The ultimate in cleaning convenience and efficiency.

Dust, dirt, pollen, dander, fur and hair - there's no end to the stuff that accumulates in our homes, and getting rid of it can be a real chore. In addition to the trusty broom and dustpan, many home owners use a small vacuum for the stairs and the car, an upright for the carpeting, and a shop vacuum for the garage. They all need filters, belts and periodic maintenance or replacement. It's hard to believe that a central vacuum could replace most of these cleaning tools.

Although normally associated with new construction and expensive homes, central vacuum systems can be installed in most existing homes and are actually quite economical. They add resale value to your home, so a central vacuum is an investment that should pay for itself.

I know what you're thinking: What's the catch? You guessed it--anything this good doesn't come cheap. A power unit and materials for a three-inlet system costs $800 to $1,200 (one inlet covers roughly 700 sq. ft. of floor).

Health:

One in three people in the U.S. have dust-related allergies and the EPA estimates that indoor air may be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Even though portable vacuum makers call attention to their HEPA (high-efficiency particle arrestor) filtration, it only filters down to .3 micron at 99.97% efficiency. Smaller microbe-laden particles, viruses and bacteria are still passed back into the room being vacuumed. Ordinary dust bags offer little resistance to these tiny particles; microbe laden dust passes through a standard bag like a fly through a chain link fence. A Central vacuum unit on the other hand removes 100%of all viruses, pollens and bacteria vacuumed and removes them safely out of your home when fitted with an outdoor exhaust. A filter inside the unit protects the motor from damaging dust particles and prevents fine dust from collecting on the outside wall, walkways and gardens.

Power:

The second reason to choose a central vacuum is cleaning power. A central vacuum unit can be as much as five times more powerful than conventional vacuum cleaners and since it is located in a remote location, the sound produced by the central vacuum (without the powerhead) is minimal. It is easy to talk over the sound of an operating central vacuum, and TV, music and telephones are clearly audible.

Finally, a central vacuum eliminates the need to drag a clumsy machine around the house, banging up walls and furniture in the process. Portable vacuums have to be lugged up and down the stairs, and in the case of canister vacuums, they have the potential to fall down the stairs if tugged while cleaning. The dirt capacity in a central vacuum is generous too; it usually requires emptying only once per year. As a final enticement to the homeowner, built-in vacuums typically retain their full value when a home sells and is considered a home upgrade which may increase the value of the home - something that can’t be said for a portable vacuum.