Most of the major manufacturers realise that supplying accessory components that compliment their vacuum system and make the cleaning task easier for their customers, can only be an advantage, one of the many advantages to central vacs.  Some central vacuum accessories carry out very specific tasks, which can help to extend the life of your furnishings, carpets and flooring.  If you have a prized red area rug in your home for example, you do not want it to become damaged by being cleaned with excessive force.  So lets have a very brief look at some of the different accessories that top manufacturers of central vacuum systems are offering with their models and which can be purchased at central vacuum stores or online.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, simply an effort by us to provide you with a flavour of what is on offer with some of the more popular central vacuum models.  For this brief snapshot survey we simply went looking as an ordinary potential customer would, to see what accessories might be readily available to purchase if we were to go with a certain central vacuum system.

Affordable Central Vacuum Accessories and Systems

Beam produce a range of central vacuum accessories which include vacuum brushes, nozzles, central vacuum hoses, various hose socks, sound mufflers and floor tools. Their car care kit includes a 30 foot hose, a dusting brush and an upholstery brush.  Their mini-vac set is useful for computer keyboards, air vents and other small and inaccessible places. They have crevice tools, hose socks and vertical blind cleaner attachments.  The folks at Beam have a very large and impressive list of accessories and cleaning supplies.
Eureka have a kit with an impressive list of attachments some of which include a 35 foot hose (or 30 foot, depending on the model), quick connect wands, hose storage bracket, crevice tool, upholstery and carpet nozzle, dusting brush and a handy caddy.  Not bad, but they seem to consider that kits are the way to go.

Electrolux again seem to be big into kits and as an example, one such kit includes an electric power nozzle, a turbo hand-held power nozzle, a rug floor tool, a dusting and upholstery tool, a crevice tool, extension wands, a parquet floor brush, an attachment caddy and a hose hanger. This is quite an impressive list but the items only seem to be offered in a kit and we are not sure can they be purchased individually, if that was our preference.

Broan / NuTone produce a central vacuum ratcheting wand, upholstery tool, pet brushes, dusting brushes, soft bristle brushes, and current carrying hoses.  Maybe the people at Broan / NuTone won’t be best pleased to hear this, but we do not consider their range of central vacuum accessories to be neither large nor very interesting, or maybe they are just not advertised properly. A separate seach as to what NuTone had to offer did not come up with much, except to promote their natural bristle hardwood floor tool, which looked great and their hoses also looked impressive, but we are looking for accessories and lots of them – and they just did not seem to be there. We don’t know why.

The folk at Vacuflo have it all laid out very well and offer such central vacuum parts  as turbo powerheads, for when your carpets need aggressive cleaning action, self adjusting powerheads, puppy powerheads (for budget driven choices), various length hoses, hose socks, light ‘rugrat’ brushes for stairs, adjustable mops, vac pans, dust mop tools, etc.  The display is impressive and individual items are plain to see and easily accessed.

Lindsay Manufacturing produce such central vacuum systems as VacuMaid and AstroVac and these models have a great range of accessories including electric kits, quick clean-up kits, air powered kits, garage kits, accessories and tools for stairs, tools for dealing with pet hair, cars, etc.  Various wands, hoses and hose socks, all available and easily researched.  We are impressed!

Hoover central vacuum systems have crush proof hoses of various lengths, hose socks, car detailing kits, garage and patio kits, various brushes and crevice tools, different nozzles and tools for floors, rugs, pets and stairs, installation kits, attachment kits and lots more.  We find this to be an impressive list of accessories.  Good on you folks!

We really like MD Manufacturing’s offerings also – manta dust mops, central vacuum bags, centra mops, crevice tools, pet hair brushes, pet hair grooming brushes, lint and hair brushes, telescopic wands, hose socks, kits coming at you from all directions – TurboCat zoom kits, TurboCat attachment kits, Stealth kit, BlackHawk kit….. Wow! What great names! We had fun looking at all of these.
That is just a flavor from us as to the kind of central vacuum accessories that are out there for central vacuum systems.  If anyone wants to make a comment on this article, please feel free.  If anyone has come across some interesting, funny or even downright strange central vacuum accessories, why not pass them on to our forum.  We may even feature them!

Related posts:

1. A Laypersons Guide To A Central Vacuum System.
2. Central Vacuum Installation Issues.
3. The Benefits of a Central Vacuum System.

Another factor, which can deter people from considering central vacuum installation, is the consideration of installing the system.  It is easy to get quotes from recognised suppliers for such systems a s Airvac, Beam, Astrovac and Vacuflo to name but a few.  These companies supply excellent systems with plenty of accessories.

Depending on the type of home and it’s age, installing a C.V. system may not be terribly problematic and considering the benefits of the system, it may be that you should consider all of the possibilities before discounting it.

To install a central vac system into a previously built home may take a bit longer and may also cost a bit more, but it may be able to be done.  If it going into a home that is still at the planning stage, or that even has commenced construction, things may be a lot easier.  It is easier for the company installing the system to work when the other items such as wiring and plumbing are being added.

Central Vacuum installation. Image courtesy of www.think-smart.co.za

Old homes may not be able to have a central vacuum installation as the walls may be too thin to carry the p.v.c. pipes.  However most walls will have plenty of space for piping and the fact that a regular central vacuum hose can be up to 40′ long does allow for adaptation of your residence to a central vacuum system.

Are you brave enough to install your own system?  There is no doubt that if you do take on and install the central vacuum system yourself, you will save quite a bit of money, but you should be prepared for quite a bit of work.  You will be handling and installing such items as a motorised pump and canister, thinwall p.v.c. pipes and fittings, and other such items.  Websites such as Popular Mechanics give a lot of help and instruction. If you have DIY skills and the necessary tool and equipment this might be for you, otherwise hiring a qualified person may be the safest option.

If you are getting a professional make sure that they are licensed and insured.  This will be important at a later date if something goes wrong, or if the system does not operate the way that it should. Also it would be important to get more than one estimate, as estimates can vary greatly.  Do not be tempted to take the first one – it pays to shop around.

If you are considering central vacuum installation by your self – follow the instructions very carefully and you will have a better chance of not having a problem at completion.  If you have to get in someone to fix or re-install you original work it may cost you a lot of money.

Related posts:

1. Central Vacuum Accessories.
2. A Laypersons Guide To A Central Vacuum System.
3. Central Vacuum Systems