Anyone retrofitted a central vacuum system to their house?

catterlen

As above, we are considering this as a potential option for house purchase in the offing.
Any advice, terrible experiences, prices, general thoughts would be much appreciated.:)

Furts

In all the years that I have worked in the construction industry and the numerous self build homes that I have been aware of I have never understood why people are tempted by a central vacuum system.

I accept that in USA, Australia, and similar, they may have a little more justification, but for the majority of UK homes they are an irrelevance.

To consider retro fitting a system almost beggars belief.

However it is your choice, and your money, and this I respect.

jackyann

This doesn't help OP, but as I have a central vacuum (Villavent, installed when we did a self build) which I love, I am interested in Furts' reply.
What do you see as the difference in UK homes to "USA, Australia & similar"?

We installed ours ourselves, and the only way I could imagine a retro-fit is if most of the walls / floors / ceilings etc. were being completely stripped away and re-done. Unless you wanted a weird art installation!

Furts

jackyann wrote: »

What do you see as the difference in UK homes to "USA, Australia & similar"?

A generic reply is;

Plot sizes and homes are larger, so there is room for the system.

Minimalist square rooms are not considered the must have architectural feature - hence boxing in is viewed differently.

Homes have basements and/or large hobby areas where the collection point is located - we do not have this in the UK.

Homes are timber stick or panel, and dry lined - so it easy to accommodate the system. In the UK we often block build and plaster - so the boxing in becomes another job by other trades.

There may not be a refuse collection service to dispose of vacuum cleaner bags.

The people are more hands on - they generate their electric to power the system, and they repair and maintain it to ensure it keeps working reasonably effectively.

I am pleased that you are happy with your system. To give a balanced view to this consider the response of a surveyor were you to sell your home.This would be along the lines of:

Where is the documentary sign off of the testing, commissioning and pressure/air tightness on this system?

What electric checks and maintenance have since been done?

What is the life expectancy of the components, how long will the joints and seals last, what will repairs cost, have new filters been fitted...

In essence is the system a gadget and a liability?

catterlen

jackyann wrote: »

This doesn't help OP, but as I have a central vacuum (Villavent, installed when we did a self build) which I love, I am interested in Furts' reply.
What do you see as the difference in UK homes to "USA, Australia & similar"?

We installed ours ourselves, and the only way I could imagine a retro-fit is if most of the walls / floors / ceilings etc. were being completely stripped away and re-done. Unless you wanted a weird art installation!

We are considering buying a house which is structurally sound ( at least we believe so at this point) but would need more than a strip down and redecoration- wiring added, removal of old gas lines to master, replacement of malfunctioning water heater and so on. Therefore I envisage stripping some of the walls and ceilings.
As I used to live in the states in a house of similar size, it raised the question in my head. Many thanks for both replies- definitely stuff to consider.

brightontraveller

catterlen wrote: »

As above, we are considering this as a potential option for house purchase in the offing.
Any advice, terrible experiences, prices, general thoughts would be much appreciated.:)

Have done a few some swear by the claims the closed system design collects and removes contacted pollutants and allergens etc much better than conventional vacuum cleaners? Those that we’ve fitted retrospectively or renewed older systems would never consider cleaning themselves and would have staff to do it so not sure they'd actually know :rotfl:?. Cost disruption are high and benefits are debatable? With all the modern handheld, rechargeable, hypoallergenic cleaners on the market doubt there’s any real benefit to closed system ? More a cultural, generation thing….

catterlen

Thanks for this. Useful perspective on the issue. I think ill look into some of the other general options in more detail (as this seems an expensive way to get out of hoovering the stairs!)

jackyann

Furts wrote: »

A generic reply is;

Plot sizes and homes are larger, so there is room for the system.

Minimalist square rooms are not considered the must have architectural feature - hence boxing in is viewed differently.

Homes have basements and/or large hobby areas where the collection point is located - we do not have this in the UK.

Homes are timber stick or panel, and dry lined - so it easy to accommodate the system. In the UK we often block build and plaster - so the boxing in becomes another job by other trades.

There may not be a refuse collection service to dispose of vacuum cleaner bags.

The people are more hands on - they generate their electric to power the system, and they repair and maintain it to ensure it keeps working reasonably effectively.

I am pleased that you are happy with your system. To give a balanced view to this consider the response of a surveyor were you to sell your home.This would be along the lines of:

Where is the documentary sign off of the testing, commissioning and pressure/air tightness on this system?

What electric checks and maintenance have since been done?

What is the life expectancy of the components, how long will the joints and seals last, what will repairs cost, have new filters been fitted...

In essence is the system a gadget and a liability?

Thanks Furts. I'm going to reply as this may be of interest to others.

We designed this house ourselves (and did most of the building work) so we designed in all of the features needed. It is a timber frame house - common for self builds.
We do generate our own electricity, but I don't think that the vacuum system uses a great deal (actually I haven't checked, and will do)
We empty the bag on to the compost heap, but they are not so large that the rubbish couldn't just go into a normal wheelie bin - about 25 litres every 4-6 months. I check & clean the filter then, have not had to replace it.
We bought it alongside the mechanical heat recovery pump, so all the documentation & sign-off is together.
The components have a theoretical life of 25 years. Replacing would be a bit of a pain - take off some upstairs floor boards, empty a kitchen cupboard and take up the bottom panel, access one wall panel downstairs etc. but it wouldn't be a major stripping job (I have the plans & photos so we know where all the pipes are!)
We're only 3 years in - so we have yet to really test it, but I notice no reduction in power.
And no, I haven't done any electrical or pressure checks on it.

For information: this is a 1800 square feet house, with 4 "vac" points: hose connections upstairs, downstairs, and in the workshop, and a "pan" in the kitchen.

And can I say that I don't understand "get out of hoovering the stairs"?

brightontraveller

jackyann wrote: »

Thanks Furts. I'm going to reply as this may be of interest to others.

We designed this house ourselves (and did most of the building work) so we designed in all of the features needed. It is a timber frame house - common for self builds.
We do generate our own electricity, but I don't think that the vacuum system uses a great deal (actually I haven't checked, and will do)
We empty the bag on to the compost heap, but they are not so large that the rubbish couldn't just go into a normal wheelie bin - about 25 litres every 4-6 months. I check & clean the filter then, have not had to replace it.
We bought it alongside the mechanical heat recovery pump, so all the documentation & sign-off is together.
The components have a theoretical life of 25 years. Replacing would be a bit of a pain - take off some upstairs floor boards, empty a kitchen cupboard and take up the bottom panel, access one wall panel downstairs etc. but it wouldn't be a major stripping job (I have the plans & photos so we know where all the pipes are!)
We're only 3 years in - so we have yet to really test it, but I notice no reduction in power.
And no, I haven't done any electrical or pressure checks on it.

For information: this is a 1800 square feet house, with 4 "vac" points: hose connections upstairs, downstairs, and in the workshop, and a "pan" in the kitchen.

And can I say that I don't understand "get out of hoovering the stairs"?

Interesting you have heat recovery and vacuum system? How did you counter the positive /negative air pressure assuming builds got all the current or above reg insulation double glazing etc

Furts

jackyann wrote: »

Thanks Furts. I'm going to reply as this may be of interest to others.

We designed this house ourselves (and did most of the building work) so we designed in all of the features needed. It is a timber frame house - common for self builds.
We do generate our own electricity, but I don't think that the vacuum system uses a great deal (actually I haven't checked, and will do)
We empty the bag on to the compost heap, but they are not so large that the rubbish couldn't just go into a normal wheelie bin - about 25 litres every 4-6 months. I check & clean the filter then, have not had to replace it.
We bought it alongside the mechanical heat recovery pump, so all the documentation & sign-off is together.
The components have a theoretical life of 25 years. Replacing would be a bit of a pain - take off some upstairs floor boards, empty a kitchen cupboard and take up the bottom panel, access one wall panel downstairs etc. but it wouldn't be a major stripping job (I have the plans & photos so we know where all the pipes are!)
We're only 3 years in - so we have yet to really test it, but I notice no reduction in power.
And no, I haven't done any electrical or pressure checks on it.

For information: this is a 1800 square feet house, with 4 "vac" points: hose connections upstairs, downstairs, and in the workshop, and a "pan" in the kitchen.

Hi jackyann

Like you I thought I would add some points. Our home is self built, and not the first that we have done. We designed it ourselves, and we did too much of the work ourselves! However our home, and the previous home, is brick and block. We also generate our electricity when there is daylight.

Your comment about your home being timber frame, and generating eklectricity, ties in with my post.

I doubt that your components will last 25 years but time will tell. If you think of a car very few electrical motors, fans, seals and hoses are still functioning after 15 years let alone 25 years.

I was in Tesco today and noticed a Henry for sale at £95. Many people love these as much as you love your central vacuum system. There is difference in this love because a Henry is cheaper to buy, cheaper to install, cheaper to run, cheaper on spare parts and if it does fail then cheaper to replace. It even takes up less space in the home.

I accept that you have 1800 square feet which makes your home significantly bigger than a conventional new build home. Consequently you can justify the space that a central vacuum system takes up. Again, this ties in with my post regarding the size of a home. But for a balanced argument I would point out that we have more space and still did not entertain the notion of a central vacuum system.

I commented on a surveyor inspecting your home were it for sale. Having documentation and sign off together for MVHR and a central vacuum system would raise questions, and may then raise problems.

We will not experience these potential problems because our home also does not have MVHR. This is another questionable construction technique but I would not want to hijack this thread!

jackyann

brightontraveller wrote: »

Interesting you have heat recovery and vacuum system? How did you counter the positive /negative air pressure assuming builds got all the current or above reg insulation double glazing etc

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question. The heat recovery system circulates air, the cool air being drawn in being heated by the warm air from kitchen etc (there is a summer by pass)
Yes, insulation was well above regs on sign off 3 years ago.

The central vacuum doesn't affect this at all, and I am wondering if there is a confusion about systems. The one I have (and the only type I know of) is activated when you plug the hose into the vac point. So then it functions like an ordinary vacuum cleaner, then you unplug the hose & it turns off. It no more affects pressure than any vacuum cleaner (as far as I know)
Is there a different system? I vacuum the stairs just as with any cleaner. I just like the system we have because it seems easier & more efficient to me than a Henry.
It also takes up very little space. The hoses and attachments store in a cupboard, just like any cleaner. The collection bag does take up space, but it sits in an outside workshop.

I do take Furts' points. However, I also reckoned that if we ran into problems and didn't want to re-do the system, then we could just buy a Henry, and we have 3 redundant vac points that are hardly noticeable.