A vacuum cleaner should expel or exhaust only fresh, clean air. The vacuum industry is making great strides in making powerful vacuum cleaners that weigh much less. You can choose a lightweight or heavyweight machine.

Check out features vs. the weight to choose the right model for you. A good vacuum cleaner should cost nothing to maintain. A good vacuum cleaner should maintain constant suction.

Check out the manufacturer's warranty for the new vacuum, and if your place of purchase will extend the warranty. A low-end upright model will usually have only a suction hose with a crevice tool, stair brush, and extended wand piece. You can save a lot of money buying vacuum cleaners online if you do some thorough research first.

It's important to find out exactly what kind of maintenance your new vacuum cleaner will need. A bagless vacuum may leak dust, dust mites, mold spores, fungus, bacteria and allergen particles into the air, so small you may not be able to see all of them but will be cheaper though in the long run, because you're not buying and using up bags. You'll need to decide whether you want a bag or a bagless vacuum.

A few different tools and wands may seem like a plus, but if you rarely ever use tools, they may just be an extra expense. Many people find they don't like to bend over to move the vacuum around so prefer an upright over a canister. You can find vacuum cleaners listed in the yellow pages under the vacuum cleaner repair stores, classified ads in your local newspaper, on Craigslist online, eBay and other online auction sites and the manufacturer and dealer websites on the Internet.

Always check and see how long the warranty is good for; the longer the better of course. Find out how much common replacement parts will cost. A vacuum with a bag will keep the air you breathe free of dust, allergens, pollen, smoke particles, and other chemicals and pollutants found in household air, IF it doesn't get clogged.

Once you feel fully informed, if you can, go to a local store to get a look at those you've picked and try them out. Some canister vacuum cleaners do offer HEPA filtration. Though they may not be more powerful, higher priced uprights have a lot of gadgets that may be handy for your home, providing you use them.

It's best to get a vacuum with a good filtration system and protect your lungs and overall health. You want to get rid of as much dirt, dust, mold spores, fungus, bacteria, dust mites and allergens as possible. To receive the true or absolute HEPA designation, filters must perform to a certain standard. If possible test air-tightness; you can do this by vacuuming for a little bit with a floor model and see how much dust has collected on the outside of the vacuum.

It's up to you to decide if a true HEPA is essential for your family, or if capturing a smaller amount of particles is worth the price break on filter costs; however your family's health is worth paying a little higher price. You might consider one of the lightweight models if you have physical issues. HEPA filters trap small particles that may cause reparatory and other problems for asthma and allergy sufferers and others with health problems.

Choosing the best vacuum cleaner for you is easier than ever. Although price may play a large part in your decision to purchase a vacuum cleaner, choosing a vacuum cleaner based on the features you need or want most will help you keep your costs down, while buying a vacuum cleaner that's a good fit for your particular needs. Ask your friends and associates what they use and like.