How to Clean a Central Vacuum Clog

Dirt, debris, and moisture can clog your central vacuum system, resulting in a loss of suction. Some large clogs may require the services of a professional central vacuum technician. Before spending money on a professional to come clear out the clog, you may want to try to clean your central vac system yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Coin or marble
• Broom or hose
• Wet/dry vacuum
• Plastic bag

Instructions

1. Disconnect the piping or tubing from the inlet where your vacuum has low suction. Turn the vacuum on with the manual switch or by connecting a hose to another inlet. Feel the suction at the intake of the unit to determine if the clog is in the piping or near the actual inlet.

2. Drop a coin or a marble through one end of the hose. If it comes out the other end, the clog is located near the inlet. If it does not come out, the clog is located in the hose.

3. Slide a broom handle or garden hose through the hose or tubing if the clog is in the hose. Move the object in a circular motion to dislodge the clog. Do not send water through the vacuum hose. If you use a garden hose to dislodge the clog, the hose is only to provide resistance to push the clog through.

4. Use a wet/dry high-powered vacuum to dislodge clogs near the inlet. Cover the inlet opening with the hose of the wet/dry vacuum and turn it on to suck the clog out of the piping inside your central vacuum unit. Alternate between turning on your central vacuum unit and the wet/dry vacuum to create a back and forth flow of suction to help dislodge the clog.

5. Turn the central vacuum unit on once you have removed the clog. Place a small plastic bag near the inlet opening and allow your central vacuum unit to suck it in. Check the canister to make sure the bag made it all the way to the canister.

Tips & Warnings

• Check each inlet to make sure it is sealed completely. Sometimes a loss of suction is due to an inlet not closing properly, not a clog in the system.

• If you decide to use a plumber’s snake to help dislodge a clog that you are unable to clean out with a wet/dry vacuum, be very careful not to puncture the piping inside your central vacuum unit. The piping is thinner than normal PVC pipe.

References

• Central Vacuum Blog: How to Unclog a Central Vacuum System
• Building Green: Unclog a Central Vacuum System