Which Central Vacuum Should I Buy?
Customers find themselves confused these days about which central vacuum they should buy due to huge price differences when comparatively, the units look the same.
Although the differences might not be apparent to the visual appearance of a central vacuum unit, its components definitely are. The problem is customers become confused when they see big numbers for power with a low price.
In this article we hope to provide some basic information that will help educate the buyer and hopefully take away the marketing confusion. If you’ve been looking for a central vacuum, you no doubt have encountered the many brands out there using ‘airwatt’ motors. Consumers should not base their purchase on airwatts as the smaller, cheaper motors are the high airwatt motors out there and unfortunately many customers have been fooled and ultimately disappointed when basing their decision to purchase solely on that.
There are three styles of motors that are being used today in the central vacuum industry.
- Tangential Bypass motors
- Flow-Thru motors
- Periperhal Bypass motors
The higher-end central vacuums use the Tangential By-Pass motors which use varying diameters and are the best for use in central vacuums as they have a horn discharge, making sure that all heat and exhaust air is removed from the motor chamber which keads to a long motor life.
Flow-Thru motors are usually used in portable vacuums. Buyers need to be aware of this type of motor as it does not have a dedicated cooling fan to cool the inside motor mechanics thereby reducing the life of the motor. The Peripheral By-Pass motor units are not much better as the hot dirty exhaust air vents around the motor area which in turn also causes a reduction in the life of the motor. Ask the salesperson to show you the motor so you see exactly what you’re paying for.
Before you speak to a salesperson, however, keep in mind that there are a few other elements that should factor into your purchasing decision in addition to what has been described above.
- How Many Square Feet is Your House?One of the first things you should look at when you set out to purchase your central vacuum is how many square feet your house is. While power units come in many different models that will vary in size and shape, the size of your home will dictate what size of power unit you will actually need. In doing so, this will help narrow down your list of possible central vacs. Figure out the square feet of your house, double the number and then find a vacuum that meets that requirement.
- Pay Attention to Airflow.This is one of the most important considerations when it comes to the central vac’s performance and particularly its ability to clean. This is because it is force behind the airflow that allows debris to be picked up. Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute. Look for a central vacuum with more airflow.
- Take a Look at the Sealed Suction.Another very important factors when it comes to performance is the vacuum’s ability to suction. One way to measure this is through its inches in “water lift,” which is how well it picks debris up from off the ground. Look for a central vac with a decent amount of inches of water lift. Smaller units, for example, have a waterlift of between 105 to 120 inches.
- Check Out the Power Unit.Another important consideration when it comes to your power unit is what it is actually made out of. The most long-lasting central vacs have power units made out of steel, which can allow your central vac to last as long as 20 years and possibly even longer.
- Look at the Amps.This is another element that will give you an idea as to to the vacuum’s performance and particularly the overall efficiency of the central vac. The amps, in particular, measure how much electrical current the motor uses while in use.
- Examine Its Sustained Cleaning Power.This, in addition to air watts, provides a measure of how well the vacuum functions over an extended amount of time. Sustained cleaning power in particular will tell you how much the vacuum is able to pick up and if it will lose power during the process.
- Ignore Anything to do with Horsepower.This is largely a marketing gimmick and doesn’t have any bearing on the performance of the central vac.
- Don’t Forget the Warranty. This could be important down the line, especially since central vacuums are generally considered an investment. Some vacuums may even come with a lifetime warranty.
It goes without saying that everyone would prefer to purchase a trouble-free central vacuum. As mentioned above, the best style of central vac unit to buy would be one with a tangential bypass motor. Also a unit with lower maintenance is best like the Canavac brand which allows for the optional use of a paper bag that filters out 99.4% of allergens which makes it a lot easier on allergy sufferers.
For more information, contact the Vacmaster team today!