HEPA

What it means

HEPA is a filter standard, not a brand. EPA explains that the term is officially defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. A HEPA filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles 0.3 microns in size.

In restoration work, HEPA filters show up in three places: HEPA vacuums, air scrubbers that clean the air in a room, and negative air machines that exhaust filtered air out of a work area.

Why it matters to your home and your bill

HEPA equipment is a normal line item on mold and fire jobs, and it is worth checking. EPA recommends HEPA vacuums for final cleanup of remediation areas after materials are thoroughly dried, and HEPA-filtered fan units to keep containment under negative pressure. A quote that skips HEPA vacuuming on a mold job is missing a step. But HEPA air cleaners do not fix mold by themselves. EPA says portable air cleaners and furnace filters do not address the cause of mold, which is a water or moisture problem. Our mold remediation process page shows where HEPA fits.