How Much Does a Central Vacuum System Cost?
Last Updated: January 20, 2022
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It's time to vacuum and it's a tough chore to tackle. Nobody likes it when it's time to vacuum, especially the dog! Nevertheless, it has to be done. You can install a central vacuum system to make the job a lot nicer. Central Vacuum Systems make the chore of vacuuming an entire interior easy, convenient, and quiet.
Push vacuums are expensive. A nice push vacuum can cost as much as a central vacuum system. Moreover, central vacuums have some distinct advantages over other vacuums. Why not install a central vacuum in the home when the cost is almost identical? Pros of central vacuum systems
- Quiet - Central Vacuum Systems are quieter for the person vacuuming. It's great to not have a loud vacuum blocking your hearing and making you temporarily deaf while the vacuum is running. Don't get me wrong! These units aren't silent. They do make noise! However, the noise comes from the main unit. The main unit is usually installed in a closed closet and stifles a great deal of the noise pollution. It makes it so quiet that someone can be on the phone in the same room as you. All you really hearing is the sound of air.
- Lightweight - One of the biggest problems with vacuums is they are heavy. For the women, children, and the elderly, vacuuming the house can be a real problem! I'm a man, and, therefore, I have the vacuuming duties. My petite girlfriend can't handle the weight. I wouldn't want her to hurt herself trying to lug the vacuum up and down the stairs. However, I wish we had a central vacuum so she could clean the floor once in a while!
Central Vacuum Cost #
We will base our figures on the average size home consisting of 1,600 to 2,500 square feet. For this size home, a central vacuum unit will cost $750 to $2,000 for a unit.
- Waterlift- For the average size home you will need a waterlift rating of 105 to 120 inches. Waterlift is determined by a factory test. This test is conducted by seeing how far up the hose a particular system can suck a stream of water. Waterlift is not the most important factor but it is one determining factor in choosing a vacuum. For a car, the waterlift might be comparable to "torque". Waterlift is an indicator of suction power!
- CFM- This is one of the most, probably, the most, important factor in choosing the best central vacuum system. This would be comparable to "horsepower" on a car. This is the best indicator of how clean you floors will really get. CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. This is a measurement of how fast the air is moving. It's very important. Why? Well, you can have an amazing waterlift rating and still not be able to suck dirt out of a carpet quickly and effectively.
Example: Let's say we have a central vacuum with a great waterlift rating and very low CFM. You may attach a bowling ball to the end of a vacuum hose like they do on the infomercial. Then you may pick the bowling ball up in the air. Great. However, on that experiment and similar experiments there is complete suction. In other words, there's a complete seal between the ball and the hose. If we put this same vacuum to your rug it wouldn't clean very well because of the low CFM, despite the high waterlift rating! There need to be lots of air moving quickly to create the "vacuum" effect and create "suction" under normal conditions. The CFM is very telling of true suction power under real life conditions.
Top 10 Central Vacuum Manufacturers #
- Beam Industries
- Broan/ Nutone
- CentralVac International
- Electrolux
- Eureka
- Vacuflo
- Hoover Company
- Lindsay Manufacturing Company
- M D Manufacturing
- M & S Systems