Central Vacuum Systems
A central vacuum system is a luxury that not only makes housework easier and quicker but also adds value to your home. In a typical house there might be one or two vacuum inlet sockets on each storey. With a central vacuum system, you place inlets around your home at convenient locations. Instead of plugging a conventional portable vacuum into pre-determined electrical outlets, you can move the central vacuum hose from inlet to inlet - no lugging your upright or cylinder vacuum up the stairs. An automatic dustpan is a great feature for a kitchen that lets you quickly sweep debris into a wall vent using a broom.
The dirt is sucked away through plastic pipework to the main vacuum unit often housed in the garage or utility room. Being a large stationary unit you need only empty it an average of once every three months.
Central Vacuuming - Advantages
You can move around the house much more easily - central vacuums eliminate the need to carry a heavy unit up and down the stairs.
Built in vacuums have three to five times more power than traditional vacuums . Exhaust air is then blown outside the house rather than being re-circulated in the room - ideal for people with allergies.
The volume is also minimal having the central vacuum system located elsewhere (e.g. garage, basement, etc.) so the noise will probably be insulated.
The cost of a complete system is a few hundred pounds, with installation taking around two days. One option is to put the pipework, inlets and wiring in and fit the vacuum when funds allow if you are on a tight building budget. It's far easier to install at the time of build than retro fit all the piping!
Location of Vacuum Unit
Locating the vacuum unit in the garage makes for silent vacuuming inside the house, and also makes it worthwhile to have a vacuum inlet in the garage for cleaning the car.
A utility room, loft, basement or large cupboard provide alternative locations, preferably with access to vent the exhaust air outside.
If the unit is to be fitted inside it is worth paying the extra for a quieter models.
Locations of Vacuum Inlets
In the average size house, one or two inlets per floor will cover the rooms. Inlets can be tucked away inside cupboards. They need to be positioned so that you can reach everywhere with the hose. Hose lengths are generally between 6 and 10 metres long - much longer and it can get difficult to handle.
The pipework used is generally two-inch PVC. Due to the majority of central vacuum suppliers being in the USA imperial measurement pipes should be imported with your system. Most of the pipework is run in the upper floor void, alongside joists.
Internal walls housing pipework should be 10cm thick to allow a little extra room.
Choosing a System
There are two main product decisions you will make in the purchase of your central vacuum system: the power unit and the power brush. The two main types of central vacuum systems are cyclonic and filtered.
A cyclonic system uses centrifugal, tornado-like force and gravity to separate the impurities from the air being taken in by the vacuum, and typically deposits the dirt into a canister (although some systems may use a bag).
Filtered systems can use a variety of filters such as screen, cloth, foam or paper to clean the air taken in by the vacuum. In any filtered system, filters need to be cleaned and replaced.
The effective power of the vacuum unit is best measured in 'air-watts - this is the air power delivered to the power unit.
For a typical house a vacuum unit with 400 air-watts of power is suitable for up to 200sq.m of floor area, with the length of the pipe to the furthest inlet less than 35 metres. The exhaust pipe (if any) from the vacuum unit to the outside should be included in the total length of the pipe run.
The power brush unit, you can decide between an electrical power brush or an air-driven power brush. Air-driven systems may cost less to install because you don't need electricity wired into all the wall inlets.
Other accessories such as automatic dustpan and other attachments also add to the price.
