Central Vacuum Install at Tarantula Arms

[compactelectra]

Well, I finally broke down and had a central vacuum installed at my new home in Palm Springs. I was going to wait but decided that this fine sandy dust that permeates everything requires almost constant vacuuming. I have had central vacuums for 40 years. The first being a Filtex. I am posting this on the vintage forum because while the actual vacuum is new, the tools are vintage Filtex.  I am not going to get into which units (bagless or bagged) are better. As far as I am concerned that is a matter of personal preference and won't argue. I am a bagged guy and find the MD units great. Lamb motors and Honeywell relays that are easily replaced should the need arise. I always put in the largest unit. In fact the install is done here and waiting for the electrician to run the 30 amp 120V circuit over to the unit. This thing will suck the paint off the walls. I have never experienced any diminishment of suction with this unit and find the bag replacement process easy and clean. To each his own, if you like bagless units, more power to you. The main thing is that a central vac for heads down vacuuming can't be beat by any portable vacuum. 


 


I am sooooo glad that Owen Perkins the Central Vac guy (and wonderful person) suggested that I swap out my MD S5 SilentMaster unit in St. Charles for a vintage Filtex unit and take the SilentMaster with me. Did so. So here we go.  Got a great installer out here last week. He had the installation done in less than 8 hours and did a great job. I ordered special brass inlets. He had his daughter helping him crawling the attic and running the pipes. Great job. These inlets now run through the house.  The first central unit is the high-end Filtex I left in the St. Charles house and the second is the unit I brought with and installed here.

 

[compactelectra]

Now I have had this install

Replicate a vintage Filtex install at the front end. Used brass inlets that look like the vintage Filtex light and button inlets that came in various metal finishes. Very cool.

 

[compactelectra]

The Beauty

Of a central vac with standard inlets is that they are a standard 1 1/4 inch tools and so you can use any vacuum tools you want. I am using the vintage Filtex tools for straight suction. Tania helped me get these tools buffed and polished in Racine Wisconsin.[this post was last edited: 4/17/2016-14:32]

 

[compactelectra]

I have

Mostly hard floors with some carpeting and will be using the Turbo Cat for the carpeting. I have an electric hose and a number of electric power nozzles if I want to use them, but will try this for now. If worse comes to worst I'll vacuum the carpets with the Kirby.

 

[compactelectra]

I am using

A 40 foot Nutone wire-reinforced hose with the switch on the wand end so you can switch the unit on an off right from the service end. Fabulous.

 

[compactelectra]

Now

Off for some sun in the spa. I love Palm Springs.

 

[kenkart]

Re Bagged central

I think you are exactly right, this is the WAY TO GO!! Im going to put one in our house one of these days, I love the Filtex tools also.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Sheer Beauty, Fred, Darling!

 

[dysonman1]

That's awesome. Love my central vac. Those attachments are built like a bulldog. Filtex tools are the best.

 

[tolivac]

I would replace the turbine nozzle with an electric one-much better!Or--use a Kirby as a "powernozzle" for your central unit.Do this with my MD Silentmaster unit.Like the Filtex unit-have a Silentmaster MD machine-mine has a single 15A motor-plenty enough for me.Don't want to go thru the bother of 30A 120V-may actually be better to go 15-20A 240V.The Sew&Vac place here carries spare motors for Filtex and Central Vac Int units.Usually the owners of these just want blown motors replaced rather than their unit.The cable for 240V circuits can be lighter guage-thus less expensive than the heavy guage cable needed for 120V 30A-Have seen many 120V 30A circuits replaced by 15-20A 240 V.

 

[tolivac]

Also--like those METAL Filtex commercial quality tools!SUPER!

 

[centralvacs1928]

Very cool, Fred!

I figured you wouldn't make it too long without a system for your new place.

Glad it worked out well for you to be able to take your SilentMaster with -- the S5 model is up to about $1,100 nowadays, and worth every penny. Looks right at home there. Tens of thousands of California garages have SilentMasters hanging in them!

Hopefully the new owners of your St. Charles home are discovering the wonders of that system for themselves.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

That St. Charles place was beautiful, indeed.

I recall a very happy time there at a convention. I'm sure the new owners will enjoy it very much, especially with the improvements made to it.
Glad you finally solved your vacuum dilemma... I can only imagine all that sand.
I saw a Hoover central vac system at Stark's vac store/museum when we were there. I know Michael Pletcher has a fab system in his house.... along with a myriad of other vacs. Another collector in Pittston recently installed a central system in his home too. I couldn't even imagine TRYING to install one in a house like mine: I think the installers would take the bridge.........................
I like the idea of them, however.