Air filters are produced by "Folter". You have probably come across modern vacuum cleaners, which have recently been increasingly equipped with HEPA filters. Below you can find information that describes the characteristics, as well as reviews to understand whether to purchase equipment with this principle of cleaning.
general description
Translated from the English abbreviation HEPA, it means highly effective particle retention. Such devices can be attributed to filters that provide the most delicate cleaning. Their effectiveness has been proven by laboratory tests. For such tests, an aerosol is used, in the mixture of which synthetic microparticles are present, their size varies within 0.3 microns. HEPA-filter "Folter" can belong to one of the classes depending on the fraction that will be delayed by the device. Thus, HEPA 10 is able to retain microparticles in volume up to 85%, their size will vary up to 0.5 microns. If the number at the abbreviation increases to 11, then the filter will be able to hold up to 95% of the particles, the number 12 indicates the ability of the device to hold up to 99.5%. The number 13 indicates that the filter will cope with the purification of 99.95% of sewage.
What does a filter look like?
HEPA-filter "Folter" can be made of different materials. The latter can be disposable or reusable. In the first case, cellulose is used as the base, which is added to the glass fiber during the manufacturing process. When it comes to reusable filters, they can be cleaned; they are made of fluoroplastic fibers.
In order to provide a lower level of resistance to air flow, such devices have a larger filter area. To do this, they are performed on the basis of a material consisting of folds. This indicates that the device is made in the form of accordions. The fibers stick together in a large frame. If you have a small filter in front of you, then you should know that it has a small filtering area. Such surfaces will quickly become clogged, creating an additional barrier to airflow. This may cause a decrease in the suction power of the vacuum cleaner. In this case, the electric motor may overheat.
Feedback on the effects of gearing and inertia
If you are interested in the HEPA-filter "Folter", then you should know about what and by what principle it captures. When the described device is used, several mechanisms are used, as one of them the engagement effect is applied. According to consumers, all particles that need to be removed from the surface, from large to smallest, will pass through microfibers, clinging to them and sticking to them. They will cling to other particles that have previously adhered to the fibers. Customers also point to the inertia effect used by the HEPA filter. It is especially effective for large particles. The latter are unable to bend around the fibers, they lack the ability to follow an uneven path. For this reason, they will continue to move in a straight line until they encounter an obstacle.
Diffusion Effect Reviews
The HEPA filter "Folter" uses another principle in its work, which is called diffusion. Users of vacuum cleaners in which such filters are installed note that the above-mentioned effect helps to trap the smallest particles, their size can vary from 0.01 to 0.1 microns. This principle can be called dominant at low air flow rates.
Filter Life
If you use FAS-Folter HEPA filters, then you should be aware that they can retain their abilities only for a certain time. The microparticles of the mentioned sizes will be delayed until they accumulate on individual fibers. If the whole place is occupied, then the dust begins to stick to each other, clinging to the fibers of sewage. If you use the filter for more time, for which it is designed, then it will lose its characteristics, this will lead to a decrease in the ability to absorb. The operation of the vacuum cleaner will be accompanied by the release of an unpleasant odor. In order to eliminate such consequences, the used filter must be replaced with a new one. If we are talking about a waterproof device, then it must be flushed.
User Reviews
If you use a HEPA filter for a Gorenje 253263 vacuum cleaner , then it is important to know about the features of its operation. A number of owners who use disposable filters decide to purge the device with compressed air, directing it in the opposite direction. It is worth noting that this approach is able to rid the fiber of only 80% of large particles whose size exceeds 1 micron. It is these elements that become the cause of the filter clogging, and their elimination allows only to reduce the resistance to air flow. The described technology helps to cope with 30 percent of poorly held particles, the fraction of which is 0.1-1 microns. As for the remaining 70%, these elements will be equally tightly and firmly held on the fibers, they will not be able to get rid of them in this way. More experienced users emphasize that after several similar procedures, air purging will not have a restoring effect on the filter. However, you can use such manipulations to clean waterproof devices. It is not recommended to use compressed air for this, but flushing is quite possible. At home, the use of water for the filter will be most effective.
Should I combine HEPA and aquafilters?
Users often wonder if it is possible to combine a HEPA filter for a Samsung SC6570 vacuum cleaner with an aquafilter . Specialists claim that with dust bubbles, fine dust and other contaminants will penetrate the filter. Quite large particles of dirt will also come here. However, even more trouble will cause the reproduction and growth of bacteria, fungi and mold, which will be located in the fibers. Warm and moisture-filled air, which contains a huge amount of dust, will create favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria. Thus, when the aforementioned devices work in tandem, you will inoculate the entire apartment with spores of microorganisms.
If we conclude the above, it is worth noting that the use of combinations of two filters is desirable only when the described device will be replaced quite often. However, users quite often refuse water-resistant HEPA filters, which suggest the possibility of cleaning with water, because they are quite expensive, and their periodic change can cause a gap in the family budget.
Should I combine HEPA and a cyclone filter?
In some cases, they try to use a HEPA filter for a Zelmer vacuum cleaner with a cyclone filter. The latter has unique design features, due to which a huge amount of small particles is passed to the second filter. It soon clogs microfibers, as a consequence of a decrease in filtration efficiency. When the vacuum cleaner is working, an unpleasant odor is released. If small particles are added to large ones, this will reduce the suction power, the motor will overheat and may fail. If you decide to use a HEPA filter for a Philips vacuum cleaner in conjunction with a cyclone filter, you should use the same technology that was described above. It involves a fairly frequent change of the device, the processing of water fibers. The air used for cleaning does not always lead to the desired result. It is impossible to achieve the effect, and the use of household appliances without consumables turns into ineffective cleaning. Then the efforts will be in vain.