Wet/dry filters are advancing dramatically for better functionality and indoor air quality.
A newly released three-layer fine dust cartridge filter designed for wet/dry vacuums can now capture everyday dry debris plus drywall and sawdust particles. This fine dust filter not only improves filtration, but is washable, reusable and clogs less than standard foam filters. Because it’s easy to clean and maintain, this filter has a lower cost of ownership and longer lifespan. Internal paper filter bags can also be inserted in some wet/dry machines to collect dry debris and allow for easy disposal.
Water-resistant HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration wet/dry models are now available as well, appropriate for lead paint renovations under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. HEPA wet/drys can tackle repair and renovation, construction, hard floor refinishing and other heavy-duty tasks. A multi-stage, certified HEPA filtration system is 99.97 percent efficient at containing and filtering particulates as small as 0.3 microns in size.
For foamy wet/dry situations, another filtration advancement saves both time and the hassles of constant foam and water dump-outs. In standard wet/drys, a float mechanism cuts off the airflow in the tank and stops water levels from reaching the motor. However, foam often triggers this automatic shut off well before the actual water reaches a high level, causing constant interruptions.
To tackle this program head-on, one vacuum company recently released a new innovation that looks like a mesh cage filter around the filtration unit. This filter breaks down foam while protecting the motor from damage, so the shut-off feature only kicks in when actually needed.
Of course, filtration can only be as powerful as the suction allows, and suction comes down to the power of the motor. Wet/dry vacuums require a bypass motor. Commercial wet/dry vacuums should also feature a two-stage motor for advanced suction and lift.
