Rating of the best vacuum cleaners with an aqua filter for the home in 2022

A vacuum cleaner with an aqua filter is the latest modern device, which is most often purchased for home use. An aquafilter is a reservoir filled with water through which contaminated air is passed. After all, water has a unique ability to hold various particles and chemicals.

In an aquafilter, water plays the role of a filter element in which debris and dust become “non-volatile”, and therefore are retained in the filter.

Advantages of the device

Firstly, such a device not only cleans any surfaces, but also perfectly humidifies the air in the room. This occurs due to the natural properties of water and is very reminiscent of the state after rain, when the air is purified and becomes fresher and cooler. In a clean, humidified air space, there are fewer allergens, so after cleaning it becomes easier to breathe, the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth no longer dry out quickly. Therefore, vacuum cleaners with an aqua filter are especially recommended for people suffering from allergies, asthma and various lung diseases.

Secondly, when using a device with an aquafilter, dust after cleaning does not scatter in all directions, does not return back into the room and does not settle on clothes and hands, as is often the case with cyclone-type vacuum cleaners and other types. You will only need to pour the dirty water from the tank into the toilet after cleaning.

Principle of operation

In modern vacuum cleaners, when dust is sucked in, dirt remains in the liquid, which is located in a removable container. In addition to the aquafilter, many devices have built-in HEPA filters. They trap particles of water-insoluble dirt: wood, concrete dust.

Features of filters

Expert opinion
Galina Valerievna Borodina

The main types of vacuum cleaners with an aqua filter: bubbling, separating and devices with partitions. The difference between the devices lies in the movement of water inside the container.

In bubbling, air passes through standing water, which retains dust. At the outlet of the device there is an additional filter to separate water and dirt. The disadvantages of such devices are the low efficiency of air purification, inconvenience when draining and washing the structure.

Separator devices have a special turbine that centrifugally accelerates the water and presses it against the walls. The air passing through it is purified and comes out clean. The disadvantages of such devices are the difficulty in cleaning the filters and separator.

Vacuum cleaners with baffles have built-in spirals, additional structures through which dirty water passes. During operation, it foams and gushes. When using detergents and adding them to water, you need to buy special liquids to extinguish foam.

Flaws

A vacuum cleaner with an aqua filter has fewer disadvantages than advantages:

• large dimensions and weight due to the presence of a water tank;
• higher cost compared to less sophisticated models;
• After each cleaning, you need to pour out dirty water, and also rinse and dry the tank and filters.

The efficiency of a vacuum cleaner with an aqua filter largely depends on the type of cleaning filter installed. There are two types of water filters: hookah and separator.

Operating rules for aqua vacuum cleaners

You should never neglect cleaning the aquafilter after cleaning. If the mixture of dirt and water remains inside the appliance for too long, an extremely unpleasant odor will develop. Getting rid of it may not be easy.

Dirt and water must be removed from the aquafilter immediately after cleaning. After this, the container should be rinsed and dried.

The washed container should be thoroughly dried before installation. If this is not done, mold or mildew may appear inside. All this will also be accompanied by an unpleasant aroma.

If the aquafilter has a complex structure, it will not be easy to clean it; you will need a place to lay out all the elements for drying

If the kit comes with a carpet beater, the belt should be replaced regularly. Usually the procedure is carried out annually. If this is not done, the cleaning efficiency may noticeably decrease.

Inside the turbo brush there is usually a cylinder on which hair and fur are wound. To clean, you need to cut the fibers and turn on the vacuum cleaner for a minute.

In addition to the aqua filter, vacuum cleaners of this type often use other filter elements. They also need to be cleaned periodically and sometimes completely replaced. If the suction capacity of the device has decreased, it makes sense to check the filters first.

Hookah type water filters

The hookah aqua filter is the simplest. A device with such a filter perfectly collects large debris and dust, and small dust particles pass through the water, but do not settle in it, but are thrown back along with air bubbles, even though most models have labyrinths in water tanks. Therefore, it is necessary to additionally use other air filters (for example, paper, carbon, etc.) that will retain the smallest particles of dust and debris. You can install several air filters, then a whole series of cleaning stages will be provided.

The principle of operation of a hookah aqua filter

HEPA, which are fine filters made of paper or some synthetic material, are currently considered the most effective. There are different classes, depending on which they can trap dust particles even up to 0.3 microns in size, their efficiency reaches 99.975%.

In addition, HEPA filters are coated with special chemical compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria and allergens.

Thus, the effectiveness of using a hookah-type aquafilter depends on whether any additional air filter is used.

Despite their low cost and fairly high degree of purification, hookah filters have the following disadvantages:

• it is necessary to clean the filter and dry it every time after cleaning, otherwise the suction power of the device will significantly decrease;
• it is necessary to completely change the filter every 3-6 months;
• it is necessary to frequently change the water in the tank, since it has a small volume for water;
• defoamers must be used;
• active consumption of electricity, since devices with hookah filters are usually equipped with heavy-duty motors.

Vacuum cleaner comparison

The most convenient way to analyze individual characteristics of vacuum cleaners is using the table:

Separator type water filters

The separator type filter operates on the principle of a centrifuge, using centrifugal force to help separate air, water and debris. Air with debris and dust through the vacuum cleaner hose immediately enters the whirlpool created in the tank by the separator. Due to the high pressure there, dust and debris along with air bubbles sink into the water and are not carried back.

The operating principle of a separator type vacuum cleaner

There is no need to install any additional filters in separator-type devices, since they are not necessary.

The advantages of such filters include:

• ease of use and maintenance;
• the highest degree of purification (up to 99.997%).

The only drawback of devices with a separator filter is their high cost.

Design and principle of operation, effective filtration technologies

A vacuum cleaner with a water filter consists of the following elements:

• a housing in which all components are built;
• hose with nozzles;
• a pump that sucks dust into the collection;
• collection - which is a container with water.

A household appliance for cleaning the house operates from a power supply. When it is turned on, the pump draws dust through a hose with a nozzle and directs it into a container of water. The purified and humidified air from the water gurgles upward and is discharged from the vacuum cleaner through a separate air duct. And dust, remnants of wool and other small debris, falling into the water, become heavier and lose the ability to rise into the air. After cleaning is completed or as the water becomes contaminated, the container is removed from the housing, the dirty water is drained into the sewer, and the container is rinsed, filled with clean water and reinserted into the housing of the electrical appliance.

Currently, a new air filtration technology has been developed, called HEPA. This is an English abbreviation that stands for High Efficiency Particulate Absorption, and is translated as high efficiency dust retention. A HEPA filter is a material assembled like an accordion and placed on a cylindrical or rectangular frame. The filter is installed at the air outlet from the water container. Pleating the filter material greatly increases the filter surface area. It happens:

• disposable, made of paper with fiberglass particles;
• reusable, it can be washed and dried after work.

Reusable HEPA filters are made from fluoroplastic fibers. The size of particles that are retained by such filters is calculated in tenths of microns. One filter operates three mechanisms for retaining dust particles:

• Clinging – when dust particles are held by clinging to the filter microfibers or to already caught fibers.
• The inertial mechanism holds large particles that move with the air flow, but when they encounter a barrier, they stop.
• The diffusion mechanism acts on the smallest particles, up to several hundred microns in size. These particles move randomly, colliding with air molecules. And chaotic movement leads to the fact that they stop under the influence of the two previous mechanisms.

Thus, HEPA filters provide a triple effect of air purification.

Main technical characteristics

How to choose a vacuum cleaner with an aqua filter? When choosing a device, in addition to the type of aqua filter, you need to pay attention to the following technical characteristics:

1. Suction power - varies, as a rule, from 200 to 900 W. Most models with a water filter have minimal suction power (up to 300 W), but it is enough to thoroughly clean carpets. High suction power may cause water to enter the running motor. If you need a vacuum cleaner with a water filter to clean particularly dirty surfaces or thick-pile carpets, then it is better to choose a model with a power of at least 400 W. Many vacuum cleaners have the ability to adjust suction power.
2. The equipment of the device - you should pay attention to whether the package includes turbo brushes and vibrating brushes, especially if you purchase a vacuum cleaner with minimal power, since the presence of such additional attachments will significantly increase the efficiency of wet and dry cleaning. The device may also include various nozzles for washing windows and hard-to-reach places, vacuum covers for caring for bedding, a plunger, etc.

3. Maneuverability - when choosing a vacuum cleaner, it is recommended to evaluate whether it will be convenient to use, since all devices with an aqua filter are quite heavy (7-11 kg), large, less maneuverable, and some models move poorly. Therefore, this parameter should be assessed immediately at the point of purchase.
4. The capacity of the water tank can be up to 10 liters. To clean a small apartment, it will be enough to have a tank with a volume of 1.5 l-3 l. The size of the device’s body depends on how much it is designed for – it can be horizontal or vertical.
5. The noise level is usually up to 65 dB, which is slightly higher than conventional models.
6. The length of the electrical cord determines the mobility of the device, so you should also pay attention to this, as well as the presence of a cord rewinding function.

"Pros" and "cons" of a cyclone vacuum cleaner

The advantages of using a cyclone type vacuum cleaner include the following factors:

• constant power, independent of the degree of filling of the garbage tank;
• no need to regularly change dust bags;
• high quality filtration (especially when using a special additional filter);
• comfort (no need to shake out dust bags and use a large number of attachments);
• light weight (compared to aqua vacuum cleaners);
• pressing function (some models are equipped with a special press for squeezing and compacting the collected waste into a dense briquette);
• constant, unchanging loads on the motor of the device (unlike conventional vacuum cleaners, in which the load increases significantly when the dust bag is filled, which leads to rapid wear of the motor);
• the ability to visually monitor the level of dust in the garbage container, which allows you to empty it on time;
• turbo brush (some models of cyclone vacuum cleaners are equipped with a special turbo brush that helps remove fur and hair);
• ease of operation (small things lost and caught in the vacuum cleaner are very easy to see through the transparent wall of the container and get out);
• absence of loud noise during operation (with the exception of hard, relatively large pieces of garbage that hit the walls of the container and create noise);
• ease of maintenance (the cyclone filter can be washed).