Keep your house clean with a central vacuum

I have to admit, I just love cleaning. Scrubbing and dusting are just fun to me, but what isn’t fun is vacuuming. I have to go to the basement, lug the giant vacuum up three flights of stairs, push a giant dinosaur of a vacuum back and forth; it’s a big hassle. Then, when it comes to changing the bag, I usually get covered in dust. Even though bag-less vacuums are somewhat smaller; you still have to carry them around and you still end up getting dirt everywhere when you clean it out. Plus, they generally don’t work as well. Well, I finally found a solution for my vacuuming woes. I found out about central vacuums.

Central vacuums are like the central air conditioners of the vacuum world. Instead of having to haul a vacuum around with you, there is one built into each section of the house. There’s just a hose in the wall you can pull out and vacuum when you need it. What you think of as the actual vacuum is built into the house. It’s built into the house, so you don’t have to strain yourself lugging it around.

You may be thinking “That sounds convenient, but is it really that beneficial?” Well, it is. It has many benefits over bagged or canister vacuums. Because a central vacuum can fit into your basement and doesn’t have to be carried around; it is much bigger and therefore more powerful. This power, along with the superior filtering system, means that central vacuums not only can central vacuums get rid of more dirt, they also remove significantly more allergens than regular vacuums. Many allergy and asthma sufferers have raved about how much better they feel after installing a central vacuum. Because the engine is in a separate room (usually the garage or basement), central vacuums are much quieter than traditional vacuums. This is great if you have kids or skiddish pets because you don’t have to worry about disturbing them with the loud noise. Unlike many upright vacuums, central vacuums can be used to clean various surfaces in the house including wood and tile, drapes and furniture, hard to reach corners and edges, and much more. Another benefit of central vacuums is that, if installed properly, they’ll almost never clog. This means you’ll never have to pull strings of hair or string out of a vacuum roller again! As a bonus, some central vacuum systems offer extras like slots to sweep excess dirt into. Overall, these systems provide superior cleaning power and versatility than any traditional vacuum.

While this idea probably sounds appealing to you, you’re probably concerned about the cost of the system and the hassle of installation. The best time to install a central vacuum system is, of course, during the construction of your house. This way, it can be installed with the walls; making it that much easier. But if you already have a house, it’s still pretty simple to install one of these systems. No matter what people tell you, you don’t have to tear apart walls to install the pipes. They can generally be run through the attic or through existing airways in your house. They will generally only have to cut a few holes in your walls, which will be used to attach the vacuum hoses. As for cost, these systems aren’t cheap, but they can increase the value of your home up to $2000. The value of your home is also improved because properly cleaned carpets last longer and look better. Plus, they offer all the benefits of a cleaner house without the hassle of a traditional vacuum.

Here’s a video showing the cleaning power of different nozzles:

1. Central vacuums with two motors start off with 185 CFM / airflow (good portables have between 68 and 95). Friction loss in the tubing at 75 feet is about 2% if the system is installed properly with wide sweeping bends and the tubing is cut with a pipe cutter. The additional loss at the 30-foot hose end is 3%. But remember you are starting with at least twice the power of portables. He is correct that CFM is a far more important measurement than waterlift and that is why our products have been designed with a very high CFM.

2. Your salesman is incorrect that the central vacuum motors are the same as portable vacuum motors. Look at the amperage rating on his portable vacuums. They fall somewhere between 5 and 10 amps. Our smaller unit SilentMaster S2 is 15.5 amps and our larger SilentMaster S5 draws almost 28 amps. These motors are far stronger, designed for longer life, and do not rely on vacuum air coming through them to be cooled. (they have their own cooling fan inside each motor.) Take a look at the stats of our models and compare them with any portable! I think the closest powerful non central vac you will find is the Milwaukee Shop Vac which costs around $800.00.

The portable vacuum you are considering may have a listing of 13 amps but I have never seen a portable that was listed as 13 amps which really has a motor of that size in it. The cord is often rated at 13 amps (not the motor). But remember, amperage alone can be very deceptive because I can make a very small motor pull a very high amperage but do very little work. All the energy can be wasted rather that put into actual performance. Try to find the CFM measurement or at least the AirWatts.

3. Properly installed central vacuums do not clog. I have installed over 8000 systems myself and have rarely seen clogs. Normally it occurs on a system installed by someone who did not use wide sweeping turns and where they cut the pipe with the wrong instrument. It is actually very easy to repair clogs. We give specific details on our website Service Chart. “Clogs easily” is a cliche response from someone who does not know central vacuums.

Your 2400 sq. ft. home should require about four inlets, our SilentMaster S2 power unit, and our Stealth attachment set. Your longest run will be approximately 75 feet and your friction loss will be quite minimal.

Central Vac Installation 101

This might not be quite as easy as installing a phone, but it is really quite simple to install a central vac. A typical home requires approximately one inlet for every 600 square feet of living space, and remember, the hose end needs to be able to reach the cupboards, closets, tile floor and even patios. You don’t necessarily need an inlet in every room but, with a 30 foot hose, one inlet at the end of the hall will get two or three bedrooms. Locate one inlet near the bottom of the stairs if necessary and make sure they are not behind doors, furniture or inaccessible locations.

Cut the pipe with a tubing cutter, not a hacksaw, and make sure you remove all burrs. Only glue the male end of the pipe so that no ridges are created inside the pipe run. Use sweep elbows throughout the pipe run except immediately at the inlet valves and use (2) 45 degree bends for any offset jogs instead of (2) 90 degree bends. The main runs can go under the house or above in the attic, as long as care is given to reduce fittings whenever possible.

It is recommended that homes larger than 5000 square feet might need a power unit stronger than 20 AMPS 110 volt. Multiple units are only necessary when more than one user will be operating it simultaneously. New SuperValves or ElectraValves not only contain the 24 volt activation switch but also 110 volts for the operation of an electric power brush. Have an electrician wire them into a nearby electric outlet. The two conductor CL2 (18-22 gauge) low voltage wire should be strapped to the pipe every five feet and can be looped all the way back to the power unit. Check your local building codes regarding the necessity of steel pipe to penetrate the firewall if the power unit is located in the garage. Most manufacturers now carry steel pipe and fittings.

Temporary plaster guards will protect the interior of the pipe while the construction is in progress and inlet valve extensions can make your life easier if the wall ends up thicker than expected. Check if your manufacturer recommends venting the exhaust and make sure it is not located in an area which will cause exhaust problems. Many systems do not need venting if they have an adequate filtration system.

Don’t be afraid to tackle existing homes! These jobs are quite easy with the help of instructional videos like “Where There’s a Wall There’s a Way” by Hayden manufacturing. Employ closets, soffits, return air ducts, pantries and any other hidden spaces.

Here’s an instructional video that will teach you how to install a central vac system as a weekend project:

Part 1:

Part 2:

httvvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfvh3HCIZUA

Top Central Vac Systems:

While the systems below aren’t the cheapest you can find, this is one area where it doesn’t pay to be cheap -- get ones that are built to last as they’ll not only last longer but clean your house much better.