Central Vacuum

Why People Install Central Vacuum Systems

Did you hear the one about the couple that turned their residence in to a giant central vacuum system?  Well, strange as it may seem that is what happens in some respects when central vacuum systems are installed into homes.  A network of ducting is laid throughout the residence, leading back to a central base unit, making it possible to vacuum from anywhere within the home.

Your Home Will Be Fresher With A Central Vacuum System

Your Home Will Be Fresher With A Central Vacuum System

Central vacuum systems were in the past considered a luxury and, given this perception and the fact that they were expensive to install, they were not the first choice of most homebuilders.  However, in recent years, the price of central vacuum systems has become more competitive vis-à-vis other vacuums.  Added to this, in many homes a couple are both working long hours and therefore are willing to make the best use of technology around the home, in order to speed up domestic chores.  This allows them to make the best use of their leisure time.

Below listed are the main reasons central vacuum systems have the edge over other vacuum cleaners:

•    It is recognized that air quality improves greatly in the home by cleaning with a C.V.S. (Central vacuum system).  This is because the vacuumed air is removed from the living area completely and can be even vented to the exterior of the home, having passed through the base unit.
•    Because a C.V.S. has such a strong motor in the base unit, its power of suction is much greater than that of a traditional vacuum cleaner.
•    Conversely, given that it has such a powerful motor, a central vac unit emits less noise in the living area than a normal vacuum cleaner.  This is because the base unit is located usually in a service area of the home, away form where family members are living and relaxing.
•    As mentioned earlier, a central vacuum system has been perceived to be an expensive cleaning system.  However, studies have shown that homeowners change a regular vacuum cleaner a lot more often than they realize, whereas, they do not change a central system.  Therefore, over an extended period, central vacuum systems become a value investment.  They also add to the value of a property if it is put on the market for sale.
•    Let us not forget the main reason people install central vacuum systems into their homes.  They are brilliant at cleaning and make a much easier job of vacuuming your home than any other system.  Insert the lightweight hose into a vacuum outlet and vacuum – no effort, no strain and no worry.

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A Laypersons Guide To A Central Vacuum System.

If you are interested in finding out about a central vacuum system and how it works, then this article is for you.  If you are really coming from a very low base with regard to the amount you already know about central vacuum systems, that is even better.  We intend in this article to describe to you what a central vacuum system is and how it operates and also what advantages a central vacuum system has over other types of vacuum cleaners.  When you have finished reading this concise article, you will have amuch better understanding as to why central vacuum systems are so popular with homeowners.

Explaining how central vacuum systems works should not be a terribly difficult task to undertake.  However sometimes terms such as ‘cyclonic separation’ and ‘low voltage hose connectors’ get sprinkled about by manufacturers and by salespeople in central vacuum stores and this only serves to confuse people.  Here we hope to avoid any complicated descriptions and to try to explain about central vacuum systems as simply as possible.

Central vacuums, otherwise known as ‘built-in vacuum cleaners’ or ‘ducted vacuum cleaners‘ operate on a different principle to mobile vacuum cleaners.  With a central vacuum system the motor for the vacuum and also the dirt storage area are moved to a central point and all of the dirt that is being vacuumed from the living area is transported to that point.

Central Vacuum Systems Will Bring Fresher Air To Your Home.

Central Vacuums Will Bring Fresher Air To Your Home.

This is done by having a network of PVC piping installed in the walls of your home.  Inlet points which are connected to this piping are then placed throughout your house and at these inlet points you insert a hose which will allow you to vacuum that area of the house and which will suck any dirt back to the base unit.  A central vacuum hose is typically about 25’ to 35’ long, which gives a good range of movement to the person that is cleaning.

The base unit  (motor, filters and dirt collection ara) are usually stored in a service area within the home, be it a garage, attic or basement area, and there are several advantages to this that we will come to later.  The base unit contains either a large bag for collecting dirt or perhaps a canister.  When the system needs to be emptied a warning light will come on, indicating that it is time to take action.  Central vacuum systems are durable, have a long life span and central vacuum repair should be quite easily carried out, obviously depending on the problem and the system type.

Central vacuum cleaners have quite a few advantages over mobile vacuum cleaners.  Here listed are the main advanatages:

•    Because central vacuums have a larger fan and a more powerful motor, they generally have better suction than a moble vacuum cleaner.
•    Despite being more powerful, the fact that the motor is kept in a service area of the residence means that there is less noise in the living area of the home when the system is operating.
•    Because the base unit and filtration system is located away from the living area, no dirt is allowed to circulate back into the living area, which is a benefit to all of the family members, but particularly to allergy sufferers.
•    As the dirt bag or canister is much larger than that of a mobile vacuum cleaner, the system needs to be emptied far less often.
•    The manufacturers of these systems also bring in a large assortment of central vacuum accessories that help you to carry out a range of specific cleaning tasks.

As you see, a central vacuum system operates on a simple principle of removing the dirt from the living area and depositing it in a service area of the home.  It is not a difficult system to operate and while it central vacuum installation can be carried out on most homes it is easier to install a central vacuum  system while the house is under construction.

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The Two Main Types Of Central Vacuum Cleaners.

The range of central vacuum systems that are on the market at present is very large, as more and more manufacturers become involved in the production of a household appliance that was once considered a luxury.

Central vacuum cleaners are now becoming more accepted as a feature being offered by builders in high end, new build schemes and which are also being considered a necessity in one-off houses being built by couples that consider a good cleaning system to be a priority. With there being more central vacuum systems on the market, and given that we are in recessionary times, the price of central vacuum systems is becoming more reasonable and customers that are good at driving a bargain are finding suppliers more willing to negotiate on price.

Like an automobile, there may be many models and styles on offer in the marketplace, but the basic operating idea remains the same.  When it comes to central vacuum installation there are 2 basic systems, filtered and cyclonic.

Filtered systems do pretty much what the label says – the central vacuum cleaner uses a filter to clean the air that the central vacuum cleaner has taken in, before it passes the motor and is re-released into the environment. This system works well, and does ensure that the motor is protected, but the filter does need to be kept clean and replaced regularly.  If you allow dirt to build up in the filter, it will effect performance over time and may eventually lead to damage of the system.  Do not let this fact put you off purchasing a filtered system, the same reasoning would apply to giving your car an oil change and if you don’t do that at reasonable intervals, your car will suffer also – it is just good maintenance.

Illustration Of A Central Vac System. Courtesy of www.robert-thomas.de

Illustration Of A Central Vacuum Cleaner System. Courtesy of www.robert-thomas.de

A cyclonic system is the opposite to a filtered system, in that it uses force to separate the dirt and dust from the air.  As the dirt spins in a cyclone-like action, the air pressure forces nearly all of it into a bag, or a canister.  There is usually a small residue of dirt, between 2% and 10% depending on the efficiency of the system, that does not get removed from the air when you are vacuuming, and this gets put through a second filter.  This is why central vacuum manufacturers claim that they can get 100% filtration with a system working at peak efficiency.

However I think it is always good policy to ensure, where possible, that your central vacuum system, be it filtered or cyclonic, is vented to the outside of your residence.

All central vacuum cleaners are very strong and claim very good filtration, but whereas your regular vacuum is mobile (and follows you around), a central vacuum is stationary, is usually located in a store, attic, garage or basement and therefore is in an ideal position to be vented to the outside (if the containing room has an exterior wall), thereby guaranteeing that all of the air that enters the vacuum system is expelled to the outside.  Central vacuum cleaner base units can even be located in a metal carport.  If you do locate the base unit in a carport, venting to the outside would not be necessary.  Carports are relatively simple to build and you might even consider erecting one for the purpose of holding the base unit for the central vacuum system.

With both filtered and cyclonic central vacuum cleaners there is the option of a bagless system (canister), or a bagged system. The decision here is whether you would rather clean out the system manually when it is necessary, or would you prefer to take out a sealed bag.  Personally I prefer the bagged system, and if you suffer from dust allergies of any type, you should seriously favour the bagged system.  The bags also make the whole cleaning process more hygenic and do provide an extra filter of sorts when the system is operating.  Many people find the cleaning of a canister to be a dusty task, even though a central vacuum system will hold a lot more dirt than a regular vacuum and will need to be emptied only infrequently.

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