Central Vacuum Systems: Making Housework Easier

One of the most tedious and therefore disagreeable housekeeping jobs is running the vacuum cleaner. One has to carry a heavy, portable vacuum cleaner from room to room, plug it in, and then vacuum the floor. Afterwords one has to empty the bag of dust and other debris, a messy job under the best of circumstances.

While the time when one's house will clean itself is still far off, there is a bit of technology available right now that will make vacuuming the house a lot easier. Just as homes now have central air conditioning and central heating, homes can now, with a little expense and work, have central vacuuming. Oddly enough, these systems have been available for the past fifty years.

How Does Central Vacuuming Work?

A central vacuum system consists of a number of parts. Spaced about the house, each covering about six hundred square feet of floor space, are inlets installed into the wall at floor level. The inlets are connected to tubing that snake behind the walls to a central power unit, in the utility room, basement, or garage, and a central receptacle. One would have a power hose with attached brush or another attachment that would connect to each inlet in turn for vacuuming. Each inlet might also have a built in dust pan so that one could just sweep dust and other debris into the inlet, best in rooms like kitchens which do not have carpets on the floors.

After the receptacle, which would be either a canister or bag, is full, one would just empty it unto the trash, which manufacturers claim would happen about once every three months. The system is controlled either by an on/off switch on the hose or by just attaching the hose to the inlet, obviating the need to turn on the central power unit every time one goes to a new room. The brush that is attached to the end of the hose is used to loosen dust and debris from a carpet being cleaned.

Types of Central Vacuums

The two main types of central vacuum systems are cyclonic and filtered. Filtered systems can use a variety of filters to clean the air taken in by the vacuum. In any filtered system, filters need to be cleaned and replaced periodically. A cyclonic system uses centrifugal, tornado-like force and gravity to separate the impurities from the air being taken in by the vacuum.

The size of the power unit will spend on the size of ones house. Homes of five thousand square feet or less will generally require a power unit of 20 Amps or less. For a larger home, a bigger power unit is required.

One would also be able to choose whether one wants the dust and debris collected in a canister or a bag. The choice of either depositing a bag into the trash or dumping a canister is a personal preference.

Finally, there's the choice of the power hose and brush attachment. Again, it's a personal preference. An air driven system, for instance, would be easier to install as it would not require electrical wiring in the inlets, unlike with an electrical system. There are also a number of other attachments available besides a brush depending on ones vacuuming needs.

Advantages of a Central Vacuum System

A central vacuum system is easier to use than a portable vacuum. No more lugging a heavy portable vacuum from one room to another or up and down stairs. One only has to carry the light weight hose and attachments, like the brush, attach them to an inlet, and then do the vacuuming.

A central vacuum system allows for healthier air in ones house, since the dust and debris is not re-circulated as with portable vacuums, but is carried away through the walls into the central receptacle. It will remove not only dust, dirt, and debris, but pollen, dust mites, dander, and other allergens.

A central vacuum unit has more power than a portable unit, resulting in more efficient cleaning. There are no power cords to trip over or to limit one's range of operation. Since the motor is in an insulated, out of the way location, like the utility room or garage, a central vacuum operates with far less noise. They are just as versatile as portable vacuums as they come with the same variety of attachments and accessories. Some attachments will even allow one to clean appliances such as computers, sewing machines, and VCRs. The life of ones carpets and drapes are prolonged due to the more efficient cleaning. A central vacuum system adds value to ones home, as much as two thousand dollars in most cases.

Since a central vacuuming system has about a twenty to thirty year life span, they are actually cheaper than using portable vacuum cleaners in the long run. On the average, one buys a new vacuum cleaner once every five to seven years,

Installation and Maintenance

It is usually best to have a professional install ones central vacuum system. But, if one is comfortable with ones do it yourself skills, most systems come with instructions for self installation. Maintenance is relatively easy. One just has to remember to empty the receptacles and change the filters periodically.

One possible malfunction for a central vacuum system is a blockage in one of the tubing behind the wall. While this problem can pose quite a challenge, a plumbers snake can sometimes be used to clear the blockage.

Central vacuum systems are available for businesses as well as homes. They are particularly useful in industrial settings where smoke, mist, metallic particles, and other air borne contaminants can impact on the health of ones work force.

Also a central vacuum system can be a good feature to add to a newly manufactured home. The added cost is about a thousand dollars.

Some older homes may have less space in the walls, making installation more difficult. More manufacturers claim that central vacuum systems can be installed in a few hours with little mess.