When the first commercial vacuums came out a century ago, the way people cleaned their homes was changed forever. 

Gone were the days when everyone found it a pain to keep their carpets clean.

And while many of us now consider a vacuum cleaner as a household staple, have you ever thought to yourself: “How does a vacuum cleaner work?” 

Whether it’s traditional or robotic, a vacuum cleaner uses a particular approach to cleaning that many find useful and effective.

Keep on reading to learn more about vacuum cleaners and how they work.

The Science Behind Vacuum Cleaners

The way that a vacuum cleaner works can be explained by something as simple as sipping a drink through a straw. When you sip a drink through a straw, you create a negative pressure inside the straw that is much lower than the pressure of the atmosphere around you. This negative pressure causes a suction that pushes up liquid through the straw and into your mouth. 

The same mechanism is applied to a vacuum cleaner. Through a high-speed fan that spins inside it, a vacuum cleaner produces continuous negative pressure that sucks up air and other particles coming from the intake port of the vacuum. Air flows continuously into the intake port and out of the exhaust port as long as the fan is running and the vacuum cleaner’s passageway is open.

Important Parts Of A Vacuum Cleaner

Every vacuum cleaner has essential components that they cannot operate without. 

Below are the important parts of a vacuum cleaner and how they work.

Intake Port

In order for the vacuum to keep its suction power, a steady flow of air is provided through the intake port, which also serves as the entry point for dirt and debris.

Exhaust Port

The exhaust port serves as the exit for air that comes back out into the atmosphere, after it goes through the vacuum.

Every vacuum has an exhaust port that vents out air, so the motor can continue to function normally.

Motor

The suction motor is the heart and heaviest part of every vacuum. It rotates a fan at high speed, allowing the vacuum to produce negative pressure that sucks in air, dirt and other particles. 

The suction power of a vacuum depends on the wattage and amp ratings of its motor. Most vacuum motors operate above 1800 watts. 

Knowing your vacuum’s wattage will help you to determine how much power it will need to run. Make sure that the outlet where you’ll plug your vacuum will give sufficient power for the motor to function.

Fan

The fan or impeller is continuously spun by the motor, producing suction that pushes air inside the vacuum and outside the exhaust port. 

Located behind the rotating brush, the fan guides dirt and debris through the filter and into the dust bag.

Collection Bag/Canister

A vacuum cleaner can be either bagged or bagless, depending on your preference. There’s a big difference between a bagged and bagless vacuum cleaner.

Bagged Vacuum

A bagged vacuum uses a bag as a dirt collector, which is usually made out of porous paper or cloth. 

The good thing about bagged vacuums is that they are better at trapping particles than bagless vacuums. 

However, they require users to purchase new bags and replace old bags regularly. It is recommended to change the bags when they reach 75% of their capacity. Otherwise, the suction of the vacuum will be decreased. 

Bags should not also be filled up to 100%, as this can cause the motor to overheat and damage the vacuum.

Bagless Vacuum

A bagless vacuum has a durable canister or plastic container that receives and stores particles captured by the vacuum. 

The good thing about bagless vacuums is that they are cost friendly and that they do not require any purchase or replacement of bags. They also do not decrease in suction like bagged vacuums. 

The disadvantage of having a bagless vacuum is that when the dirt receptacle is removed for emptying, it tends to kick up the dust and toxins that you collected back into the air. Bagless vacuums are not recommended for people who are suffering from asthma or allergies.

Filter

The role of the filter is to separate big and heavy debris from small and fine particles. Large objects can break the parts of the vacuum and pierce the vacuum bags. 

The best kind of filter is the HEPA filter which traps almost all kinds of particles and provides cleaner indoor air quality.

A HEPA filter, also known as a “high-efficiency particulate air” filter, is composed of very thin, interwoven plastic or fiberglass threads. By catching at least 99.7% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 micrometers, it’s intended to provide cleaner indoor air.

Although a vacuum cleaner without a HEPA filter is capable of capturing larger particles, it frequently returns smaller particles into the air, contaminating the air and allowing allergens to come into touch with people or surfaces.

Vacuum Tools & Accessories

A vacuum cleaner often comes with a wide range of accessories. These include a roller brush that spins inside the power head, and several other tools and attachments like a cleaning hose, retractable wand, floor brush, dusting brush, upholstery tool, crevice tool and many more. 

The standard length of a cleaning hose is 30 feet, so it lets you reach and clean every corner of a room. 

Each kind of vacuum accessory serves a different purpose and they are all meant to make cleaning easier for you. It’s important to make sure that you’re using the right tools when cleaning, so that you are able to safely and efficiently clean each area of your house.

Vacuum cleaners, although very common and essential in today’s generation, are still fascinating in terms of how they work and how they keep millions of homes clean.

Thanks to the inventors who created vacuum cleaners, cleaning is now made easier and more convenient than ever before.