Crosscurrents 08-09

A whole house vacuum or central vacuum unit has many advantages over a more traditional floor mounted vacuum unit. Because of the dedicated space inside your architecture, they have a larger motor and much more sucking power to get tough or dusty debris through without clogging. They also last much longer with fewer repairs, add value to your house, and are great for allergy sufferers as they don’t circulate dust particles. The smaller hose attachment poses little risk of damage to your furniture and is easier to maneuver as well.

With so many positives many have already invested in a central vacuum system or even the groundwork (tubes and space) to have one installed later. However, these systems do come with a price much greater than that of a standard ground based vacuum, directly relating to their increase in power and lifespan. Because a quality central vacuum system can cost anywhere between one to two thousand dollars it is very important that you know what warning signs to watch out to protect your investment and to keep your central vacuum system up and running.

The first warning sign is smell. The motor and the bearings inside a central vac can overheat or run out of lubrication. This results on parts heating up or generating friction which creates a hot, unpleasant, burning plastic smell that should be quite easy to detect. Often times the fix is easy, as emptying the storage chamber (and reducing the resistance to the system), cleaning the filter, or oiling the bearings takes care of the problem. Anything more than these steps may need the attention of a professional central vacuum repairman. A more organic, rot smell may actually indicate a dead animal, something which is much less likely in a properly screened and installed system.

The other warning sign is loss of sucking power. Ten out of eleven times, however, this results only in a need to empty the waste container or filter. Past that, their may be motor troubles or other mechanical issues worth calling in help.