central vac - is an air power as good as electric powered brush

sienna2007

16 years ago

I was quoted similar amounts for a Eureka system vented outstide, a Nilfisk (never heard of them) and Vacuflo. The first 2 would have an electric powered brush and Vacuflo an air powered brush. I've read that some people think the air power is not as strong as the electric powered. I will have hardwood floors on 2 floors and wall to wall carpet in the basement. I'm new to central vac systems. Any opinions? By the way, after reading such great things about Hide-a-Hose, I got a quote of $6,000 for a 4,000 sf home!!! Apparently, labour for HVAC installers in Canada is double compared to the US. I was shocked! Obviously, that was not an option for us.

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Comments (13)

robin0919
16 years ago
That's a rip off on the price they are quoting you! Get several more!! I have the elec. and it will suck up ball barrings! The labor and parts for the piping installed/equipt. should run somewhere around 2500-3000 bucks for a install after house is built. Less if done for new construction. Don't know about air powered head. I would go with elect if I were you.
sienna2007
Original Author
16 years ago
My quote for the system without the Hide-a-hose is $2000 (new construction). It's the Hide-a-hose that is a rip-off (in Canada anyways). There is only one distributor of it in my city, so no competition. But at that price, they can't have too many clients either!
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I didn't get any other bids since I was so dead set on the HAH, so I can't really compare. Knowing your bid amount and your square footage, it seems comparable and in line to my pricing. I have two hoses, one vac pan, all the tools I could possibly need, and the garage outlet/tools/garage hose. I think the extra costs are there not because he marks it up for profit, but because of the HAH requirements. He has to build in enough tubing to house each retractable hose, so the price difference is for the material and the extra time it takes him to install. The main trunk line can't really house the hose because it would render the system unusable. Also, because the HAH uses special sweeps, that can rack up the price as well. Is it worth the extra cost? That is going to entirely depend on you and the way you plan on using and storing the hoses. For me, the HAH was essential because I knew I would end up with the hose tangled up in the bottom of the coat closet rather than neatly put away. I just know myself and knew I would be neat with it at first, but would eventually give in and just not do it which would result in a mess (and then the toddler would probably end up climbing on it and smashing it, etc.). I didn't see the point of having the central vac if I was still having to take up space in the closet for it like I did with the traditional vacuum. I also knew I would drive myself and my neat freak DH crazy with the tangled hose! :) Frequent vacuuming is essential in my house (a minimum of 2-3 times per week) because we have three dogs that shed, so I have to stay on top of it or suffer the consequences. I have to make it easy on myself to be organized or I just simply won't do it. Since you have a two story home, you would probably also want a hose on each floor if you didn't go with the HAH, so that is something to consider as well. If you don't think you would mind dealing with the hose (and some people don't), then you may not see the $2,000 benefit of the HAH. I just know myself and have been able to come to terms with my weaknesses! If you are a person who always puts things away regardless of any amount of hassle involved, then you probably wouldn't miss the HAH. However, if you have the slightest suspicion you might ever get a little lazy (you have to be brutally honest with yourself), I promise the HAH is money well spent. Another point to consider whether you go with Bob or not, I'm not crazy about the Turbo cat with the amount of dog hair we have to control. We have all concrete floors with plush carpet rugs here and there. Just based on its performance with the rugs, I know I wouldn't like the air driven head if I had actual carpet. I don't know if I would have the same opinion if we didn't have the dogs though, but for our situation, it just doesn't work. If we had carpet any thicker than berber and animals that shed a lot, the electric head would be a much better tool. The HAH was my splurge in our build, and even my husband, who rarely sees the value in these types of things, has said on numerous occasions that it was by far the best money we spent in our entire build. That was a profound statement coming from him because I swear sometimes I can hear him squeak when he walks! ;)
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No such thing as too much suction ! The most important thing (to me anyway) is the proper and efficient design of the piping system. That will make the biggest difference. You don't mention whether you are going with an electric brush or an air driven one. More flow needed for that. Are you going to be getting something like a hidden hose , which will require a specific pipe layout or a large amount of in wall space depending on which type you go with. Vac Pans are really handy if you sweep your floors. You should also read up on whether you want a filtered unit (like that elux) or a unit that takes bags (nutone, airvac) or a cyclonic type (drain vac, imperium, vacumaid) I'd think long and hard about where you'll use and need inlets or vac pans based on your furniture and cabinetry plans. The Pipe Hangers will just wing on install day if you don't a have a blueprint.
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gardenchick1
16 years ago
Our other house had a Nutone (electric powered brush) and our new home has a Vacuflo. Absolutely no comparison. The Vacuflo beats anything I've ever tried hands down. The suction is unbelievable and it's extremely quiet. Would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
carolyn53562
16 years ago
I can't comment on the air powered brush because I have never had one. However, we do have the eureka system with the electric powered brush and are very pleased with it.
minnt
16 years ago
I have a Riccar and love it. It has an electric head and works better than any vacuum I have ever bought. I use it on carpet, both thick/plush and berber and also on our hardwood floor (I don't use the beater brush on the hardwood).
lyfia
16 years ago
I never had an electric powered one so can't comment on that. In my last two houses I only had air powered. It worked good for me and was better than any upright or canister brush head I've ever used.

Not sure yet what we can do with the hide-a-hose if electric is even an option, but I have no carpet in the new house so it is only going to be used on area rugs so air-powered will be fine with me.
chisue
16 years ago
We have hardwood and tile and low pile Orientals (and a dog) -- air power only, wonderful suction. I also have a beater attachment that I use on one piece of bound carpeting with a higher pile; still only air power and it does just fine.
(Orientals will last much longer without beater bars.)
oruboris
15 years ago
yowza-- another thread back from the dead! Happening a lot lately, I think it very nice that people really do take the time to search old threads before posting a new one, but I hope the resurectors of old threads know that many of the players in that thread may have moved on.

FWIW, I have an Aqua Air, which is a wet/dry system, and so far I'm very impressed. it is powerful, but not as quiet as I expected.

Being able to scrub the floors without carrying a single bucket of dirty water or wrining out a mop is cool! Downside: no hide-a-hose with these systems.
kateskouros
15 years ago
i'm researching now. you may have come across my thread in your search... anyway, HAH option is only available with air power, so if you must have it forget electric.
i got a quote from vacuflow which i think is a total rip off. some felt the price i got was fair, but i also rec'd a quote from an online seller for an imperial w/ HAH and all the bells and whistles for a fraction of the price. it seems vacuflow is sold only through IRL dealers so that may account for the vast difference in price although the quote DID include install. if we purchase online i will need to get my MBA-JD-electrical engineer-jack-of-all-trades dh to install or use my GCs installer. good luck to you and please let us know what you go with.
arleneb
15 years ago
My last house, built in 2001, had a VacuFlo system and I swore then never to be without it again. Building now, I'd planned on having the Hide-A-Hose feature, but -- there are only two installers in this area, and neither has done a HAH. They were very unenthusiastic, almost out-and-out negative. After getting the bids, my husband was also unenthusiastic! The HAH really jumps the price a bunch.

Having said that, there was a huge difference in our two bids, on the exact same features. I was very relieved to get the second one, which was pretty close to our budget. The first bid was way above.

I would recommend a VacuFlo system without reservation!
dcavner
15 years ago
Recommending particular brands can be helpful but mean little if the system isn't properly sized for the dwelling and &/or the components used are inappropriate for the flooring to be cleaned. One should also be aware that manufacturer's are constantly revamping materials and suppliers as well as being acquired by different parent companies. What may have been made in the US or Canada a few years ago may now be outsourced to China. This absolutely includes motor manufacturers, including Ametek-Lamb. Outsourcing isn't always a bad thing but relying on brand names alone doesn't mean what it did 20 years ago.
sienna2007
Original Author
15 years ago
We have moved back into the renovated house 5 months ago. I ended up getting a Eureka system, which I really like. Since I have never had a central vac before, it's hard for me to compare the suction with other systems. The Vacuflo system (without Hide-a-hose) was $500 more but the actual reason I did not get it is that I found the beater bar to be more work than the electric one. It moves forward easily but it takes more strength to pull it back towards you. I was able to try it in their showroom. I'm sure that the bare floor attachment would feel the same for both system.

central vac - is an air power as good as electric powered brush

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central vac - is an air power as good as electric powered brush

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