Which Is The Best Central Vacuum System?

When you are searching for the best central vacuum system out there, you need to know what to look for in a vacuum.

A central vacuum system isn't the same thing as an ordinary household vacuum cleaner - it's not a single piece of equipment at all. Rather, there is a system of PVC pipes behind your walls, with attachments which connect to areas around your home.

Most of these systems do perform just fine, but not all are equally good - and finding the best central vacuum cleaner can be a puzzle.

Before we begin out search for the best central vacuum system, an evaluation of the factors which determine performance is in order. One of the important factors is called "waterlift", which is a measure of the system's suction power.

It stands to reason that if the system has insufficient suction power, it will not deliver you the performance you'd like to have from the unit. Basically, if your home is up to 2500 square feet, you'll want a central vacuum system with a "waterlift" capacity of somewhere between 105 and 120 inches.

Price is the next important factor to consider. These systems are certainly a great convenience, but cheap they are not. The materials alone for a central vacuum system can come to anywhere between $600 and $1,500. The installation cost is not included in this figure and can get pricy in its own right.

Other features should be looked at as well. The best central vacuum system will include all of the needed attachments and other accessories to clean most of the surface areas in your home with ease. If not included in the system, they should at the very least be readily available for purchase. Also, look for other features like HEPA filters, which can improve your home's air quality.

The last big factor is whether the system is covered by a warranty (it should be). Read the fine print and make sure that you understand the terms of the warranty exactly, as well as the length.

So let's take a look at which three models include all these features and deserve the title of the "best central vacuum cleaner"...

In terms of what we've discussed about what to look for when looking for the best model, this central vacuum from Hoover meets every requirement perfectly.

The waterlift rating of this Hoover is an impressive 136 inches; enough suction power to clean even a very large home. The Hoover company claims that this system can clean a home of up to 8,000 square feet.

There are plenty of extras included with this model, such as an installation kit, connection kit (there are two different kinds of connection kit to choose from) and much more. There are also many accessories sold separately such as the VacPan, great if you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home (and you thought vacuums were just for carpet). There is a five year warranty on the motor for this model and a one year warranty on parts and labor.

Last of all, there is the price. The Hoover S5604 sells for just a little under $800, shipping included.

Electrolux manufactures this, another one of the best central vacuum systems available - the Beam Serenity. There are two models of Beam Serenity, once with a water lift rating of 137 inches, another with a capacity of 140 inches.

These systems come with a lot of options as well. You can choose a "Power Team", which is the hose and vacuum equipment itself - in short the parts that will do the actual cleaning. HEPA filters are available separately, as are over a dozen other accessories including hoses and even pet grooming attachments.

The only downside to this model is the somewhat bewildering warranty. Some parts are under warranty for as long as you own your home, while others have warranties lasting between 7 and 10 years.

The NuTone VX1000 system can clean nearly any home with its waterlift rating of 130 inches.

There are several extras included, such as a six foot power cord for extra convenience. There is also a sensor which alerts the user with a light when the bag needs to be emptied. This model is also very quiet by design.

The power unit has an eight year warranty. There are other accessories you can get for your NuTone system as well, like a power brush and installation kit.

If you're considering putting a system in your home, make sure to go with one of these best central vacuums.