Central vacuum systems have become a standard offering for many custom builders. Over the years, homeowners have come to appreciate the conveniences central vacuums offer, and custom builders have become comfortable installing them. But even those who have been specing central vacuums for years don’t know everything the systems are capable of. Most custom builders are unaware of the positive effect on indoor air quality (IAQ) that central vacuums can provide, according to Paul Runyon, national sales manager for Beam Industries.
Featuring the maker’s CleanStream HEPA filtration system, the Afuera central vacuum system is designed to reduce sound emission during use. The system uses a two-stage tangential bypass motor and is designed for homes up to 8,000 square feet. The Cleaning Essentials tool kit features an assortment of attachments. 800.896.9756. www.electroluxusa.com. “Indoor air quality is becoming a much bigger issue in the marketplace,” says Runyon. According to American Lung Association (ALA) statistics, 42.3 million Americans are affected by asthma and/or hay fever, generally triggered by allergies or airborne allergens such as pet dander, mold, pollen, and dust mites. Consumers are more savvy about healthy indoor living spaces, and custom builders interested in providing healthier homes need to keep abreast of the latest developments.
Designed for homes up to 18,000 square feet, the VacuFlo true cyclonic central vacuum system model 960 operates without bags or filters, capturing vacuumed dirt and venting fine dust particles to the outdoors. The system is available with a wide assortment of tool kits, power heads, attachments, and hose options. 800.822.8356. www.vacuflo.com. Runyon points out that IAQ control is also becoming a larger part of green building practices. Greg Heinze of Shelburne Development in Portland, Ore., agrees, saying that central vacuums help with the green building process. “That’s not why we put one in a home, but it’s certainly an adjunct to a healthier home environment,” Heinze says.
The ALA’s ongoing Health House educational and demonstration program offers a set of building criteria, developed with climate-specific construction and product category guidelines, for constructing a healthy house. Central vacuums are included on its list of required products because they capture dust, dirt, and allergens without stirring up microscopic particles.
“Central vacuums are a more powerful method of cleaning the home,” says Carolyn Crocker, director of floor care marketing for H-P Products. “They have three to five times the power of a traditional portable vacuum. One-hundred percent of what’s picked up does not recirculate back into the living area.”
Central vacuum systems consist of a power/collection unit, PVC piping and inlet valves, and a power team (the hose and cleaning accessories). The PVC piping is installed during construction and runs from the power unit to most rooms of a home, ending in an electrified inlet valve. A lightweight hose attaches to the inlets for use, and operation is controlled at the hose’s power head.
With a dirt capacity of 7 gallons, the three-stage model S5640 central vacuum system is designed for homes up to 10,000 square feet. The system is available with a variety of tool sets and a VacPan receptacle. The motor is covered by a 10-year warranty. 330.499.9499. www.hoover.com. Several manufacturers offer a selection of power units using one of two filtration types and bagless or bagged collection systems. Cyclonic systems spin the air as dirt and dust is collected in the canister to separate the two, allowing dirt to fall to the bottom and dust to be exhausted to the outdoors. Filtered systems use either inverted filters in the top of the canister to trap dust while allowing dirt to collect at the bottom, or they use disposable bags to collect all dirt and dust.
A recent study conducted by the University of California at Davis School of Medicine’s Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology found that study subjects reported a significant improvement in their symptoms of rhinitis and house-dust sensitivity during a three-month use of a central vacuum system compared to a three-month use of their portable vacuums.
The Advantage series model CV850 central vacuum system features two mufflers for greater sound insulation, an 8-gallon capacity, and two three-stage universal bypass motors. Designed for homes up to 12,000 square feet, the CV850 is available with a variety of tool sets and with LED-lit indicating inlets. 800.543.8687. www.nutone.com. The ALA is also currently monitoring the performance of the system installed in one of its 120 Health Houses through a series of sensors that measure the levels of allergens and particulates in the home. “We’ll be watching it and seeing if in fact it is performing as we suspect it is,” says Robert Moffit, communications manager for ALA’s Health House Program.
Because power/collection units are installed away from living spaces (typically in a garage or basement) and are vented to the outside of a home, central vacuums do not reintroduce dust and particulates to the room being cleaned—unlike conventional portable vacuums. Plus, “It’s very quiet, since the motor is located far from the power head,” says Dennis Cutler, national central vacuum and commercial sales manager for Hoover.
The MD AirForce central vacuum system operates off the Power3 control unit instead of low-voltage wire, allowing the central vacuum to be integrated into home automation systems. Using a two-ply micro-filter paper bag with a cloth filter, the MD AirForce captures fine dust down to 0.3 micron, the maker says. 800.525.2055. www.builtinvacuum.com. Aside from the improvements to IAQ that central vacuums offer, nifty accessories further ease and extend use. Dustpan inlets in particular are popular with homeowners, say manufacturers. Designed to be hidden in the toekicks of kitchen or bathroom cabinets, these inlets allow crumbs and other loose dirt to be swept directly into the vacuum system without using a hose attachment. Riley Ralls of RMS Construction Services in Manhattan Beach, Calif., says that his clients love this feature because they can simply sweep crumbs and debris into the dustpan inlet.
Manufacturers claim that the combined cleaning and convenience aspects of central vacuums benefit not just homeowners with allergies, but anyone who wants a cleaner home environment and doesn’t want to lug around a heavy appliance. “I think anybody can benefit, because of the ease of being able to store the wand and hose and being able to take it out whenever you need it instead of having to run up and down stairs with your upright vacuum,” agrees Ed Mahoney of EB Mahoney Builders in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Also, central vacuum systems typically outlast the lifespan of conventional vacuum cleaners by several years. “With proper maintenance there is no limit to how long the system can last, [although] you may have to repair motors after 10 or 15 years,” says Christian Reick-Mitrisin, senior product manager for Nu-Tone.
