I had a house with a builder-installed central vac, which I used on occasion. It did an okay job, but if I wanted to get the carpeting really clean, I had to use my upright vacuum. And the hose was a major hassle, especially hauling it up and down stairs. Maybe newer models have solved some of those problems, though.

One thing I heard about, tho, is a central-vac "dustpan." It's a slot in the kitchen where you just sweep the dirt into it, and the vac just takes it away. Now that is very cool! I should have one continuous one around the whole kitchen just for dog hair.

I have a central vacuum system and I just love it. It has a special attachment for rugs like an upright vacuum and it does an excellent job. I have had one since 1979 and am so glad I got it. It is much quieter than a regular vacuum cleaner. You don't have any dust from it and no unit to be pulling around. If we build another house I will be sure to have one again.

I installed a walvac twin lamb motor system 25 years ago. I have the 35 foot hose and a powered head as well as wood floor stick. There are many new accessories now available. It does very well and my only suggestion would be to mount the unit out in the garage, not next to a bedroom because they are noisey. I have had to replace the cloth filter once, brushes in the motor once and one of the two motors twice. Also another tip when installing do not put the port where there may ever be a piece of furniture, unless you like moving furniture! Thanks for asking

We just built a new home last year and had a Vacu-flo system installed. It is wonderful! All exhaust air is vented to the outside and the unit is installed in the garage where I can attach a hose for cleaning out there. We installed a "vac dustpan" in the kitchen and laundry room so we can sweep crumbs & dirt directly into a rocker type opening at floor level under the cabinets. All the dirt ends up in the garage recepticle so there are no messy bags to replace. All we have to do is empty the container into the garbage can. We never seem to use our "conventional" vacuum cleaner anymore.

I have had a house with a husband-installed central vac (husband is a plumber, in fairness) and I absolutely loved it. Also, had one in an RV and that was great too. When comparing a central with a regular vac - there is no comparison on any level. Never have to worry about putting away the vac - just install a garden hose hanger in a closet and hang up the hose. No worries! With the receptacle in the garage or storage, there is almost no noise and no exhaust dust.

I'd like comments and advice on retrofitting a central vac. Easy? Hard? Worthwhile? Opinions?

Retrofit? You be the judge.

After buying a couple of new uprights in the hopes of finding one that actually didn't release dirt when emptying, I came home one day to find my sweetheart, untypically steamed up, saying, "I know what I want for our anniversary, and I want it NOW!"

So I went out immediately and bought the unit and all the bells and whistles. All the while I was thinking, "How the heck will I ever get this thing installed in a 200 year old, timber framed, house?" Well, it wasn't the easiest thing I ever did here, but it was worth the hassle.

My sweetheart loves it. We do want to buy another set with hose and tools, though so we don't have to move them from floor to floor.

I say, "Go for it!"

If anyone is tired of storing hoses or lugging hoses up and down the stairs, you should try the Hide-A-Hose system, from H-P Products (the maker of Vacuflo). You can store up to 50 feet of hose, enough to clean 2,300 square feet, within the tubing in the wall. It uses the suction power from the power unit to retract the hose into the wall. All you need to do is attach your powerhead and pull out the desired amount of hose. After you are finished, the hose retracts back into the wall. It is a really cool product!

The Hide A Hose from HP is very cool.
Check out there web site:
http://www.vacuflo.com/products_hideahose.html

And watch the video.

I always wanted a central vac and when we built 6 years ago I asked my builder to install one. He tried to talk me out of it saying they didn't work. I had no idea there were so many different types, otherwise I would have selected it myself. I trusted him and he installed the cheapest (I'd told him I wanted the best available). It only has hard wood floor head. He didn't have electricity run to the hose ports so there was nothing to power a brush head. I had to pay $400. after the fact for a head with a moving brush. It has to be plugged into an outlet near the hose port. Real inconvenient. But even considering this, it still beats hauling around a big bulky regular vac. I highly recommend them but only when they have a powered brush head for carpeting. If more women build homes I believe central vacs would become as standard as running water!

The house we have now is the first one I have owned with C.V. I believe it does a better job overall of getting up dirt. It also does not exhaust dust into the rest of the house. I also prefer lugging a 10lb hose and sweeper up stairs rather than a 20-25lb upright.
My old upright with the HEPA filter was only effective at catching blown dust for a short time. I now use the old upright in my shop for cleaning up saw dust and metal shavings.
If I ever build a house, I would want a CV built in.

I love that the dust goes OUTSIDE, not back into the house. I've had central vacs in two houses but different brands. Both were installed in new construction. The first one was marvelous, a CycloVac,with quality parts. The second one, which I have now, is a Beam and I'm not near as happy with it. The attachments and hose are cheap plastic and the place where it attaches to the wall is hard to connect and disconnect. But, all in all, I love a central vac system better than a regular vac.

WE REMODELED AN OLDER HOME IN 1988 AND INSTALLED A vAC-fLO CENTRAL VAC SYSTEM. i LOVED IT ,MY HUSBAND HATED DRAGGING A 35FT HOSE AROUND.wHEN WE MOVED TO A NEW HOME IN 2000 i WANTED ANOTHER VAC BUT DIDN'T GET ONE . wISH i WOULD HAVE WON THAT ROUND. Ada K.

WE RECENTLY ACQUIRED AN OLD 1950'S HOME AND IT HAS A BUILT IN VAC...A 'THOMAS' BRAND BUT WE CANNOT FIND ANY BAGS FOR IT AS THE COM HAS BEEN OUT OF BUS FOR SOME TIME. ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ANY OLD BAGS LAYING AROUND????:)

Moved into a home in 2002 that was built in 1998 and it had a C.V. in it. The brand is Nutone and it has 2 ports in the house. One on each end, a 'dustpan' in the laundry room, the canister is in the garage which also has a port so you can do your cars too. There is absolutely no comparison when it comes to how clean it gets the house, no bags to empty (we've lived here 5 years and I have yet to change the bag), the number of attachments are amazing and I can be talking on my cellphone and the person on the other end cannot hear the vacuum. People constantly comment on how clean our house is and the C.V. is the reason. I use it to clean the wood blinds, the ceiling fans, the baseboards and the furniture. The end of the hose has a hole that you can close or open and when it is open the suction isn't as intense so you can do the upholstery on the furniture. I LOVE IT and would never have another house without one. I could definitely be a salesperson because I truly believe in the product.

We have a central vac system in our home. I loved it - while it was working, but "someone" in my family managed to suck up something unknown and the darn thing is clogged! I have a two-story home, and absolutely no idea how to solve the problem. Does anyone have any ideas? I have called a couple of companies, but the cost is in the OH MY GOSH range. I could buy a brand new upright for less money.

Jacque - I am not an expert in this field, but you might try a plumbers snake to try to locate and dislodge whatever is clogging the system.
Or, just a thought, connect a shop vac the wall outlets and see if you can suck out the clog.

Looking at installing a central vac system into a new house, and the choice is either wet and dry(drainvac) or dry(beam). Concerns with the Drainvac is the exhaust system which will pump back fine dust particles into the environment and liquid in the pipes which may cause a stench later. Could anyone advise us ?

for hoses clogged with excess carpet fuzz, reverse the hose and wiggle it with your hand sealing the gap as much as possible--it sucked out the clogged fibres when I did it!

I have a 1905 colonial that is being restored room by room. I installed a Nutone central vac system with wall ports and the toe kicks in the kitchen, in fact 2 of them. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread! I use it for every day cleaning and for cleaning up the construction debris. I would highly recommend it to everyone. The new one I just read about on here that sucks the hose up into the wall would be an awesome replacement if mine ever dies. The hose can get in the way. By the way...I have hardwood floors. Where I have area rugs, I use a standard upright unit. I didnt buy the attachment for the unit since I was not planning on carpet.

I service, install and design CV's for a living. If there is anything I can do for you I will. I mainly work with NuTone and Beam Tanks. To the one post about trying to get the clog out...the shop-vac is a great way to do it but, make sure you open the inlet on the tank or if the tank doesn't have an inlet, prop open the closet wall inlet.

My wife grew up with an HP Vacuflo. We've been married 33 years and she'd never consider anything besides a built-in. I just ordered hide-a-hose for our new house. Am very exited about it. Built-ins already have more benefits than can be listed here, the hide-a-hose just adds to that.

I have a Nutone central vac. UNfortunately, the hose in the wall can get clogged if you suck too much matter into it. I've done it again and I wish I know how to backflush it myself! Any help would be appreciated;0

Hi Amy,

From Nutone's Website (page 6)
http://www.nutone.com/pdf/catalogs/CV353manual.pdf

"Insert hose end into any inlet with Power Unit
running, place the palm of your hand over the
opposite end of the hose. When you can feel the
suction increase, hold your hand over the hose
end for a few seconds and then quickly remove
your hand. This procedure repeated several time
should clear the obstruction. If the blockage is
not cleared, service will be necessary."

I didn't find any information on how to backflush a Nutone central vacuum. You might try calling their customer service department.

In U.S.A. call:
1-888-336-3948 for Customer Service
In Canada call: 1-888-882-7626

This site has everything anyone would ever need to install a central vacuum system themselves.

http://www.centralvacuumstores.com

The site I mentioned in an earlier post, also has a troubleshooting page and some helpful information on unclogging a central vacuum system.

http://www.centralvacuumstores.com/cvs/trouble_help.php

We are about to build a house that will only have carpeting on the stairs and in the basement. The main level and top floor will be a combination of hardwood and ceramic tile.

I love the idea of the "sweep vent" offered with central vacs. But with very little carpeting, is a central vac necessary?

I would appreciate all comments - pros and cons.
Thanks!

Renee, we also are building a new house and the main level is laminate floors with the second floor having carpet. I too, was wondering if a central vac is necessary. Hope we hear from someone soon!

I have all bare floors and a central vacuum system. They do a good job on carpet, but a great job on bare floors. What is the alternative? A portable vacuum or sweeping. The central vacuum is so much more powerful. Another thing to consider is that for a little over $100 you can get a separator that allows you to use your central vac to suck up water.
For somewhat more than that they have a accessory that let's you use your central vacuum system like a carpet cleaning extractor...it even puts out water and everything. I wish I had had this when I was raising kids and puppies. Just google "wet pickup central vacuum"

Central vacuum systems are awesome! Easy to use, many health benefits and afforadable. You should visit www.thinkvacuums.com and do a lot of research.

I think a central vacuum is the best choice for bare floors. I just read an article on the HGTVPro website under Best Practices that said regardless of the unit you buy it is always best to vent it outside. I got my central vac from Central Vacuum Stores. They are a local company in Tampa Bay and that is what they told me, too. I guess they knew what they were talking about. They have a website, too. Here's the link.

">http://www.centralvacuumstores.com">
This is the link for the company that told me about venting outside

You commented once on a problem with the DrainVac exhaust sending back fine particulate matter - I found this on Google but could not get to the article - Can you point me in the right direction

Thanks

Steven

Regarding the retro fitting and hide-a-hose, we purchased an Electrolux PU3650 and two hide-a-hose units with 40 foot hose length from the guys at www.vacdepot.com and installed it in our existing 2007 home. I do not know why all builders are not offering these in their homes - they are not that expensive.

The entire package with tools cost about 40% of what I was quoted locally and only took my wife and I one weekend to complete - working off and on while doing other weekend projects. It was simple. I can not remember life before having this central vacuum, nor do I care too. www.Vacdepot.com was very helpful. I called them and told them what I had, they figured out just what I needed and shipped it right to our door for the lowest price I could find - love those guys!

Do install a central vacuum, if you get it right you will be thankful every time you vacuum. Good Luck!