Allergies? The vacuum may be the culprit

Q: I tried everything to help my allergies - running the furnace blower continuously, room air cleaners, etc. All these do is push up my electric bills. Do powerful allergy-safe vacuum cleaners cost a lot to run too? - M. T.

A: If you have allergies, like I do (to cats, mold and dust mites), it is difficult not to have problems in an energy efficient, airtight house. Many common allergen particles are relatively large, so they puff up when you sit on a chair and quickly settle down again.

For this reason, running your furnace/air-conditioner blower continuously, so the filter cleans the air, is not really very effective. Unless you have a new super efficient variable-speed blower motor (ICM or ECM), running the furnace blower continuously can unnecessarily increase your electric bills.

If you ever notice that telltale "just vacuumed" smell after cleaning, then your vacuum cleaner may be a significant source of your allergy problems. This smell is just the same dust, dirt and allergens that it sucks out of the carpet and furniture, blowing back out into the room air again.

Some of the super-powerful, microfiltration vacuum cleaners (available at vacuum cleaner shops - not discount department stores) help alleviate allergies. I have used several models in my own home and they have made a difference in my allergies. One powerful design, HF6 HEPA (high efficiency particle air,) even looks like Star Wars' R2D2, so your kids may want to help vacuum. Right!

Allergy-safe vacuum cleaners do have very powerful motors that draw a lot of electricity. Since they deep clean so well and keep the dust trapped inside the bag, you have to vacuum less often and for less time. Overall this uses less electricity than your current vacuum. Also, by deep-cleaning the carpeting, it will last longer with less wear.

The EPA has begun investigating the ill health effects of microscopic indoor air particles. These are inhaled and lodge deeply in the lung tissues. Very fine household dust and carbon dust from the vacuum cleaner motor itself are of particular concern.

There have recently been many vacuum cleaners touted by manufacturers as being "allergy-safe," "microfiltration," "HEPA," "HEPA-like," etc. Some are effective and some are not. With the best models, that just-vacuumed smell is totally eliminated.

An effective allergy-safe vacuum cleaner must do three things: 1) be very powerful to draw up all dirt and allergens, 2) have an effective filtering system to remove these particles, and 3) be airtight throughout to make sure that the smallest particles do not leak back out into the room.

Don't pay attention to marketing hype like "Peak Horsepower." The deep cleaning power of a vacuum is determined by the suction and, more important, air flow rate (in cubic feet per minute - cfm). Canister designs are most powerful, with airflow rates as high as 125 cfm (White Pearl and White/Red Star.) The best vacuum cleaner designs use a series of filters and airflow patterns inside the vacuum cleaner. True HEPA (high efficiency particle air) filters meet rigid testing standards. HEPA air cleaners were first designed for hospital operating rooms. Before buying a vacuum cleaner, check the user manual for the type of filters used.

True-HEPA models remove 99.97 percent of particles as small as 1/300th the diameter of a human hair. Some "HEPA-like" filters are effective too, but you must rely on the manufacturer's judgment, not certified test results. Look for models with a true-HEPA exhaust filter located after the motor, not in front of it. This also filters out the carbon brush dust.

Some features to consider are variable or multi-step adjustable power for cleaning drapes, rugs, etc. A model with a large bag requires fewer dusty bag changes. This is a significant source of dust. Open the bag access door to check for gaskets and wiggle it to check its rigidity.

If you are concerned about odors in your house, look for a model with an optional charcoal filter. This will help a little, but don't expect too much benefit. If you have to carry the vacuum up and down stairs, consider the weight of the unit and if the attachments are stored inside it.

Write for Utility Bills Update No. 550 - buyer's guide of 11 true HEPA and HEPA — like allergy-safe vacuum cleaners, cleaning power, filtration methods, bag size, features, weights and prices. Please include $2 (with check payable to Jim Dulley) and a business-size SASE. Mail to: Jim Dulley, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. For instant download, go to http://www.dulley.com.

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

Copyright 1998 James Dulley

18 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING OCTOBER 1998