Central Vacuum Can Reduce Cleaning Noise

QUESTION: I was considering installing a central vacuum cleaning system to reduce vacuum cleaning noise and dust in my home. Does a central vacuum system use more electricity? Is a higher horsepower motor always better?

ANSWER: Vacuum cleaners use a significant amount of electricity. Some uprights and canisters use up to 4 peak horsepower. This is as high an electricity usage rate as some central air conditioners.

A vacuum cleaner with the highest horsepower motor may not clean the best. A rating called “Air Power,” which factors in both suction and volume of air flow, is a better measure of cleaning ability. Be sure to check whether the air power rating is at the tank or at the end of the hose.

A central vacuum cleaner design using two smaller motors may clean as well or better than a canister or upright with a single larger motor. Higher total horsepower uses more electricity. The price of a central system is about as much as some top-of-the-line standard vacuum cleaners.

If you are handy with tools, you can install one yourself. These units use a 32-foot flexible hose, so you generally need only one or two vacuum wall outlets on each floor. In existing houses, you can easily run the 2-inch plastic vacuum pipe up through closets, cold air return ducts, etc.

There are several advantages of a central system. The collection unit and motor are located in a basement, garage or utility room. This reduces the noise level in your home. You don’t have to lug a heavy vacuum cleaner around your house.

Also, many manufacturers recommend venting the outlet from the main unit to the outdoors. This eliminates the small amounts of dust that get through the multiple-stage filters. With a standard vacuum cleaner, this dust ends up back on your carpet and furniture.

There are two basic types of dirt storage designs for central vacuum cleaner systems: bag or cyclonic. With a bag design, a 6-gallon disposable vacuum cleaner bag is used. When it’s full, you replace it.

The cyclonic design forces the dirt to swirl around to compact it in the central unit storage canister. When it is full, you just empty it into a plastic garbage bag or trash can.

Although the bag design requires bag changes, its cleaning performance can be better. The cleaning air power with a bag system stays very constant until the bag is nearly full. Then it drops off quickly, so you know it’s time to change it. The air power of a cyclonic system continuously drops gradually, so you may let it overfill and get inadequate cleaning.

You can write to me for Utility Bills Update No. 378 showing manufacturers of bag and cyclonic central vacuum systems, information on a high-efficiency two-motor bag model, and installation instructions for an existing house. Please include $1 and a self-addressed business envelope. Send your requests to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.

Reflective Foil Can Save Heat in Winter

Q: I installed reflective foil in my attic to lower my air-conditioning costs and I have some extra foil left. Would it help in the winter if I put the foil under the floor joist above the crawl space?

A: Reflective foil can also be effective for saving heat in the winter. As long as there is an air gap above the foil, it will reduce the radiant heat loss through the floor and make your room feel warmer. Staple the foil up under the floor joists with the shiny side facing up. Poke holes in the foil to allow water vapor to escape.