do feel they likely filter better than most other bags, so yes I would say they are worth it to keep more particles in the machine.

 

[blackheart]

Definitely!

I am a big believer in the cloth bags i feel they filter better maintain airflow longer and in some cases can increase airflow.

I saw the biggest change in airflow with my Airway Vita-vac I'm not sure who made the bag it came with (brown paper) but i remember it pulling a 3-4 when it was clean after i put an air-tec poly bag in the reading was a 6 it also mainainted power better than that paper bag. I also loved the clear front on the bag so i could look into it

 

[dysonman1]

HEPA bags are a huge leap forward in vacuum bag technology. Originally, the Air-Way 14 ply cellulose bag was the gold standard - for a over three decades. Paper disposable bags suffer from two set backs, high fine dust leakage and extremely quick 'clogging' of the pores. The vacuums of the 60's and 70's all had to use the standard single ply bag that clogged very quickly. Now that Hepa cloth bags are available, you can tell that almost no dust leaks through AND they clog very, very slowly. That means greater ability of the airflow to remove dirt. Tacony has Hepa cloth bags for the old Eureka F and G uprights, Electrolux type C, and Hoover type A & Y. They are Riccar and Simplicity branded, and are available in vac shops.

 

[tolivac]

I am all for the HEPA "Cloth" "Filtrete" style bags as well.Improves the filtering and performance of any vacuum I have they fit in.Like when I tried Filtrete type bags for my Air-Ways-instant improvement in airflow over the orig paper bags that were HEPA rated.Airflow improved when I modified a Sebo D4 bag to fit in a Nilfisk GS80 machine.You can pack more debris into the Filtrete HEPA bags than paper ones.Paper ones can only go to half filled or so and the airflow goes way down.And as others noted-the vacuums bag chamber and motor stay cleaner.I found using the Filtrete bags REDUCES odors over the paper ones.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Will there be any HEPA bags for Aerus/Electrolux uprights & Rennaissance, Epic 8000, Guardian & Guardian Platinum & Compact/TriStar?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, I think the HEPA bags in the new

HOOVER Connie, and HOOVER Platinum upright seem to work very well. The folks at The HOOVER Bag Plant said they SHOULD have made them, but, it was 'too late'. THAT might have been a GREAT thing to have done.
There's nothing like a bag.

 

[myles_v]

I recently bought a Bissell Zing because I needed a new canister vacuum fast and it can use Simplicity type Z bags. I used the Bissell with the bags Bissell included for a week or two (it included 3 bags plus one in the cleaner and we have 5 dogs so I'm constantly vacuuming) and I had to change the bag twice in that period of time. The bottom of the dust bag compartment got dusty in the middle of it very fast. I ordered a pack of Simplicity Z bags and received them the other day. I wiped out the bag compartment before putting in the new bag and I have used the Bissell multiple times since getting the bags. The dust bag compartment has yet to get dusty again and the vacuum has noticeably greater airflow. I do expect these bags to last longer in the machine than the paper bags did.

I have a Honeywell central vacuum at my dad's house (model 4B-H503) which can use bags or be used bagless. When I used it without a bag in it the airflow dropped very fast. Paper bags kept the airflow high longer but still lost airflow relatively fast. I bought Filtrete synthetic bags (definitely not HEPA, but cloth nonetheless) in mid June and I have yet to replace the first bag I put in the vacuum unit, and we have 2 cats and a bunny.

 

[myles_v]

Bag compartment

 

[kenkart]

Im very impressed,

I have used the perfect bags and find they are far superior to the 4 ply.

 

[vacuumman206]

In my opinion, they are worth it if you need it. That is, if you have alergies or are extra protective of the cleanliness of your vacuum's bag chamber. I have no alergies and dust does not bother me, so if a regular $.50 bag misses 5% of the dust going through it I don't care. I will say, my dad has an older Bissell that the only bags we can find for it (along with my pure air) is the expensive almost cloth-like bags, and they hold more and filter great, but seem to cause the dirt to clump up in the corners of the bag and by the inlet sometimes. But if he had the choice, he'd buy the cheapest paper bag he could find, and so would I.
However, I will say that some of the cheapest ($$ wise) bags are of the cheapest quality and are to be looked out for. I bought some bags once and every bag (4 so far) has ripped on its own once it got 1/2 full

 

[kenkart]

I have a

Metropolitan tank, which is wonderful, but the bags are slightly shorter than the cloth bag, and so far every bag I have ever used has burst, I took a Hoover Handisac and made a tank bag out of it...problem solved!

 

[sbakerde]

I like them

The rise of the hepa/ cloth bags is due in part to the increased use of the so called "high performance" motors. Many manufacturers are using these newer high revving motors in the new vacuum and are also offering Hepa bags. Often times new machines are coming standard with hepa type bags. Sears Kenmore started really pushing the new bags with the launch of the Progressive series which had the first redesigned motor. The hidden story here is that these newer motors really should always be paired with a hepa bags because they are so sensitive to fine dust. Use thin/ cheap walmart bags with a high performance motor and your bearings will get louder and louder. I have seen many new vacuums last only a year because these new motors can't handle the dust that gets through the cheap bags. This also explains why so many bagless vacuums don't last long. Consumers are not educated to keep the filters very very clean so they just run the vacuum until the motor blows. I will say I am shocked Aerus hasn't jumped on the hepa bag wagon since they also use high performance motors in their new machines. And I am sorry but even the Genuine Aerus bags don't keep all the dust inside.

 

[tolivac]

HEPA bags and motors-use them whenver I can for that reason-easier on the motor-not only keeping fine dust out of the motor-the HEPA bags allow he motor to work cooler becuase the greater airflow allows better cooling.And besides bearings-the fine dust no longer collects in the fans-causing them to go off balance or odors.The fine dust will also erode motor insulation on the windings-both rotor and stator.And it may wear the brushes faster,too.

 

[davetranter]

Cloth bags

Firstly - probably a 'dumb' question, but.... I assume 'HEPA' is an acronym, however I have no idea what it 'stands for'.....

Secondly - Two of my 'vintage' machines have 'cloth bags'... Isn't it wonderful how fashions turn full-circle in the end???

All best

Dave T