Author Archive
Human beings make habitats; we make them like no other creature. Sure, beavers build dams hundreds of yards across and ants can make metropolises to rival Hong Kong, but human beings are all about nesting, furnishing, entertaining… and while we all have our favorite bar, favorite library, or some other favorite hot spot we all have that one space that is purely ours. It starts in elementary and middle school, when we decorate our rooms for the first time to match our developing personalities. From there it goes on—dorms, apartments, shared houses, roommates, condos… we are in some level defined by the space we occupy. It’s a fascinating thing to delve how territorial human beings still are. But housing is expensive and it is only getting worse. Credit, renting rates, occupancy… did you know that over six million Americans under 35 moved back in with their parents in the last six years? It’s scary. So, if you have your own space and are interested in quick fixes to massively increase the great-ness of your place, read on.
Get a central vac ! This investment seems rather extreme. After all, it’s a vacuum they build into your house! But in reality the installation takes less than a day and you can probably get by doing it yourself. But what makes a central vac (like this beam vacuum model, a good place to start considering) so awesome? Well, think about it in terms of size. Your normal vacuum is small, the motor is small, and the power is low. A central vacuum has huge power! The motor assembly is bigger than any vacuum you would push around the floor and it gets installed somewhere out of the way like your garage or a utility room, which means you don’t have to put up with noise while you vacuum either. You can watch TV while you work! Add in a dust exhaust on the outside of the house and power switches on the outlets in all your main rooms and your cleaning power just multiplied to the extreme. And did we mention, central vacuum systems have the biggest waste chamber of any type of home vacuum system. You’re only going to have to change that sucker once or twice a year. These systems are so well respected that adding one can put over two grand into your home value automatically, dramatically reducing the cost of the investment you are making.
Skylights. These handy windows have a modern look that is all the rage. But their true value goes well beyond mere appearances. Green adherents love them because of the energy advantage they have. Why is it warm in the day and cold at night? Because of the sun. If its winter and your home is freezing cold you can dump money into gas heating, go out and chop wood for the stove (fireplaces actually don’t heat homes due to air transfer) or you can just open windows and let the sun in. No skylights=no sun, no heat. You get the point. In the summer, however, you’ll want shades to block the sun if you want to keep your place cooler. Still, as far as appearance and efficiency goes, these are amazing. And as far as psychology, human beings have a mental thing involving the sky. Its calming and natural, and having a skylight gives you that much more access to it on a daily basis.
Fabric. If your place looks trashy or a little bumped up, or it just needs some love, run over the local fabric store and find a complementary color (or else a friend with a good eye to do it for you). Then take that fabric home, break out some scissors and a sewing machine (or a friend who, again, can do it for you) and get busy. A good table cloth can hide all sins. Plus using the same cloth as accents for your coffee table, over windows, or as a runners on other tables can unify a space and also give it a simple flowing elegance. Try natural or gem tones as these typically complement most wood colored furniture. And buying the fabric plain and in quantity means that you’ll be getting it cheaper than at any store pre-cut.
Energy ratings. Always check the energy ratings on appliances you buy. Power prices are going to be going up pretty quickly but the technology has cut up. There is a time and a place to buy used but if that means getting a horribly inefficient machine you’re better off going with something that will drain juice a little more responsibly.
Whether you are purchasing a new home or looking to improve the value of your current house, spending the money to have the best appliances is always a great investment. Reading your share of Central Vacuum Reviews will point you in the right direction for buying the cleaning tool that will make life unbelievably easier. And in the long run, it will hardly cost you any more than a regular vacuum.
For as little as a thousand dollars, you can buy and install a central system in your existing home. Major manufacturers often say that well over ninety percent of houses in the country can have a system installed with minimal effort. Assuming your property is not more than a half century old, you may even be able to perform the installation process on your own to save money on contractor costs.
The process is surprisingly simple as long as you plan ahead. A system needs to be carefully mapped out, starting from wherever you decide to place your power unit and receptacle. In older homes, the ideal place for these two components is usually the attic, since it will allow you to easily drop tubing down instead of having to put holes through walls or go under the flooring plan of the structure.
Inlets should be near electrical outlets, and on average service an area of about 600 square feet. Single level homes will probably only need three of four wall inlets, while two or three story houses may need double or triple that amount. Most system makers will gladly give you a free consultation over the phone, detailing the considerations you will need to have in mind as well as safety precautions when installing.
Investing in a central vacuum system is a great move for homeowners who want to make their lives easier while also increasing the value of their property. But the system is only as powerful as the Vacuum Maintenance it is given on a regular basis, so do not be remiss in making sure your comprehensive appliance is performing to its fullest. Failing to regularly service a system may mean big expenses down the road.
The most common issue central system users encounter is a problem with their central power unit. This is the component attached to the main receptacle and it powers the entire system once switched on. The motor in this unit can be prone to failure if it was shipped or installed improperly by the manufacturer. If you notice a weak draw in you suction rate, the power unit may be to blame.
The tubing connecting the motor to the wall inlets can also be a culprit for noticeably less powerful suction. Even the smallest of leaks in a pipe can compromise an entire system. The air suction return rate to the receptacle is often a tell tale sign of a hole in your pipes. Check the manufacturer specifications with your product literature to make sure that the return rate is the same as listed in the manual.
A cracked inlet is more common than many users may think, especially if it was hastily installed. Wall inlets should always be placed within six feet of an outlet so they can share the wiring that runs to the socket. Overuse of an inlet or wiring that runs to far can easily cause one port to perform less well than others. Be certain to check all these variables if your system seems to be lagging.
1. Less Noise. Central vacuums are built so differently than a normal vacuum cleaner. All the parts are there, but it is expanded throughout your home. This means that when you have a central vacuum you can install your central motor unit somewhere out of sight, like a utility closet or in the garage or even the attic, and when the unit is active you don’t hear a thing while you are vacuuming. My friend owns just a low end nutone vacuum and she can even vacuum while her children are asleep on the couch. I’ve had whole phone conversations with her as she has been vacuuming, and never once did I know till she mentioned it. Apparently being able to watch TV while you vacuum also makes the chore SO much more tolerable. She is able to do a much better job too, since she isn’t so rushed by the noise and disturbance the vacuum causes.
2. Central vacuums are so easy to use. All you need to do is pop a central vacuum hose attachment into one of the wall slots and the system activates. There are no cords to constantly pull around and re-plug in when you go to a new room and the hose itself is light and long enough that you can do so much more than just vacuum around furniture. You can dust walls, drapes, get underneath furniture, go tight up against wood siding… and it’s also light enough that you aren’t always taking paint off as you go. And don’t think that smaller means less power either. But we’ll get to that.
3. Power. Central vacuums are much more powerful than any other type of vacuum, even backpack vacuums. The reason involves the size of central vacuum parts . A ground or contained vacuum has to have everything together in one somewhat portable rolling unit. That is the iconic vacuum we’ve all had to push around. It is loud and heavy and hard to use. Central vacs have all the same parts but they spread them out and build them into your home as a whole. That off-site motor unit, for instance, is much bigger which gives you more suction power. The hose may be smaller, but the vacuum itself is bigger, and bigger is better.
4. Care. Central vacuum size also means that you have to change the vacuum so much less often. The waste containers on central vacuums can be up to ten or more times bigger than a push vacuum chamber. Think about only having to empty your vacuum once or twice a year? And that with a better filter system ensuring that you are getting more dust with each push, so that when you do change it you know you are changing all the dust that was in your way, not just most of it. It is SO much more convenient, but you won’t know till you try it.
5. Great for garages and cars. Some us have immaculate homes but awful garages. It is just a pain to clean a garage. There are so many little clogging pieces around, or wet mess, dust, and finding a plug in there can be a pain. Plus who wants to drag their vacuum cleaner out there anyway? Much less to deal with a garage-sized mess. But central vacuums need only the installation of one little plug and a pipe system and you can vacuum with ease out there for the rest of your home ownership. And don’t worry about dust or wet. Central vacuums are good with it. One more example of a bigger system simply acting more durable.
6. Allergy relief. Central vacuums have an external vent. Meaning that while a normal vacuum cleaner actually shoots all the dusty air that is too small for its filter back into your home as you work, a central vacuum will actually eject it from your home entirely. The air runs into the hose, through the pipes, past the filter, and then to an external vent and out of your home. And of course the vents are secured to keep out the wildlife. The effect on the air quality of your home, and the relief of expelling allergens rather than stirring them, is spectacular.
7. Investment value. Central vacuums, including the electrolux central vacuum if you need a place to start browsing, have been recognized universally for their practicality and efficiency. They will actually increase the value of your home by more than their own value—an appreciation few other appliances can claim. What more proof could you want?
You may ask yourself such a question next time your old vacuum breaks down and you are forced to start shopping for a replacement. Some buyers are probably intimated by the prospect of purchasing and installing a central Vacuum System because it sounds like a lot of work that will require hired labor. Hesitant shoppers are quickly convinced otherwise, however, after learning the facts.
A central vacuum is an all encompassing appliance that can service the whole of your household without ever having to be moved around or regularly maintained. It is a vacuum that is ever present in every nook and cranny of your floor plan, and its use extends well beyond just cleaning carpets and wood flooring. Even more amazing, the total cost of such a system is comparable to traditional solutions.
The core of this kind of layout lies in a power unit connected to the receptacle for the entire system. These components are usually placed out of sight in the garage or basement, to reduce noise and act as a central point in your home. The power unit will create the suctioning force in tubes that connect to wall inlets placed about every 500 or 600 square feet. You connect to those inlets with a suctioning wand.
That want can extend as far as 30 feet, and will come with an array of attachments that allow you to clean every interior feature imaginable, from walls to drapes to couches. You power the entire system on and off using the handle of that wand, so you do not have to go to the basement every time you want to vacuum. Plus, the receptacle collecting all the waste only needs to be emptied once every three months or so.
When you have decided to crack open your wallet and lay out the cash for a new home appliance, you do not just want functionality, you want style as well. That is why you will be inclined to price all the Cool Vacuums at the store or online before really considering how well they will actually suite your needs. Just because a model has a clear cyclonic filter does not mean it will improve overall cleanliness.
It is also worth thinking about how often you will actually have the opportunity to impress guests with your sleek vacuum. Are you really planning on busting out your Dyson for some living room cleaning during the middle of your Super Bowl party? Ultimately, the only person who will ever really be impressed with a shiny, stylish vacuum is yourself, and that can be hard to justify for the cost.
When it comes to a dependable vacuum, you want reliability and versatility. Spending upwards of a thousand dollars for a traditional push device that needs a close outlet to function is just absurd. You are also negating the possibility of easily cleaning furniture surfaces and drapes with that kind of unit. Maybe you should give some serious thought to a centralized vacuum.
Far superior to its clunky predecessors, a central system runs throughout the floor plan of your entire house, forgoing the need for outlets or regular emptying. It will also only cost you around a grand, but unlike that fancy push model, you will not have to worry about replacing it every three or four years, and it will increase your property value far more than any other vacuum could.
Vacuums are an obvious necessity to any home, but entering the marketplace in search of one can be a dizzying nightmare of overlapping choices and wildly varying prices. Sure, you can watch a Vacuum Vid or two on YouTube to get a sense of different models in action, but maybe you should consider taking an entirely different approach to how you will go about keeping your humble abode tidy.
Central vacuum systems are becoming the norm for people interested in moving beyond the tired route of push model vacuums. Who wants to worry about emptying a bag every other cleaning, or having to buy extension cords just so you can get to areas far away from the nearest outlets? Considering there is a much better way that is hardly more expensive, it does not make sense anymore.
Most central system manufacturers contend that nearly 90 percent of the homes in the United States can be retrofitted to have the appliance installed. Even better, the total costs will rarely exceed one thousand dollars, and the return on investment will significantly increase the value of your property should you ever put it back on the market. Can any other home appliance boast such a perk?
If you are leery of hiring a company or independent contractors to install your new vacuum system, it is a real possibility that you can tackle the project yourself. All major central system providers usually provide literature for do it yourselfer customers who have no qualms about running tubing and installing inlets. Just make sure you are not getting in over your head.
A thorough amount of research should be conducted before you put money down on any expensive appliance for your home, which is why perusing a few Built-in Vacuum Blog entries will make you more informed before your purchase. It is amazing how much you can quickly learn about a topic you thought you knew a few things about already, and how your buying power can be greatly enhanced.
Most people associate central vacuum systems with homes of the future, sort of like something you would see in a museum exhibit postulating the modern luxuries we will be afforded in twenty to fifty years time. But the reality is these systems are becoming more and more common every year, and they are actually adding value to homes on the market that already have one.
The premise is simple. Unlike having a push model that requires plugging and unplugging from one area of the house to the next, a central vacuum only requires you to attach a wand into a nearby wall inlet to start servicing a room. That wand will typically have a power switch on the handle that activates the entire system, so you will not have to worry about it wasting electricity when not in use.
Wall inlets are placed carefully around the layout of the house to ensure you will easily be able to reach any surface you wish to clean. That includes walls, ceilings, furniture, floors and drapes. You can make practically every component of your interior last longer thanks to how simple it will be to maintain everything with your central system. You will never want to go back to the old way again.
The Internet is flooded with blog posts and informational websites that claim to give you the best advice for your next home appliance purchase. But just because there are millions of Vacuum Articles easily found with a simple Google search does not mean any of them will actually be of any assistance to you. Most of the sites will probably be subtly attempting to sell you a specific model or brand.
So how do you know which sources of information to trust? The simple way is to draw up a list of your own needs and desires and look for those in whatever web post you are reading. Instead of paying attention to the differences in testimonials or editorial reviews about different vacuums, look for the similarities that speak to your own specific requirements for price range and performance rating.
First take into account the floor plan of your house. If you own an older structure with a jagged layout and awkwardly spaced rooms or corners, a traditional portable vacuum will present a great deal of challenges for getting the job done. You will always need to find a nearby outlet and hope that it reaches to the nooks and crannies that require regular dusting and cleaning.
If this sounds like a situation similar to your own, you may want to consider the merits of purchasing and installing a central vacuum system. Instead of forcing you to frequently keep emptying the bag on an older model, a central system has a large receptacle that will store dirt and debris for months on end. It can also increase the value of your home by as much as two thousand dollars.
There are hundreds of small ways to make your home an easier place to manage, though an investment in a few key Home Appliances can spare you a great deal of decisions and dollars along the way. Many people opt for self cleaning stoves or lawnmowers that spread mulch instead of making you empty the bag every other lap, and both are great examples of how the devices you use to make domestic life easier do not have to be utilitarian in purpose.
A central vacuum system is another great example of a home appliance that will do so many things at once you will wonder how you ever got by without one. Instead of being a cumbersome push model that needs to be lugged from one corner of your floor plan to the other, a central vacuum runs throughout your home, with wall inlets conveniently placed every few hundred square feet.
Those inlets connect to a series of tubing running behind the walls and under the flooring of your house. These tightly sealed passages are powered by a central motor located somewhere out of the way to reduce noise, such as your basement, garage or attic. That central motor is attached to a main receptacle, where all the waste collected by your central vacuum is stored for upwards of two to three months.
Most people think to themselves that such a luxury is either too good to be true or simply out of their price range. To the contrary, central systems are becoming increasingly common in new homes, and they cost less than one thousand dollars to install. The investment has a great return, too, since it can increase the value of your property by at least double that amount.
It seems that practically any product you buy for you home never comes with all the accessories to make it useful to the fullest. Furnaces do not come with HEPA filters, windows do not come with screens, and Vacuum Attachments do not come in the box with a model you paid hundreds of dollars to buy. This leaves you in the position of having to start the shopping process all over again.
Most vacuum manufacturers design their machines so you are stuck with buying attachments made exclusively by them. That means you will not be able to find lower prices from third party competitors in most cases. Therefore, you need to strictly budget yourself to purchasing the attachments you can get the most use from, otherwise you can spend far too much money for overlapping solutions.
If you have a lot of fabric furniture, such as couches or long drapes, you should buy an attachment that is designed to clean these types of surfaces. Using whatever extension is included in the box can damage softer material, shortening its overall lifespan. A good attachment will ideally increase the longevity of your interior decorations, not spell out their impending replacement.
Having pets definitely means managing the hair and allergens in the air. You should shop exclusively for vacuums that have HEPA filters to reduce the allergenic particles deep within the fabric of your carpet and furniture. Many attachments will also be geared toward deeper penetration to suck out cat and dog hair, so pay attachment to product specifications and performance ratings.