Central Vacuums: Are All Created Equal?
28th Jan 2021
For decades the central vacuum system has been the face of performance, convenience and reliability. Most of us are familiar with the name even if we've never used one or owned one. Undoubtedly the majority of us might even consider it the pinnacle of home vacuum cleaning, which begs the question, are all central vacuums systems equal?
Central Vacuums in the 21st Century
Central vacuums, like most product lines, range in quality, performance and overall value across manufacturers. As more and more brands enter the central vacuum market there has been a greater demand for vacuums to be manufactured with compromised quality, performance and reliability especially as many are made for the big box market. Our advice: always speak with the specialists when shopping for a central vacuum system as there is much more behind a central vacuum system then what is posted on a webpage. Dedicated vacuum dealers are best equipped to communicate pros and cons of each system.
What Central Vacuums do we carry?
McHardy Vacuum strives to carry central vacuum systems that provide the best performance, reliability and health benefits to our customers. Beam is a household name in the central vacuum industry and continues to make high quality systems, while Vacuum Canada, a newer name to central vacuums, boasts top tier quality and performance. Both brands are currently owned, operated and manufactured in Canada. Our entire central vacuum lineup is made up of these two brands, and below are some of reasons for this choice.
Motor Quality & Filtration:
Lower priced/entry level central vacuums will almost always be equipped with a motor and filter of lower quality. Filters, even if marked as "HEPA", may not be manufactured to handle the suction created by the machine, thus causing premature wear. Motors chosen for these machines will be too small for the application, but run at a higher RPM by the machine to meet specifications. This greatly reduces the life span of the motor and electrical components of the machine. Beam and Vacuum Canada are both equipped with high quality lifetime HEPA filters that are paired with motors appropriate for the listed specifications.
Pictured above: Vacuum Canada motor (left) competitors motor (right)
Both from machines rated at 550 AirWatts
Service & Availability of Parts:
A central vacuum is an expensive investment no matter what level you purchase at, especially when you factor in variable installation costs. For this reason it's important to see how your central vacuum will be serviced if an issue arises. Many brands, especially ones in big box stores, are not set up to be serviced locally, forcing the customer to contact the manufacturer directly for service. Most of us have grown used to this procedure with so many of our products making this shift, however shipping an entire central vacuum system back to the manufacturer for service/warranty is not a small chore.
At McHardy Vacuum we service both Vacuum Canada and Beam whether in warranty or not. Both brands keep their parts available for many years to help ensure customers aren't forced to replace their machines if a repair is needed.
*Quick Tip*: Is the brand you're looking at a dedicated central vacuum manufacturer?
-Typically brands that only manufacture central vacuums can be expected to keep their parts available for the long haul
- Some brands are part of a conglomerate. This puts their vacuums at a higher risk of being discontinued or not serviceable. "
