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 | The mother had an air filter running almost non-stop for a couple of years in her daughter's room (except for the day of inspection) - yet the particulate levels in that room were as high as any other room on the day of inspection. When an air sampler was used to collect particulates for viewing under a microscope, the concentration and type of particulates were similar to other rooms. All rooms had numbers much higher than exterior air. An inefficient vacuum cleaner and carpeting contributed to the recycling of dust particulates and skin flakes. |
| Most of the family members reported respiratory symptoms when I arrived for an environmental home inspection. When I measured their one-week-old top-of-the-line conventional vacuum cleaner, there were 5,500,000 particulates 0.3 microns or greater exiting through the exhaust. The homeowner tried to return the almost brand-new vacuum cleaner, but the sales representative refused, saying that no representations had been made that this was an allergy vacuum cleaner. |
| I had a chance to measure a couple of brand new allergy vacuum cleaners from one manufacturer . Numbers ranged from 80,000 to 200,000 at the exhaust. This is a lot better than the above five million figure but far from the Nilfisks I have measured. |
| My clients had just bought a brand name canister vacuum cleaner with a HEPA tag on it. When I opened up the exhaust air outlet to look at the filter, it appears that the air did not pass through the HEPA filter but only bounced against it. Readings on one side of the exhaust were low but they were over 1,500,000 at the other end of the exhaust air outlet. |
| The older woman needed a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. I went with her to a department store and measured the two vacuum cleaners that were self-propelled. One measured 1,500,000 at the exhaust and the other 200,000, so she took the latter. She ended up not liking the vacuum, because it was too heavy to push around, even though self-propelled. |
| Room particulates read off the scale. This was due to a candle that had just been lighted. |
| Particulates inside were 200,000 per cubic foot. Particulates outside were 800,000 per cubic foot. This told me that the house was tight, and ventilation was poor. Particulates were similar at another house, 250,000 inside and 900,000 outside. But this was a new, energy-efficient house. It was tight, and there was a filtered fresh air source bringing in oxygen and providing ventilation. This is a healthy set-up. Return to HEPA Vacuum page |
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© 2001 May E. Dooley -
Enviro Health Environmental Home Inspections |
