Central vac vs. standalone

[jandumm]

Hey, just wanted to get some feedback on what folks' opinions are on central vac vs. a standalone vac...

we've just moved in and the rough in for central vac......got about $500 to spend....is it worth considering the dyson?

[hightech]

If your house is small, and your budget is limited ($500), I would get this vacuum for upright:
http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B000M...odeid=16358251

This is ranked as consumer reports best rated according to the March 2007 review. Here are the links to the review:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/a...ghts/index.htm

You may need access to the listing.

If you go central vac, you need something with a powered brush head, not air powered. Most cheap central vacs have air powered brush heads and that is not as effective as an electrical powered head.

[cyw95]

We bought the basic dyson just after xmas. I could not believe how easy this thing is. They have also extended the warrranty to 5 years. It gets all the cat hair off the carpets, does a great job on getting the corners full of sand ( I have children like Linus from Charlie Brown!!!) The wand extends in 2 ways so we can vac the ceiling fans and corners of walls/ceilings without having to stand on a chair. The wand and hose together extend up to 17 feet. The cord is 35 feet. I can cover an entire floor without having to change plugs.

I wanted central vac as well, but this way when I move my money comes with me!!!

I also redeemed airmiles for GC if you are able to go that route, my Dyson was 1/2 price after the GC.
Good luck with your choice, HTH

[mart242]

I've finished installing my canavac central vacuum in my new house yesterday. I would NEVER go back to a stand alone. I've put it in the garage so it's super quiet inside the house. It sucks dust like crazy and the accessories are pretty neat, I bought their microfiber "mop" for hardwood floors and it's great.

It doesn't smell like you've vacuumed once you're done (you know, the "vacuum smell" ?). No dust at all.


FYI, my house was roughed in and it took me ~8 hours to finish the install but I had ~4 pipes to connect in basement and had to work around duct work, i-beams, ... and a son who wanted to help! I also put it on a dedicated circuit. It took me about a week in total but on some nights, I'd work on it for only an hour.

edit: canavac = made in canada. top quality motor in it. don't buy the "garbage" from costco or something, go to a good vacuum store.

[npoon]

i currently have central vac and the only problem is when something gets stuck. it is very difficult to find where the "stuck" item is which forces a person to find a stand alone to "suck" out the stuck item. the convenience is there since you only take a hose around but i only have 3 outlets in my house so the hose is long (30 feet) which would probably make up for the weight of a regular vac

[audit13]

I love my central vac because the exhaust from the unit is vented to the outside. I don't need any brushes since all of the floors and stairs in the house are either maple, porcelain, or laminate. I have a few area rugs but the vacuum does a great job on these as well.

Personally, I'd opt for a c-vac.

[Bullseye]

Central is the only way to go if you care about indoor air quality.

We also found that it has far more power than an upright, but maybe our old upright just wasn't very good.

[macdonlg]

Central Vac - Huge amount of sucking power, super quiet, only empty the dust catcher every few months, improved indoor air quality, added sales incentive when selling your house

Stand alone - no need to worry about hauling a 30ft hose from basement to bedroom floor, easier to store vs c.v. hose

Overall I'd go with CV much beter & it clean beter than almost any stand alone I've heard of.

It is worth the extra money for sure.

[BuildingHomes]

I install central-vacs, yet I use an upright at home. Why? Old house, real small.

For any new house, the vac piping will be roughed in. You can have someone add vac and finish off the outlets afterwards (ahem).

There is some definate advantage in sucking power. The motors on these things are _huge_ because you don't have to haul them around.

[Quick_lude]

We just bought an 11 year old house. How can you tell if the house has the vac piping roughed in?

[BuildingHomes]

We just bought an 11 year old house. How can you tell if the house has the vac piping roughed in?

Doubtful.

Is there a white pipe in your garage, maybe in the ceiling?

How about the basement, see any while pipe?

How about around the house, see any blank faceplates? Ever remove them to see what's behind?

[gman]

I install central-vacs, yet I use an upright at home. Why? Old house, real small.

For any new house, the vac piping will be roughed in. You can have someone add vac and finish off the outlets afterwards (ahem).

There is some definate advantage in sucking power. The motors on these things are _huge_ because you don't have to haul them around.

How much would you charge for installation if there is a rough in already? I don't think you will come all the way to Markham but I would like a rough idea of the charge. Thanks.

[getmail99]

How much would you charge for installation if there is a rough in already? I don't think you will come all the way to Markham but I would like a rough idea of the charge. Thanks.

There is a company selling central vac just a few block from loblaws, you can check the price from them. I think they do installation. The company usually advertises in those small booklets.

[sill]

What does a central vac unit cost? I already have everything roughed in... just need the unit.

[mart242]

What does a central vac unit cost? I already have everything roughed in... just need the unit.

I paid ~950$ for mine, taxes in. Canavac vacuum (made in Ontario!), bunch of accessories including the special "hardwood microfiber mop" as well as ~65' of PVC pipe / elbows / 45 degrees to finish the installation in my basement.