Why Install a Central Vacuum?

The ultimate in cleaning convenience and efficiency. 

Dust, dirt, pollen, dander, fur and hair - there's no end to the stuff that accumulates in our homes, and getting rid of it can be a real chore. In addition to the trusty broom and dustpan, many home owners use a small vacuum for the stairs and the car, an upright for the carpeting, and a shop vacuum for the garage. They all need filters, belts and periodic maintenance or replacement. It's hard to believe that a central vacuum could replace most of these cleaning tools.

Although normally associated with new construction and expensive homes, central vacuum systems can be installed in most existing homes and are actually quite economical. They add resale value to your home, so a central vacuum is an investment that should pay for itself.

I know what you're thinking: What's the catch? You guessed it--anything this good doesn't come cheap. A power unit and materials for a three-inlet system costs $800 to $1,200 (one inlet covers roughly 700 sq. ft. of floor).

Health: One in three people in the U.S. have dust-related allergies and the EPA estimates that indoor air may be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Even though portable vacuum makers call attention to their HEPA (high-efficiency particle arrestor) filtration, it only filters down to .3 micron at 99.97% efficiency. Smaller microbe-laden particles, viruses and bacteria are still passed back into the room being vacuumed. Ordinary dust bags offer little resistance to these tiny particles; microbe laden dust passes through a standard bag like a fly through a chain link fence. A Central vacuum unit on the other hand removes 100% of all viruses, pollens and bacteria vacuumed and removes them safely out of your home when fitted with an outdoor exhaust . A filter inside the unit protects the motor from damaging dust particles and prevents fine dust from collecting on the outside wall, walkways and gardens.

Power: The second reason to choose a central vacuum is cleaning power. A central vacuum unit can be as much as five times more powerful than conventional vacuum cleaners and since it is located in a remote location, the sound produced by the central vacuum (without the powerhead) is minimal. It is easy to talk over the sound of an operating central vacuum, and TV, music and telephones are clearly audible.

Finally, a central vacuum eliminates the need to drag a clumsy machine around the house, banging up walls and furniture in the process. Portable vacuums have to be lugged up and down the stairs, and in the case of canister vacuums, they have the potential to fall down the stairs if tugged while cleaning. The dirt capacity in a central vacuum is generous too; it usually requires emptying only once per year. As a final enticement to the homeowner, built-in vacuums typically retain their full value when a home sells and is considered a home upgrade which may increase the value of the home - something that can't be said for a portable vacuum.

Central Vacuum Benefits

1. Allergies? 100% of pollens, viruses and dust vacuumed are exhausted out of your living area. Conventional vacuum cleaners exhaust back into the air you breathe (Even with a HEPA filter).

2. The cleaning accessories which come with a central vacuum are generally much better quality than those which come with uprights and canister vacuums.

3. A central vacuum is a sales feature which increases the value and sales appeal of your home.

4. Cana-Vac offers a Lifetime Limited Warranty where as most portables offer only a year or two warranty.

5. Since a central vacuum is usually located in the basement, garage or storage closet, it is much quieter than portable vacuums.

Power Units

Surprisingly, nearly all vacuum system manufacturers go to the same motor source, Ametek/Lamb. The real difference is system design. Some manufacturers boast the most power by using dual motors, different filtration, no filters etc. Others, like Cana-Vac, build units which promote reliability and longevity while at the same time offering very powerful vacuum systems. The leading cause of failure in a central vacuum motor is dust followed by heat. The life expectancy of any manufacturers unit will depend on how they address these two issues.

Regardless of the power unit you choose however, it is undeniable the importance of the cleaning accessories which accompany your system. Cleaning accessories will determine not only your satisfaction with the system, but also the cleaning performance of your system.

System Sizing

More power does not always equal better system performance. It is best to choose a system based on the size and application of your home rather than trying to buy the most powerful system you can afford. To begin with, a central vacuum is more power than a conventional vacuum so don't worry about performance. It is possible however to have too much power, meaning your cleaning accessories will want to "suck" to the floor. If your home is enormous (12,000+ Sq. Ft), you should consider installing two independent systems rather than just one big vacuum. This is simply because the more pipe you install the greater the performance drop due to friction loss. Ultimately two smaller independent systems will offer more power than one big one.

Clogs

This is  the number one concern for anyone considering purchasing a central vacuum. The truth is that it is highly unlikely. The hose and fittings are all 1 1/4" in diameter while the vacuum tubing in the walls is 2" in diameter. Any clogging that does occur is likely to be in the hose or at the valve inlet. A clog that cannot be cleaned manually can usually be blown out by reversing the suction. If necessary, most power units can be lifted off the wall and used like a utility vacuum to suck the clog out of the offending valve.

Retrofit Installation

Though it is better to have your home fitted or "roughed in" for a central vacuum during the construction of your home. It is still possible to retrofit your home years later. Approximately 20% of installations are retrofits. Retrofit costs in some cases may be the same as in a new home depending on the level of difficultly.