Sorting Through The Hype

When It Comes To Central Vacuums...

The most important considerations are how the motor of the central unit is protected. Heat and dust are the two elements which destroy or cause premature motor failure. Take care of the heat and dust, and you have a more reliable system, it's that simple.

Another consideration is the choice and style of motor used. Selecting a good quality motor means better performance and longevity.

The two motors above are both manufactured by Ametek/Lamb. Based on Airwatt performance (and in a sales brochure and sales person's presentation) they would appear to be virtually identical but you can visually see there is a big difference.

One motor is cheaper with a plastic exhaust housing, the other is more expensive with aluminum exhaust housing. Which of these two do you think will offer better performance and last longer?

Fortunately the one on the right (an Ametek Lamb 116765) is the motor Cana-Vac uses for select models. It has been proven in the industry for its performance and longevity which to us is more important then the cost savings of a cheaper motor at the risk of losing our reputation for quality.

Simply put, there are differences among central vacuums produced. Knowing what to look for when buying a central vacuum is the key to finding a good system. Ask what's inside!

Manufacturer's Decibel Ratings

While decibels are a measurement of sound volume, the average human ear cannot perceive a significant difference in volume between 5 decibels. Manufacturers who offer quiet units will generally provide a decibel rating for their units promoting how quiet their units are. In principle, there isn't any problem with this except that there isn't an industry standard by which these claims are substantiated or governed.

In other words, any manufacturer could change their decibel rating by taking a measurement further away from the unit, by venting the unit outdoors, or even changing the size or acoustics of the room. There isn’t any standard.

LAB TEST:

To demonstrate this principle Cana-Vac did a lab test taking decibel ratings at various distances from a central vacuum unit taken in a closed room with a typical 8 foot ceiling:

• 6 ft away = 73 - 74 decibels

• 9 ft away = 70 - 71 decibels

• 12 ft away = 69 - 70 decibels

Notice what happens to these ratings when taken in a small auditorium:

• 6 ft away = 67 - 68 decibels

• 9 ft away = 64 - 65 decibels

• 12 ft away = 63 - 64 decibels

There are a tremendous number of variables which can be used to create the desired sound decibel rating, hence you see a number of manufacturers all claiming to have the quietest unit!

In reality, the central vacuum unit is generally installed in the garage, utility closet or basement which means the sound you hear would be minimal at best and if your unit is designed for quiet operation, so much the better.

All premium Cana-Vac units are designed for quiet operation, the area which you should be more concerned with is at the end of the hose where you vacuum. It is the accessories you use when you vacuum so choosing a quieter powerhead naturally means quieter operation in the room you are vacuuming. If you are not using an electric powerhead, the only sound you should hear is the rush of air entering the hose nozzle and maybe the distant whirr of the central unit.

Filtration In Your Central Vacuum

The true benefit of any central vacuum is that 100% of vacuumed contaminants are removed from your living area and safely exhausted when vented outdoors which is why central vacuums have been clinically proven to improve indoor air quality and reduce allergy symptoms.

The filter in your central vacuum serves two purposes (1) First and foremost to protect the central vacuum motor from fine dust particles and (2) If the filter is efficient enough it allows the unit to be safely vented indoors.

Virtually all manufacturers use a filter of some description in their unit with the exception of a true cyclonic system which attempts to remove as much debris from the air stream as possible and the rest exhausting through the motor which is not a good thing. "...typical signs of abuse...." including "dirty motors, failure of which was caused by inadequate filtration...will not be considered in warranty failures." Ametek/Lamb 1990 Limited Warranty. Hence most use a filter.

Essentially there are four methods of filtration with varying degrees of efficiency within each.

You may see some systems using a combination such as a cyclonic with a cartridge filter.

Essentially what you are looking for in filtration is something that provides adequate protection for the motor but does not require any effort on your part to have to maintain it. First of all remembering and secondly having to reach up inside a dirty stinky central vac unit to have to remove a filter is not a fun job.

Choosing a filter that does not require mandatory maintenance takes the guess work and hassle out of the equation.

Our recommendation, is ask the sales person if there any maintenance involved and if so what?

If the filter requires replacement, at what cost?

HEPA What?

HEPA is an acronym of High Efficient Particle Arrestor. Any true HEPA filter guarantees that the filter will capture airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size, 99.97% of the time. (Particles smaller than 0.3 microns are still trapped by HEPA filters but effectiveness is reduced to less than 99.97%.)

The problem is that today HEPA is thrown around so often that it has become watered down. You will now see manufacturers promoting "HEPA like" or "HEPA type" filtration just so they can use the word "HEPA".

The better the filtration on your central vacuum system the more protection it offers the motor and secondly, if you are exhausting your central unit indoors, a more efficient filter will filter out more potentially harmful contaminants.

If you plan on exhausting your unit indoors, it is best to choose a central vacuum system with the best filtration to maximize the purity of your indoor air.

 

|  Page1  |  Page2  |  Page3  |  Page4  |  Page5 |

<Click Here To Comment About Our Website>