What central vacuum cleaners can do for you
Q. My children have allergies, so I vacuum clean often. I notice the lights dim when I first start it. Would a central vacuum system be more efficient than my canister model and should it vent outdoors?
Pam J.
A. Don't judge electricity consumption of a vacuum cleaner by its size. Some small canister vacuum cleaners have powerful motors which draw 12 amperes or more of current. Starting current draw is slightly higher, so you may see a lamp dim momentarily whenever you start the vacuum. If the light dimming is significant, the vacuum cleaner motor may be failing.
Most central vacuum cleaners can be plugged into a standard 120-volt electrical outlet, so they do not draw much more electricity than the canister. Even so, the central vacuum is often more powerful because the unit does not have to be as compact as a smaller pull-around vacuum cleaner. I use a central vacuum 90 percent of the time at my home and use a HEPA canister model for quick cleanups.
The energy saving advantage of using a central vacuum cleaner is the fact you will probably have to vacuum less often. Since dust and dirt are captured in the central power unit located in a garage, utility room or basement, none blows through the filter and back into the room. Even with a HEPA filter on a pull-around unit, some particles still escape.
The filters in most central vacuum cleaner power units do an excellent of removing particles from the exhaust. If a slight bit leaks out, it just settles near the unit on the garage or basement floor so venting it indoors is usually adequate for reducing airborne dust and allergies.
If you are really concerned about particles in the air, the central vacuum cleaner exhaust can be vented outdoors. The major drawback to this is it wastes energy by blowing already heated or cooled room air outdoors. Sometimes the makeup air leaking in past windows and doors can carry even more allergens into the air inside your home.
Comparing the relative cleaning power of a central vacuum cleaner is similar to other vacuum cleaners. Two factors, the air flow and air suction, determine the cleaning power of any vacuum cleaner. Many companies use a standardized mathematical formula to calculate the cleaning power in "air watts" from the air flow and suction specifications.
It is not difficult to install a central vacuum cleaner system in an existing house. Two-inch-diameter white plastic pipe is run to wall inlets. With a 30-foot long hose, it is surprising how few wall inlets are actually needed for the hose to reach all the rooms. Safe low-voltage wire is run along with the pipe to each wall inlet. When you plug the hose into the wall inlet and flip the switch, the main power unit starts.
The following companies offer central vacuum cleaners: Beam Industries, (800) 369-2326, www.beamvac.com; CentralVac International, (800) 666-3133, www.centralvac.com; Hoover, (330) 499-9499, www.hoover.com; MD Manufacturing, (800) 997-2278, ww.builtinvacuum.com; and Nutone, (888) 336-3948, www.nutone.com.
Q. There are several rooms in my house which we seldom use. Does it make sense to shut off the warm air furnace registers to them? Also, is it better to close the room register or damper in the furnace duct?
Pat P.
A. It does save energy to block the heat flow to unused rooms and let them stay cooler. Don't shut off the heated air to more than two rooms. If the room air flow through the furnace is reduced too much, it can also reduce its efficiency.
If you do plan to shut off the heated air to a room or two, it is better to shut it off with a furnace duct damper instead of with the room register. Using the room register allows for more air leakage from the duct.