More Central Vacuum Information

Lindhaus Powerhead with Unbreakable Belt

At Central Vacuum Stores, we are partial to the Lindhaus powerhead.  One reason is because of the cleaning capability, and another is because of the durability....but I would be falling down on the job if I didn't mention the superior belt design. 
Over the years we have sold thousands of Lindhaus powerheads, and to verify our findings Roger checked with Grant of MD Products.  MD's famous Stealth powerhead is manufactured by Lindhaus, and I believe I would be safe in saying MD has probably sold tens of thousands of these powerheads over the years. As far as we know, no one has ever reported a broken belt in a LIndhaus powerhead!  Now I am sure someone out there has broken a belt, but we've never had a customer report a broken belt to us.  If you have broken a belt on a LIndhaus or Stealth powerhead, give us a call at 1-800-221-8227, we'd love to hear from you and we'll send you a free belt just for calling.

We made one of our short YouTube videos highlighting the Lindhaus powerhead...take a look

Central Vacuum Motors: Domel and Lamb Ametek

At Central Vacuum Stores, we know that no two people are alike, no two families are alike, and no two houses are alike, so we always try to match a central vacuum system to the needs of our customer.  That being said, there are more than just two central vacuum motor manufacturers in the industry, but Domel and Lamb Ametek do seem to dominate the market.  Domel is a good motor, made in Europe.  For a while some online retailers were saying that Domel motors were made in Germany.  I had to blog about that to set the record straight (you can read that blog here) and the misinformation has since been corrected.

Lamb Ametek is a huge company manufacturing central vacuum motors on four continents, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia (some even in China). The motors they manufacture in China are some of the less expensive, smaller motors.  Lamb has been manufacturing vacuum motors for over 90 years, and has a solid reputation for quality and cutting edge technology.  You can read more about the company here. They are the largest manufacturer of vacuum motors in the world.

You can also check out our homemade YouTube video, where Roger explains a little bit about central vacuum motors.   

At Central Vacuum Stores we are partial to cyclonic units...you can read why.  Most of our employees have central vacuum systems in their homes and most of them have cyclonics.  Faith and Craig do not have cyclonic units.  Faith has a Rhinovac filtered unit, and Craig has the Imperium CV300. 

There are three major brands of cyclonic central vacuum units, Vacuflo, VacuMaid,and Imperium (Imperium is manufactured by Lindsay, the parent company of VacuMaid).  Cyclonic central vacuum systems have unique motors designed by Lamb Ametek specifically for cyclonic units.  That means the fan blades are specifically designed to not load with dirt.  There are some false claims on the Internet about the motors of cyclonic units.  And just like the Domel motor blog, I need to set the record straight with this blog.  The claim is dirt goes through the armature and carbon brushes.  This is a blatantly false claim.  In a cyclonic unit, the dirt enters the unit where 98% is drawn down into the dust can by the cyclonic action.  The other 2% is the fine dust that is suspended in the air.  That suspended dust goes through the no load fan and is exhausted to the outside.  The dirt and dust NEVER come in contact with your armature or carbon brushes. Our favorite Lamb Ametek motors are the 7.2" and the 8.4"

At Central Vacuum we have been installing, selling, and servicing central vacuum systems longer than anyone on the Internet.  We are installing products everyday in our local market.  We aren't bragging, it is just fact.  Cyclonic central vacuum motors are some of the cleanest that we have seen, and they are not in for repair any more or burn up any sooner than other central vacuum motor. That's why Roger and I have always had a cyclonic unit with a Lamb Ametek motor.  Even when all five of our kids were home and I was vacuuming multiple times a day, that Lamb Ametek motor kept going and going for years and years.

Questions About a Central Vacuum Installation

Our son, Thomas, will be graduating from Georgia Tech in December.  He's been majoring in Industrial Engineering and we are very excited for him because Georgia Tech is rated the #1 Industrial Engineering school in the country and he is only 21 years old!   (We're also very excited because during that first year at Tech, we didn't know if he was going to make it!  How many of you mom and dads can relate to that? )  During this last semester he is working on a Senior Design Project.  These projects involve working with a local company to help them find a solution for a specific problem.

A couple of years ago we had a young man, Chase, who was working on a Senior project, contact us with some questions about central vacuum systems. Brad Prince kindly answered these questions for Chase. Remember, if you have any questions you can just pick up the phone and call us at 1-800-221-8227 and Brad, or any of our other central vacuum experts will be happy to assist you.  You can also check out our DIY Knowledge Base, which includes just about anything you'd ever want to know about a central vacuum system. Our DIY Knowledge Base is the result of years of central vacuum installation experience. Central Vacuum Stores is one of the only central vacuum companies on the Internet actually installing systems on a day to day basis.  We've installed thousands and thousands over the years,in both residential and commercial applications.  In fact, Central Vacuum employees have over 80 years of combined central vacuum installation experience.  We've installed systems in the Tropicana Bottling Plant, Home Shopping Network, and the Orlando Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, just to name a few.  To give our online customers the DIY help they need, we've brought Brad Prince, our most experienced installer, in from the field to answer phones.

We first published Chase's questions back in 2007, so in the spirit of recycling, we're bringing back this blog post.  Brad's answers to Chase's questions are in blue.

Hi, this is Chase Jones. I first just want to thank you again and if you could answer some more questions for me that would be great. I might of already asked you some of these but please answer them again.

1)Could you please state experience and reason for expertise?

I have been in installation of built in vac systems from day one here at Central Vacuum Stores.  About 2 years after that, I began installing intercoms. I had had some construction related experience previous to that. I've been at Central Vac Stores for 27 years.

2)When you are on the job and installing your product do you run intoany problems while running tubing, piping, wiring, ext. through TGIs,floor joists, or 2 X 4s?

There are usually no problems with the structural items you've mentioned that we cannot get around or through.I am sensitive to codes concerning framing and if I have a question,I will almost always defer to the head carpenter or superintendent for advice.

3) What are your methods for installing tubing, piping, wiring, ext?

You start with a sharp bit 2 9/16" with a right angle plumber's kit type drill.We use Milwaukee.I will establish the best locations for the inlet valves based on typically a 30' hose. Next I will drill all of my holes to prep for the tube and wire.After that,I set my mounting brackets then stub up or down depending on the location of my main trunk run.After that I will join my stubbed inlet brackets into the trunk line run.I will continue this all the way to the unit location.
   Then I will stub an exhaust to the outside.Now it's time to wire.I start with the inlet farthest away from the unit location.My wire pay out will be made as smooth as possible.I make a run of wire all the way to the unit.making my way back,I pull a loop to each inlet location.I leave a lenght of 6" looped at the valve openings.I also will use cable ties to fasten the wire along the tube.
   Once that is done, we are ready to protect our work.Using electrical grade nail plates,place one on each side of any top plate or sole plate the tubing and wire pass through.Also use the plaster guard supplied with the mounting bracket.

4)Have you ever had problems with pipe and tubing not being straight vertically or horizontally when installing around or through TGIs, floor joists, or 2 X 4s?

I haven't had any problems routing the tubing through the various structures you've mentioned. The vac tube has some flexibility to it and you can, over longer runs have slight curves or bends.  The important thing is to cut the tube lengths square and make sure the tube only is glued and the tube end is inserted completely in the coupling receiver.

5)What are the current solutions for these problems that you use or that are on the market?

The solutions for these mentioned above are securing the tubing with pipe straps and cable ties.

6)When drilling to install piping or tubing do your holes ever not line up?

Often. Typically we'll have a 2X4 fire block , truss, or joist in the way. The fire block because of the nails to avoid.That's when a couple of 45 degree fittings are ideal in an offset to make a great transition around such obstacles

6a)If so have you ever had to re-drill those holes?

Sometimes.That's where the pre planning walk through is helpful. You are less likely to haveto re-drill holes.

6b)If so how much time is spent re-drilling holes?

In a well planned rough in, very little time if any will be spent re-drilling.Also you see more when your on the ladder and close to your work.You make adjustments right there on the fly.
 

Celebrate Labor Day: Buy a Central Vacuum System Made in the USA

Since Monday is Labor Day and we are celebrating the great American worker, I thought i should probably highlight just a couple of the many products we sell that are made right here in the U.S.

First, when it comes to power units, the best, most reliable, and powerful central vac systems available are made in the states.  Vacuflo, VacuMaid, AstroVac, and our own Imperium central vacuum systems are all made in the U.S.A.  Unfortunately, you can't buy Vacuflo online, but if you are interested, just give us a call and we can put you in touch with a Vacuflo dealer in your area. 

VacuMaid, AstroVac and Imperium central vacuum systems are all made by LIndsay Manufacturing.  Lindsay is a family owned company with years of experience in the Industry.  We've been in this business for years, and Roger says that Winston Lindsay(Linsay Mfg.was started by his father in1958) knows more about central vacuum systems than anyone he knows.  Winston doesn't just know the how of central vacs (like so many vendors today), he knows the why.  He can explain to you the difference between one motor and another and why one unit needs this motor and another unit needs another. At Lindsay they don't play games with specs...the ratings you see are reliable, tested according to standards. Linday products are designed to do what central vacuums should do...clean!  You won't find all kinds of superfluous bells and whistles, just powerful units that last and last!

The innovations that LIndsay adds are really cutting edge...Take the Imperium CV7700.  This central vacuum power unit, manufactured by Lindsay Manufacturing is the greenest central vacuum system on the market today.  Our customers love this machine...it is a best seller....

Features of the Imperium CV7700

• Repairable long-life motors  - Special interrupters stop the motor near the end of brush life so that the brushes can be replaced prior to damage to the motor
• "Off is Off" - Less standby power. Features an On/Off switch that turns the power unit off completely, no energy leakage.
• IAQ, Green Label - The Imperium CV7700 has earned the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label for indoor air quality. Our cyclonic central vacuum systems remove the dirt, dust, and allergens completely from the home because you vent it to the outside.
• Green Built - Proudly made in the USA, the Imperium CV7700 is manufactured by Lindsay Mfg. in a modern plant which uses products and processes that retain and recycle lubricants, minimizes or eliminates most volatile organic compounds and produces few carbon emissions in the production of Imperium Central Vacuum Systems.
• Recyclable - The Imperium CV7700 is totally recyclable featuring a 100% steel canister with no irreclaimable plastic body parts to fill landfills and dumps. Learn more about recyling your old central vacuum power units.
• Recycled and Recyclable Packaging - The shipping box and internal packing material are completely recyclable. No styro-foam or plastic is used in the shipping containers of our Clean Green Machine. The box and internal support pieces are made of at least 20% recycled materials.

Isn't it great to know that products like these are made in the U.S.A.?

Our own HolsterVac is also made here in the USA.  We know that, because we manufacture it ourselves.  A plastics company in the Tampa Bay Area makes the plastic model, and a woodworking shop makes the wood model.  A local electronics company solders the switches for us, and we put them together at Central Vacuum Stores.  This is a really neat product, and Roger says he is using it almost everytime he is in the garage.  Take a look at our video explaining the product...

Central Vacuum Accessory for Workshops and Garages

Roger is in love with his HolsterVac.  He says he uses it everytime he is at his workbench!  We've featured Roger in a short YouTube video explaining the HolsterVac. 

Customer Says Imperium CV280 Central Vacuum System Is More Powerful than the Competition

I got this email yesterday from a customer who purchased our Imperium CV280 to replace his older unit.  (The CV280 is a great, all steel, made in the USA central vacuum unit.  It takes hepa filtration bags and is one of the best buys out there.) Ben sent us a picture and we love to include pictures from our customers....You'll notice his CV280 is red.  We've recently changed the color of the Imperiums that use paper bags and the CV280's are now emerald green.  Check out our complete line of Imperium central vacuum power units with paper bags.

Attached picture of the new unit.  Installation was a piece of cake and my wife says that it has much more power than our old M&S Model 180....Very happy with the choice and you guys as well.  We will do future business.  Feel free to use this as a testimonial.

Ben Owens
Raleigh, NC

Newest Central Vacuum Accessory for Workbenches, Hair Salons, and Veterinarian Offices

I am so excited to be able to introduce the latest innovation in central vacuum accessories.  Roger and the team at Central Vacuum Stores have been working hard to design and develop this product.  We may be offering it to central vac dealers in the future, but right now, you'll only find it at Central Vacuum Stores because we have a patent pending on the design.  So, without further delay....

INTRODUCING...

(drum roll please)

 

HolsterVac, a brand new innovation in central vacuum cleaning convenience. Ideal for workbenches or work areas. Use it in your home garage or use it in your business. Suction on Demand for woodworking shops, hair salons, grooming stations, podiatrist and veterinarian offices.
 

A stretch central vacuum hose rests in the HolsterVac, always within easy reach.  Just remove it from the holster and your vacuum system automatically turns on. When you've finished your cleanup just put the hose back in the holster and your central vacuum automatically shuts off.

The HolsterVac comes in a sleek and modern black plexiglass, or it comes in unfinished wood, ready to be painted or stained to match any decor.

The Holster Vac can be added to any central vacuum system in just a few minutes.  To install the HolsterVac simply mount it to a bench, shelf, or wall near a central vacuum inlet.  Connect HolsterVac's low voltage wires to the nearby inlet and plug the hose in.

SEE IT NOW, ONLY AT CENTRAL VACUUM STORES

Central Vacuum Systems with Powerful Lamb Ametek Motor

We have got some really good news for our customers.  As of Friday, we now feature not one, but two central vacuum power units with the latest 8.4" Lamb Ametek motor.  This motor is a powerhouse and now our customers can purchase a filtered or bagged unit with this motor. 

Recently we became the US distributors for the RhinoVac.  The RhinoVac 511R-XLS is a "beast" with 110" of sealed suction and 166 cfm.  This filtered unit has a teflon coated inverted bag. The RhinoVac is also priced lower than comparable filtered units.   Maybe you are one of those customers that prefers a paper bag unit, well, we have good news for you...

As of Friday, Central Vacuum Stores now offers their popular Imperium central vacuum systems with disposable bags, and the brand new Imperium CV800 not only offers a disposable bag, but the same powerful 8.4" Lamb motor found in the RhinoVac. (110" sealed suction and 166cfm) You'll notice our new bagged Imperiums are emerald green.  That's how you'll be able to differentiate them from our other Imperium units (our cyclonic, commercial, and filtered Imperium units will still be our signature ruby red).  This unit uses the Maxflo Hepa Filter Bag for superior filtration and dust containment.

In describing these units I only mentioned sealed suction and cfm in the specs for these machines.  As I've mentioned in previous blogs, AirWatts is a strange rating.  First, it's a formula, and you can find it all over the web (I even think we have the formula somewhere on our website).  However, if you plug in the numbers, the formula doesn't work.  That's because AirWatts comes from the cfm and sealed suction numbers taken in specific test environments.  And it's just kind of dicey.  You can find three units, all with identical specs and the same motor, yet all have different AirWatts.

The ASTM says Maximum Air Watts is the way to measure how well a vacuum system will clean.  Unfortunately, the ASTM doesn't give us the specs, the manufacturers do and they all test in their own way...some at the motor, some at a 2" opening, and some without the dirt can attached. MD Manufacturing, a leader in the central vacuum industry, says that the statistics for maximum air watts comes from the manufacturer and the numbers may not be reliable because they aren't tested under conditions commonly used. MD recommends you know the opening size of the attachment most often used and then find the vacuum's air watts at that exact opening size...

All that to say, if you are comparing units and their specs (cfm, inches of water lift, and airwatts) are close, then you are comparing units that for all practical purposes are equal in power.

Powerful Central Vacuum at a Low Price

Last week my three year old granddaughter, Sarah, noticed her mother was slicing cucumbers (from our organic garden....the subject of some future blog post) in the kitchen.  She asked her mother, "Can I have some cucumbers for my eyes?"  Her mother gave her two slices, and a short while later walked into the living room to see this...
Now, this kind of spa treatment is affordable, but if you've ever been to a spa, you know the treatments there can get pricey. 

At Central Vacuum Stores we don't want you to have to sacrifice a day at the spa because you need to replace your central vacuum system.  We've got great central vacuum systems at affordable prices.  Consider the Imperium CV280...Recently a customer sent us this email about her Imperium CV280 purchase...

Just wanted to thank you for your help with our purchase of the central vacuum. We are very pleased with this product. We had two other brands of central vacuums before this one & I can tell you the performance was not even close to yours. We are very happy & will highly recommend this product to our friends.

Thank You again for all your help.
Phyllis L.

The Imperium CV280 is a bagged unit, with great power, at an even greater price. For $289 you get a central vacuum power unit that rivals the most popular brands we sell...and it's all steel...and it's made in the USA by Lindsay Manufacturing.  Check it out...Buy it today and you can still visit a spa tomorrow.

Budd Central Vacuum Units Now Available At Central Vacuum Stores

 
At Central Vacuum Stores we have been servicing Budd central vacuum systems for almost 30 years.  Roger says that back in the 70's there was a fireman in the Tampa Bay Area who moved here from New Jersey.  On his days off(you know fireman, one day on, two days off) he installed Budd central vacuum systems.  In fact he installed hundreds and hundreds of them over the years.  We have a lot of respect for these products, but we probably have a little more respect for that fireman. 

Today we are excited to announce that we will be selling these units online!  If you are looking to replace your Budd central vacuum system, we can sell you everything you need, including the Budd power unit. Take a look at these units.  If you don't want to install it yourself, give us a call and we can direct you to a Budd dealer in your area.  We partner with our vendors to offer our customers the national support of dealer networks, and this goes for Budd too!  If you want to buy locally, we'll help you find a dealer you can work with.  Call us at 1-800-221-8227 or fill out our dealer locator request.