Arapahoe Central Vacuum -
Installs and services central vacuums in Denver,
the Colorado Front Range, and beyond.
We service all brands.
Call us at 303-761-0729 for service or installation.
There are three basic pieces to the central
vacuum system when it comes to installation.
- the rough in
- the central vacuum
- the hose, powerhead and cleaning tools
The Rough In:
Specialty PVC pipe is run throughout the new home,
before the dry wall is hung.
This 2" thin wall PVC pipe has elbows designed for air flow.
Although it is made from the same PVC material as plumbing pipe,
you cannot find this pipe at your
local hardware or big box store.
This pipe is universally used throughout North America,
and all the vacuum accessories, inlets, and connections
are design to work together.
Most central vacuum manufacturers use universal hardware.
It is at this stage that the customer would determine
whether they want the traditional central vacuum 30' hose,
or opt for the 40' or 50' retractable hose.
Traditional thirty foot hoses have the capability to electrically
power a roller brush for carpet.
The retractable hose does not have an electrical brush roll,
and is ideal for homes with less carpet.
The rough in includes:
- vacuum inlets (traditional or Hide-A-Hose), with mudboxes
(to allow the drywallers the ability to work around the inlets)
- eight foot sections of two inch thin walled PVC pipe
- deburred, glued, and connected by
- couplings, 45 and 90 degree fittings, tees
- stubbed off routes for future expansions
(basement finishes, additions, vacuum unit placement)
- and a flexible stub out for a VacPan if desired
A roughed in central vacuum system, with only the inlets and pipe,
increases the value of the house,
even without the cleaning equipment.
If a home has the PVC roughed in,
the new homeowner can trim the system out when they please,
or roll the entire expense into the mortgage.
A "trim out" is the process of adding the vacuum unit and
cleaning tools, such as the powerhead, hose, and floor dusting tool.
The Central Vacuum
The central vacuum unit is the canister that houses the
vacuum motor(s), and is hung in the garage or utility room.
A cyclonic vacuum, which is also called a bagless
central vacuum, is hung a little higher than a
bagged system.
Cyclonic systems also need to be vented outside.
M.D. is a bagged system, and uses HEPA filter bags,
which are eight or twelve gallons in size (large).
A bagged vacuum does not need to be vented outside.
Most central vacuum companies use the same motor manufacturer.
American company Ametek-Lamb manufactures
most central vacuum motors.
M.D. uses Ametek-Lamb, and warrantees these motors for ten years.
The Cleaning Kit
The final consideration is the hose, powerhead, and cleaning tools.
A powerhead is the tool that contains the roller brush.
A beater-bar is important for homes with carpeting,
especially those with dogs and cats.
Carpet fibers keep their shape when
dirt is removed on a frequent basis.
If a light duty powerhead is needed,
there are options that utilize the suction of the
vacuum unit, to create a turbine power cleaning.
All central vacuum cleaning kits come with a dusting brush,
and a floor tool for cleaning hardwood, tile, ceramic flooring,
stone flooring, and laminate.
A crevice tool as well as upholstery brush is included in the basic tools.
The cleaning tools, including the powerhead,
can be purchased after the house is finished.
It is ideal to install a central vacuum
system anytime before the dry wall goes up,
when a home is being built.
Usually, the central vacuum system is
piped around the time the electricans are working.
