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How Does a Central Vacuum System Work

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Vacuum System

How Does a Whole Vacuum System Work. What Are the Pros and Cons of a Central House Vacuum System? What is the difference between a standard vacuum and a whole vacuum system?

If you’re considering installing a whole vacuum system, there are some questions you need to ask yourself.

In this article, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of a whole vacuum system so that you can decide whether you’ll stick to a regular vacuum or finally consider this a good investment.

How Does a Central Vacuum System Work

A whole vacuum system, also known as a central vacuum system, is a built-in cleaning system that is installed in a home or building. It consists of several components, including a power unit, piping system, and cleaning attachments. Here’s how a central vacuum system works:

  1. Power unit: The power unit is the heart of the system and is usually located in a garage or basement. It’s connected to the piping system and contains a motor, filter, and dirt receptacle.
  2. Piping system: The piping system is installed inside walls and runs throughout the home or building. It connects to each room through inlet valves that are installed in the walls or baseboards.
  3. Cleaning attachments: There are various cleaning attachments available, such as a hose, wand, and floor tool. These attachments connect to the inlet valves and are used to clean floors, carpets, furniture, and other surfaces.

How Does a Central Vacuum System Work

A whole vacuum system, also known as a central vacuum system, is a whole-house solution that sucks all the dirt from all parts of the house, including home furnishings to floors using 2-inch pipes connected to a 12-gallon canister usually down the garage, utility closet, or in a basement.

From this main hub (the 12-gallon canister), the pipes and electrical wires are connected through several wall outlets around your home. So instead of using a heavy, portable yet noisy regular vacuum cleaner, you get a whole-house vacuum working for you.

This kind of system is usually installed as your house is being built because a 30-foot hose will be routed to different parts of your house through the walls. But you can also install a whole-house vacuum system even if your house is already established.

What Are the Pros of a Vacuum System

Is your whole house vacuum system worth it? Here are some of its benefits:

1. Easy to Maintain

What’s great about having a whole house vacuum system is that its maintenance is only minimal. You won’t have to dispose of the paper filter bag and the motor brushes frequently. You can change the filter bag after six months and the motor brushes after three years.

2. Installation Is Fast

Another benefit of having a whole house vacuum system is that it’s easy and fast to install. The professional work crew can install the PVC pipes through the special wall mounts, mount the hose outlet covers, connect the wires to the motor, hang the canister in the basement or garage, then finally plug the cord so that the central vacuum system becomes live. All of these in just one day, and you won’t have to worry about getting your house ripped apart.

3. Has Six Years Warranty

Unlike regular vacuums, a whole house vacuum system has a longer warranty of up to six years. Since this system uses a bigger motor, it works and lasts longer than a regular portable vacuum motor.

4. Easier and Faster to Clean the House

You won’t have to bring heavy vacuums and spend hours cleaning your house from top to bottom. And you won’t need help from other people because you can easily do it by yourself. You only need to lift a lightweight hose coming from each port, so cleaning can be a breeze even if you live on multi-floors.

What Are the Drawbacks of a Central Vacuum System

Here are some drawbacks that may cause you to stick with your regular vacuum cleaners.

1. Accidental damage

If you have small kids around the house, you may have a lot of chances of having your whole house vacuum system damaged due to various accidents from them trying to “clean” the toilet or getting small debris or some jelly into the hose.

2. Issues on Noise

If your house is a bit small, the sound it makes can be really noisy. Even the nozzle end can make noise, although only minimally. You can find newer models that have quieter motors.

  1. Disruptive to sleep: Loud noises can disrupt sleep and cause fatigue, irritability, and other health issues. This is especially problematic in residential areas, where loud noises from neighbors or street traffic can be disruptive.
  2. Impacts productivity: Noise can also impact productivity in the workplace. Loud office environments can be distracting and reduce concentration and focus, leading to decreased productivity and quality of work.
  3. Health issues: Exposure to high levels of noise over a prolonged period can lead to hearing loss and other health issues, including tinnitus, stress, and high blood pressure.

3. Big Motors Can Pose Problems

Big motors mean big suction. These can have perks, but they definitely have some drawbacks. There were a lot of instances where the vacuum was used in bird cages where they accidentally got too close with the bird. And you know what that means, right? When using a big motor such as with the central vacuum system, you need to be extra careful so you won’t encounter any accidents.

Conclusion

The whole house vacuum system has its benefits and drawbacks that may affect your decision of whether to have it installed in your home or not. But it’s really up to you if you want to stick to a regular vacuum cleaner or try the powerful vacuum system to get the job done faster.

Can Do Duct Cleaning offers cleaning services for the most used and overlooked appliance in your home, the central vacuum system. Don’t leave your central vacuum clogged. Call us to schedule a cleaning appointment now.