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 cleaners 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.

Central Vacuum Systems

Below listed are the main reasons central vacuum reviews state that 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 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 vac 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 vacuums 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 central vacuum hose into a vacuum outlet and vacuum – no effort, no strain and no worry.

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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 C.V. 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 vac 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 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 central vacuum 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.  Base units contain either central vacuum bags 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.  C.V. 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.  Central vacuum parts are also easily available online.

As you see, a C.V. 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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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 C.V. 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 vac installation there are 2 basic systems, filtered and cyclonic.

Filtered systems do pretty much what the label says – the central vac 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 System For Central Vacuum Cleaners. 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 C.V. 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.  C.V. 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 central vacuum bags.  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 cleaners will hold a lot more dirt than a regular vacuum and will need to be emptied only infrequently.

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If you want to find out about central vacuum systems, one course of action you can take is to go online and enter such terms as ‘central vacuum systems’ or ‘central vacuum.com’ and you will get a huge amount of results that you can then narrow down with regard to their suitability to your needs.

Versatility: Central vacuum systems provides great versatility, as you can clean every corner of a house quickly and efficiently.

Powerful suction: Central vacuum cleaners have very powerful motors that are many times stronger than the mobile vacuums. This enables your central vacuum to clean deep down into the carpet removing all of the unwanted dirt, mites and other unwanted particles.

Quietness: All central vacuum systems reviews say that a major benefit of central vacuums is that they are located either in a closed closet, or preferably in an adjoining garage.  This in itself reduces the noise in the residence considerably.  Additionally some central vacuum systems have silencing technology built in to make them even quieter.  MD’s Silentmaster would be a strong example of a system that brings noise suppression to the fore.

Allergy Avoidance: A major benefit to people who install a central vacuum system in their home is the improvement in the air quality and cleanliness.  Allergy suffers find a noticeable reduction in their symptoms and condition, because with a central vacuum system the dirt and allergens are removed from the living area.  Central Vacuum Systems are recommended by physicians and allergist to help minimize annoying symptoms such as sneezing, coughing and eyes, nose and throat caused by allergies.  Many vacuum systems now contain HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particle Arrestor) to reduce airborne dirt and allergens.

Get This TurboCat Air Driven Brush for all Central Vacuums - Click on image for details

Adding Value to your Residence: There is no doubt that having a central vacuum system installed in your home will add to the resale value, should you decide to put it on the market.

Cost Saving: Central vacuum systems have been proven to be more durable and less expensive to maintain than traditional vacuums.  You will over the long term spend less on replacement and parts with a central vacuum system.

The Long Reach: Central vacuums come with a long central vacuum hose that makes them ideal for cleaning the car and all those other places that you have difficulty cleaning with a regular vacuum cleaner.  They also come with a range of central vacuum accessories that will assist you with specialist tasks around the home.

Modern Lifestyle: In these modern times, hard working couples want the benefits of modern living.  So systems and appliances such as central vacuum systems, LCD TVs and LCD TV Stands, jacuzzi baths, under floor heating and other modern appliances are becoming part of modern living.

Carrying and Storage: The difficulty of carrying a portable vacuum up and down stairs is in sharp contrast to the ease of simply plugging in a hose into a wall socket.  This is similar in terms of versatility to what backpack vacuum cleaners are capable of.   There is also the not insignificant detail of where do you store your mobile vacuum, whereas it is easy to store a roll of hose.

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