ajr2993
Active member
Central vacuums are good for above-the-floor cleaning but do they actually deep-clean carpets, I've heard from one user that the piping creates a lot of air resistance, and only gets about 50 CFM at the nozzle.
Do central vacuums actually deep-clean carpets as good as a portable?
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bimmer740
Well-known member
I installed a VacuFlo 566Q in my parents house back in 2006 when I still lived at home and I can say that they most certainly do clean carpets exceptionally well! We've had several different power nozzles over the years, as well as the TurboCat Zoom air driven nozzle for quick pick ups, and all have done a great job. I installed a unit that is rated to be used in a house up to 8,000 sq ft and their house is around 3,00 sq ft with 4 direct connect inlets. I highly recommend an electric power nozzle if you have wall to wall carpeting, pets, children, etc. I don't think the air driven nozzles clean incredibly well, but for quick pick ups they are convenient. You can use an electric power nozzle with almost any set up now even if your don't have direct connect inlets, they have hoses with a pig tail electrical connection, and now they even have battery operated power nozzles available from Wessel-Werks and other manufacturers. There is plenty of information out there about central vacuum systems and endless videos on YouTube, I'd recommend that you double check the information you're getting from this particular source because they don't seem to have their facts straight.
bimmer740
Well-known member
I forgot to add that if you use a unit that is under powered or just has performance due to how it was engineered, then just like a portable vacuum, the system will not clean well. It's not just the size of the power unit that matters but it does play a large role, as well as how the system was installed in the home. If the piping is not installed correctly you won't be able to utilize the unit's power to its full potential.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
With a very powerful TOL unit like the CycloVac 7525 or the Aqua-Air 258 equipped with a Hide-A-Hose CX1000 or the Volt powerhead for example, you're guaranteed to have your carpets deep cleaned.
yes, absolutely
If the right size unit is used and the pipes are installed correctly, it should clean carpets as good or even better than a portable vacuum. It's always best to get a power unit that is rated for a larger house than what you have, more power cannot hurt, it can only help you. While it's not the only thing to consider, I would suggest getting the largest power unit that your budget will allow. Having said that, the cleaning tools are just as important. If you have carpet, I would not even consider an air driven nozzle for several reasons. First, the sound is awful, they sound like a dentist drill on steroids, second it robs power from the vacuum to spin the turbine, and third, everything vacuumed up goes through the turbine so they are very prone to clogs. There are hoses available with electric cords on them that plug in to a nearby outlet and this will work just as well to power an electric nozzle as a direct connect valve. And if you want to use one of the systems where the hose pulls out of the wall there are battery powered nozzles available that will clean just as well as the plug in electric nozzles, so there is no reason to use turbine nozzles anymore. The installation is also important, if the wrong pipe fittings are used, it will make the system more prone to clogs and may reduce airflow.
Mike
If the right size unit is used and the pipes are installed correctly, it should clean carpets as good or even better than a portable vacuum. It's always best to get a power unit that is rated for a larger house than what you have, more power cannot hurt, it can only help you. While it's not the only thing to consider, I would suggest getting the largest power unit that your budget will allow. Having said that, the cleaning tools are just as important. If you have carpet, I would not even consider an air driven nozzle for several reasons. First, the sound is awful, they sound like a dentist drill on steroids, second it robs power from the vacuum to spin the turbine, and third, everything vacuumed up goes through the turbine so they are very prone to clogs. There are hoses available with electric cords on them that plug in to a nearby outlet and this will work just as well to power an electric nozzle as a direct connect valve. And if you want to use one of the systems where the hose pulls out of the wall there are battery powered nozzles available that will clean just as well as the plug in electric nozzles, so there is no reason to use turbine nozzles anymore. The installation is also important, if the wrong pipe fittings are used, it will make the system more prone to clogs and may reduce airflow.
Mike
blueviewlaguna
New member
Interesting subject, what experience has everyone had in regard to measured Central Vac CFM at the hose end? - best and worst.
blackheart
Well-known member
compilation
It's not as easy as portable vs central really. there's such a wide variance in their performance and it's clear they are not all created equal. These are all units I've owned at some point or another stock images used where I couldn't find my own pictures. Each unit had it's flow measurements taken at the hose end with the hose being directly connected to the unit with a very small amount of pipework. and it's still not a great snapshot of their performance as there's really no parallel units in here the one series one i've had was years old and probably nowhere near as strong as a modern unit.
It's not as easy as portable vs central really. there's such a wide variance in their performance and it's clear they are not all created equal. These are all units I've owned at some point or another stock images used where I couldn't find my own pictures. Each unit had it's flow measurements taken at the hose end with the hose being directly connected to the unit with a very small amount of pipework. and it's still not a great snapshot of their performance as there's really no parallel units in here the one series one i've had was years old and probably nowhere near as strong as a modern unit.
blackheart
Well-known member
oh no!
That looks terrible lets break them down and try again. I went by chronological order with them not by performance.
That looks terrible lets break them down and try again. I went by chronological order with them not by performance.
blackheart
Well-known member
pt 2
There now you can actually read them!
There now you can actually read them!
vaclab
Well-known member
The Simple Answer is No, They Don't
I've posted extensively on this subject in the past, but central vacuums can't be as good as the best portable vacs. Let's investigate why...
1) Assume a typical central vac canister (single motor) starts with 140 CFM
2) Add 50 ft. of piping and 35 ft. of hose and it will drop to 100 CFM (typical)
3) Hook up to a power nozzle (wands, u-joint) and the airflow can drop to 80 CFM (typical)
Suction loss at the PN is astronomical as well. Check out Blackheart's YT channel and you'll see for yourself (Go Blackheart!)
Pick any newer Royal, Kirby or Sanitaire and they have around 150 nozzle CFM.
Added portable bonus: much less power usage. Say 1700 watts versus 600 watts.
Since both can use H11 (HEPA) bags, filtration is just as good.
FYI, I've lived in (and parents owned) 4 houses since 1974 that have central vacuums. With typical use, they can clog periodically.
If you need to deep clean pile carpets, appropriate agitation coupled with as much airflow as you can push (Kirby excels here) wins every time.
If you primarily have bare floors, very little is required to clean those well. Witness the explosion of low CFM robot and stick vacs (20 CFM and lower).
Bill
I've posted extensively on this subject in the past, but central vacuums can't be as good as the best portable vacs. Let's investigate why...
1) Assume a typical central vac canister (single motor) starts with 140 CFM
2) Add 50 ft. of piping and 35 ft. of hose and it will drop to 100 CFM (typical)
3) Hook up to a power nozzle (wands, u-joint) and the airflow can drop to 80 CFM (typical)
Suction loss at the PN is astronomical as well. Check out Blackheart's YT channel and you'll see for yourself (Go Blackheart!)
Pick any newer Royal, Kirby or Sanitaire and they have around 150 nozzle CFM.
Added portable bonus: much less power usage. Say 1700 watts versus 600 watts.
Since both can use H11 (HEPA) bags, filtration is just as good.
FYI, I've lived in (and parents owned) 4 houses since 1974 that have central vacuums. With typical use, they can clog periodically.
If you need to deep clean pile carpets, appropriate agitation coupled with as much airflow as you can push (Kirby excels here) wins every time.
If you primarily have bare floors, very little is required to clean those well. Witness the explosion of low CFM robot and stick vacs (20 CFM and lower).
Bill
What are some of you sucking up that could clog the vacuum pipes? Again, every house I've lived in has had a central vacuum and they never clogged. If the debris makes it through the power nozzle/floor brush, vacuum hose, and inlet then there just shouldn't be any reason for a properly installed system to clog. The tools and hose have a smaller diameter than the pipes.
My house would be dirtier with a portable vacuum for the simple reason that it jist wouldn't be used as often. With shorter retractable hoses installed in kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms you can vacuum high traffic areas in seconds.
My house would be dirtier with a portable vacuum for the simple reason that it jist wouldn't be used as often. With shorter retractable hoses installed in kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms you can vacuum high traffic areas in seconds.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
I actually agree with the last post. My parent's central vac has only had ONE clog out of 32 years of using it and it was from user neglect. It wasn't the vacuum's or the piping's fault. As long as you don't vacuum up anything that you're not supposed to and if you maintain your piping with wipes like the Tornado Maintenance Cloths, you shouldn't have any clogging issues.
I don't however agree with the other post that high airflow and agitation is what's needed to deep clean carpets. For example. My grandparent's Kirby, one of the tech drive models with strong air flow and agitation, did a horrible job on some of the carpets they had. Not only it struggled picking up sand and cat litter but also ice melt salt that was used for the winter. In fact just after my grandfather's passing a few months ago, we tore up those carpets and there was a BUNCH of sand and dust underneath the carpet and carpet pad that the Kirby should've easily sucked up. That was where I really missed the Dirt Devil Jaguar (Breeze) bagless upright the most that my grandparents used to have. From my experience, the Dirt Devil not only felt like it had as good of agitation and airflow but it definitely had more suction power than the Kirby since it was a bypass machine. In fact, that one did SO MUCH better on those carpets. Not to mention that it was bagless where I can easily see what's coming into the dust bin, it's harder to tell what's coming into the bag on the Kirby. And it's so much easier to use the hose with the attachments. I've ended up doing a much faster and better job on those carpets with the Dirt Devil than with the Kirby. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Kirby. I would always change the bag and the belt on the Kirby, actually more often than I should've. The fan had been replaced twice. And the brushroll, the motor bearings and the carbon brushes had been changed out. The thing that I've never liked about the Kirby was every time I would vacuum with it, I would always find sand and grit inside the nozzle that should've been easily sucked up had it had more suction power. I'm likely going to be disagreed here but I'm just saying that only high airflow and agitation didn't work for me.
I don't however agree with the other post that high airflow and agitation is what's needed to deep clean carpets. For example. My grandparent's Kirby, one of the tech drive models with strong air flow and agitation, did a horrible job on some of the carpets they had. Not only it struggled picking up sand and cat litter but also ice melt salt that was used for the winter. In fact just after my grandfather's passing a few months ago, we tore up those carpets and there was a BUNCH of sand and dust underneath the carpet and carpet pad that the Kirby should've easily sucked up. That was where I really missed the Dirt Devil Jaguar (Breeze) bagless upright the most that my grandparents used to have. From my experience, the Dirt Devil not only felt like it had as good of agitation and airflow but it definitely had more suction power than the Kirby since it was a bypass machine. In fact, that one did SO MUCH better on those carpets. Not to mention that it was bagless where I can easily see what's coming into the dust bin, it's harder to tell what's coming into the bag on the Kirby. And it's so much easier to use the hose with the attachments. I've ended up doing a much faster and better job on those carpets with the Dirt Devil than with the Kirby. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Kirby. I would always change the bag and the belt on the Kirby, actually more often than I should've. The fan had been replaced twice. And the brushroll, the motor bearings and the carbon brushes had been changed out. The thing that I've never liked about the Kirby was every time I would vacuum with it, I would always find sand and grit inside the nozzle that should've been easily sucked up had it had more suction power. I'm likely going to be disagreed here but I'm just saying that only high airflow and agitation didn't work for me.
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
@ajr2993 I'm not sure where you get your numbers from?
To my knowledge nobody has a laboratory capable of testing CFM accurately. There are a couple people who have measured very wrong with some homemade air boxes for YouTube entertainment. But I wouldn't put any weight behind them.
To answer your question Central Vacuums are the most powerful type of vacuum you can buy. Having a machine run off of 240 volts capable producing 200+CFM there's absolutely no question behind that.
If you're asking this question I'm guessing you don't own a central vacuum or have much experience using one? You can definitely tell the difference. It's hard to go back to portable vacuums after having a central vacuum.
I can't believe you're in Bakersfield California! That's the home of MD aka modern-day manufacturing. If I were you I would call and see if you could arrange a tour of their factory and learn for yourself.
https://builtinvacuum.com/
To my knowledge nobody has a laboratory capable of testing CFM accurately. There are a couple people who have measured very wrong with some homemade air boxes for YouTube entertainment. But I wouldn't put any weight behind them.
To answer your question Central Vacuums are the most powerful type of vacuum you can buy. Having a machine run off of 240 volts capable producing 200+CFM there's absolutely no question behind that.
If you're asking this question I'm guessing you don't own a central vacuum or have much experience using one? You can definitely tell the difference. It's hard to go back to portable vacuums after having a central vacuum.
I can't believe you're in Bakersfield California! That's the home of MD aka modern-day manufacturing. If I were you I would call and see if you could arrange a tour of their factory and learn for yourself.
https://builtinvacuum.com/
gmarquez
Active member
I second vacuumdevil about trying to stop into the Md factory. I’m from Bakersfield as well, it’s right off of 7th standard. I’ve gone there a couple times to pick up parts for my stealth head. Everyone there is super friendly and helpful
As for central vacs performance I know a lot of people in town have the Md silent master and they’re absolutely incredibly efficient deep cleaners couldn’t recommend them highly enough!
As for central vacs performance I know a lot of people in town have the Md silent master and they’re absolutely incredibly efficient deep cleaners couldn’t recommend them highly enough!
ajr2993
Active member
@vacuumdevil I already did. I told them a lot about their systems, knowing how they're made, seeing all the attachments, seeing their competitors, and I even got a T-shirt with the MD logo on it.
ultralux88
Well-known member
I guess I'm just at a loss for why people tend to so strongly believe central vacs can't retain their perforce just because of the long distance the air has to flow. Yes, I could conceive of a way to install the plumbing to ensure it loses most of its airflow, just use all tight 90s and sweep Ts. If you use the right fittings, the system will be less restrictive, and also less prone to clogging. If you use a high powered unit (and you should, or you're defeating the point with this...) you will most certainly end up with better performance than any portable. Especially if you use the right hose, the biggest restriction in the whole system should be the hose end tube, or the tool attached to it.
And for clogs, I suck up everything under the sun with my system. Literally if it fits into the hose end it goes. Napkins, receipts, candy wrappers, dryer sheets and just any and every other kind of debris you could imagine, and I have NOT ONCE had to unclog my own system. Again, if the unit is powered properly and the piping was installed correctly, you don't have these problems.
Bill, I'm sorry you've had experience with a system that isn't really up to even the standards of the day. I think, if you actually tried a newer system out, a good one, you'll understand why they are preferable to something like a Kirby.
And for clogs, I suck up everything under the sun with my system. Literally if it fits into the hose end it goes. Napkins, receipts, candy wrappers, dryer sheets and just any and every other kind of debris you could imagine, and I have NOT ONCE had to unclog my own system. Again, if the unit is powered properly and the piping was installed correctly, you don't have these problems.
Bill, I'm sorry you've had experience with a system that isn't really up to even the standards of the day. I think, if you actually tried a newer system out, a good one, you'll understand why they are preferable to something like a Kirby.
ralph123
Well-known member
central vacs are only as good as the install. Unfortunately some contractors aren't worth much, and the systems are leaky and weak. If installed correctly, they can be wonderfully quiet and powerful.
ultralux88
Well-known member
Really that is it. A crappy install yields a crappy system with a lousy user experience. Also, the same goes for the unit and tool kit. As a side note, when I do an install I make damn good and sure the system performs as I led the customer to expect it would. Unless my work impresses me, I feel I've failed the customer.
Also, I've noticed a tendency for some collators to choose to think negatively towards machines they feel they can't obtain. I see it with things like the high end Euro vacs too.
Also, I've noticed a tendency for some collators to choose to think negatively towards machines they feel they can't obtain. I see it with things like the high end Euro vacs too.
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