The Big Home

Renee Ambrose

Long ago, in a galaxy not too far away, people were often disappointed with their central vacuum systems and often returned to using canister or upright vacuum cleaners instead of the system installed in their home. Many, many, many times this was due to the quality of the attachments, not the actual central vacuum system. Let’s face it…if my vacuum system is not picking up the cat hair off my rug I am not going to blame the inferior construction of the rug tool, I am going to blame the central vacuum system. Well, welcome to the 21st century of central vacuum innovations. Attachment sets today are so far superior to those of just 15 or 20 years ago, it is almost like comparing Buck Rogers to Star Wars. With this being said, the buyer still needs to beware because the market is full of inferior tools and you do not want to get sucked over to the dark side. You will not need the Force to choose wisely, just some good information.

One of the most common misconceptions about attachments is that you need to purchase the same brand attachment set as your power unit, but this is not true. The most important requirement for your attachments, regardless of your unit, is the type of inlet you have installed. So, if you have electrical inlets, you will need attachments with a direct connect hose. If you have standard inlets, you will need to choose either a non-electric hose, or if you require an electrical power head, then you will need a hose with a “corded” or “pigtail” end. A few tips:

• If you have none or very little carpet - Bare Floor Tool Kit
• If you have low pile and no animals (i.e. Berber) - Air Driven Tool Kit
• If you have bare floors, carpet, animals - Electric Tool Kit
• If you have carpet and are not comfortable without an electric power head - Electric Tool Kit

Once you have determined if you are going to require a direct connect, non-electrical, or pigtail hose then you have a choice between many manufacturers. All manufacturers are not created equal. Look for an attachment set with metal wands, a 1 3/8″ hose for increased airflow, and a 360 degree swivel at the handle for ease of use. If you are buying a turbine tool, Vacuflo is the industry standard. They manufacture the majority of these tools and their’s are the best. If you are purchasing an electric set, look for the following:

• Powerheads made in Europe (unfortunately those made in China and Mexico are not as durable)
• Powerheads with rubber wheels on metal axles
• Powerheads that have height adjustments
• Powerheads that have cogged belts (these belts have superior life)
• Powerheads with a motor reset

A nice plus to consider…One manufacturer produces a powerhead with a computer chip that senses the speed of the powerhead motor and shuts it off if it is turning too slowly. If you pick up something that jams your powerhead, this can save you from burning up the powerhead motor.

Consider extra accessories available for your attachment set. Today there are numerous products and accessories to enhance your central vacuum cleaning. Carefully look at what is available. Here are some of my favorites.

• A pet accessory kit includes products for vacuuming your dog, getting hair off sofas and clothes, and deodorizing your central vacuum
• A bare floor set of attachments might include a wide natural bristle brush. Be careful not to purchase a brush that is too wide. When a floor attachment is wider than 14″ you begin to loose power because your suction is dispersed.
• Accessory kits are available with dust mop attachments, long crevice tools for under refrigerators, hand held turbine tools, and even microfiber cleaning products for cleaning without chemicals. Garage accessory kits make it easy to clean up the garage and your car.
• A Micro-set of attachments is ideal for cleaning dust off of electronic equipment and computers.

Just when you thought all hope was lost you now have the information to defeat the evil dust empire and become a central vacuum Jedi Master. Do not give up on your central vacuum system. A good system with a good set of attachments is the most convenient way to clean and improve the indoor air quality in your home.

Renee Ambrose is co-owner of Central Vacuum Stores, an online retail company specializing in helping the do-it-yourselfer install built-in home products.

https://www.centralvacuumstores.com

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