This Forgotten Home Feature Is So Life-Changing, I Can't Believe It Hasn't Caught On
It's been three years since my family and I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, and I can say with my whole chest that putting in an offer three hours after seeing this house was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love the city's scruffy vibe, the new friends I've made, the seasons, and the sense of community that's unlike anything I've experienced in any other city I've lived in. On top of all this, I've fallen in love with our house, even with all its idiosyncrasies and imperfections.
The house was built in 1988, and I've learned to live with and work around some of its outdated features. For instance, I've disguised most of the intercoms either by hanging artwork over them or painting them to blend in with the walls. I've learned (with help) how to best use the storage space in our under-stairs closets. There's one out-of-fashion home feature, though, that I've — unexpectedly — come to love and appreciate: our central vacuum cleaner.
What is a central vacuum cleaner?
Per This Old House, central vacuum cleaners are whole-home vacuum cleaners installed in your walls — they're an alternative to the common portable vacuum you probably have shoved in a closet or corner somewhere. They're usually more powerful than portable vacuum cleaners because they are permanent fixtures in your home — no need to lug around your vacuum cleaner from room to room. Each room will have an 'inlet' that you plug a lightweight hose into, and you start cleaning.
When did they become popular?
Central vacuum cleaners have been around since the turn of the century, but became much more popular in the 1960s with the introduction of PVC pipes, which cut costs and simplified installation.
By the 1990s, central vacuums surged in popularity and became a value add to many homeowners. These days, however, central vacuums in U.S. homes are more rare in new constructions as developers cut costs. Installations of central vacuum systems, while possible, are expensive and more difficult than building them in as the home is being built. But they are more popular in other countries — they are far more common in countries like South Korea, for example. And some reports suggest that North America and Europe are currently the largest markets for central vacuums.
Are central vacuum cleaners making a comeback?
While central vacuum cleaners are still a rarity, they may be on their way to a bona fide comeback. A recent market forecasting report from Straits Research says that 'the market for central vacuum systems is expected to have significant expansion' in the period from 2025 to 2033. According to the report, 'with the growing need to maintain good indoor air quality in residential and nonresidential spaces, the adoption of these central vacuum systems has increased further.'
I can say that I wholeheartedly think that more homes should have central vacuum cleaners. They're mightily powerful, they clean your air, and you don't need to lug your vacuum up and down the stairs or all over your house.
Why I love our central vacuum system
To be honest, I'd never really thought about central vacuum systems before I had one of my own. My first thought was to just ignore it and continue vacuuming with my favorite Dyson and our robot vacuums, but once I started researching the benefits of central vacuums, I decided to embrace ours, and I'm so glad I did.
There are a few reasons central vacuums are great (and I'm not the only one who thinks so).
They're powerful.
Because its motor doesn't have to fit into a portable unit, a central vacuum unit can be up to five times more powerful than a regular vacuum cleaner. This translates to drastically better cleaner power — and a much cleaner house.
They're quiet.
Again, because its motor is elsewhere in the house (ours is in the garage), a central vacuum is usually much quieter than other vacuum cleaners, even with its more powerful suction. I'm very easily overstimulated by noise, so this quieter operation is something I really value.
They massively improve indoor air quality.
Unlike regular vacuum cleaners, exhaust air from central vacuum cleaners is vented outside or into utility areas. This keeps indoor air quality much cleaner. 'Since the accumulated dirt and debris are transported away from the living areas, a central vacuum benefits and significantly improves indoor air quality by reducing the recirculation of dust and allergens,' according to Central Vac.
They're so convenient.
Two main factors make a central vacuum system more convenient than stand-alone vacuums. For one thing, there is no heavy unit that has to be dragged around the house, pushed, or carried upstairs. Using a hose attached to the wall outlet of a central vacuum system is much less cumbersome than even a cordless vacuum cleaner. (Hide-A-Hose retractable systems are even more convenient.) In addition, the canister of a central vacuum unit only needs to be emptied maybe twice a year, unlike the canisters of regular vacuum cleaners, which need far more frequent emptying.
And they last forever.
Central vacuum systems are built to last 15 to 20 years, and can last even longer with maintenance. Stand-alone units rarely last this long. I purchased a new accessories set for our central vacuum system to make it feel like our own, and I'm so glad I embraced what at first I almost completely dismissed. This 'outdated' feature has become one of my favorite things about our house.
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