Central Vacuum Systems

Central vacuum systems are becoming common in new and updated homes. They add resale value to your home and make house cleaning less aggravating and time consuming. Even homeowners who use a cleaning service find value in central vacuum cleaning systems for both quick cleanups and to get the cleaning service in and out faster.

Central Vacuum Systems vs. Portable Vacuum Cleaners
The most obvious benefit of having a central vacuum system is that you do not have to lug a portable vacuum cleaner up and down stairs. There are no bags to replace, no extension cords to search for, and the storage and garbage disposal is established and requires no further consideration. You won't have to move your surfboard, baby carriage, and Segway just to get your vacuum cleaner out. Equally important, though, are the health concerns. Few people replace vacuum bags with enough regularity, and even if you do, most portables do not have proper seals. Either of these problems create leakage, which simply causes you to pick dust off of the floor and put it into the air.

Dust, Dirt, and Health
A central system is permanent. A power unit's tubing is behind the wall and well sealed. The "power brushes" easily move from unit to unit and are well sealed (with only one connection rather than multiple joints). And if you choose to also install automatic dustpans—the small slits in the baseboard for you to sweep dirt, you will never have direct contact with dirt and dust during cleaning again. This not only adds to the convenience and ick-free value of a central vacuum system, but it is safer, healthier, and cleaner.

Installation
You've decided to install a central vacuum unit. Now you have to find a place for the power unit and receptacle, and choose where to install your wall inlets. On average, you will want no less than one inlet per story, and approximately one for every 500 square feet. This will naturally change depending on architectural design, but a professional installation company will help you think through the placement of a power outlet. The installation of the vacuum's power unit is simple. You will want to find a place where general maintenance is easy but it is out of the way of your daily life. For this reason, most people choose to place it in the corner of either their basement or garage, much the same way one might place a hot water heater or electrical box.

Other considerations will be the size of your power unit. A smaller central vacuum system will have a power unit of approximately 20 amps, but if your home is larger than 5-6,000 square feet, you will want a larger unit. Other considerations regarding the power brush and the disposal unit will also have to be made, but they amount to personal preference, not performance. These and performance-based concerns of placement and power are all easily answered with the help of a professional installation company. In the end you'll get to do what you've probably wanted to do since the first time you saw one: throw out that portable vacuum cleaner for good.