Central vacuum installed in shed away from house-thoughts?

[myles_v]

My boyfriend and I are moving into our own house within the next month. We're doing some updating/renovating to the house (built in 1957. My great grandparents lived in it from the 1980s up until just over a year ago) and I am absolutely adding a central vacuum system.

The house has no garage, but it does have a basement that is mostly finished. Due to the layout of the home, I'd rather not put a noisy central unit in the utility room (which is right underneath the kitchen). There is, however, a shed only about 10 feet or so away from the house.

My thinking is that I install the inlets and pipes, and then run the pipe out of the house where I would otherwise install an exhaust flap. I would then dig a shallow trench and run the PVC pipe&wire underground to the shed, which already has electricity in it to power the unit.

How much of a concern would there be about the pipe cracking? The area between the shed and the house doesn't get much foot traffic, the only thing behind the shed is the deck which has a separate door to the house.

 

[tolivac]

It would be far easier and cheaper to install the central unit in your basement.Modern Central power units are quieter than older ones.The machine could be installed in a large closet and vented to the outside.I would not want to have to run plumbing and power to an outside shed.And the shed could be too hot in the summer for the unit.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I agree with Toilvac. My Aunt and Uncle have a central vac that has a big muffler on it. Looks like a glass pack, all you hear is the rushing of the air upstairs.

 

[vacerator]

Myles,

the frost line is 6 inches below ground. It may not be an issue since you will be using dry pipes, not like lawn sprinklers. Expansion and contraction will be more nominal
You can use a heavier gauge spec pvc with adapters from the house, and on or in the shed.
Or you can keep them above ground and insulate and wrap them in visqueen plastic to keep it dry.
Either way can work.
Cold air is also denser, and you might gain a few air watts.

 

[luxflairguy]

Don't do it! Underground runs are a pain to do and are rife with problems. We learned in the VDTA training class one year about both underground and in concrete installations. Most underground installs need to be double walled, meaning you need to put the 2" pipe in 3" pipe as well as the low voltage wire. The biggest hurdle is getting the pipes WATER TIGHT! Sorry, wrapping it in visqueen doesn't work! And the pipe really should be below the frost line. Lots of digging. You also, no matter what you do remember that having a vacuum unit sharing a 15 amp circuit with any other appliance, such as a freezer, is a bad idea. Both the freezer and the vacuum when starting surge using almost their max amps. Both starting at once--and you'd never know--will pop the breaker. Make sure you are installing the unit on a 20 amp breaker. Unit wise, there are lots of compact, bagged QUIET units out there. You also need to take into consideration, vented or not! If the basement is below ground, bagged it is!

I've taken the VDTA class 5 times know in 20 years and there's always something new to learn. I'm going to do my first Hide-A-Hose install next week. I've spent lots of time with the home's blueprints!


Greg

 

[panasonicvac]

I agree as well...

I wouldn't put it in your shed either. I was about to say almost the same thing like what Greg said about the whole underground installation. I have one neighbor that has one that's installed in the garage away from the house and I think that's the most ridiculous way of putting in a central vacuum.

 

[tolivac]

As pointed out above-say again-the central unit should be on its OWN circuit with NO other appliances connected to the circuit.And is the shed "conditioned" heated or cooled-if not-DON'T install your vacuum unit there!Find a place in your basement or utility room.

 

[vacerator]

My CV

power unit has been in my cold garage in winter for 22 years. It is on the same 120 volt circuit and draws 10.5 amps with the garage lights and opener. Never once has the breaker tripped.

 

[n0oxy]

installation

I would also advise against putting it in the shed. There are central vacuums that are quiet enough now that you can still have a normal conversation while in the same room. And you can always add a muffler, installing in the shed would be far more trouble than it is worth.

 

[myles_v]

Thanks for the advice, I will be sure to keep everyone updated on what I decide to do once we get into the house.

In my dad's house, the central vac that I installed is in the garage (not air conditioned or heated at all) and it's on the same circuit as the rest of the garage. 13 amp unit, either a 15 or 20 amp circuit with no large appliances or anything other than the garage door opener. No issues at all with breakers tripping in the past 4 years. The shed for the house I'm moving into should be on its own electrical circuit, and nothing is being powered in it other than some lights. So in terms of electrical circuits and temperature, I am not concerned at all.
I would be concerned about heat if it were in an attic, but I have no concerns about the heat of the shed considering it's really no different from a garage.

But thanks for the info about a double wall pipe install, I looked into the idea some more and if I do decide to run the pipe to the shed underground then I'll be sure to run the vacuum pipe and wire through a 3-inch plumbing pipe.

I understand that they do make relatively quiet units, but I already have a unit that I plan to use for the installation. This is a machine that I know I'll be able to hear in the rooms above the utility room, even with the exhaust vented outside or with a muffler.
Even the well pump is able to be heard from the kitchen since it is directly above the utility room. The house isn't too large, it'll require three inlets at most. My main concern is making it as quiet as possible, especially since the area right outside of the utility room will be used as a living area.

 

[rugsucker]

A nearby 3 story with basement Victorian home--

--had an Electrolux central vac added years ago.After the installation the garage(10 feet from house) had both a Centralux and a 1965 Ferrari residing in it and living happily ever after.