Choosing the Right Central Vacuum System

Not all central vac systems stack up feature by feature, and quality can vary widely. How do you choose the right system for you?

Here is the Essential Guide to Central Vac Selection:

• How Much Cleaning Power Do I Need?
• How Easy is it to Use and Maintain the Central Vac System?
• Is the Central Vac System Quieter than a Portable Vacuum Cleaner?
• What about installation?  Can my existing home be retrofitted for the system, or can it only be used in new construction?
• Can a Central Vac Really Improve Indoor Air Quality?
• Does the Manufacturer Offer a Warranty? What Kind of Track Record Does the Company Have?
• What are the Short Term and Long Term Cost Considerations of a Central Vac System?
• Is the System Environmentally Friendly?

How Much Cleaning Power Do I Need?

Consider your lifestyle. Every house gets its share of dust, tracked-in dirt and lint that must be eliminated. Add in the activities of a busy family life; a pet or two; allergies or respiratory ailments; messy hobbies; square footage of the home; lots of rugs and carpet; dusty locales and seasonal weather changes; and cleaning needs escalate proportionately. You’ll want to choose a central vac system with adequate power that not only lifts the dirt from surfaces but removes it completely from your living space so that it does not recirculate in the air, a common problem with portable vacuum cleaners. Central vacuum systems remove 100% of vacuumed dust, dirt and allergens from your home.

We offer a variety of different filtration methods designed to deliver maximum power every time you vacuum. We will help you choose the power unit that best meets the needs of the square footage of your home.

How Easy is it to Use and Maintain the Central Vac System?

No more clunky cleaning machines. Do you remember climbing out of your car to lift a heavy garage door-- in the rain? Or stretching a phone cord across the kitchen through the bowl of applesauce while you tried to reach the oven before your pot roast burned? Certain modern conveniences, like automatic garage door openers and cordless phones, bring a degree of ease into our daily lives, leading us to wonder how we lived without them. Yet most of us continue to lug heavy, cumbersome vacuum cleaners around the house, straining our backs and nicking the woodwork without question. With a central vacuum system, you simply attach the end of the hose to the inlet valves located throughout your home, and go.

For the ultimate in convenience, opt for one of our unique hose management solutions -  Chameleon^®, Vroom Retract Vac^®, Vroom^® or Spot^®. These retractable hose systems provide convenient cleaning for all areas of the home!

A range of accessories make whole-house cleaning easy. Once you make the switch to the right central vac system, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to make this necessary chore less time consuming, strenuous and awkward. People who loathe vacuuming more than any other household task love their central vac because it is nearly effortless to use, convenient and powerfully effective!

Is the Central Vac System Quieter than a Portable Vacuum Cleaner?

Who needs more noise in their world? When you choose your central vac system, you shouldn’t have to trade performance for noise level. Some central vacs are so loud they sound like four portable vacuum cleaners running at the same time. Ouch. Our central vacs are so quiet, you can run it while your child (or spouse) is napping.

What about installation?  Can my existing home be retrofitted for the system, or can it only be used in new construction?

The performance of any central vac system can be adversely affected by improper installation. When you choose our team, you have the peace of mind knowing your vac is being installed by one of our certified installers.

Both new construction and retrofitting are easily accomplished often in one or two days. Because we are skilled and trained in central vacs, not only will our systems be properly installed; we approach each job with your convenience in mind, as opposed to the installer’s convenience. That means you’ll get to work with us to design a schematic layout of inlet valves based on cost, optimal performance and how you plan to use your system, with an attention to detail you’ll appreciate every time you vacuum (no valves installed behind doors or other inconvenient spots, for example).

Can a Central Vac Really Improve Indoor Air Quality?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor air pollution is America’s most serious environmental health problem. The American College of Allergists reports that 50% of all illnesses are caused by, or aggravated by, polluted indoor air. Poor indoor air quality can be caused by several factors: today’s more tightly sealed housing construction, synthetic building materials and furnishings, and chemically formulated household products.

Since most people spend 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality can affect health, safety and comfort, especially in children and the elderly. Central vacs eliminate 100% of vacuumed dirt, dust and allergens, creating a healthier home, unlike portable vacuum cleaners, which recirculate portions of the dust and allergens they intake. Your home will look better, smell fresher and offer cleaner air with a central vac. In fact, University of California Davis School of Medicine found that allergy sufferers’ symptoms can be improved up to 61% when using a central vacuum system. According to the U.S. EPA, using central vacuum systems that are vented to the outdoors can significantly reduce dust mites, pollens, animal dander and other allergy causing agents from your home.

Does the Manufacturer Offer a Warranty? What Kind of Track Record Does the Company Have?

Our central vac systems are manufactured by H-P Products, an American company in the vacuum system business since 1955. Customers and dealers know they can rely upon the stability of the company when they need installation, additional or replacement parts and accessories, or in the event you need to activate your Limited Lifetime Warranty. Before you decide on which central vac system you’ll buy, research the history and warranty provisions of other companies and their products. Our Lifetime Limited Warranty is the most comprehensive warranty in the industry. H-P Products' covers ALL permanently installed components.

What are the Short Term and Long Term Cost Considerations of a Central Vac System?

Cost is an equation of quality, time, energy and materials. While the initial cash outlay of a central vac system may be greater than that of a portable vacuum cleaner, the long term costs can actually be lower. There was a time when a good vacuum cleaner was a solid investment that lasted for years. Today’s portable sweepers seem to be designed with obsolescence in mind. Even if you spend upwards of $500 on a quality portable vacuum cleaner, you are still dealing with the weight, inconvenience and cost that go along with it, as well as the prospect of replacement at some point. A central vac system, on the other hand, is an investment in powerful performance, significantly cleaner indoor air, and convenience that will most likely last the life of your home, and even increase its resale value.

Is the System Environmentally Friendly?

Quiet, Clean and Suitable for Green. Because central vac systems reduce noise pollution and significantly improves indoor air quality, many consumers opt for one when building "green" homes, or those that adhere to strict environmental standards in order to maintain the least impact on the environment.