Why Choose a Central Vacuum System?

The really great advantage of a central vacuum is that it can be installed in older homes as well as new construction, making it an ideal home improvement project.

A central vacuum unit can be installed everywhere, no matter are large and how many floors you have. The fact is that you have to choose the right unit for your home size. With a built-in vacuum system, there's no more lugging a heavy cleaner up and down stairs or from room to room. Instead, you carry a cleaning attachment on the end of a long, lightweight hose that will allow you to clean every corners of your home.

Using a central vacuum system helps keep your home healthier, since the dust and debris is not re-circulated like 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.

It is also easier to use a central vacuum system then a portable canister or upright because of the unique hose and easy set up accessories. Nevertheless, a central vacuum system can have almost 30 years of lifetime.

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.

• 1-How many inlets will you need to cover every floor with a 30 feet hose? (Depends on the length of the hose you choose)
• 2-Do you have carpets? If yes, small ones or large ones? Shaggy or rough?
• 3-Do you have animals or children?

These questions are very important because they will help you choose the right vacuum unit for your home.

Question 1 How many inlets will you need to cover every floor with a 30 feet hose?

Question 2 Do you have carpets? If yes, small one or large one? Shaggy or rough?

Question 3 Do you have animals or children?

Technical Charts Explained

Suction or Water lift (H20 inches)

This measures the suction strength of a central vacuum motor. Essentially, it tells how much "pull" or "lift" power the motor has. This measurement is always taken at its maximum value at the 11/4 inch orifice (sealed vacuum) where suction is at its greatest.

Often referred to as H20 inches of Water lift or Vacuum, Suction is vital to overall system performance since it is the "pull power" that creates the velocity of Airflow necessary to move debris through the complex network of vacuum PVC pipes, hose and accessories. While Airflow is necessary for a vacuum cleaner to work, suction creates the lift and the airflow velocity which sweeps the dirt away. Of any performance rating, suction is perhaps the best measurement to evaluate a system’s performance and plays a crucial role in providing and maintaining performance where it counts, at the end of your central vacuum hose.

The H20 inch or "H20 is the water lift value (expressed between 80 to 240 H20 suction inches)

CFM (cubic feet minute)

CFM refers to the volume of air the motor is able to move. The CFM is the unit that indicates the movement of air that is generated. The more Water lift /CFM you have, the more sweeping power you have.

Air Watts

This is the most used and misleading term in the vacuum industry. It is true that the air watt is a performance indicator, the fault is that this value is taken directly at the motor and not at the end of the hose where vacuuming takes place. The water lift will be almost the same at the motor then at the end of the hose while the air watt will be completely different. Every inch of PVC pipes change the air watt value! So the air watt is always different from an installation to an other.

2 motors can have the same air watt value but one or the other will be less powerful in terms of suction power.

REMEMBER: It is important to consider that the true performance overall value for a central vacuum system is the water lift or H20 inch.

Number of Stages

The number of stages refers to the number of fans the motor has inside. The fans create the suction and also cool down the motor. You can have powerful two stages motors but also powerful 3 stages motors. It depends only of the fans size. Some fans can have larger or smaller diameters. It is not a performance indicator.

Decibels

These values are taken by the manufacturer and depend of the environment in which those units are tested. The problem in the vacuum industry is that there is no guide line to evaluate the noise a unit does. Each manufacturer has their own way to evaluate noise. So be vigilant when looking at these decibel values.

Amps

It's a measurement of current that a motor draws and does not measure cleaning performance. Amps are more of a marketing ploy for portable upright and canister vacuums to indicate perceived power. It does not actually measure cleaning power. Perhaps it is an important value when replacing motors.

Types of Filtration Systems

On the market, there are few different types of filtration that exist for central vacuums such as: washable and dryable filters, self-cleaning filters, true cyclonic systems, unique bag systems and cartridge filters to name only those ones. We will help you out with this issue here.

Washable filters

These filters are the most efficient filters on the market because they can be washed. In some cases you can even wash them in the washing machine and dry them in the drying machine. When cleaned, a filter is like brand new and helps prevent performance problems. It also filters better when the filter is clean; in this case it prevents dust from returning in the air. If combined with a bag if possible with your unit, it doubles up your filtration efficiency and less maintenance will be required. Those types of filters are also often permanent which means that you will never have to replace them. In some cases, filters need to be change as specified by manufacturer.

Self-Cleaning filters

These filters are also good filters perhaps you need to change them every 3 to 5 years. These filters are equipped with a small sand bag in the middle of the filter that comes up when the power of the central unit is turned on. All the dirt sticks to the filter in the upper position and when the power is turned off, the sand bag comes down and all the dirt that was sticking to the filter gets in the central vacuum's recipient. This is the way those filters clean themselves. Some manufacturers offer you these filter systems with disposable bags. When use with such bags, the efficiency of these filters is greatly increased and also increase the filter's lifetime.

Cartridge Filters

These filters need to be change almost every year for maximum cleaning power. They cannot be washed and are sometimes very costly to replace.

True Cyclonic (no bag, no filter)

These central vacuum systems must be vent outside because otherwise, they will reject the dusty air into the home. The advantage to use such central vacuums is that you do not need to buy bags or neither filters. The problem with such a filtration system is that the motor is almost not protected from the dust or debris. So if no attention is paid to the power unit, it can greatly damage the motor itself.

Unique Bag System

The dust and debris are filtered by a disposable or tissue bag. This is a filter and a bag at the same time. The disadvantage is that you absolutely need a bag to use the vacuum. The filtration depends on the quality of the bag that you use. Tissue bags tend to be more efficient then paper bags.

N.B. It’s recommended to install outdoor exhaust to vent the vacuum’s air outside because no filter on the market is able to filter 100% of the dust. No matter what kind of filter your vacuum is using it is recommended to vent outside the dusty air of your central vacuum.

2 Motors Central Vacuum System

There is 2 types of central vacuum wall inlets

Standard Inlets
This kind of central vacuum inlet is the most common inlet that you will find on the market. This inlet will allow low voltage current to pass through the hose to remotely switch on and off the power unit.

Standard Quick Connect Inlet (with 110volts)

This particular type of inlet will allow you to use Quick Connect hoses for electric power nozzles. This means that you have no pig tail to connect. This is only good if you have a hose with a built-in 110volts adapter for electric power nozzle.

Types of Hoses for Central Vacuum Systems

Regular Hose This type of hose will create a low voltage electric current directly when inserted in the inlet. This will remotely turn on the power unit automatically. To turn off the power unit, you will have to unplug the hose manually. You cannot use an electric power nozzle with this kind of hose.

Low Voltage Hose

This hose will allow you to switch on and off the power unit from your hose handle. You cannot use a power nozzle with this type of hose.

Electric Regular Hose

This hose is equipped with a 5 to 6 feet pig tail to connect directly in a standard electric plug to allow the use of an electric power nozzle. The hose will create a low voltage electric current when inserted in the vacuum inlet. This will remotely turn on the power unit automatically. To turn of the power unit, you will have to unplug the hose manually.

Electric and Low Voltage Hose

This hose is equipped with a 5 to 6 feet pig tail to connect directly in a standard electric plug to allow the use of an electric power nozzle. The difference between electric regular hose and electric low voltage hose is that the last one has an on/off switch on the handle to switch off the electric power nozzle and the central vacuum unit.

Electric and Low Voltage Hose with “Quick Connect”

This hose is equipped with an adapter to allow a direct connection into 110 volts central vacuum inlet. This means that there is no pig tail to plug in. The difference between electric regular hose and electric low voltage hose is that the last one has an on/off switch on the handle to switch off the electric power nozzle and the central vacuum unit. For this kind of hose you need to have Quick Connect inlets installed with 110volts.

Carpet Nozzles

Air Driven Nozzles

First of all, consider that every central vacuum can use an air driven nozzle and it is far less expensive then an electric nozzle. There are a few different sizes of air driven nozzle and the bigger the nozzle the biggest the central vacuum needs to be. Why? Because air driven nozzles use a turbine, and the biggest the turbine is, the more suction the vacuum needs to develop to make it spin.

Electric Power Nozzles

Electric carpet nozzles are a very good choice for easy cleaning of every kind of carpets. With an electric nozzle, you don’t have to wonder if your vacuum is enough powerful. You have to make sure perhaps that you have 110volts enabled on your central vacuum hose. They are perfect for every tasks.

Mini-Weissell	TK-280	Turbocat	Electric Nozzle