Numatic (Henry) vacuum bags
Numatic's Henry, Hetty, James and George machines share a small number of bag references across a very wide model range, which makes them one of the easier brands to buy correctly for, provided you check the capacity and machine size first.
How to identify your Numatic (Henry) model
Numatic machines carry the model code on a plate on the body, usually just below the handle or on the rear face. The codes matter more than the name: a Henry HVR200 and a Henry Xtra share a body but a smaller compact Henry does not, and the litre capacity printed next to the code is the number that decides which bag you need.
The bags themselves are printed with the NVM reference on the collar. Because Numatic sells the same machine under several names, Henry, Hetty, James and George, the friendly name on the front tells you almost nothing about the bag and the NVM reference tells you everything.
Bags for Numatic (Henry) machines
Each reference below has its own page on this site with the full list of machines it fits, the fitting steps and the mistakes that cost people a pack of bags.
| Bag reference | Fits | Capacity | Bags per box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numatic NVM-1CH | Standard-size Henry (HVR200), Hetty, James and George dry vacuums (the common domestic and light commercial Numatic range) | 9 litres | 10 bags (standard retail pack) |
| Numatic NVM-2BH | Larger-capacity Henry Xtra and George wet and dry machines | 15 litres | 10 bags (standard retail pack) |
Where Numatic (Henry) owners go wrong
- Buying on the strength of the name on the front. A red Henry and a pink Hetty of the same capacity take the same bag, while two machines both called Henry may not if one is the compact size.
- Fitting a generic bag with a soft cardboard collar. Numatic machines pull hard and a soft collar deforms, which lets dust past the seal and into the motor.
- Ignoring the litre figure on the body. It is the single most reliable identifier on the machine and takes two seconds to read.
When to change the bag
Numatic bags are large and it is tempting to run them until they are visibly packed, but a flo-bag design loses airflow well before that point. On a machine used for building dust or plaster, change the bag far earlier than you would on household use, because fine mineral dust blinds the paper in a fraction of the time.
Numatic (Henry) bags: common questions
Can I use a Henry bag in a George?
If both machines carry the same capacity and take the same NVM reference, yes. Check the plate on the body rather than assuming, since the George is a wet and dry machine and its dry-mode setup must match.
Are the cloth reusable bags a good idea?
They reduce running costs, but they filter more coarsely than a paper bag and need emptying and shaking out in the open. For anyone using the machine indoors for fine dust, paper remains the better choice.
What if the machine has no bag fitted at all?
Do not run it. Numatic machines rely on the bag as the primary filter and running one empty pushes everything straight onto the motor filter.