Choosing a Central Vacuum Power Unit

Written by the Vac Tech

Jacksonviile, Florida

CENTRAL VACUUM PIPING HAS BEEN STANDARD FOR 30 YEARS AND CAN BE CONNECTED TO ANY BRAND OF POWER UNIT. MOST UNITS USE 110 ac VOLTS 

   It may surprise you to know but Central Vacuum power units by design are very simple and are very similar from brand to brand. In fact, the best ones are all built the same! You have a can, preferably metal, with

a) a motor for suction,

b) a bucket for the dirt 

c) a filter to separate the two.

   The filter should be permanent and self cleaning with the filter material being Gore Tex type. This design allows for no loss of air flow as the dirt receptacle fills. Sustained air flow is the secret to central vacuums working at peak efficiency. Always pick a unit with a motor large enough for your home’s square footage. Since most central vacuum motors are made by one company, motor quality does not vary from brand to brand.

WHAT YOU DON’T WANT are power units that use paper bags, foam filters, a filter screen (that must be cleaned by hand) or no filter. These will cause a loss in air flow as they fill, deteriorate or clog. And no one wants to stick their hand in a vacuum cleaner to clean off a nasty filter screen, yuck.

WHAT YOU DO WANT.

1)    Permanent self cleaning Gore Tex filter.

2)    Built-In Utility Inlet (attach hose directly to power unit).

3)    Manual on/off switch.

4)    Adequate motor size.

5)    Exhaustible motor design for living area installs.

6)    Reversible intake for easy installation

7)    Buy locally for warranty service.

WHAT YOU MAY WANT.

1)    Quiet running power units.

2)    Antimicrobial dirt container.

   For central vacuum power units the simple design is the best. You want a can that sucks and does not loose air flow as the can fills. That is the Beam and I recommend the Beam brand central vacuum. They have been manufacturing central vacuums since 1957 and are sold all over the world. Their designs are repeatedly copied but never surpassed.

Sincerely,

Randy kelly

The Vac Tech (since 1966)

Jacksonville, Florida