January 2008
Vacuums: Widening your options
HAVE HOSE, WILL TRAVEL Central vac systems let you attach a hose to a series of wall ports, rather than having to push or carry an upright or canister
vacuum.
Central vacuums are quietly joining upright and canister vacs on America's list of cleaning choices. While still a small percentage
of the market, these whole-house systems are sucking up sales increases each year in the U.S. and have long been common in
Canada.
Our tests of several such systems confirms most of the convenience claims you'll hear from Hoover, Eureka, and other less-familiar names. Rather than pushing or carrying an upright or canister vacuum, you simply attach a hose to a wall port to activate a powerful base unit typically located in a basement or garage. The base unit whisks away dust and dirt through a network of in-the-wall tubes.
That and the ability to put off emptying their large bags and bins for up to six months helps explain why hundres of thousands of additional new homes per year now include them, according to the National Association of Home Builders. No cord to trip over can be another plus, though you may trip over the 30-foot hose.
You may also trip over a central vacuum's price. Figure on $500 to more than $1,200 for the base unit, hose, and tools, plus another $300 to more than $750 to install the plastic tubes, wall ports, and wiring.
Some of the same companies that make these central systems are also fielding capable conventional models with ever-lower prices. Our latest Ratings of upright and canister vacuums (available to subscribers) include uprights and canisters that performed very well overall. But paying less for one of these models often involves some trade-offs. We also found that some promises and design innovations didn't pan out. Here are the details:
Air-quality claims are overstated. Some manufacturers maintain that central vacuum systems are cleaner than regular vacs because their base unit releases its exhaust air outside the living space, rather than spewing particle-laden air back into the room you're cleaning. Indeed, central systems did a good job of not stirring up dust within our test room. But some of the upright and canister vacs we tested did even better.
Noise is on the rise. No vac is quiet. But some low-priced uprights roar as loudly at ear level as some leaf blowers and mowers. Those that scored poor in noise produced the 85 decibels or more at which we now recommend hearing protection, based on studies by the World Health Organization and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Central vacs tend to be less noisy because their base unit is far from the action.
Some details delight, others dismay. Manufacturers are pushing more versatile designs with varied results. On the plus side, Panasonic's upright Fold 'n Go has a handle that swivels for compact storage. Less impressive is the detachable hose on Dirt Devil's new Jaguar uprights; connecting the hose for cleaning with tools involves a tedious, two-step process.
HOW TO CHOOSE
You'll find upright, canister, and central vacuums that clean capably and are easy to use. While the best of these perform similarly overall, specific strengths vary as much as prices.
Shop central vacs on facts, not hype. Despite what some manufacturers suggest, it's impossible to determine how much a central vacuum system will increase your home's resale value. You're also likely to hear robust claims about cubic feet of air moved per minute and promises of high "air wattage"; neither of these claims correlated with airflow performance in our tests. Instead, consider a central vacuum system if its convenience justifies its cost.
Consider your cleaning. Nearly any vacuum cleans bare floors adequately. But you're likely to prefer a model that scored well in our carpet tests if your home includes kids, pets, and other sources of ground-in carpet dirt.
Our roster of CR Best Buys includes one upright and two central vacuum cleaners that handled carpets and other surfaces impressively. Strong suction through a hose that can snake beneath furniture and delve into drapes makes canister models and central vacuum systems especially adept with cleaning tools. But unless your home is already plumbed for a central vacuum system, you may find the cost of the unit and its installation prohibitive.
Try any vacuum before buying. A vacuum's weight can be especially critical if your arms aren't strong or your home has more than one level.
Uprights generally range from 16 to 21 pounds, though several we tested weigh as little as 9 pounds. While canister vacuums typically weigh more than upright models, you're moving only the hose and powerhead when cleaning. Insist on lifting and carrying the vacuum and hose and trying out its features before you buy.
Protect your lungs. Choose a vacuum cleaner that scored well in our dust-emissions tests if you're sensitive to dust. If you opt for a bagless vac, be sure to wear a dust mask when emptying its bin, which often creates more dust than with a bag-equipped vacuum.
See our latest ongoing Ratings and model recommendations for upright and canister vacuums (available to subscribers), which we update periodically with additional models and/or new price and availability information.
Our tests of several such systems confirms most of the convenience claims you'll hear from Hoover, Eureka, and other less-familiar names. Rather than pushing or carrying an upright or canister vacuum, you simply attach a hose to a wall port to activate a powerful base unit typically located in a basement or garage. The base unit whisks away dust and dirt through a network of in-the-wall tubes.
That and the ability to put off emptying their large bags and bins for up to six months helps explain why hundres of thousands of additional new homes per year now include them, according to the National Association of Home Builders. No cord to trip over can be another plus, though you may trip over the 30-foot hose.
You may also trip over a central vacuum's price. Figure on $500 to more than $1,200 for the base unit, hose, and tools, plus another $300 to more than $750 to install the plastic tubes, wall ports, and wiring.
Some of the same companies that make these central systems are also fielding capable conventional models with ever-lower prices. Our latest Ratings of upright and canister vacuums (available to subscribers) include uprights and canisters that performed very well overall. But paying less for one of these models often involves some trade-offs. We also found that some promises and design innovations didn't pan out. Here are the details:
Air-quality claims are overstated. Some manufacturers maintain that central vacuum systems are cleaner than regular vacs because their base unit releases its exhaust air outside the living space, rather than spewing particle-laden air back into the room you're cleaning. Indeed, central systems did a good job of not stirring up dust within our test room. But some of the upright and canister vacs we tested did even better.
Noise is on the rise. No vac is quiet. But some low-priced uprights roar as loudly at ear level as some leaf blowers and mowers. Those that scored poor in noise produced the 85 decibels or more at which we now recommend hearing protection, based on studies by the World Health Organization and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Central vacs tend to be less noisy because their base unit is far from the action.
Some details delight, others dismay. Manufacturers are pushing more versatile designs with varied results. On the plus side, Panasonic's upright Fold 'n Go has a handle that swivels for compact storage. Less impressive is the detachable hose on Dirt Devil's new Jaguar uprights; connecting the hose for cleaning with tools involves a tedious, two-step process.
HOW TO CHOOSE
You'll find upright, canister, and central vacuums that clean capably and are easy to use. While the best of these perform similarly overall, specific strengths vary as much as prices.
Shop central vacs on facts, not hype. Despite what some manufacturers suggest, it's impossible to determine how much a central vacuum system will increase your home's resale value. You're also likely to hear robust claims about cubic feet of air moved per minute and promises of high "air wattage"; neither of these claims correlated with airflow performance in our tests. Instead, consider a central vacuum system if its convenience justifies its cost.
Consider your cleaning. Nearly any vacuum cleans bare floors adequately. But you're likely to prefer a model that scored well in our carpet tests if your home includes kids, pets, and other sources of ground-in carpet dirt.
Our roster of CR Best Buys includes one upright and two central vacuum cleaners that handled carpets and other surfaces impressively. Strong suction through a hose that can snake beneath furniture and delve into drapes makes canister models and central vacuum systems especially adept with cleaning tools. But unless your home is already plumbed for a central vacuum system, you may find the cost of the unit and its installation prohibitive.
Try any vacuum before buying. A vacuum's weight can be especially critical if your arms aren't strong or your home has more than one level.
Uprights generally range from 16 to 21 pounds, though several we tested weigh as little as 9 pounds. While canister vacuums typically weigh more than upright models, you're moving only the hose and powerhead when cleaning. Insist on lifting and carrying the vacuum and hose and trying out its features before you buy.
Protect your lungs. Choose a vacuum cleaner that scored well in our dust-emissions tests if you're sensitive to dust. If you opt for a bagless vac, be sure to wear a dust mask when emptying its bin, which often creates more dust than with a bag-equipped vacuum.
See our latest ongoing Ratings and model recommendations for upright and canister vacuums (available to subscribers), which we update periodically with additional models and/or new price and availability information.
