HEPA Filter Philips: cleaning and replacement

Nowadays, almost every vacuum cleaner is equipped with high-quality filters, which is even a requirement in our best vacuum cleaner research. In many cases, this includes the use of a HEPA filter, designed to filter out small dust particles from the air. One vacuum cleaner brand that frequently incorporates this type of filter in its products is Philips.

Lately I received a lot of questions about the HEPA filter of Philips vacuum cleaners. For example, how should you clean it and how often should you replace it? In this parts guide I tell you everything you need to know about the Philips HEPA filter.

Different filters in Philips vacuum cleaners

It is good to start with the following: you often discover several filters in a Philips vacuum cleaner. For example, if we look at the Philips FC9745/09 PowerPro Expert, a popular bagless vacuum cleaner, we discover different filters. A washable input filter behind the dust container and a HEPA filter on the underside of the vacuum cleaner.

These filters are different from each other. Not only in terms of location, but also how it works. In this case, for example, the HEPA filter is an exhaust filter: the air first passes through the HEPA filter one more time before it leaves the vacuum cleaner.

Philips HEPA 13 allergy filters

More and more often I discover HEPA 13 allergy filters in Philips vacuum cleaners. This is also referred to as H13 allergy filter. As the name suggests, these filters ensure that allergens are also properly filtered out of the air.

With a HEPA 13 filter there is a filtration of 99.95%. In my opinion, a HEPA 13 filter is a minimum requirement when buying a new vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning a Philips HEPA filter: is this possible?

In the extensive article about cleaning a HEPA filter, I discuss how you can wash such a filter step by step. However, that only applies to washable filters.

If we look at Philips vacuum cleaners, the input filter is often washable and the standard HEPA filter is not. In fact, washing the HEPA filter with water could even damage the filter. In the video below I show you step by step how to clean a Philips vacuum cleaner.

Replace Philips HEPA filter: why and how often?

As you can see, the standard HEPA filter of this Philips vacuum cleaner is not washable. You will eventually have to replace it. Failure to do so can result in the following vacuum cleaner problems:

• Vacuum cleaner gets clogged, which can reduce suction power
• Vacuum cleaner makes loud noise, a different sound than usual
• Dust emissions increase, which can increase the risk of allergic reactions

You can replace the HEPA filters yourself and are for sale through various points of sale.

You can choose to replace the filter with a washable alternative. However, these are not from Philips itself. View an example here.

How often should you replace the filter?

Philips reports that you should replace the filter every 12 months. “For optimal performance and filtering, we recommend replacing the filter every 12 months,” said Philips.

“For optimal performance and filtering, we recommend replacing the filter every 12 months”

In my opinion it is smart to choose a filter from Philips itself and not a universal brand. At the moment there are two popular HEPA filters that are needed in many cases for your vacuum cleaner: a HEPA13 S-Filter or a Power Expert H13 Filter.

Philips Series	HEPA13 S-Filter	PowerPro Expert H13 filter
Jewel FC950 – FC9079	✓
Marathon FC9200 – FC9225	✓
Marathon Ultimate FC9911 – FC9912	✓
Marathon Ultimate FC9919 – FC9924	✓
Performer FC9150 – FC9179	✓
Performer FC8680 – FC8682	✓
Performer Expert FC8720 – FC8729	✓
Performer Ulitmate FC8921 – FC8925	✓
PowerPro FC8760 – FC8770	✓
PowerPro Expert FC9741 – FC9746		✓
PowerPro Expert FC9729		✓
PowerPro Expert FC9750		✓
PowerPro Expert FC9751	✓
PowerPro Expert FC9712-FC9714	✓
PowerPro Expert FC9720-FC9725	✓
PowerPro Ultimate FC9911 – FC9912	✓
PowerPro Ultimate FC9919 – FC9934	✓
SilentStar FC9300-FC9319	✓
7000-serie / Performer Silent FC8741 – FC8745	✓
7000-serie / Performer Silent FC8779 – FC8786	✓
	View filters	View filters

Does your washable input filter also need to be replaced? In some cases you can also opt for a complete replacement set. Here you buy the HEPA filter and the washable input filter in a set.