Vacuum Cleaner Features Explained
Buying a new vacuum cleaner is an important undertaking that requires the right amount of research so that you get the best model for your home. Everybody's home has different cleaning needs and different floor types so you need to understand the main features of today's vacuums. Learning these can help you find a vacuum that has all the advantages suited to your cleaning needs with minimal disadvantages. Here are a few common features that you will be presented with.
HEPA Filtration
HEPA filtration is an important feature, especially if you have carpets in your home. Allergens like dust mites and pet dander love to hide in the fibers of your carpet. Older vacuum cleaners that were not equipped with HEPA would pull these allergens up only to have them pass back out into the air. Today's HEPA filter can trap upwards of 99% of the smallest of these microscopic organisms so they do not end up breathed in by your family members. If you suffer from allergies or asthma it is very important to find a quality vacuum cleaner that has an efficient HEPA filtration system.
Amps
The amps is a reference to the overall power rating of the motor. You will usually see models with 8, 10, or 12 amps but some of the smaller vacuums can be even less. The more expensive cleaners typically have higher amps with greater suction ability but this isn't always the case.
Bagged Or Bagless
There are two basic types of vacuum cleaners today, bagged and bagless. A bagged design uses cardboard replacement bags to collect all of the dirt that the vacuum pulls up while a bagless model uses a plastic cylinder for this. With a bagless vacuum cleaner the cylinder is simply removed from the unit and emptied into the garbage. While this is much more convenient than buying replacement bags and detaching them from the machine, bagless vacuums are not preferred by many homeowners because they tend to let some dust escape back into the home. It's really a matter of preference.
Attachments
Cleaning attachments are an important part of the modern vacuum cleaner's arsenal. You can find such things as a dust brush, power head, and crevice tool but there are many more depending on the specific brand. The flexible hose tends to be quite far reaching so you can reach just about anything in your home.
HEPA Filtration
HEPA filtration is an important feature, especially if you have carpets in your home. Allergens like dust mites and pet dander love to hide in the fibers of your carpet. Older vacuum cleaners that were not equipped with HEPA would pull these allergens up only to have them pass back out into the air. Today's HEPA filter can trap upwards of 99% of the smallest of these microscopic organisms so they do not end up breathed in by your family members. If you suffer from allergies or asthma it is very important to find a quality vacuum cleaner that has an efficient HEPA filtration system.
Amps
The amps is a reference to the overall power rating of the motor. You will usually see models with 8, 10, or 12 amps but some of the smaller vacuums can be even less. The more expensive cleaners typically have higher amps with greater suction ability but this isn't always the case.
Bagged Or Bagless
There are two basic types of vacuum cleaners today, bagged and bagless. A bagged design uses cardboard replacement bags to collect all of the dirt that the vacuum pulls up while a bagless model uses a plastic cylinder for this. With a bagless vacuum cleaner the cylinder is simply removed from the unit and emptied into the garbage. While this is much more convenient than buying replacement bags and detaching them from the machine, bagless vacuums are not preferred by many homeowners because they tend to let some dust escape back into the home. It's really a matter of preference.
Attachments
Cleaning attachments are an important part of the modern vacuum cleaner's arsenal. You can find such things as a dust brush, power head, and crevice tool but there are many more depending on the specific brand. The flexible hose tends to be quite far reaching so you can reach just about anything in your home.
