Can I use PVC plumbing pipe to install a central vacuum system?

There is a lot of misinformation about using plumbing PVC pipe for central vacuum system installation.  You will hear and read all kinds of information about this.  While vacuum manufacturers usually recommend vacuum pipe for residential installations, I have never read a good reason for that.  My daughter graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida and works as a structural engineer.  She has spoken with professors and engineers and none of them could find a significant difference in vacuum pipe and plumbing pvc pipe.  In fact, engineers often require schedule 40 plumbing pipe for installation of central vacuum systems in commercial applications.  Engineers from Murray Company, Mechanical Contractors in Compton, California, recently purchased materials and a system from us.  They requested PVC schedule 40 for a vacuum system, so we asked them for their professional opinion. We wanted to know if there were any disadvantages to using schedule 40 instead of vacuum tubing and the engineers at Murray agreed there were none.  They told us they could find no reason why schedule 40 pvc would effect the system in a negative way.  IN FACT, they all agreed that the slightly larger diameter of schedule 40 pvc pipe would increase air flow and central vacuum performance.  By using the "Air Velocity in a Pipe" and "Air Volume Discharge from a Pipe" formulas you find out that PVC pipe could actually increase your CFM (airflow) by over 25%. Plumbing pipe also has a thicker and stronger wall, making it more substantial than vacuum pipe.  Plumbing pipe is great for underground applications and has less chance of clogging because of the larger diameter.  One big advantage of vacuum pipe is that it is more flexible and can be easier to use.  If you do decide to use plumbing pipe, you will need adapters for your vacuum inlets.  There is a patent pending adapter, and we are the only company that sells them.  Read more about it on our website. https://www.centralvacuumstores.com/cvs/pipe.php

Comments

Plumbers make this happen, how could they not. Try calling a general contractor.