The best Bissell vacuums with HEPA filters
If you have pets or if you are affected by allergies, you know the value of a quality vacuum for keeping your home clean. While many vacuums are great at capturing dirt and hair, they can have problems when it comes to things like pet dander, pollen and mold spores.
These common irritants can pass right through a standard vacuum filter and get blown back into the air. Fortunately, some vacuums come with more effective HEPA filters for capturing these microscopic particles. Several Bissell vacuums are available with HEPA technology.
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What is a HEPA filter?
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A filter must capture 99.97% of all contaminants measuring 0.3 microns or greater in diameter to qualify for the HEPA standard.
For comparison, the average human hair is 70 microns wide. So in practical terms, a HEPA filter will catch pollen, lint, mold spores, automobile exhaust and insecticide dust. It will even stop bacteria, some viruses and tobacco smoke.
Are there drawbacks to having a HEPA filter in a vacuum?
Because a HEPA filter can capture so many fine particles, it will need to be replaced or cleaned periodically. You’ll also want to make sure that the vacuum is designed so that air passes through the filter rather than escaping through vents or cracks before reaching it. That would defeat the purpose of having a HEPA filter in the first place.
Other than that, a HEPA filter is an excellent option for an ultra-clean room. And in the Bissell line of vacuums, the HEPA options are price-competitive or even less expensive than many others.
Which filtration systems are available in Bissell vacuums?
Bissell’s product specs list a variety of filtration options and levels for their vacuums:
- 1 Stage
- 2 Stage
- 3 Stage
- Multi-Level Filtration
- Multi-Level Sealed System
- SmartSeal Allergen System
- HEPA Sealed Allergen System
- HEPA Media Filter
The sealed systems will be best for capturing microscopic particles, as these should be airtight to prevent anything from escaping around the filters. If you wish to remove a large amount of allergens from your home, your best Bissell vacuum options will use one of the following:
SmartSeal Allergen System
The SmartSeal Allergen System is designed to trap fine dust and allergens inside the vacuum, but the filters used don’t quite rise to the high standards of HEPA.
HEPA Sealed Allergen System
The SmartSeal Allergen System is upgraded here with HEPA filters to trap 99.97% of dust, allergens and other particles of 0.3 microns or greater in diameter.
HEPA Media Filter
Bissell offers one inexpensive hand-held vacuum with a HEPA Media Filter, but there’s no indication that it utilizes their Sealed Allergen System design. Customer reviews are very positive.
What you need to buy to reduce the allergens in your home
If you’re looking for a Bissell vacuum to cut down on the allergens in your home, your best bet will be one of their SmartSeal Allergen System or — even better — their HEPA Sealed Allergen System vacuums.
Bissell SmartSeal Allergen System vacuums
Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell sells four Smart Seal Allergen vacuums branded as Pet Hair Eraser models. In addition to the powerful filtering system, they feature tangle-free brush rolls, quick-release extended-reach wands and a lightweight, agile design. The Turbo Plus is the entry-level model of these four vacuums.
Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Rewind Vacuum Cleaner
The Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Rewind vacuum comes with the same features as the Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus vacuum but adds an automatic cord rewind for quick and easy storage.
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Bissell HEPA Sealed Allergen System vacuums
Bissell features two vacuums that feature the HEPA Sealed Allergen System. The MultiClean Allergen Pet vacuum is designed for use on a variety of surfaces. It uses Bissell’s tangle-free brush roll and features a lightweight design with swivel steering.
MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet
The MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off Pet vacuum has a design similar to the Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off vacuum, easily converting from upright to canister modes for easier access to awkward areas. Despite the improved filtration system, the MultiClean Allergen Lift-Off is available for a much lower price than the Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off. The specs are otherwise very similar between the two models, but the Pet Hair Eraser Lift-Off does have the advantage of variable suction control.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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