Central Vacuum Systems

CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM OR TRADITIONAL UPRIGHT? WEIGHING THE OPTIONS

If you are in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, you’re confronting a wide array of product choices. Traditional upright vacuum or in-the-wall central vacuum system? High end or low? Each product presents advantages and disadvantages, not the least of which is price. Dollar for dollar, what’s the best deal? What’s the best choice for you?

It depends on your budget, your priorities and whether you are looking for lasting value or a quick fix. Here’s a handy shopper’s comparison guide to help you decide on the right vacuum system for your needs:

PERFORMANCE, POWER AND IMPACT ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY

If your son is moving off campus into an apartment and you’d like to see the floor when you visit, shop for the bargain sweeper. It won’t get dragged out unless you’re visiting, anyway, so a low-priced vacuum cleaner, available at mass merchandise stores, might be just the ticket.

On the other hand, when it comes to excellent suction power and efficient elimination of dirt and pollutants, the old adage “you get what you pay for” still applies. A good name brand upright is going to deliver good results, especially if it is outfitted with a HEPA filter. But for superior cleaning, and especially if anyone in the home suffers from asthma , allergies or other respiratory conditions, only a central vacuum system removes virtually all of the dirt and fine particles of pollen and other contaminants from your home. That’s because a traditional upright vacuum cleaner re-circulates some of the dirt right back into the air. (That just-vacuumed smell in your house? That’s escaped dust and dirt from your vacuum cleaner, floating around the room).

By contrast, a central vacuum system carries all suctioned dirt through the hose, into a system of tubing behind your walls and directly to a tightly sealed container away from living spaces. This can make a huge difference in the overall indoor air quality, and even quality of life for people with respiratory conditions.

EASE OF USE

If you’ve got a strong back and don’t mind lugging a heavy sweeper around the house and up the stairs, traditional vacuums pose no problems. But many homeowners who install central vacuum systems get spoiled in a hurry by their ease of use. If someone in your home has back problems, this may be an investment worth looking into, considering that most central vacuum systems come with substantial long term warranties. With a central vacuum, you simply insert the end of a hose into one of several strategically located outlets, choose your attachment and sweep. When you move to a different room you remove the end of the hose and use a different outlet. Some systems even have the hoses hidden inside the walls, so you only pull out as much hose as you need to vacuum. The hose automatically retracts back into the wall when you are finished—the height of convenience.

PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION

If you’re in a hurry, of course, you can shop for a vacuum cleaner and usually carry it home from the store the same day. Easy. Central vacuum systems require installation by a professional, but it’s easier and faster than you think. Because of the rise in popularity of central vacuum systems, trained and certified installers are readily available nationwide, and most systems can be installed in a day. You needn’t worry about tearing your house up with installation, either. Retrofitting an existing house with a new central vacuum system is very common and easily accomplished. Of course, if you happen to be building a new home, or remodeling, the ideal time to install is before the drywall goes up.

PRICE

Budget is always a factor, so consider how far your dollars will take you. If you need a basic vacuum cleaner that can handle routine cleaning and you don’t mind replacing it every few years, there are plenty of products available that fit the bill. The days of your mother’s sweeper—that thing she lugged around for about twenty years, the brand name sweeper that delivered solid performance for decades—those days are gone, victim of market pressures and changes in our society’s consumption habits.

Quality upright cleaners are still available, to be sure. But for ease of use, long lasting powerful performance and superior cleaning, an investment in a central vacuum system may be, in the long term, your wisest choice.