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Buyers Guide - How to choose a Central / Ducted Vacuum

The terms ‘central vacuum’ and ‘ducted vacuum’ both refer to the same thing, a vacuum system that is installed in a home at a set location, typically the garage. The vacuum provides suction throughout the home via pipes and inlets.

Good central vacuums are superior to all other types of vacuums. Because the system is installed in a set location and does not need to be portable, central vacuums can incorporate better components, providing many advantages:

  • Superior suction
  • Longer warranties
  • Dust is collected in a central location instead of recirculating in all rooms
  • Better filtration
  • Larger capacities / less maintenance
  • Easier to handle (you don’t have to carry or pull the system around)
  • Quieter operation / better audio insulation
  • Better utilisation of electricity
  • Other unique features (dry & wet, self flushing, limitless capacity, retracting hidden hose, etc)

Of course, the quality, performance & features vary by manufacturer and model. Unfortunately, there are some brands / models on the market that fail to deliver substantial advantages compared to portable vacuums.

The purpose of this article is to guide you through the process of buying a good quality central vacuum for your home at a suitable price.

How and where are central vacuums installed?

All homes can have a central vacuum installed regardless of whether it is an existing home or new construction or a home undergoing renovation. We have a network of experienced installers across Australia that we can connect you with.

Some of our customers choose to use their own installers or even install it themselves (DIY). There are dedicated central vacuum installers, as well as many other tradies (plumbers, electricians, etc) that also install central vacuums.

Typically, the central vacuum is installed in the garage. However, the system can be located anywhere. Sometimes it is located in a storeroom, utility room, laundry or outside. 

Choosing a central vacuum system for your home

Before looking at different brands and models, consider your needs and preferences:

Most home sizes will be well served by any system in our range, considering budget, desired features & space required for the system

Smaller homes: when space for the system is limited, consider VVS100K and SADIE17P as they are the smallest central vacuums

Really large homes are best served by SADIE41P, TWISTER1P or KUDOS2P. These are the best systems if your home is 3 stories or larger, or the layout is unusually large and spacious

Limited budget: VVS100K and VVS200K are great systems with suction 2 – 5 times more powerful than common portable vacuums at an affordable price. Enjoy the convenience, reliability, better air quality and low maintenance, all backed by a 7 year warranty

System capacity determines how often you will need to empty the system. 17 litre systems typically take 6+ months to fill. 41 litres typically take 12+ months to fill. Keep in mind it varies from home to home as there are many variables. KUDOS1P and KUDOS2P are self flushing so emptying is not required

Air quality, allergies, etc: all our central vacuums collect dust in a central location, captured by advanced filtration systems. This is a huge advantage compared to portable systems that recirculate some of the dust back into the air around you. The dry systems in our range, feature two stage filtration; a high quality multi-ply cloth bag and an internal cloth filter. This filtration system further protects your lungs and your system. And when you empty the system, you are not exposed to dust like you would be with a bagless system. The only good bagless systems embed dust in water so that it is never airborne again, TWISTER1P, KUDOS1P & KUDOS2P. KUDOS1P and KUDOS2P are also self flushing

Hiding the hose / retracting into the wall: RetractaVac inlets have hoses that automatically retract into the wall for convenience and storage. This is a popular installation option that means you don’t have to carry the hose everywhere. Each inlet has it’s own hose which is stored in the pipe. When you finish vacuuming, the vacuum’s suction power is used to pull the hose back into the wall, hidden. The main systems to consider for use with RetractaVac inlets are SADIE17P and SADIE41P

Pets: pets that shed a lot of hair can cause systems to fill up quicker. Owners of pets, especially dogs that shed a lot of hair, should consider a larger system. Or a self flushing system, where long hair is collected, while everything else is flushed. Dry & wet systems are also helpful for cleaning up after pets in other ways, as you can thoroughly clean any surface, dry or wet. Also helps get rid of odours from soft furnishings

Families with kids: all systems are worth considering. Dry & wet systems have the added benefit of being able to clean any substance from any surface – very helpful for quickly dealing with accidents, stains, spills, etc

Carpet, rugs & upholstery: all systems provide powerful reliable dry vacuuming. Dry & wet systems have the added benefit of being able to utilise water to loosen and lift stains and perform a deep thorough clean beyond any other vacuum

Mopping hard floors: dry & wet systems make mopping unnecessary. Utilize water while vacuuming and powerful suction leaves the surface clean and dry

Wet spaces: dry & wet systems have the added benefit of being able to clean any substance from any surface. So you can vacuum dust, solids & liquids. Vacuum any room, even laundries, bathrooms, patios, balconies, etc 

10th Nov 2022 Drain Vac

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