CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM INSTALL FAQ 
Installing a central vacuum system in a new or pre-existing home is an easy process in most cases that can be completed in one or two days. Adding a central cleaning system to a residence not only makes cleaning more efficient and convenient, but also adds value to the home that is often 2 - 4 times the initial cost of equipment. Central cleaning is the choice for those who want more power, better filtration and the reliability of a built-in appliance that can not be found in a portable upright or canister vacuum.
What is involved in installation of a central vacuum system?
A Central Vacuum System can be easily installed in both new or
existing structures. There are three easy planning steps to the installation
process.
1) Determine the Power Unit Location - Power Units can be installed in a
basement, garage or utility room. If the Power Unit will be exhausted outside,
it is best to choose an exterior wall location to minimize the exhaust tube
run. Power Units should not be installed in a small confined area or heat producing area.
2) Inlet Valve Locations - Inlet valves are usually placed on interior walls,
in hallways, near (not behind) doorways or close to the bottom of stairs. Potential Furniture placement should be considered when determining valve locations. Inlet valves
can be situated between studs, clear of obstructions - plumbing, wiring,
heating ducts, etc. In new home installations, the system is installed after
HVAC, electric and plumbing, but before drywall
3) In-wall tubing and low voltage wire - Tubing and low voltage wire run
in tandem to each valve location, speeding installation time. Both are
installed beginning with the inlet valve farthest from the unit.
How much tubing do I figure per inlet valve?
Each valve will use approximately 20' of tubing. Always allow for placement of power unit.
When do I use a 90 short el vs. a 90 sweep el?
A 90 short elbow is designed to be used only at each inlet valve location. The tight 90 acts as a trap for debris that might be to large to pass completely through the tube system. For example, if you vacuumed up a small toy or even a comb, it would most
likely get caught in the short el, preventing the system from a potential clog.
Vacdepot includes only 1 short ell for each inlet in the kit and 1 extra for backup.
How many Square Feet (sqft) will one valve cover?
Square Footage of a Circle = [pi*r^2]
If your home is circular in shape and has no walls or furniture inside then you can clean 700sqft
with a 30ft hose or 960sqft with a 35' hose when a valve is mounted in the exact center of the room, using the formula..
Those of us with mostly square walls, hallways, cabinets, doors and furniture will more likely find coverage of a 30 foot hose is about 500 square feet of interior space. A 35 foot hose could increase your coverage to 550 or more square feet per inlet, though it also adds 14% more hose/airflow resistance and more hose to carry around and store. Planning an installation is best done with a 30 foot hose, figuring some less (about 3ft.) for rise and fall from inlet to grip. Coverage is often more determined by inlet placement then all other factors.
Keep in mind that inlets are inexpensive (especially for DIY installs) and easy to add to a new system. It is better to have one to many inlets than to come up short in cleaning reach or require the unplanned use of a 35' hose.
How high do I mount the inlet valves?
This is mostly a personal preference, though inlet valves are typically installed at the same height as electrical receptacles.
Do I need a valve in every room?
No. With proper planning, one valve will usually cover two or three rooms.
Do systems need to be exhausted outside?
The recent online debate about exterior exhaust is one independent retailers attempt to sew seeds of doubt about their
competitors in-house brand of fully cyclonic central vacuum power units. One website even shows an image of a garage on fire with the message Don't let this happen to you. The simple truth is only fully cyclonic
vacuums require an exhaust as they vent a small amount of particulate. Anywhere from 1% - 5% of what
you vacuum in a fully cyclonic powered system is vented through the exhaust and that should terminate outside the home.
All other filter types of central vacuums have internal filters and do not require an exterior exhaust. Most central vacuum units are fitted with connections to vent the exhaust and our general recommendation is if it can be done easily and with a short run of tube then it is a very good idea, particularly for basement or utility closet installations.
For those units in a regular garage it might be less important. Exhaust tubing runs can have a negative impact on system performance and should never exceed 30ft for any model or brand. Shorter is always better in exhaust runs. You should not vent into your attic. This defeats the purpose of removing the particulate, odors and heat from your home.
Benefits of exhausting to the exterior are far less noise at the power unit location, complete ventilation of all particles - even those sub micron particles that are not captured by the vacuum filter and finally less heat generated at the location of the power unit. Another common myth about venting central vacuums outside is the increase in utility bills as you are venting conditioned air outside. For most of us the amount of air vented outside in a regular cleaning session might be equal to the amount of air exchanged by opening the front door and walking through once or twice. You are not replacing all the air in your home by cleaning with your central vacuum.
Quite frankly, the air used to vacuum your home is not desirable in the living space and you would not want it returned to your home. This exhaust air has been compressed as it is pulled through the vacuum motors induction fans and in the process is heated. The air has also been pulled through the tubing system, collection bin and filter system and now carries the odor from previously vacuumed dust. This by the way is the very reason we recommend only central cleaning systems. With a portable vacuum the same heated, odorized and potentially dirty air is exhaust back into the same room your cleaning. Only central vacuum systems can provide 100% filtration with no return exhaust air inside your home.
Where do I run the trunk line?
The trunk line will be run either in the basement or in the attic. The
trunk line should be run as straight as possible from the power unit location
to the farthest inlet valve.
For an existing installation, how do I get the tubing in the walls?
You will need to have access to the studs either through an attic or basement
location. Tubing can be inserted between the studs from either location. Some retrofit installations run the trunk in an attic and come down into the house inside a closet. The pipe is run inside a closet wall and then "poked" through the walls to reach the room where you want the inlet.
Do I need to order a muffler for each unit?
Mufflers work best when outside venting in not possible. Consider adding a muffler if your installation can not be vented outside, is mounted on a wall very close to living space or mounted in a space that may be occupied (basement, mudroom, etc). Also check your power unit specifications as most units of the low-noise type include a muffler from the factory.
Is a "Motor Protection Valve" or "Suction Relief Valve" needed with my vacuum system?
No. These devices are supposed to open a fresh air intake in the event of a clog
in your tube system in order to prevent motor "burnout". For the vast majority (99.9%) of CVS owners these devices are a bad idea. Most every central vacuum uses a tangential bypass motor in which the working air (the air you vacuum inside your home) is pulled through the fan system and exhausted through a port in the vacuum motor and outside - if so equipped with an exhausting pipe system. This working air does not cool the motor. Instead a second cooling fan on top of the motor pulls air from around the power unit for motor cooling. That's the reason for vents/slots on top and side of the motor housing of a CVS unit. While there are motors that use working air for cooling, they are still rare in CVS power units.
The second assumption in the marketing of this suction relief valve is that central vacuums clog often, or that they clog at all. Many people that have always used under powered or inferior designs of portable upright or canister vacuum which clog easily assume the same is true of central vacuums when it is not. Many CVS owners will report never having a clog issue with 25+ years of use.
Lastly, "suction relief" valves do just that - relieve your system of it suction when it is not necessary or harmful. Many of these devices are home-made by dealers or adapted from other uses and are unreliable which makes cleaning with a CVS inconvenient. These products can actually cause the very problem they claim to help. If you should vacuum a large object into your central cleaning system and on the way to the collection bin your "suction relief valve" should determine this object is blocking too much airflow and opens the system, what would happen? The large object will stop in the tubing system, most likely in an inaccessible area, and could become stuck. While it may have made it's way through the system will full suction pulling it along, your suction relief valve has opened the sealed system and your once moving large object has stopped. If a suction relief valve was needed in a central vacuum power unit you can be sure that the CVS manufacturers would build it right into the unit (and charge you for it!). Instead manufacturers use a more reliable thermal reset that shuts the motor down if overheating occurs. Vacdepot does not recommend or sell suction relief valves and for the most part feel they are a very bad way for dealers to make a buck.
Can I locate the Power Unit in an attic?
We do not recommend placing the power unit in an attic. The attic space
may retain heat and cause the motor to experience premature failure. An attic location may also be difficult to reach when the dirt canister needs emptied.
What is the longest recommended run of tubing?
Each power unit is different. However, we provide general guidelines in
the specifications of each unit on the Vacdepot website.
The longest run of tubing is the run from the power unit to the
farthest inlet valve.
Does an electrician need to install the Supervalves (direct connect)?
In most instances, an installer can install standard valves, vacpans and the low voltage portion of the direct connect style (super) valves. Each SuperValve has a box for connecting the 110v wire that will need hard wired into the electrical system by an certified electrician.
Can I use schedule 40 tubing plumbers tubing?
The 2" PVC central vac tubing is different in size and quality from plumbing grade tubing, what is called Drain, Waste Vent tube (DWV). Central vacuum tubing is 2" OD and is manufactured with a completely smooth interior
to prevent the tube system from catching small dirt particles and building
a clog. Central Vacuum manufacturers and industry professionals do not recommend the use of DWV for central vacuums for many reasons. Be sure to read our related article Water pipe for your Vacuum System if you are considering using SCHD40 plumbing pipe.
Do I need a license or permit to install a CVS in my new construction home?
At the time of this article we know of no state, city or town that requires a special license or permit for the self-install in new construction though it might be a good idea to check with your contractor. As of January 1, 2006 a specification for the materials used to install a CVS system and intra-system fittings (all fittings from the back of the mounting plate to the power unit including tubing, tee's, wye's, ell's and couplings) must be marked with the ASTM F2158 standard as well as the IAMPO UMC logo. If your area is covered by the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) then use of unmarked fittings may result in a failed inspection which may require replacement of the installed fittings. All Vacdepot fittings conform to the standards and are marked accordingly. All electric inlets sold by Vacdepot are UL listed or approved.
How long does it take to install the central Vacuum System?
Most new home installations can be complete in less than one day. A typical 3 inlet pre-existing install may require a weekend for two people to complete.
Must I use the same brand attachment kit as my power unit?
No. All attachment kits we sell are universal and will work with all brands of power units we offer. Our attachment kits will also work with most all pre-existing systems on the market, even older ones. Some systems from Kenmore, Vacuflo and Nutone (pre 1995) may require adapters or new inlets to be installed. If you have any questions about upgrading your system with a new attachment kit, just give us a call at 888-822-8863.
Which Power Units Is Best For Me?
The brand and model of power unit you choose should be based on the size of your home, the types of floors you will be cleaning and the method of filtration you desire. Use the manufacturers square footage guides as a general recommendation to start, then compare suction and airflow (or air watts, a total number of suction and airflow). Also take into consideration the filtration method, collection bin capacity and the cleaning load you will need to cover. For example a 2,000 sqft installation of 50/50 hard floors & carpeting with 2 adults will require less cleaning power than 2,000 sqft of 20/80 hard floors & carpeting with 2 adults, 2 children and 2 pets in the home. Stronger CVS power units will offer longer and more consistent cleaning performance in highly loaded homes, and will also require less maintenance.
Which attachment kit is best for me?
The brand and style of attachment kit will vary by the type of flooring you intend to clean with your central vacuum. Straight suction and Turbo kits are for hard floors and homes with only area or throw rugs. For cleaning homes with installed carpets the use of a Powered Brush system is recommended. The brand and quality of the attachment set is best determined by the size of the area being cleaned. While most any quality or brand power brush might be appropriate for a 1200 sqft installation with carpeted bedrooms and hard floor living areas, many lesser quality power brush attachment kits would not be appropriate for a 2,500 sqft installation of mostly carpeting with pets and children in the home where it will receive considerably more usage.
Which Brand do you recommend?
Vacdepot is a central vacuum supplier. This differs from a regular sales company or retailer in many ways but one of the most notable is we do not recommend one brand above all others. We feel all of the brands and products we offer are great quality. If we do not like a product or specific model, we do not sell it. This is one of the many freedoms of not having a PUSH. A 'PUSH' is a model or brand that you recommend or push on to customers before others. We do not have to sell some bad models to offer you good models and we are not required by quotas or otherwise to sell any particular vacuum system.
Not having a PUSH also allows us to purchase exceptional deals from which ever manufacturer is offering at the time. We fully support all of our manufacturers so all of them bring their very best deals to us. Having a PUSH usually limits the imagination and desire of the retailer and they may no longer be doing all they can to provide the best deal for their customer. If you as a supplier push one brand, for any reason, over all others the manufacturers take notice and will not offer you the same specials or support as others. Vacdepot does not recommend one brand of vacuum but we will be happy to suggest a few brands and models for whatever your individual application might be.
What is a central vacuum "Hose Management" system?
Many have seen the Hose Management systems at builder or home shows, model homes and builder show rooms.
Two products are available that hide a CVS cleaning hose. One system is called Hide-A-Hose for straight suction cleaning (can not be used with an electric brush) and uses suction to pull the hose back into the tube system in the walls and ceiling. The suction type hidden hose system requires good airflow to recover the complete hose. The other hidden hose system is Hoover's Hose Magic available though Hoover central vacuum distributors (Vacdepot is a Hoover CVS Master Distributor) and uses an independently motorized retractor to store a 45 foot hose in the wall cavity. When needed you only push a button to expel the hose from the wall for cleaning and push a button again to retract the hose when done. The Hoover system model S5715 is a 4 wire system meaning it can be used with a power brush for cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting and the 45' long hose will clean 1500 - 1900 sqft which replaces the regular 30ft hose and 2 or 3 wall valves. Both Hose Magic and Hide-A-Hose are designed for new construction installation and the Hide-A-Hose can also be retrofit into most existing homes. Please give Vacdepot a call at 888-822-8863 for more information about the Hoover Hose Magic and Hide-A-Hose brand hose management systems.
