How to Unplug a Central Vacuum Hose

Central vacuum systems are a convenience, alleviating the worry of carrying a heavy vacuum cleaner up a set of stairs or pulling a vacuum cleaner from room-to-room. Like all vacuums, however, the central vacuum system is dependent on a constant vacuum pressure through its hose. A hose clogged by an occasional build-up of rug fibers or an unexpected and previously undiscovered mass of dust will bring your cleaning effort to a halt.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Plumber's sink snake

Instructions

1. Grasp the base of the hose, at the connection to the vacuum system. Pull straight out to disconnect the hose from the central vacuum unit. Plug the hose into the inlet of the vacuum unit and blow the plug out.

2. Disconnect a garden hose from an exterior spigot. Drain the garden hose thoroughly and push it through the hose if possible.

3. Drop a small, heavy object through the hose. The object must be smaller than the diameter of the hose: consider dropping a screwdriver or a small adjustable wrench through the hose. Both are relatively heavy and unlikely to become lodged in the hose.

4. Insert a plumber's sink snake into the hose -- a sink snake is a long, narrow band of metal, rather than a rotating auger like a toilet snake. Push or pull the mass that's plugging the hose out of the hose.

Tips & Warnings

• Plugs caused by an object, particularly one you don't want to lose, may be recovered from the central vacuum unit. Recovery of these objects should be made as soon as the plug is cleared from the hose.

References

• Central Vacuum Stores: Troubleshooting Quickfind--Clog in Hose