However, given that all systems age eventually and apart from that, advances in production technology can mean that a product or central vacuum accessory will come on the market that you may want for your existing system, there will be times that you will want to obtain a central vacuum part for your system.  There are several ways that you can go about this – online, through your local electrical goods store or possibly direct from the manufacturer.

Central Vacuum Parts

Shopping online for central vacuum replacement parts is probably the most popular option.  There are various advantages to shopping online in general.  Online shopping brings the world to your fingertips and you can get quotes from manufacturers and stores worldwide.  From the comfort and privacy of your own home you can shop and compare quotes on central vacuum system parts and get the best deal and there can be very good deals out there.  Depending on the size and weight of the central vacuum part involved however, you may wish to keep a watch out for shipping costs that will be added on the total price quoted for the part.  For small or light parts, such as seals or even vacuum bags, shipping may not be so expensive.  But if you are getting a heavier part shipped from another country or continent, then the weight of the item could drive up the final price you have to pay.  Be conscious also to pay attention to the return policies that online companies have in place.

In addition to dealing with online suppliers of central vac parts, you may decide to purchase the part you require through such sites as Amazon or eBay.  Again, it is important that you are aware of the details of your purchase, and to know that items on eBay could be second hand.

If you are unsure of your system or of which part it is you require, then there are many online forums that should be able to assist you in finding what you require.  These forums normally are free to join and you can post up your individual query and get a prompt reply.  Simply search under ‘central vacuum forums’ and you should be able to go from there.

In order to avoid paying shipping costs and obviously in order to help play your part in sustaining your local economy, you may prefer to shop through a local dealer in central vacuum systems.  Many homeowners prefer to pay a bit extra for the opportunity of dealing with someone that they know, or someone that they can face across a counter, especially if something goes amiss and the wrong part gets delivered.  A local store-owner, knowing that his reputation is important in the community should be very amenable in assisting you to obtain the proper part for your system.

Finally, you may wish to deal directly with a manufacturer with regard to a particular part for your system. This would be more likely to happen in the case of a faulty original part and it is also probable that your central vacuum installer would be doing this for you.  However if you have installed your own system and find yourself looking for central vacuum parts and dealing with a manufacturer, attempt to strike up a relationship with an individual in the department you are dealing with.  In this way will not get pushed around between departments and you stand a better chance of getting your problem sorted.  All of the main central vacuum manufacturers have an online presence and you can contact them in this way, or through toll-free numbers that they supply on their sites.

Related posts:

1. Purchasing Replacement Vacuum Parts For Your Vacuum Cleaner
2. Central Vacuum Accessories.
3. A Laypersons Guide To A Central Vacuum System.

There are various types of central vacuum hoses on the market, and depending on your system or individual circumstances, one type of hose may suit better than another.  As an example, below we will look at the different types of hoses being marketed by MD, an American company, which has been involved in the production of central vacuum parts since 1961.

Central Vacuum Hoses

Electric Hoses:
These central vacuum hoses are made of a light material, which is crush resistant and very durable.  Being light it is very easy to transport around the residence and this is very important because, as with all central vac hoses, it is the only portion of the system that you are in constant with.  The electric hose is so called because you can control the operation of the system from the handle of the hose with a 3-way switch.  The head of the hose has a 360 degree swivel head which helps to avoid kinks in the hose.  The airflow to the hose can be adjusted.  The manufacturers recommend that a hose sock be used with this hose to prevent marking furniture and that it be stored in a wall-mounted position.

Low Voltage Hoses:
The main difference between an electric hose and a low voltage hose is that this hose has a lesser voltage traveling through the hose.  Other than that there is little to differentiate between the two, as they both are compatible with most other brands.  The low voltage hose is available in a shorter length, having a hose length range from 15 to 50 feet, whereas the electric hose is available in lengths of 30 and 35 feet.

Basic Hoses:
They are what they say they are – a basic central vacuum hose that reliably carry out the functions of a central vacuum hose.  The only feature that is missing from a basic hose that is available on most of the other models is the on / off switch, which means that you have to bend down and detach the hose from the wall in order to turn off the vacuum system.

Stretch Hoses:
These hoses have advantages over other central vac hoses in that in their storage position they are only a few feet long and yet they can stretch to over 25 feet when necessary.  In a home where space is a priority, a stretch hose is an accessory that has to be considered seriously.  Stretch hoses however, as with the basic hoses, do not have an on / off switch located in the handle.

Quick Click Hoses:
MD promise that the Quick Click central vacuum hose will improve your cleaning experience due to its ease of use.  The Quick Click modular hose comprises a 20 foot hose with a 10 foot extension  (15 foot available in grey only) and these hoses work with electric and non-electric accessories and attachments.  This system allows you to use lesser or greater lengths of hose for different cleaning jobs. There is certainly a benefit to having a shorter length of hose if you do not require extra length.  These hoses are non-kink and have swivel action.  This hose is not compatible with some Nutone and Vacuflo inlets, so potential purchasers for these models should check with their suppliers.

Related posts:

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

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.

Related posts:

1. The Benefits of a Central Vacuum System.
2. Central Vacuum Systems
3. Central Vacuum Accessories.

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. Some Disadvantages of a Central Vacuum System