What brand of vac, is a true hepa filter.

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

HEPA

There are 13 levels of HEPA filtration. The Federal minimun standard for a product to me HEPA compliant is level 3. Most use level 3, a couple brands use level 5. Kirby uses HEPA level 11. I know you said that she would prefer a canister, but Kirby is going to be the best for filtration...and they're versatile machines so above floor cleaning is still easy.

 

[trebor]

A Kirby is easy to use...

for above the floor cleaning if you are young, healthy, strong, quick, agile and nimble. I used to be a die-hard Kirby fan.

90% of the time when a hose is needed it is just a quick swipe with an open tube and two feet of hose is sufficient. A Kirby will not go flat to the floor under a bed. A Kirby weighs 24 lbs., not easy to carry up and down stairs. A Kirby is a great cleaning machine. It is easy to push, but it is not easy to use. I trade them in all the time on the Lindhaus after a 5 min demo: 14lb weight, show 2 motor, auto belt protection, full bag shut off, rice-pick up, flat-to-floor, handle on body, on board tool's, ease of bag change, low noise, high filtration (near HEPA at much lower cost) For the cost of a Kirby you can have a Lindhaus upstairs and down, and still put change in your pocket.

Yes, it is possible to take the central vac power unit and hose/tools with you if the buyer doesn't want it. You need new tubing and inlets in the new house. But you buy new fridge and stove and garage opener knowing they will stay. so why not a central vac?

 

[trebor]

The truth about HEPA...

there are FIVE levels of HEPA filtration, numbered 10 through 14, see link below.

The difference is the size of particles and percentage captured below 0.3 microns.
ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Arresting) is higher filtration 99.997% @.03 microns (notice shift in decimal point)

HEPA was developed as a life saving measure for nuclear scientists working in clean rooms. It originally stood for High Efficiency Particulate Arresting filter, and was corrupted by the commercial marketplace to ---Particle Air.

Pollen and mold sizes start at 2.5 microns. If you really need true hepa to survive you are living in a bubble and have no business having floor coverings, upholstery, or fabric window treatments in your environment. Hepa filters are tested at a rate of 10cfm, yes that is correct TEN CFM PER ONE SQUARE FOOT OF MATERIAL PER MINUTE. Do the math, 12x 12 = 144 sq in/ sq ft x 12 = 1728 cu in/sq ft x 10 cu ft/min = 17280 cu in/min/sq ft. divide that by 144 = 120 in per sq in per min, divide that by 60 sec per min and you get TWO CUBIC INCHES PER SECOND PER SQUARE INCH OF MATERIAL. Up the ante by a FACTOR OF 6 for a vac that moves only 60 cu ft/min, (80-90 cfm is common) up it again by a FACTOR OF 12 for a filter that is only 3" x 4" . A filter that is tested at 2 cu/in per sq in /sec by itself is used in a vacuum cleaner that is pushing air at SEVENTY TWO TIMES THE RATE OF CERTIFICATION. Now do you understand what a boondoggle HEPA filtration actually is? Not one allergist in a hundred understands this or can explain it. The only true test of Hepa vacuums is as a unit, with the filter in place, running at full speed. The Lindhaus vacuums are 96.28% effective with the standard inexpensive Filtrete filter in place and using the standard paper bag. Close enough, case closed.

http://greenresidentialcleaning.com/managers/TRUTH-ABOUT-HEPA.pdf

 

[gsheen]

Trebor

"The only true test of Hepa vacuums is as a unit, with the filter in place, running at full speed".


 


This is so true, many vacuums cleaners offer a hepa filter but not a sealed system. thee is no point in haveing a hepa filter when there is no seal around it or any were in the exhaust system of the machine. One of the best hepa filtration vacuums out there was the Electrolux OXY3 it has its hepa filter before the motor and another one after the motor. the only trouble with having a hepa filter in fron of the motor is that if you are not carefull and let the bag burst you will have to replace the hepa filter as its not washable 

 

[gsheen]

Just One thing, 


 


I am allergic to grass ( I love mowing my lawn ) cats ( I have 11) dust ( i works with vacuums for a living) 


 


many years ago when my parents discovered that I was allergic to every thing ( including chocolate ) every one said oh you must get rid of your pets garden and every thing, my mom refused. What happened was that i built up a resistance to my allergy's. I was chatting to a doctor that specialised in allergy's and he said to me that thanks to modern cleaning chemicals vacuums and air cleaning air cons children aren't getting used to dirt and germs and building up resistance to them so there are more allergy's. Its kind of ironic the very same systems that we buy to help with our allergy's are causing them.

 

[sebo_fan]

re: Just One Thing

Yes, thanks to modern cleaning chemical vacuums and air cleaning, children aren't getting to used to dirt and germs - thus, when you look at it - when bagless, cyclonic vacuums weren't around, one can certainly summize children were far healthier. Thus, bagless, cyclonic vacuums are newer and because of them, they attribute to children becoming immune to bacteria.

So what does that tell you?

 

[sebo_fan]

Re: central vacs and moving.

Trebor, in the UK, people generally move their stoves and fridge systems. Just wanted to know if there's an alternative portable system that would allow you to take the vac with you. As for garage openers, well, I don't know many who have them - in the UK we don't do electric gates unless you live in a posh mansion and electric garage doors just aren't that much of a necessity.

 

[szymonrules]

Well...

Just my 2 cents (pence?.) Miele and Dyson should be the best at HEPA filtration. If those are too expensive, Riccars are pretty good but still pretty dang expensive... Hope this adds to your knowledge!

 

[gsheen]

@ sebo fan 


 


You missed the point completely and totally. It had nothing to do with what type of vacuum system you use but the obsession with germ free & saftey. children can't do anything any more because , they might get dirty or they might get hurt.  

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Kirby will always be the way to go! If someone isn't phyisically able to use one then they probably shouldn't be doing their own cleaning anyway.

 

[Koobam]

LOL sebo fan

Are you trying THAT hard to put down Dyson? You're D4 is just as much to "blame" as a Dyson for this very cause of a higher rate of allergy sufferers than not. In fact - blaming the Dyson more would be complementary as it's the best HEPA vacuums that contribute the most to this problem.


I, myself, am also a sufferer - and I've talked to my friends before about this and we all did come to that conclusion that it's because were not exposed to the dust and dirt like we used to be - our bodies see it as a threat and thus cause incessant sneezing, runny nose, puffy eyes, and headaches (suffered heavily from all a while back, a few hundred shots later and I'm doing much better).


Thus, really, the whole "ZOMG BagleSSs will KILL YOU cuyZ DirT GOes EVERYWHER ZOMG!!!111" is completely invalid and it's been proven time and again that a smart way of emptying the dust bin - and doing so outside - is way more than sanitary enough that it's not really a valid argument in my book.

I love SEBO, Miele, Dyson, Electrolux, Aerus, Emer, and Fakir - but I can't stand Dyson bashers that use that lame excuse everytime.

 

[gsheen]

What vacuum you choose to use is as much a personal choice as what car you drive. I only drive Mercedes as my personal everyday transport and would never buy an Audi or a Bmw does that make them bad cars, NO they are just not what I like in a car.  They don't suit my needs and I don't feel as safe in them, we also have a Range Rover sport and a hyundia, They are both good cars and both have there uses but Im the most happy behind the wheel of my merc's .  My wife loves her little hyundia , she doesn't like my merc or the rangy that much its personal.  


When It was just my wife and my self we had a absolutly brilliant Electrolux ultrasmart vac ,IE Eureka smart vac. It was bagged and did just fine, When through family sircumstances we inhereted  7 cats to add to our 4 I was trully glad to get my hands on a dyson ( not available in SA at the time).


 


I Love my cats but can't handle pet hair any were( a little ocd) so I vacuum easily 4 times a day( I work from home ) .We are agents for dyson and also vorwerk ( bagged vacuums) they are truly great vacuums but when I tried using one in my house it was impossible. I went thru 4 bags a week, same when we used a miele s7 upright. For me and many many others a dyson is the only way to go. My eldest one is 10 Its cyclone has never clogged , its never snapped a belt on its clutch ( although I have replaced the belts on the clutch every year) Its never had clogged filters. I am now fortune enough to have the option of having 5 dysons in my home one for each area. all work perfectly with no hassle , but then I follow instructions

 

[joshdonnell]

Dyson

There ok not the best if i want bagless i want a either a shark or a electrolux nimble

 

[trebor]

To IL Kirby Fan:

So you are saying that just because someone is physically unable to use a Kirby they should not be doing their own cleaning? Does that mean that someone who cannot run the Boston Marathon should not walk? Do you realize the incongruity and absurdity of your statement? I know where of I speak. I sold many Kirby systems in my day, many of them. I won trips, Kirbys, the whole bit.

I can maneuver the Lindhaus upright just fine, use the tools, carry it up and downstairs. And you are telling me that because I am not able to use a Kirby with ease I must hire someone else to do my cleaning? Would you be paying for this directly out of your own pocket, or would you prefer an increase in your taxes to subsidize all of us who cannot use a Kirby? I should live in filth because I cannot afford a professional cleaning service?

I know what it is to be a fervent believer in the Kirby system, or the Rainbow, for that matter. About another 30 years or so down the road, you will likely feel differently about using a Kirby, if they are even still around at that point. The population is aging, and the younger generation cares less about cleaning than previous generations. Kirby is not the be all and end all cleaning solution for every situation. I trade them in for 50 bucks on the Lindhaus, after a 5 min demo. I can't high pressure anyone in 5 min. People take the machine from me.

Please, temper your opinions with a bit of common sense, if you wish to be taken seriously as an adult on this forum. Thank you,

Trebor

 

[djtaylor]

To Hooverman101...

To Hooverman101:
Since you say that a canister would be your first choice for your home I would suggest that you find a Tri Star. The older CXL or DXL models are, I feel, better made and better performers. But, the newer EXLs are still good vacuums. Use the micro filtration disposable bags and the HEPA exhaust filter. Make sure to put a new belt on the power nozzle and change the bags monthly, if not more often.
Just my two cents. Let us know what you choose to do.
Best of luck.
Justin

 

[IL-Kirby-Fan]

Trebor...

My email address is listed in my profile...feel free to direct additional comments there.

 

[bimmer740]

@hooverman101

As several others mentioned before, a central vacuum is probably the best option. If your mom can afford one, and its possible to install one in her home, a central vac offers the greatest benefit. The power unit is located away from the main living space and it does not exhaust air back into the room. Some units, such as the VacuFlo that I have even exhaust outside of the house. All portable machines exhaust the air that has gone through the vacuum back into the air. No matter how well a portable vac may filter the air and even though it may be a very tiny amount, some dust does get back into the room. Also the exhaust from a portable vac can sometimes blow the existing dust in the room around as you are clean. While this small amount of dust is not likely to affect the average person, even those with moderate allergies, it certainly could affect someone with COPD. The fewer irritants in the house and fewer particles released back into the air by the vacuum, the better off your mom will be.

You can find central vacs in at all different price points and can customize the accessories to fit her own needs. After having the VacuFlo system for the past 6 years, there is much less dust in the house than there used to be. Something that I've also noticed is that friends that are highly allergic to cats, and used to be bothered by my cat, can now stay at my house for a much longer period of time before their allergies start acting up. No more pet dander blown around or exhuasted back into the room, its gone once you vacuum it up. Also, a central vacuum usually only needs to be emptied once to twice a year.

 

[sebo_fan]

Bagless is unhealthy.

gsheen

You have missed my point entirely. Find me a hospital that uses a bagless system IF they use vacuum cleaners. I think you'll find you won't be able to. Just because you don't suffer from dust allergies because you have a 10 year old vacuum cleaner that is bagless doesn't mean the whole world will get the same health benefiting results and when health establishments who require 100% clincially, dust free environments, the bagged vacuum is still justifiable.

Before I went into collecting vacuums, I adored the Dyson idea - but then I realised through actual ownership that the hype of bagless as being healthier doesn't stand up. Having to continually wash the filters, clear the shrouds and either use the existing filters as they start to tear apart before having to buy replacement filters per year or every 2 years wasn't a cost effective idea and it was far from a clean solution when pet hair got stuck up in the top shroud of the Dyson bin - and no amount of shaking the bin dislodged the clogged dirt.



Koobam

Maybe ALL of you in the U.S who have good weather, find it a liable excuse that bagless is healthy when you dump contents outside. Do you dump your body waste as well? No, you do that in the home and those who have wet and dry vacs would probably use the toilet to dump the dirt in there. Not exactly healthy but there you go, if you don't have a garden to fall back on. When its cold outside in Scotland or UK, not many people will dump their bagless vacuums outside in the refuse bin. I've only heard of a few local councils in the UK who have had the cheek to charge residents if they dust bins are overly messy with dust from vacuums. Luckily our council doesn't, but they did charge us to have a recycling paper dust bin, when other parts in Scotland back by the SAME council give the bin for free.

End of the day, you wouldn't blow your nose in your hand, you'd use a tissue to contain the bacteria. Pretty much the same way as a bagged vacuum versus bagless.

 

[gsheen]

Sebo fan 


you have your opinions and I have mine, bag less is no more unhealthy than letting the dirt fester in a bag in your house for a month.  

 

[kirby]

i would have to say dyson