More Central Vacuum Information

Replace A Central Vacuum Motor

 

Learn How To Replace A Central Vacuum Motor

Central vacuum systems have many advantages.  One huge advantage is their longevity which is only extended by the ability to easily replace the motor in almost any central vacuum, including the popular Beam central vacuum.  On our website, we have absolutely everything you need to replace the motor in almost any central vacuum system.  (Some NuTones and AirVacs do not allow you to change their motor.)

• First, we have our motor finder, which is exhaustive. You can use this tool to locate the correct motor for your exact central vacuum brand and model #. 
• Next, we have a great DIY article outlining step by step instructions for replacing a central vacuum motor
• Finally, we have a short video of how to replace a motor in a Beam central vacuum. Because all central vacuum systems are so similar, we demonstrated on a Beam, but the procedure is almost identical in any central vacuum system. 

If you still need some assistance, just call one of our experts at 1-800-221-8227. At Central Vacuum Stores we have been installing and servicing central vacuum systems in our local market since the early 1980's, so we can talk you through just about any central vacuum installation or repair. Our experts are all highly trained often have been involved in the installation end of the business themselves.

Is Replacing A Central Vacuum Motor Worth It?

It's possible, the question you should be asking isn't, "How do I replace my central vacuum motor?" It's, "Should I replace my central vacuum motor?"

Central Vacuum Stores has built a legacy upon helping the DIY customer accomplish their goals, and we're here to do that with your central vacuum motor replacement. But, the truth is, we often speak with customers and the scenario simply leads us to recommend they replace their power unit instead of their motor. Here are a few key questions you need to ask yourself before diving into a central vacuum motor repair...

1) Are you ready to get dirty?

There should be no misconception about the task of changing a central vacuum motor. While, yes, it is absolutely a DIY project, it takes time, energy, and a willingness to get dirty. Accessing and removing a central vacuum motor requires getting into some really dirty areas of your unit. Worse still, the fact that you're changing the motor says that the unit is old. Some of the dirt, debris, and overall build-up is going to be substantial. It's a relatively simple and yet incredibly gross job. 

2) Is a warranty important to you? 

If you're replacing your central vacuum motor, odds are your warranty - if you had one - has already expired. So it's important to ask yourself just how much time, money, and energy you're willing to put into a power unit that is no longer under any kind of coverage. Will you be changing this motor only to have something else break next month? 

• Check out this new power unit that features a 10-Year warranty and costs under $500!

3) Are you ready for more upgraded features?

Central vacuum systems have come a long way over the years. For example, new Electrolux models feature an LED screen and an internal computer system that monitors the power unit's efficiency. Perhaps most notable in the world of central vacuum cleaners is the addition of True Cyclonic Filtration. True Cyclonic changed the game because of its near-perfect performance. No loss of suction and zero exhausted particles (when installed properly to the exterior.) If your current unit is bagged or filtered, you want to spend time researching this new filtration technology.

• Check out these True Cyclonic power units for the absolute best filtration.

4) Is efficiency important?

Thanks to greater importance being placed on energy efficiency and green initiatives, new central vacuum power units can save you money and help you be environmentally conscious. Most new models will run better while using less electricity than your dated unit. Less electricity use = more money in your pocket.

• Check out this unit that is large enough to clean 6,000 square feet but only uses 11.3 Amps

5) Do you want more suction? 

While updating your central vacuum motor may give fresh power to your dated unit, ultimately it has its limits. If the suction level of your existing unit is lacking or if you're one of the many who think, "the more power the better," a new central vacuum power unit is the solution. 

• Check out this power unit that has 740 AIR WATTS and is less than $500.

6) Do the numbers really make sense?

Replacing your central vacuum motor is a DIY project, so you may feel like it's a "free" option. However, many customers are surprised to learn the expense of a new motor. New central vacuum motors cost between $100 - $300. Often changing your motor requires changing the filter or carbon brush, adding an additional $100. You could be looking at spending $400 on your old, dated central vacuum! In this case, the choice is really a no-brainer. Take, for example, this Imperium CV260: It features a three-year warranty, 540 Air Watts, at an incredibly efficient 10.1 Amps. All this for around $300! You really need to run the numbers before installing a new motor. The math usually doesn't work.

• See the CV260 and all Imperium central vacuum units here.

7) What's the condition of the rest of your system?

When I asked our support team what was the #1 reason people opted to replace their central vacuum power unit instead of the motor, they said it was the added expense of updating tools and accessories. Almost always, if the motor has gone bad, the floor tools and cleaning accessories are equally dated. When a customer begins to add up the costs of also replacing the carpet powerhead, hose, or accessory kit, it almost ALWAYS makes sense to simply buy a new central vacuum kit. Buying as a kit saves you money, and can be significantly less money than buying a replacement motor and mix-matched tools.

• Check out these All-In-One kits to replace your existing dated system.

Over our many years of business, Roger has been very involved in training the experts at Central
Vacuum Stores, but you won't get any tech support from Roger for the next few days. Our youngest son Micah headed back to military college, to finish his last year of school, and Roger drove back with him. Our oldest son, Nathan lives in Charlotte, our son, Thomas, lives in Nashville, and Sunday is our grandson, Justin's birthday...so... they all met up in the Blue Ridge area of Georgia for a little R&R. The area looks beautiful. (Avenair Mountain Rentals, if you are interested in a nice vacation spot.)

Unclog a Central Vacuum System

Roger recently stopped long enough to make a short video walking our customers through some practical steps for unclogging a central vacuum system.  Online we have some great resources for troubleshooting central vacuum problems, and we have lots of information about clogged central vacuum systems.  You might want to take a look at what we have online and then watch the video.  Most folks who call with clogged systems are successful in getting rid of that clog, after they follow our directions.  So look here for some great tips and then take a look at the video. 

Central Vacuum Low Voltage Extension Hose

This is a great new product that is going to be a favorite with our customers.  If you have a low voltage hose with an on/off  switch and want to get a little extra length, consider this extension hose.  The great thing about this extension hose is that it allows you to get an extra 12 feet of length and still have the on/off function on your hose handle.  While you are looking at the new hose, take a look at our redesigned product pages.  We've just rolled out this new page, and there are more changes coming.  These pages allow our customers to view multiple images of our products, product videos (if they are available), detailed descriptions, product reviews, related items, manufacturers spec sheets and more.  While you are on the product page you can also email a friend to tell them about the product (thanks to all of you who share our website with your friends), ask us a question about the product, or write a product review. 

Learn more about this hose, see more images, and see our redesigned product page.

Clogged Central Vacuum System? We Can Help!

After the holidays we often get calls from customers who have sucked up one too many pieces of wrapping paper, and their central vacuum systems are clogged.  Often, you can unclog these systems yourself, if you follow our directions.  We've got a great article on eHow taking you through the unclog process step by step.  We also have instructions on our website for unclogging a central vacuum system.  Usually, if you follow these steps you will be successful in unclogging your system.

However, sometimes it's difficult to locate the clog and now we have a solution for those situations. Last year we purchased a small pipe camera that can be snaked through your system.  You watch with a small screen as the camera moves through your piping.  Once you have located the clog you can cut away the clogged pipe and splice in a new piece of pipe.

Central Vacuum Stores is now renting this camera to our customers  If you have followed all our other suggestions and your system is still clogged, call Roger at 1-800-221-8227 for details on renting our mini-clog cam.

Hide-a-Hose Central Vacuum in Commercial Applications

At Central Vacuum Stores we consider Brad Prince to be the "Jedi Master" of the central vacuum industry.  With over 26 years of installation experience he has seen it all.  Recently, he wrote this article to pay homage to his mentor. As you read this article consider why Central Vacuum Stores is the place to go for central vacuum advice.  We are innovators in the marketplace, never afraid to try something new.

News Flash:  Central Vacuum Stores Resident Vac-Master, Brad Prince,  Stripped of Coveted Title on Recent Service Call!
Dateline:  NOAH`S ANIMAL HOSPITAL, St.Petersburg Fl. 10:00 AM

Brad Prince

Noah’s Animal Hospital is the scene where we installed a prototype vac system using the Hide-a-Hose retractable hoses with Imperium’s massive CV-20000 industrial unit.  We have had great success installing the Hide-a-Hose system in homes, leaving customers elated with the product.  However, Noah's presented some unique issues, but we felt the Hide-a-Hose system could work in commercial applications as well as residential.  In the general areas, hallways, and reception areas we installed 40 and 50 foot hoses.  In the exam rooms we tubed the rooms for 15 foot hoses, for a total of 11 Hide-a-Hose inlets in all!

Not long after completing the installation we were called to service this system due to clogs, low suction, etc.  After a variety of repairs, adjustments,and fixes I was unsure of how to tweak this system so that it would operate in the way it was intended. We had never experienced this problem with residential systems, but we had never installed a system with 11 Hide-a-Hoses.  So, I returned to Noah's, accompanied by Central Vacuum’s owner Roger Ambrose.  We were going  to tag team a troubleshoot on this system.  After clearing the Hide-a-Hose 50 footer in the reception area, we ran a TORNADOPOWER™ Central Vacuum Maintenance Cloth through the hose to the problem clog.

We heard a Thud and knew that the system was reclogged...so it was back to the drawing board.  All this time and I had been thinking:   too many hoses, not enough power. 

Roger decided to chose exam room 5 to open the ceiling panel.With zen like presicion, he found the tubing, took one of our Bear Pull Saws (perfect for PVC by the way), and cut the tubing just past the sweep tee fitting. I handed him the flashlight and then I heard Roger say, “There it is, the end of the Hide-a-Hose with the Tornado Cloth”. Amazing! Even though he laid out the system, the install was done by our techs. There was really no way he could have known the exact location and the problem, the hose was too long!  Needless to say, I pulled the hose,  cut off about 16 inches, trimmed the hose sock, and re-inserted the end cap.  Meanwhile, Roger repaired the cut tube with a stop coupling. We pulled the hose at the original problem location, fired up the system and introduced another Tornado Maintainence Cloth. Whoosh, right through to the unit. We have not had any problems with Noah's since then, and in fact they are adding more Hide-a-Hose inlets.  I do think it is time to spit the system, so with the additional inlets we are going to be adding an additional unit.
   Let me take a moment to tell you that when installing a Hide-a-Hose it is important you install enough retractable tubing to accommodate your hose length. In this case, the hose in question was a custom length and just a little long for the retrack tube before it was introduced into the trunk line tubing. Thankfully we could resolve this with some experience and accesability.
   I just thought of a great title for Roger, our new VacMaster.  O. B. ROG-BEN-VACI. It has a nice ring to it , ya think?

Hide-a-Hose Information

Music Intercom System Advice from the Expert

Brad Prince, longtime intercom installation expert, has some great advice for folks who want to improve the quality of the music  piped through their intercom system.  He's written an article and we have featured it on our Intercom Blog.
Read Brad's Article Here

Central Vacuum Installation in Tight Spaces

Brad Prince, with over 26 years of installation experience , now stands by our phones to offer tech support to our online customers. Give him a call if you need any help;.  1-800-221-8227  He wanted to share this story:

While I was working last Saturday, a gentleman came in to purchase parts to finish his NuTone IMA-3303WH install.  While he was looking around the show room he asked, "Could I install a vac system in a home with a flat roof and only enough room to lower 12-18 inches of tube at a time?"  He really wanted to have the vac system and was willing to go to extraordinary lengths to get it done.

In the past I’ve been on installs that put me in that same situation.  Gary Lamb,our top tube tech,has been in spaces that seem humanly impossible to fit in. He has an incomprehensible attitude of "whatever it takes" as he goes about the task. This "matter of fact" approach has served our customers well over the years and when they turn on the switch of their central vacuum hose they are always delighted that their new vac is ready for use.

The method of installing in small spaces is this:

1.You must adjust your position to be able reach the location with the tools and materials.

2.Drill a 2-9/16" hole,best done with Plumbers Kit right angle drill motor.

3.At the first piece of tube, tuck 4-6" of 2 cond. wire into tube end. Two inches past that, wrap wire against tube with cable tie. At the top of the tube in front of the stop coupling,place another cable tie. This will hold the tube in a position that will in able you to pull it back up through the hole if the tube and coupling fall past the hole opening. This infuriating situation can be a real setback if the above technique is not followed.

4.Once the length of tubing and wire are lowered to inlet opening, the connection to the mounting bracket and face plate can be made. Having a person to do this task will speed this process.

We know why customers want to have one of our central vacuum systems up and running in the home. Most of us have one, Gary too, and all of them were retrofits. The above technique applies to attic installs, the type of retrofit most common for those of us in Florida.  Gary,being a fitness aficionado, gets ready by doing a series of stretches and other preparatory moves before retrofit installs.  Smart,huh?

You don’t have to be a tube tech like Gary, who has installed literally miles and miles of tubing, to install a central vacuum system. But, with a little patience, our online instructions, our fine line of products, and experts on board to offer you advice, you can get this done.

(Gary is also a personal trainer so let us know if you need some tips on how to get in shape for attic installations.)

Check out our Central Vacuum Installation Manual

Central Vacuum Troubleshooting - Steps to Unclog a Central Vacuum System

Usually Brad Prince, with over 25 years of  installation experience, is available for phone tech support at 1-800-221-8227.  Recently he made a service call to a customer in Tampa.  He thought it might help our customers if we blogged his experience.

"On my recent service call to unclog a central vac in a veterinary hospital I used my trusty Electrolux canister vac circa 1975, and in addition, a container of  Central Vacuum Tornado Power Maintenance Cloths.  The vac systems I was servicing (they have three in this place) are located in the expansive FLORIDA VETERINARY SPECIALISTS PET HOSPITAL.  (Check out their patient gallery)   We installed these systems some years ago.

I do have a technique using the Electroux with a short hose fitted  with a standard hose end.  This  utilizes  the suction of the vac unit against the suction of my Electrolux.  Using the Electrolux I removed most of the problem debris which was a conbination of (in order of extraction) two paper towels, a huge amount of per hair (go figure), and some sort of stick or toothpick.  After all this there was still something left keeping the central vac from its optimum performance.That's when I pulled out the Central Vacuum Tornado Power Maintenance Cloths.I let the suction build up at the inlet by keeping my hand over the hose end.  I then released the cloth into my test hose cuff, the cloth made it's distinct sound grabbing what was left in the tube, and then that final all clear "whoosh".

 
Now it was time to check the other inlets.  I inserted one cloth into each inlet, picking up stuck and round shaped debris with it's specially textured surface.Success! All three vac units, one filtered and two cyclonic, working at top performance.

   
The Vet techs and Leo the maintenance tech were happy and ready to get back to work. The Tornado Power Maintenance Cloths are always in stock in our service-install vehicles.and now in many of our customer's homes."

You can find the Tornado Power Wipes on our website. 

Rust and Central Vacuum System Dust Cans

The other day I emptied my debris can.I only need to do this every 6 months.This is due to the extra large can that is part of my unit.Before I returned it to my unit,I noticed a collection of hardened debris

approximately 2" thick in the bottom of the can.This is due in part to the humidity in our area,especially in the summer months.I scraped the stuff from the can with a putty knife and noticed rust starting to form.I scraped the rust out and washed the can with soap and water.I then dried it thoroughly and returned it to the unit. I say this to suggest to our customers with metal dust can units to clean and wash those cans at least once a year.The clumps of moist hardened debris can start rust spots that will eventually become holes that will cause you to lose suction.   

Help with a Budd Central Vacuum System

A recent email from a customer:
I purchased an older home in NJ with an old operational BUDD central vacuum system model 334.  The unit looks old, and it is not properly exhausted (inside the crawl space), so when it doesn't work right - all dirt stays in the house.

BUDD is still in business, so I could call them, but I am intrigued by the newer more efficient systems you may be offering.  What is your advice?  Will I have connection problems if I switch to a different unit?  Can you sell me BUDD compatible wall outlets?

The house is approximately 4,000 square feet, and I currently have 5 wall outlets installed.  The BUDD hoses are almost new.

 

Brad's reply:
The Budd unit you have has a great track record for longevity and houses one of the flagship motors made by Ametek-Lamb.It is a true cyclonic and as such should be vented outside with no exception. While yours is vented into the crawl space (a situation that in many cases would be acceptable if the crawl space is outside vented) the chance of dust re-entry is possible. As a replacement,with exhaust dust eliminated by a paper or inverted filter bag any one of the following would be worthy replacements:

    1. Beam Line Model 375C

    2. NuTone CV750

    3. DuoVac Signature SIG1465

The inlet valves you have are Budd specific and will only except 1 1/4" tube connection at your hose cuff wall side.There is a way to convert the Budd valves to universal if you wish to make your choice of attachments limitless.

All specs and related information can be found on our web site,          https://www.centralvacuumstores.com/cvs/install_5.php 
I invite you to call 1-800-221-8227 if you would like to talk to me or any one of our qualified personnel.