Quote from old-timer on 10/21/06 at 6:46pm:

 
Ah, I see  -  you're referring to the machines that require regular HEPA filter renewal.
 
Cut your losses and go for Dyson. The Dysons have a HEPA filter which lasts the life of the machine, and decent cyclonic technology that keeps the stoor away from the filters in the first place. This is even more true with the new DC17, and its new 'Level 3 Root Cyclone System'.

Right on O.T.
 
There's nothing like a vacuum cleaner that not only gets the job done but helps you keep your figure too.
 
Venson
 

Hi,
 
Carbon dust issued by electrical household appliances is an issue of minimal importance as such emissions are miniscule.  It would be important if an electric motor's brushes, about a half inch long, wore down in a time so short as to prove a real pollutant.  A vacuum, under normal use, can run on the same pair of brushes for years and years. Electric motors "burn out" when their carbon brushes wear all the way down.
 
The major use for HEPA is to catch the fine dust that may escape a  hopefully well-designed vacuum's preliminary filtering system.  Yes, it's great that vacuum cleaner air filtration has improved so much but it should be remembered that up to now the human race has survived almost a century's worth of vacuuum cleaners that did not have HEPA filters or filtrete bags but plain old woven cloth bags and that have and that often are still capable of stirring up dust while in use.  
 
If you're concern is due to possible health risks, it is far better to focus your atttention on the possibly carcinogenic chemical combinations we place on our skin and hair daily or use for general cleaning. As well, air and water quality outside the home are probably the biggest issues we have to come to grips with.  Believe me, I'd be happy to the point of delirium if the only risk in regard health in my home was just my vacuum cleaner.
 
Regards,
 
Venson

Quote from old-timer on 10/21/06 at 5:59pm:

 
There is great need for high filtration vacuum cleaners, because there are those who have difficulty w/ the particles in the house and what is picked up by the vacuum cleaner.  There are those who have respiratory problems that can be irritated by the circulating dust and there are those who have allergic reactions to particles.  I know that there has been an increase in number of people who have allergic reactions to dust(incl. dust mite feces) alone.
 
It is hard to imagine, if you are one who does not have allergic reactions when running the vacuum cleaner, what it is like to have a reaction.  There are different levels of reactions.  Some have slight difficulty, while others have extreme reaction.  Lastly, there are those who do not have allergies.
 
Because there are varying degrees of people w/ allergies and those who have none, there are different choices to be made when purchasing a vacuum cleaner based on filtration.  A person who does not have allergies, does not need to go out and buy the best filtration machine unless he/she wants to.  They can settle for a machine that filters adequately and has excellence performance in other areas.  You do want some filtration to protect the motor from as much dust as possible.
 
A person who has a high level of allergies will need alot of filtration or have someone else do the vacuuming.  We do not know, because that is up to the individual.  It also makes sense that if someone has allergies, they should not be emptying ANY bagless vacuum cleaner.  I also do not recommend that the same people change the bag in vacuum cleaners like the Compact/Tristars(and the like).  Dust is stirred up in order to remove the open top paper bag.  
 
Personally, I have allergic reactions to the dust.  I do not have major problems w/ it though.  If The dust is kept down and contained, I am fine.  This means that the home should be cleaned regularly.  This does mean that the house should be vacuumed before you see that it needs to be.  Many say "It does not need to be cleaned, because it does not look like it".  Wrong!  There is dirt that you cannot see, but it is there.
 
Air cleaners also help the person w/ allergies to dust.
 
In conclusion, HEPA filtration can help a person who is highly sensitive to "dust", but it is not necessary for everyone.

Hi Mike,
 
Do you think the change will lead to at least "very good" carpet cleaning scores in the next CR vacuum ratings?
 
Venson