Review of HEPA Eureka Boss Smart Vac

HEPA stands for “High Efficiency Particulate Air.”

HEPA filters were developed during the Manhattan Project in the 1940s to help prevent the spread of radioactive contamination as testing on the atomic bomb and its components progressed. They feature tightly woven fibrous material that reduces the escape of all but the tiniest particles (less than 0.3 microns in diameter). After World War II, HEPA filters quickly spread through private industries and are now used in all kinds of commercial and consumer retail products, including vacuum cleaners.

HEPA filtration has become the preferred choice for all major vacuum cleaner manufacturers, primarily for use in all but their low-end vacuums.

While there are many HEPA vacuum cleaner makes and models that utilize HEPA technology to great effect, the upright Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870 may be the best on the market, all things considered.

It’s so good, it has even earned a “best buy” rating from a prestigious consumer product testing organization that is famously stingy in handing out such accolades in review.

HEPA Vacuum Features

Here are the important specs and features of the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870:

• 12-amp motor
• Patented HEPA Sealed System
• Clog-resistant stretch hose
• Extended-life belt
• Onboard tools
• Motorized brush roller with on/off switch
• Air selector switch
• Full 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
• 15-inch wide cleaning path
• 30-foot power cord
• 21 lbs.
• Price: $139-$169

Price

Without a doubt, the first thing that jumps out from the feature list is the price. $139 for a 12-amp, 15-inch wide vacuum cleaner with a sealed HEPA filter? Unheard of! Eureka must be taking a loss on these vacuums. Comparable vacuums with these features often run in excess of $300.

HEPA Filtering

Clearly, the HEPA sealed system is the crowning jewel on this cleaner. You simply will not find a more efficient filtration system on any vacuum at any price. It captures essentially all particles bigger than 0.3 microns in diameter. That’s extremely small, and makes this vacuum suitable to clean the floors in the most sterile wards in any hospital in the world. If you suffer from allergies triggered by airborne dust, pet dander, bacteria, or pollen, the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870 is definitely for you! The self-contained HEPA filter unit comes completely out for leak-free disposal and replacement about once every six months (more often for heavy users).

Even if this machine didn’t have an amazing filtration system, it would be highly recommended just by being such an incredibly good carpet and bare floor cleaner. This is largely due to the beefy motor and wide cleaning path. But, it also boasts a motorized brush roller that can be turned on and off independent of the vacuum cleaner’s on/off switch. This greatly enhances the machine’s abilities on bare floors.

Yet another terrific feature that is a real surprise on such a modestly priced vacuum is the air selector switch. Using this, you have the ability to control the amount of suction power. When vacuuming the floor, you will want to select full suction power. When using the tools to clean drapes, furniture upholstery, and other areas, you can flip the switch and reduce the suction to a level appropriate for these above floor uses.

This HEPA vacuum cleaner also has a clog-resistant hose, which is a nice feature on any vacuum. It’s frustrating whenever anything on a vacuum jams or gets clogged. Eliminating this annoyance in the hose is just another feather in the Boss Smart Vac’s cap.

Finally, there is another common annoyance the engineers at Eureka have eliminated with this model: frequent belt replacements. They’ve developed an extended-life belt for this vacuum, which drastically reduces the need to check and replace the belt.

The Best HEPA Vacuum, but Not Entirely Trouble-Free

There are just two problems with the actual physical structure of the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870 that came up in this review. First, it’s on the heavy side at 21 lbs. This is mostly due to the hefty 12-amp main motor and the motorized brush roller. It’s not a good choice for anyone with weak arm strength, a bad back, or lots of stairs.

The other issue is the short power cord. It’s really a shame, because it would be such a simple matter for the manufacturers to extend these cords to a more practical 40-50 feet. Still, 30 feet isn’t too bad, considering there are still some new vacuum cleaners being made today that have cords as short as 20 feet.

A lot of current customers have written glowing online reviews of the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870. Most rave about the strong suction power, the noticeable decrease in allergy-related health issues, and the handy extras (air selector switch, brush roller on/off switch, clog-resistant hose).

Complaints by these reviewers are all on the minor side, and include things like needing a screwdriver to remove the compartment cover to replace the belt and a foot pedal release bar that requires some serious pressure to engage. Minor annoyances – definitely nothing to put you off this vacuum.

HEPA Vacuum Recommendations

What really seals the deal and earns this HEPA vacuum cleaner the highest of recommendations is the awarding of a “best buy” label from the country’s leading independent consumer product testing organization. They don’t hand “best buy” tags out lightly, and they put every product they test through the ringer. The bottom line on the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870: BUY IT!