Installation

  New Home
  Existing Home
  Do-It-Yourself Seven Step Install
  Contact Information

Professional Installation, or Do-It-Yourself. New or existing homes.

New Home Installation

A Central Vacuum System can be installed in your new or existing home in just hours - with no mess, no disturbance to your walls. There's no outside venting required. Average cost for a complete system, installed, starts at around $1,000.

For added convenience, may we suggest a VacPan® automatic dustpan in the kitchen, near exterior doors, in family or laundry rooms, or wherever you're planning hard-surface floors.

Existing Home Installation

About 95% of existing homes — regardless of age — can be retrofitted with a Central Vacuum System. The key to success is planning a pipe system with a minimum number of inlets and elbows (turns in pipe) to keep labor time and costs at a minimum while still giving you the vacuum cleaning flexibility only a Central Vacuum system offers.

How to install a Central Vacuum System in your new or existing home.

A Central Vacuum System can be installed in virtually any home — new or old — with no damage or costly alterations and very little mess.

Step One: Choosing your system.

Select the Central Vacuum System, power brush, and accessories that best suit your home and cleaning needs. For the ultimate in ease, add a VacPan® automatic dustpan in kitchen, mudroom or bath.

Select the Central Vacuum System that fits your home.

Step Two: Calculating the number of inlets you'll need.

Enter the total square footage of your home, and divide by 550. (Don't forget the basement.) Also, don't forget an inlet for the garage!

Note: VacPan® is an additional inlet, and is not included in this calculation.

Step Three: Where to place the inlets.

One inlet can serve an area of about 700-800 square feet. In an existing home, the inlet valve should be placed near an electrical outlet to provide electricity to the Beam power brush. Electrified inlet valves are available for new construction. For more power, the fewer the inlets used the better. And be sure the hose will reach from the inlet valve to all corners (and around furniture) in the rooms you want to vacuum. Do not install inlet valves in a wall where there is a pocket door, or behind a door. If you prefer, inlets can be installed in the floor.

Step Four: Planning the piping installation.

Plan the piping installation from the central vacuum unit to the inlet valves. It's best to run the piping under the floor if possible. In structures without basements, the piping may be run through the attic or crawlspaces. In an existing two- or three-story home, vacuum piping may be run to upper levels through cold air ducts, through the back of closets or under stairways, or beside a soil pipe. In new stgructures, pipe can be run through wall studs before drywall is applied. Be sure to plan where to locate the central vacuum unit — usually in the garage or basement.

Tools you'll need:

  • 1/2" electric drill (with right-angle head if possible)
  • 2 1/2" deep hole cut saw
  • Steel tape measure
  • Screw drivers (Phillips and flat head)
  • Wire stripper/cutter
  • Hammer 2 1/2" masonry bit
  • 3/4" chisel
  • Pocket knife
  • Metal coat hangers
  • Electrical tape
  • Utility knife
  • Miter box
  • Hacksaw or small handsaw pencil
  • Flashlight
  • Safety goggles
  • Broom handle
  • Stud finder
  • Medium sandpaper
  • Small mirror

Step Five: Installing the inlet valves.

To install an inlet valve in existing construction, start by finding the center of the bottom plate of the wall. Then from the basement use the hole saw to drill a hole up into the wall cavity. (Remember to wear safety goggles throughout the installation process.)

There is a simple way to find the center of a wall. Using a section of wire cut from a coat hanger, drill a pilot hole through the carpet or hard surface floor. Drill as close to the wall as possible-pointing the drill bit at a 45-degree angle.

In the basement, see where the coat hanger has come through. Measure over from the coat hanger to find the center of the bottom of the wall plate. Using the hole saw, drill a hole into the wall cavity.

Using the flashlight, and/or broom handle, check to see that the wall cavity is free from obstructions to the desired height of the inlet valve — before cutting a hole in the wall. Then, on the wall, center a mark above the pilot hole made by the coat hanger. This will be the center of your inlet valve.

Center the wall inlet bracket, trace the outline, then cut a hole in the wall. Attach the wall bracket to an elbow of pipe.

Conect the low voltage wire to the inlet valve stem. Attach a small weight to the opposite end of the wire and feed the wire through the hole to the basement. Insert the inlet valve and bracket into the wall. Mount the inlet valve so the valve folds down to open.

Note: Installing inlet valves in new construction follows the same basic procedures.

Step Six: Installing pipe.

Measure the length of pipe, making sure your cuts are straight and clean. Use a sharp knife or sandpaper to eliminate burrs that might collect dust or hair that could form a dirt trap. Starting with the inlet valve farthest from the power unit, begin test fitting then gluing together sections of piping. Join sections of piping to the main trunk line which ties into the central vacuum unit. Splice together the low voltage wires along the trunk line. Run and connect the trunk line to the Beam power unit. If mounting the power unit in the garage, drill a pilot hole through the wall using a wire coat hanger to check location and for obstructions. Then cut a 2 1/2" hole though the wooden joist above the masonry wall between the basement and the garage. Feed piping into garage to unit.

Step Seven: Installing the power unit.

Mount the central vacuum unit using detailed instructions included with it. Strip the ends of the low voltage wire coming into the garage and connect them to the power unit. Plug the power unit into an electrical outlet, flip the manual override switch on/off to test it. Then plug in the lightweight hose to clean up any minor mess you may have made installing the inlets. Congratulations! You're on your way to a cleaner, healthier - old or new - home.

To contact us:

Keith Halls
Advanced Home Systems, Inc.
1787 S. Sunset Drive, #A
Kaysville, UT 84037

(801) 540-0505 Cellular
(801) 544-9014 Office/Fax

Call us at (801) 540-0505 Cell, (801) 544-9014 Office/fax, or click here to request information.

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Allergies - Unlike regular vacuum cleaners that may recirculate dust, a Central Vacuum System removes 100% of contacted dust, dirt, mites, pollen, and other allergens to a central canister located away from living areas — helping to improve air quality by as much as 52%!* click here.