Central Vacuum Systems-The Wave Of The Future?

Central vacuum systems are designed to be much easier to use than the standard vacuum cleaners.  The moveable units – canister and upright vacuum cleaners – are much different from the central vacuum cleaners.  These moveable units are the standard vacuums that almost everyone owns, but they can be difficult to deal with, especially if someone has a multi-story house or a very large house that they must carry or push the vacuum through.  The moveable units can be heavy and bulky to deal with, and they have to be emptied frequently, but they are still by far the most common vacuum systems.  The central vacuum system, however, is becoming more popular because it costs less than many people would think and it can be installed in already-existing homes.  No longer is the central vacuum system only for rich individuals. 

Central vacuum systems work by sending all of the dirt and debris that they collect to an out-of-the-way location in the house, such as a basement or garage.  There, a canister collects the debris and can be emptied quite easily.  The only thing that the person doing the vacuuming must ‘carry’ is a lightweight hose and/or a power brush.  Everything else, from the canister to the motor, is permanently tucked away elsewhere, making the job of vacuuming the house much easier and more convenient.  This is especially true of large homes or homes that have more than one story, because these types of homes are traditionally harder to vacuum.  If they are owned by individuals that are older or in any way disabled or incapacitated, vacuuming them can present a serious challenge.  With a central vacuum cleaner there are inlets placed throughout the house and the tubing runs inside the walls.  The dirt and debris that are vacuumed up are all sent through this tubing to the central holding tank (either bagged or bagless) and this tank must only be emptied about once every three months.

It is estimated that there should be at least one inlet for every 600 square feet of house space, and of course there must be at least one inlet per floor for multistory homes, and many people wonder if they can install them on their own.  In short, it is possible to do so.  However, professional installation is recommended because there is a moderately high degree of difficulty in installing a central vacuum system.  Putting anything inside the walls of one’s home should only be done by those that have strong DIY (do it yourself) skills or by a trained professional.  Once the central vacuum unit is installed, however, maintenance is simple.  The canister or bag must be emptied properly and not allowed to get overly full, as this can damage the unit and also result in a loss of suction.  In addition, the filter on the unit must be changed as recommended.  A benefit of the central vacuum system is having cleaner air, but this can only be accomplished if the filter remains clean.  Other than this routine maintenance, however, there is little that needs to be done to the central vacuum system.  It is highly convenient, easy to use, and adds value to a home, while only costing about the same price as a higher-end moveable unit vacuum cleaner.  With this in mind, the central vacuum system can be a very good investment for almost any home.