The Ultimate Clean Sweep: Central Vacuum

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Joyce Benson   1 Comment |
Tag(s): Green Cleaning, Greening the Home

Imagine a household chore that is almost pleasant…it’s not out of the question with a central vacuum system in place.  A central vacuum consists of a stationary canister which is mounted on a wall in a basement or other remote area of the house.  A series of pipes run through the walls to inlets located throughout a home for easy access when vacuuming.  It helps to maintain good indoor air quality as it does not stir up dust like a conventional vacuum.

Not only is this type of system gentler on your allergies, but it’s easier to physically maneuver the vacuum attachments and lightweight hoses around the house, especially on stairs.  It does a superb job of cleaning and is quieter than a portable vacuum.  A “kicksweep” inlet located at the base of kitchen cabinets makes sweeping away dirt a breeze.

There are two options for the type of canister system:  bagged and cyclonic.   The canister in the bagged variety holds a disposable bag and usually a HEPA quality filter.  The bag needs to be changed when full, about every few months (depending on how many furry dogs live with you!).  The cyclonic system is bagless and typically contains a HEPA filter too.  With this type of system, the canister needs to be emptied and the filter cleaned about twice a year (not the best option for those allergic to dust!).

Don’t worry if you neglected to add a central vac system to your home while it was under construction, it can be retrofitted into older homes too (although labor charges will be a couple hundred dollars more).  Cost is $1,000 to $2,000, including installation in a 2,200 sq. ft. home.

photo courtesy of H-P Products, Inc.

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