Central vacuums
I am something of a central vacuum expert and this seems to be the place to use that knowledge for the good of all. Now here is where that experience (with the buying, repairing, commiserating over the vacuums) came from.
I have had a miele vacuum for 10.5 years. On the other hand my buddy has a Hayden 600 vacuum. This is a Canadian brand, that a local store was featuring, and it came with a 10 year warranty on the motor. He got the top model for $600 and paid $140 for pipe and fittings that I installed with him. He also saved about $350 by not purchasing a powerhead, as he has ceramic tile throughout his home. I do have a powerhead, however, and I would never go without it. Within a year his vacuum was cutting-off for no apparent reason (part of the disadvantage of buying an off-brand). After suggesting he try a new filter because it might be clogging the dealer took it back to the shop but could not duplicate the problem there. And it was a pain unbolting and moving that sucker Next time it happened he got the dealer to stad up and come out to the house. They took it back and ordered a new control module. Took several weeks for part to arrive, during which time I had a broom and shop vac for back-up which I lend to him (and didn’t get back afterwards, now that I think of it). His filter is locked in place by a plastic gizmo that makes getting in there difficult (central vacuum parts aren’t all that cheap either). After a couple of years, it broke-off. I repaired it for him myself, handyman that I am, and it has lasted for years since. But, one time I did not replace the filter for him properly and the motor was ruined when the filter fell out of place. That caused a little strain in our relationship, although he had been upset with the machine even before. The shop said it was my fault, so I he had to pay $317 for a new motor which I helped out with. A few weeks after he got it back, it started cutting-out again. Back to the shop for a month. Dealer says its ready; he has put a nutone central vacuum control module in it. Works for 10 more months, but…. His warranty then expired and he was on his own. “To heck with it” he said and had me cut the control module out of the circuit. Now the led lights don’t work and when he wants to use the vacuum he needs to go to the garage and plug it in. I think my old cat went deaf from being in the garage with it when I was on vacation. Now it is a good motor, has a lot of power and will gobble a paper towel out of the air. But I don’t think it is worth the drama. He should have gone with something a bit more well known. I do envy his set up though. His 30 ft. hose can be a pain sometimes, but he can reach every corner of the house from one vacuum outlet. Allergens that get past filter are expelled to outside (which is a big deal for both us, as we get hay fever pretty bad—mine is worse). He, on the other hand, envies my filters. The Newer filters are washable which saves time and money whenever they get a little clogged up, just don’t run them with any of your clothes as I learned the hard way. I would buy another central vac but probably a different brand from a different dealer than he did, and on that we can definitely agree. My Miele, after all, hasn’t had a single issue in the whole time I’ve been using it and I love what it did to my property value (look it up if you aren’t familiar). And it is so much quieter. I actually don’t mind vacuuming so much since we bought it (my wife is terrible for remembering to do basic chores, which is only really a problem when the hay fever starts) since I can call up the kids or watch some espn. And even if I am getting older and that attachment is getting heavier I can still wing it around one armed just fine. Will never go back to the push vacs.
If these reviews arent enough to convince you that roombas are for real, here are some more.
Oh, and it s extraordinarily entertaining to watch. The drama of whether it ll ever get to this hairball or that crumb is downright fraught. In spite of its seemingly random pattern, it does somehow get everything in the end… One nice side effect: the act of prepping a room for vacuuming – i.e. getting clutter off the floor – is itself a life-changing improvement. I find it much easier to organize books, papers, etc, when it’s for an immediate purpose than as a general habit. So the house isn’t just cleaner, floor-wise….it’s also generally better kept-up. Love my Roomba. Buy one now.
You can also look up the device on a Home Appliances review page such as alacrawiki. They are very well reviewed and they generally make your home feel like you are living with the jetsons. Personally, I like my central vacuum. It has a wow factor too and it is light and powerful enough to use all the time everywhere. But then again this thing is just so cool to look at and think about.
Now if you have multiple floors you might need multiple roombas. You may also need to get one of the more expensive models if you have pets and fur that could destroy the normal vacuum’s suction systems (well, not destroy. Clog is more accurate). So if you want entertainment and a wow factor while also cleaning your house, the 300 dollar investment of the roomba might be worth some effort.
You cant talk to a central vacuum, however the roomba has an audio interface to guide you through its initial set up and to verbally tell you when it needs maintenance. And all you need to do to tell it to go to work is press the CLEAN button on its top surface. The bot works by calculating the appropriate cleaning pattern for your area and then changing its behavior as it goes to respond obstacles, extra dirt, cords, edges, and items. Its bumpers and sensors ensure that it never slams against anything but instead slows and touches the obstacle, then works its way around. This leads to a complete cleaning pattern (in an average cycle it hits each point of your carpet over four times). And when it is done the vacuum turns around and heads for home where it recharges in preparation for its next meal.
Here is a Robot Vacuum Review from a real user answering the number one question everyone has when they hear about this bot: Does it work?
The answer is clearly YES… This new generation fixes all the problems of the previous… I thought I’d be disappointed but now I have a roomba and it has exceeded my expectations… Most of all, if you’re someone who’s non-meticulous about keeping up housekeeping cycles (even if not, like, a total slob), it’s hard to describe the satisfaction of ALWAYS having spotless floors. Since, per above, you’ll develop at least some degree of affection for your Roomba, it’s the ideal pet…it vastly contributes to the household, yet its needs are few (I pull hairs out of its brushes with the affection of a dog owner checking his dalmation for tics).
While a good central vac is one of the best possible investments for your home in terms of health, value, and longevity, there is another recent alternative which (if not nearly as effective) is pretty darn entertaining. This alternative is called the Roomba and it is a robot. Yes, a robot.
Early versions of the Roomba were notorious for getting lost, toppling over stairs, and running out of charge. However the more recent models such as the Roomba 530 are much smarter and come equipped with much better navigation and sensor systems as well as a home base which they can use for scheduled self-charging. This means that they can take care of the cleaning without bothering you. Plus their cleaning heads can automatically switch from wood to tile to linoleum to carpets to rugs, with anti tangle technology to keep it from getting caught in cords or tassels.
The robot itself looks like a few inch high moving disk that is absolutely unconcerned about you, but has an insatiable and wandering desire to clean your floors. The robot is meticulous and will quickly learn the layout of your rooms, avoiding stairs as well as off limit areas which you can mark with included infrared barriers.
The roomba is also equipped with anti-dust and allergen systems to best filter out all the air that it takes in, removing the irritants and keeping your air clean of them. Sensors also pick up how much dirt and dust it is taking in so the device can spend more time cleaning where it is needed.
Moms are one of the greatest gifts to humankind. Where would any of us be without that person to loved, cherish, bore, and raised us from the beginning. Moms give their everything to their families, and often without the praise or thanks that they deserve.
But perhaps moms can get a little help once in a while. The family should help out, cooking some meals, doing the dishes, learning how to do their own laundry after a while… and they should be willing to invest in tools which can make housekeeping go much smoother and faster. For instance, the central vacuum or central vac, the single most important and most valuable household cleaning investment that can be made.
So what makes central vacuums so important and such a benefit for anyone doing home cleaning and busy housewives especially? Well, let me tell you starting with what a central vacuum is.
A central vacuum is a vacuum cleaner that unlike ground or push vacuums is blown up and built in to your entire house. There is a central vacuum motor and filter assembly which is typically installed your basement, mechanical room, or garage. After that is put in place piping is installed your walls and connected to outlets in all your main rooms. All you need to do is plug a central vacuum attachment into one of these plugs and you are ready to go! But how does this system beat ground vacuums for home-maker friendliness?
Let’s start with power. After all, while you vacuum you are attempting to clean your carpets and floors which means that you are trying to suck the dirt out from them. More suction creates cleaner carpets. When you have a regular vacuum the amount of power that it can deliver is limited by the size of the motor. After all, you are pushing the machine around so everything has to be miniaturized and portable. This same limitation doesn’t hold for central vacuums which are much bigger and deliver several times the power of a push vacuum. For instance, I checked and my personal beam central vacuum has over four times the suction of my old Hoover. That leaves a noticeable difference on the state of the room as you will pick up dust and unpleasantness that your other vacuums have been missing for years.
Next, portability. Central vacuums are much larger than ground vacuums and much heavier. But they are also more portable. How can this be? Well consider how central vacuum systems are used. You don’t actually have to lift or drag around the motor or filter assembly, all you interact with is a plug in the wall and an extremely lightweight plastic assembly. These typically only way a dozen pounds at most (provided you have the motorized head, which I always would recommend) which means that you can easily lift and move them around with one arm. Think, a vacuum light enough to get under around furniture without taking off varnish or leaving scuffs, a vacuums o light you can use it on hangings and dust the walls and ceilings! And you can do it with more power than you could with any vacuum before.
But what about noise? Central vacuums have a larger and louder motor it is true. But that motor is off in the garage! While you are vacuuming the system is quiet enough that you can watch TV or talk on the phone! Children can sleep through the sound and cats and dogs won’t get upset or scared of the device. This means that you can actually do things you enjoy while you vacuum, and you can take more time because you aren’t distracting or disturbing everyone else in the family!
Value. Central vacuums hold their value better than any other type of vacuum out there. They are usually estimated to last as long as your house does (no replacements ever again!) and they also add a large amount of value to the dwelling they are installed in. What other vacuum can do that?
Low maintenance. Because all the parts of the central vacuum are built larger they also last longer and are easier to fix. Less plastic construction and less wear and tear also contributes to the fact that you won’t have to take care of your new vacuum cleaner for a long time. Also because the system is larger you won’t have to refill it very much either. Only once or twice a year in most cases! All in all, central vacuums have enough going on for them to satisfy any mother’s need for convenience in an appliance.
AS I was stating in my previous entry, my relatives are absolutely unable to clean up their home because the central vacuum they have installed in their basement is so old and underpowered that it cannot so much as pick up spare change, much less deep clean that carpet (which is beige now even though it was once a kind of white).
When you look for a central vacuum, whether that means for the first time or if you are seeking Appliance Replacement, you need to make sure that you are paying attention to a number of factors. First, make sure that the dealer is reputable and well known. That means Electrolux, Beam, Nutone, or a number of others. There are a number of vacuum manufacturers which dabble in central vacuums but don t have a solid line of products. That means that you might get a good price, but you probably will not get the power of a brand name vacuum or the longevity of quality product. Many of these vacuums, in fact, are just normal push vacuums put in central vac casing.
You also need to look at prices and reviews. Spending a little more on a central vacuum is generally a good idea as the machines will last a lifetime with little maintenance and add value to your property, making them more an investment than most other appliances. They really become a part of your home and if your central vacuum is reported to have good power and long life, you will get your money back sooner or later dont you worry.
You tube is fantastic and a great source for more than the latest funny video. For instance, if you are into vacuums check out this set of Vacuum Vids and what a beam central vacuum can do. I had not realized just how great the numbers behind a central vacuum s impact on air quality really were. But it makes sense. The device is better than any heap air filter ground vacuum because filtering the air that gets pulled in becomes a non issue. The dirt is filtered into the chamber and anything that is missed (instead of being ejected back into your house as would happen with a ground vacuum). I would definitely believe that that could boost your homes air quality by over half. I can also believe that if someone were to be allergic to dust mite leavings it would be a life changing advantage.
It is also interesting to watch how to videos about how to install central vacuums like this one. Everyone seems to have their own do it yourself system of where to put the device and how to set up the access outlets. Figuring what looks like it works the best and exactly how much effort the installation will take can save you a ton of time and energy. Plus seeing it done and seeing the results will always be better than just reading about it online. Go on and look around. I hope ideas are helpful.
As this site intends to present information and articles surrounding home vacuuming it is appropriate that we also mention what should be avoided when you invest in a vacuum cleaner. Mainly, you should avoid non-standard vacuum manufacturers. For instance, turn to the extended family of this Built-in Vacuum Blog author.
In my extended family is a household where the father builds and is very capable and happy doing it. The wife stays at home and looks after the grandkids as she looked after her own children. It is a generally happy place even if she does push a little bit too much turkey on us during the holidays and is hurt when we cannot eat it all.
But the house is dirty. I have seen that man build beautiful and professional structures but his has thin carpet that has probably never been cleaned deeply. And the reason is their central vacuum. While most central vacuum cleaners sold today are powerful and come with optional power heads, the model that they had installed sounds like it is dying or choking when you use it. While I admit that is nice that I don t need to worry about accidently sucking up spare change, the fact that it doesn t have enough power to pull up a penny tells me that it is doing nothing but picking up the very top layer of dust, and definitely not penetrating into the carpet like we need it to.
Getting a good vacuum cleaner comes down to more than just price or expense. A good vacuum cleaner is an essential part of taking care of your home and ensuring that it is a healthy place for you and your family to spend time.
Vacuum Systems are of course made for vacuuming and pulling dust, dirt, and debris from your carpet. But why is that necessary? Human beings shed just like any animal, except along with hair we loose significant numbers of skin cells which constantly fall off and coat our floors and furniture. Even if you never track dirt or mud into your home you will continually add to the layer and this will in turn feed populations of dust mites and other creatures. While this isn t unhealthy in its existence, if you allow things to go to far you can end up developing allergies to the waste products of these mites and also harming your lungs with the excessive particles you will breathe in.
In nature these tiny particles are continually broken down and filtered away. However in doors they simply collect in any cloth surface. In order to combat this get a good vacuum with a power head for digging into your carpet and bringing up all of that dust and skin cells. Also a HEPA approved filter should help you filter everything from the air you are vacuuming up so that you don t simply recirculate it into your home s air supply.
Have you seen transformers, the part where burnie mac (rest is soul) tries to push all the old cars on lebeuf (or however you spell it). I met that guy. Not the actor, I met the character. He tried to sell me USED VACUUMS. Now I am all for the green movement and I believe in recycling and reusing. But used appliances probably are not the best option. And these appliances were the worst. I have never seen such beat up, beat down, patched together, weird smelling vacuums. Some of them had actually been repainted—with what looked like wall paint.
So this guy, who I know for a fact wasn’t a member of any reputable Vacuum Seller organization, apparently was involved in industrial strength vacuums. Which are of course bigger, uglier, and probably have more resell options. But he still had some ancient Hoovers lying around that probably don’t even have bags made for them outside of antique road show.
It was an iffy spot to try but I had moved into a new city and his storefront looked, well, affordable. As it turns out, his prices were still overblown as he came up to me with his polish accent and started to push, making up my mind and telling me what I needed for big apartment I have.
I am not writing very coherently. I apologize. I will summarize. This guy was selling bad vacuums and trying to fell around my pockets for my wallet, almost. Buy new vacuums with heap filters and energy star ratings. Avoid back allies and industrial warehouses. Sigh.
If you suffer from bad allergies you are not alone. Millions deal with both seasonal and permanent allergies. Fortunately there are treatments available for those with severe cases. But for those of us with mild symptoms there may be more affordable and less extreme measures to take to keep allergies at bay.
First of all you need to figure out what you are allergic to. If you are allergic to bed mites, for instance, you are going to need to invest in a bed sheet (which is a cheap and generally effective way to go). But if you are allergic to dander it wont really help. You can check what your specific allergy is with a few visits to a specialist, or by some trial and error.
No matter what you do, however, you are going to want to look for some HEPA vacuums. These machines are rated to remove the smallest particles of dust and allergen in your house. If you don t have a heap vacuum you may just be sucking up these irritating particles and blowing them all around the room—not getting rid of them. This will make your allergies worse even as you try to clean your home to keep them down.
Or consider a central vacuum. Unlike other vacuums central vacuum cleaners have an external vent to make sure that all the air you suck up gets sent out of your house entirely. This is by far the best option as you don’t need to risk anything getting past the filter, because it doesn’t matter outside.