Electrolux Central Vac.

[Peggy99]

Convert bagless central vac to use bags

Has anyone in this thread converted a bagless Nutone Cyclonic unit (CV5XX) to use bags?

How did you do it/what parts did you use? What bags did you use?

My unit is in the basement, mounted high, tight against the wall, and emptying the bucket/cleaning the cloth filter is a complete nightmare.
I'd have to wear a hazmat suit with a ventilator to avoid inhaling any dust, and then use a different vacuum to clean most of the basement afterwards.
I need a better way.
Swapping the whole thing out will cost over $1000.

 

[tolivac]

Swapping central vacuum units.The 1000 bucks just may be worth it if you don't want to hassle with several gallons of dirt and dust.My Mom had a NuTone bagless machine andI hated the thing.Don't blame her for not wanting to dump it.I don't know if there are any conversion bag kits for that machine-would suggest you look on the NuTone website.Of course they will probably suggest a new machine.The 1000 or more-would be for the cost of the new central vacuum machine and the labor required to plumb it in.The tech may have to redo the plumbing at the unit so it will fit properly.The wiring wouldn't be as much of a problem.The MD dealer I deal with has replaced many bagless units with bagged MD units.The customer is more satisfied with the bagged machine.You can "empty" it in your Sunday best and not get dusty!Esp with a closed bag.Is the NuTone unit you have old-like over 10 yrs old--Swapping it with a bagged unit may be your best buy!And bagged units tend to last longer-the bags filter out the dirt better so less gets into the machines motor.Dust,like in any vacuum will kill the motor in time.

 

[n0oxy]

replacing central vacuum

The cost should mainly be for the power unit, the pipe work should not have to be redone, perhaps just changed a bit at the end where it connects to the power unit. I would say it's worth it, bagged units really are much cleaner, I would not take a bagless unit if someone offered it to me for free.

 

[sanitaire]

I have the vacuflo full cyclonic. no filters or bags. I emty the tank when it's half full and clean the screen inside. and it's ready too go again. there is no dust from the catch tank that goes into the motor. great for the house and gargae. my carpet is low pile so I use the suction powred turbo cat spinning brush floor tool.

 

[tolivac]

In replacing units-sometimes a minor change in plumbing may be required.That is a good reason why the installing dealer will encourage the customer to pick a machine that matches the old plumbing as close as possible. Fortunately most machines are pretty close in this regard.I am in full agreement with the MD dealer here-the bagged units are best-in terms of performance,sanitation,and lifetime.My "free" bagless Lux unit has a blown motor.When you try to start it-the motor growels and barely turns-but enough to emit a puff of dust from the motor dome.Then the motor breaker trips.Future project-but in no hurry to do it.Replacement motor for Lux units can cost from $150-+200.There needs to be another safety type filter in these to protect the motor from dust that gets by the foam filter.There is an interlock switch to prevent the motor from starting unless that filter is locked in place in the motor dome.

 

[caligula]

Got a central vac.

While I was in Indiana my housemate got a central vac. It's a Vacuflo 566Q. He got it on March 21 and while I only used it for a few minutes to give it a test drive I love it. Okay, so it's not an Electrolux, but I can live with that. As I just got home yesterday I plan to do a whole house cleaning tomorrow to try it out. As we have hardwoods and area rugs this should serve us very well.

 

[luxflairguy]

I'll tell you this! After more than 20 years selling and servicing central vacuums and having used everything on the market, you've got the right machine! Others can and will champion their favorite brands, but I can say that the machine that is traded in more than any other is Electrolux and others that have a washable foam filter. Removing the dirt caked filter and the mess of washing it and rinsing enough times to remove all the embedded dirt is a chore and all too often people put the filter back in before it's dry making a yucky mess! Like Owen Perkins, I believe in a "true cyclonic" machine and like both VacuMaid and Vacuflo. I run a VacuMaid in my own home and always have. Attachments are all interchangeable. The Vacuflo is also fun because it has a transparent dirt bin so you can see all that you've vacuumed up! The more you use it, the more you'll appreciate it! Greg

 

[caligula]

Thank Greg:

When my housemate decided to get a central vac I posted the question here, and opted to hold off till I heard from the experts (See above posts.) While I had an Electrolux central vac 20 years ago and was urging him to go 'Electrolux' he bought a Vacuflo and had it instaled while I was away tending to family matters. I used it this morning and love it. It's so easy, great suction, and made the whole house cleaning a breeze. Looks like my Electrolux model LX will become part of the display wall.

 

[delaneymeegan]

 


 


I've lived with central vacs.  Bagged Nutone mainly.


 


I've seen bad installs.  My Aunt had a Nutone in her 1972 ranch house.  It had 3 measly inputs. You couldn't even reach some parts of the house.  There was nothing in the garage or basement.  There was no electric brush.  It was LOUD.


 


My parents have Nutone.  Again, not enough inputs, long hose.  They haven't used it in 10 years.  It's too much hassle.


 


The only way I would even consider one is:


 


1. if inlets were installed in EVERY room OR not further apart than 25' Everywhere in the house, basement, garage, patio/deck, and by front door, and one in attic.   This way you only need a hose that is 15' long.  After all,  one of the negatives of a central vac is the ridiculous 30', 35' or even 50' hose which tends to get stepped on, not to mention having to look at it, and haul it around.  Plus the damage it can do to wood work.


 


2. The power unit would be installed in a heavily sound insulated cabinet or closet.  We're talking 12" of sound deadening material.  I absolutely hate the annoying noise pollution,.... of ANY vacuum, but central vacs are the worst.


 


3. It would need to be a 2 piece motor and cyclonic collection unit.  And there should be a bag After the cyclone unit.  The motor unit being in the sound insulated closet/cabinet and the collection unit being outside, or in a cabinet on the outside of the house.  When it comes time to empty, I don't want any dust in the house.


 


4. The hose would have to be crush proof and electric, and I should be able to use any of my Eureka, Electrolux, Hoover, or Kenmore PNs.


 


5. There would need to be this new Holster vac fitting in the kitchen and workshop, possibly even in the garage.


 


Good thing, installing the tubing network is rather easy.  Just cut and glue.  It doesn't need to be slanted in any direction like plumbing lines. 


Consider also, with a shorter hose, you will have better suction.  After all the pipes in the wall are a smooth walled 1 1/2 to 1 3/4".  The hose is typically a corrugated 1 1/4" to 1 1/2".


 


 


 


 

 

[delaneymeegan]

 


 


While it's true, bagged units are easier to empty, they certainly are not the best for filtering.  


 


I've noticed, on units that have a wall mounted exterior vent, that the area around that vent is dusty.  This is for vacs with bags. It shows up better on darker color houses.  It shows that those cheap paper bags are as inferior in a central vac as they are in a typical vac.

 

[caligula]

My buddy Larry's Vacuflo was installed right, he's a retired electrical engineer, and planned this very well weeks before I went to Indiana. Knowing him as I do, he worked with the instaler making sure of attention to detail. The only thing I didn't know about this was what he brand he was going to buy.

There are two outlets in the main house and one in the basement. The outlet in the hallway by the master bedroom reaches most of the house. The other outlet in the closet by the basement stairs gives more than enough access to the kitchen and dining area. The outlet in the basement reaches the entire area, and will be used to vacuum the cars, and so on.

As to the electric hose, it doesn't have one, the powerhead is turbo which is a breeze to use. The house has hardwood floors, with ceramic tile in kitchen and bathrooms, plus area rugs in various rooms. Needless to say the Vacuflo makes short work of the vacuuming chores.

The drawback is not using my Electrolux model LX, or Kirby Classic III, but I made it clear I won't give those up, still for weekly vacuuming the Vacuflo will save time and work.

Needless to say I'm very happy with what he bought!

 

[bimmer740]

I've had a VacuFlo 566Q that I installed myself for over 10 years which has direct connect inlets and I couldn't be happier with it! The best money I've ever spent! It's easy to maintain, has amazing power, it's quiet, and the attachment possibilities are nearly endless. I had a Lindhaus Stealth power nozzle for years as well as a TurboCat kit and about a year ago I upgraded to a Riccar/Simplicity/Centec power nozzle and hose. This power nozzle is a tremendous improvement over the Lindhaus nozzle!! I couldn't stand the Lindhaus, it was well built and well thought out, but it's cleaning performance was awful. The new power nozzle could clean circles around it. The VacuFlo system has been nothing but a dream to use and my house has never been cleaner, it really does eliminate nearly all the dust. I've posted about this system numerous times before but its worth repeating every time, they really are fantastic systems!

 

[tolivac]

The MD Silentmaster bagged unit I now have has BETTER filtration then bagless central units.Heres why-the disposable bag is Filtrete.It sits in a cloth outer bag.then there is a filter on the motor fan intake.The motor in my unit is full bypass.The motor has its own cooling fan and airpath separate from the suction fan.This bagged unit doesn't need to be vented.The MD dealer trade ins here are mostly bagless units that are dead-the motor is killed by dust leaking past the bagless filters.Part of this is the owner.Right now I have a chance on getting a Beam-Electrolux unit that is only a month old and was traded in on an MD bagged unit.The Beam unit is dead-won't run.Will look at it with Mike his place to see what is wrong.Most likely the relay board is dead.I would like to add it to my central vacuum collection.The MD dealer here keeps a couple of MD units in stock at his shop for those "dead unit" emergencies.Or he could install the unit as a new installation.He has the connectors and tubing.I have the 35 ft hoses with mine-and they are not too bad.One hose has the cloth cover on it and this makes it easier-and won't snag on wall corners.The hose is powered so I can use it with my various powernozzles.

 

[AspriaSystems]

Electrolux rebranded the BEAM units as Beam By Electrolux in 2007, they actually purchased the BEAM vacuum company from the family owners in the early 90's. The "electrtolux" branded units, along with BEAM, Honeywell, Eureka and some others are all made by Electrolux Home Care North America in Mexico. This is not the same company that sold the old lux tank vacs in the USA from 1930's - 2000, that was Aerus. We often hear many folks confuse the Electrolux (CVAC) products of today with that old vacuum their parents bought from the DTD sales guy in the 1950's and is still running today. That would be an unfortunate misconception.

http://www.centralvacuumsystems.com/cvs-technology/it-has-become-aware/