The Riccar R27D, R27P, and R27CV all take R27HC-6 bags and the RF27 filter set. Riccar R27 Clean Air uprights share a single filtration architecture across the product range, so the Deluxe, the Premium Pet, and the cordless model draw on the same replacement parts despite differences in tools, sensors, and how they’re powered. A household running more than one of them only needs to stock one bag and one filter set.

Those parts do more than the term “vacuum bag” might suggest. On a Clean Air machine, the bag is a sealed filtration stage rather than a dust container, working in sequence with a granulated charcoal secondary filter and a pleated HEPA media post-filter to reach the 99.97% capture rate at 0.3 microns these uprights are known for.

Below, we’ll take a look at what each component does, when to replace them, how genuine Riccar parts compare to third-party alternatives, and more, including where the older R25 generation and the Simplicity S27S fit into the picture.

What the R27HC-6 Bag Is

The R27HC-6 is a top-loading, charcoal-lined HEPA media bag. Each part of that description corresponds to a specific function.

HEPA media means the bag itself is a filtration stage, not simply a container. On a Clean Air machine, air travels through the bag before it reaches anything else, so the bag material is the first thing standing between the dirt you just picked up and the air in your living room. Riccar rates the system at 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns.

Charcoal-lined addresses odor rather than particles. It’s the reason homes with dogs, cats, or a litter box tend to notice a difference with these bags specifically. Dust gets trapped by the media; smells get handled by the charcoal layer.

Self-sealing and top-loading refers to how the bag behaves during a change. The collar closes as the bag is removed, so collected debris stays contained instead of releasing at the trash can. In an allergy or asthma household, that sealed disposal is a significant part of the machine’s value.

What’s in the RF27 Filter Set

The RF27 set contains two filters, and they handle different jobs at different points in the airflow path.

The granulated charcoal secondary filter sits between the bag and the motor. Charcoal is porous at a microscopic level, and special manufacturing techniques can create extremely porous charcoals, which gives odor molecules somewhere to go rather than passing straight through. It works alongside the charcoal in the bag itself.

The pleated HEPA media post-filter is the last stage before air exits the machine. Folding the media increases its surface area considerably without increasing the filter’s physical size, which allows it to capture fine particles while still permitting adequate airflow. Filter design generally involves balancing those two demands against each other.

Taken together, a Clean Air upright runs three filtration stages in series: bag, secondary filter, post-filter. Each stage captures what the one before it passed through, which is how a sealed system reaches its rated performance. It also means a neglected filter compromises the entire system, since airflow restricted at any stage affects every stage.

When to Change Bags and Filters

The Bag

Suction begins declining before a bag looks full, because the media loads with fine dust well ahead of the bag reaching capacity by volume. A reasonable habit is changing it when it feels full but not tight. A full bag sensor is included to prompt you, though it functions as a backstop rather than the only indicator to watch.

Frequency of Riccar R27 bag replacement depends on the household. A home with shedding pets and wall-to-wall carpet will go through bags considerably faster than a smaller home with mostly hard flooring, so a fixed schedule is less useful than paying attention to performance. A noticeable drop in pickup on carpet is usually the practical signal.

The Filters

Filters need replacing far less often than bags, which is also why they get overlooked. A machine that has been through a dozen bag changes and no filter changes is working against restricted airflow, and that strain reaches the motor. Inspecting the filters during a bag change takes a few seconds and makes it clear when replacement is due.

Tips

A few things load a bag or filter faster than ordinary household dust, and they’re worth knowing because they change the timeline rather than the routine.

1. Fine particulate is the main one. Drywall dust from a remodel, fireplace ash, sanding residue, and construction debris are far smaller than typical floor dirt, and they pack into the media rather than filling the bag by volume. A bag that looks half empty after a cleanup like that can already be restricting airflow. The same goes for a filter, which is why a single dusty project can put both on a shorter clock than months of regular vacuuming.
2. Damp material is worth avoiding entirely. Anything moist pulled into a bagged machine, whether that’s a spill, a wet carpet spot, or debris from a humid garage, saturates the media and can cause the bag to fail or tear rather than simply fill. Bagged uprights are built for dry pickup.
3. Pet hair fills volume quickly without necessarily loading the media, so bags in a pet household often need changing on volume rather than airflow. Hair also wraps the brush roll, which affects pickup independently of whether the bag or filter needs attention.

Storage and Handling Between Changes

Keeping spare bags flat, dry, and in their packaging matters more than it sounds. Bag media is paper-based and absorbs ambient moisture, and a bag stored loose in a damp basement or garage for a year may not seal or filter the way a fresh one does. A closet or cabinet inside the house is a better home for them.

When changing a bag, taking a moment to look at the bag chamber itself is worth the effort. Debris that has worked past a torn bag, or dust built up around the seal, prevents the next bag from seating properly. A quick wipe of the chamber and the sealing surface keeps the system doing what it was designed to do.

Keeping Track

Writing the date on each new bag with a marker before installing it gives you a helpful, easy-to-refer-to running record. After 2 or 3 changes, the interval for your specific household will become clear, and you’ll have a better idea of when to change your Riccar’s bag in the future.

Older Riccars (and the Simplicity S27S)

If You Own an R25

The R25 series is the R27’s predecessor, and the two generations share the same Clean Air bag. The HEPA media bags fit the R25S, R25D, and R25P alongside the R27D, R27P, and R27CV.

For a household that has upgraded from an R25 to an R27 and kept the older machine for a second floor or a workshop, that means one part number on the shelf instead of two. It’s also why a larger pack tends to be the sensible buy rather than a smaller box, since the bags won’t be lost if the machine gets replaced within the same family.

Riccar R25 / R27 replacement filters: Riccar consolidated the R25P-F filter set into RF27, so the R27 part is now the current one for both generations. The HEPA and charcoal filter set covers the R25S, R25D, and R25P alongside the R27D, R27P, and R27CV, since all six machines share the same Clean Air design. It pairs a HEPA media cartridge for fine dust and allergens with a charcoal filter that handles odors and helps keep debris off the motor.

The Simplicity S27S

This generation includes no Riccar-badged standard model, which can be confusing for anyone comparing the lineup. The series of Riccar R27 vacuums begins at the Deluxe, though the entry point into the platform is the Simplicity S27S.

Simplicity and Riccar are sister brands built on shared engineering, which is why the S27 Clean Air uprights sit on the same platform as the Riccar models. For a buyer, the standard tier still exists under a different brand name. For an owner, a Riccar dealer will generally stock what a Simplicity machine needs, and can confirm the correct bag and filter for a specific S27 model.

Genuine/OEM Riccar R27 Bags Versus Generic

Third-party bags are available for the R27, and generally cost less than genuine Riccar bags. Do note that the bag itself is a filtration component rather than a simple container, and its media quality contributes directly to the machine’s rated performance. A generic bag built from thinner or fewer layers of material can fit the housing correctly and still filter differently, so a listing that confirms compatibility is not necessarily making a claim about filtration.

Seal quality is another thing to look at. A self-sealing collar that fails to close properly can cancel out the dust containment that distinguishes bagged vs bagless vacuums.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What bags does the Riccar R27D take?

A: R27HC-6, a top-loading charcoal-lined HEPA media bag. The same bag fits the R27P and the R27CV, so a household with more than one Clean Air upright only needs to stock a single part.

Q: Does the cordless R27CV use bags?

A: It does. The R27CV is a full-size bagged upright powered by a battery rather than a cord, and it uses the same R27HC-6 bag and RF27 filter set as the corded models. The filtration system carries over unchanged.

Q: How often should I replace the RF27 filters?

A: Less often than bags, though the interval depends on how hard the machine works. Heavy use, pets, and dusty conditions shorten it. Inspecting the filters during each bag change is a practical approach, since a loaded filter is easy to identify once the machine is already open, and replacing filters before airflow is restricted helps protect the motor.

Q: Will R25 bags and filters fit my R27?

A: Yes, both. Riccar’s HEPA media Clean Air bags are sized to fit the R25S, R25D, and R25P as well as the R27D, R27P, and R27CV, so one box of Riccar R25 / R27 replacement bags covers both generations. The HEPA and charcoal filter set covers both generations as well, since RF27 superseded the older R25P-F set. If you own machines from each, you only need to stock one bag and one filter set.

Q: Why is there no standard-model Riccar in the R27 series?

A: The range begins at the Deluxe in this generation. The standard tier on this platform is the Simplicity S27S, Simplicity being Riccar’s sister brand built on shared engineering. The S27 Clean Air uprights sit on the same platform as the Riccar models, and a Riccar dealer can confirm the correct bag and filter for a specific S27 machine.

Q: My suction dropped even though I changed the bag. What now?

A: Check the filters next. A loaded HEPA post-filter or charcoal secondary restricts airflow in a way that closely resembles a failing machine. After that, check the hose and airway for a clog and the brush roll for wrapped hair. If none of those restore performance, the machine is worth having looked at.