How to Maintain Your Central Vacuum
A central vacuum, or central vac, is a vacuum cleaner system that's installed permanently in the home. Various rooms in the house have inlets for attaching the hose, which provides a powerful suction system and eliminates the need to have a separate vacuum cleaner. Each manufacturer has its own design and requirements for maintenance, but there are some general maintenance requirements that most systems share. Maintaining the vacuum system on a regular basis helps keep the system operating well and can prevent problems.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Central vacuum cleaning cloths
- Replacement filter, if required
- Canister liner, if required
- Screwdriver
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1
Vacuum a cleaning cloth through each inlet and hose. These cloths are designed to remove debris and eliminate odors in a central vacuum system. Not all systems require this, so check your system's cleaning and maintenance instructions to make sure this is appropriate before using cleaning cloths.
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2
Empty the dirt canister. Depending on the vacuum system, you may or may not have a liner. Open the latch or loosen the screw that holds the canister shut. Your central vacuum may rely on the weight of the lid to keep the canister closed and may not have a fastener, in which case the lid will lift straight off. If it has a liner, remove and discard the liner. If there is no liner, dump the canister and wipe it out well.
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3
Replace or clean the filter. The location of the filter varies by system. The filter is usually either in or near the dirt canister. Most filters are made to be removed, washed and returned to the system. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly before putting it back into your system.
Some brands of central vacuums have self-cleaning filters. You don't need to do anything to these. If your system has a disposable filter, discard the old one and slide a new one in its place.
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4
Fit the parts of the canister back together and seal it. For systems with a liner, install a new liner in the canister before sealing it. Open the bag into the canister. Slip the liner's gasket over the hose inlet and then put the lid on the canister. Secure any locks or screws that hold the lid in place.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The frequency with which you need to empty the dirt canister on your system varies by how often you vacuum, the size of your home and how much dirt and debris you remove each time. Check the canister at least once a month to insure you don't overfill it or you can overwork your system.
After removing your vacuuming hose, hold open the inlet. Make sure your system has stopped working before you close the door on the inlet. If the door repeatedly snaps shut after removing the vacuuming hose, it can suction off parts around the inlet area.
Failure to keep the system maintained can cause loss of suction and significantly reduce the system's cleaning power. If you don't get a good seal when you close the canister you will lose suction, so always check to make sure gaskets are in place and seated properly after maintenance.
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References
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