The one thing you want in your house to completely suck, is your vacuum. Have a clogged central vacuum that doesn't suck? Here's how to fix it.
When I first moved into my house many years ago I was pretty upset it didn't have a central vacuum. But since it also didn't have a laundry room, a dishwasher, air conditioning, or a miniature stage with velvet curtains and performing mice wearing teensy, tiny top hats, I wasn't really surprised. Disappointed, yes. Surprised, no.
I was however surprised to find out when I first wrote this post 7 or so years ago that not everyone knows what a central vacuum is. They seem to be much more popular in Canada than in the United States. In Canada for instance, Costco has a selection of 13 central vacuum systems for you to choose from. In the United States, Costco has a selection of 2.
What is a Central Vacuum?
A Central Vacuum (otherwise known as Central Vac.) is vacuum system that runs by a series of tubes throughout your house. The tubes are hidden behind the walls, with the actual vacuum canister being housed in either the garage, basement or utility room. Access to the vacuum is achieved through ports around the house. Just plug in the hose and GO. You empty the canister whenever it gets full. Depending on the size of your house and canister that could be as infrequently as once a year.
Most people have them professionally installed but it's also something you can DIY.
One day, not long after I bought my home, after a particularly hard day of fixing up the house and searching for talented mice, I laid my weary head down on the spare room bed to take a nap. Which in itself is highly unusual for me. Now I see, it was kind of divine intervention by the large appliance God in the sky.
You see, I dreamed, (and it was one of those reallyyyyy realistic dreams where you swear it's actually happening) ... that my house had central vac. It was hidden behind the bed in the spare room. In my dream.
When I woke up, I took a peek behind the bed in my spare room. No central vac. Not even a performing mouse. Just a wall.
So, the next day I went up to Costco, bought myself a central vac kit, brought it home and installed it. It's really not as hard as you think.
In Canada I'd recommend Costco for buying your kit. If you're in the States I'd also recommend Costco or Amazon if you want a larger selection.
Just don't forget that in addition to the Central Vacuum unit you ALSO have to buy an installation kit which is all the pipes and inlets you need to instal the system.
That central vacuum I installed worked for 11 years with NO problem. Suck, suck, suck. Then one day it didn't. It sucked a little, but it didn't have enough pressure to even gobble up a bit of cat fluff.
If you too have a central vac that sucks but not nearly enough you have a few options. Low suction on your central vac. can be one of a few things. It could be as simple as needing to clean your filter or empty out the canister. If that doesn't do the trick chances are you have a blockage.
Here's what you do to fix your blockage. First have a big hot cup of coffee and a popcorn sized bowl of prunes. No ... wait. Wrong blockage.
How to Unclog a Central Vacuum
Steps
1. Determine where your hose is blocked. If you get low suction at all of your outlets, it means your blockage is either in the hose or more likely, between the first outlet and your canister. If you only have low suction on one outlet, the blockage is between that one and the one that's working fine.
My blockage was between my first outlet and the canister so any of the outlets past that didn't work either.
The solution is simple and almost guaranteed to work. The only problem is ... you need a second vacuum. Something powerful like a shop vac. or a one of those little car vacuums. Which is what I used.
2. To unclog your central vac., just stick the hose from your portable vacuum into the offending central vac. outlet and let 'er suck.
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The hose should just fit right in the outlet and create good suction. If not just wrap a towel or your hands around it to create a good seal.
For me, a big hunk of cat hair came up right away. I pulled it away with my fingers. Then I gave it another suck.
This time, I got cat hair and a little bit of Christmas. It was quite exciting and fulfilling.
I pulled that out too and figured I was done, but decided to give her one extra suck. And this happened ...
It may have been the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me.
And yes. That is an After Eight wrapper.
Also in that pile were some twist ties, pine needles, little bits of bark, unidentifiable gross stuff and a sequin.
With about 5 minutes of work (including dragging the car vacuum out of the shed) I got the vacuum fixed, free of charge and immediately. Had I called someone my best guess is it would have cost between $100 and $150 to have someone come out and diagnose the problem and fix it. This way, I got the thrill of seeing the actual blockage and I didn't have to listen to some repairman pretend like this was a way bigger job than it was.
The absolute BEST part of all of this was I had enough cat hair to knit those little mice some suits, plus the sequin was perfect for their Liberace tribute.
All in all. The day I unclogged my central vacuum sucked. And I couldn't have been happier about it.
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Stacy
WOW! How have I not heard of this magical thing before?!? Do you know how many stand-alone vacuums I have gone through in the past 2 years???? That would be 5. I should have saved myself the trouble and flushed all that money down the toilet, lol.
This is extremely exciting! We are renting until next summer and THEN I shall have myself one of these fancy central vacs. What a time saver!
Tina
I'm more than a little curious about how you went through 5 vacuums in 2 years.
Pat
Upon replacing the motor in our central vac, my husband discovered at the parts place these big, giant vacuum cleaner bags to put inside the canister. No more dumping the scary contents of a full canister into a garbage bag. Why the guy who installed it didn`t tell us that such a wonder existed, I`ll never know. Unsnap the bottom, pluck off the bag, place the bag in the garbage, slip next bag in the canister, snap canister to top and carry on! And I won`t miss seeing the contents of the bag!!
Karen
That's brilliant! I didn't know such a thing existed either! ~ karen
Shauna
Well that's pretty cool. I just looked up some instructions and think it really wouldn't work too well in our house - no basement or 'utility room' for the power outlet thingamabob. It's okay, my husband does the floors anyway;)
Karen
No garage?
shauna
Not connected to the house unfortunately. It's actually a carriage house. We have plans of someday enlarging it but it will always be not connected to the house.
Shauna
We don't actually use a vacuum cleaner in our house (all wood floors), but that's mostly because I hated our old one. Central vac seemed sooooo much harder than a DIY project! How do you have it go through the walls? It sounds like major 'plumbing' type construction. I'm fascinated by this. I'm going to go google this right now! I wish you had been doing posts back when you installed it yourself then we'd have it to use as our own personal instruction sheet. I have an old house, meaning plaster walls. Would that make a difference do you think?
Karen
Shauna - My house was built in 1840 and I managed. Plaster and lathe all the way. There's always a way around a problem. ~ karen
Stacy
I'm going to risk sounding really dumb right now....but....WHAT?!? is a central vac? Because what I think it is, is kinda getting me really excited. Could it be that...? No, I will wait for a proper explanation before I go running off to the Home Depot. PLEASE tell me more and please let it be amazing!
Karen
Stacy - Apparently you're not the only one! I had no idea not every knew what a central vac. was. It's a a vacuum. As you may have guessed. It's a large metal cannister that you have installed in your basement or garage. You then run clear pipes throughout the house (inside the walls, through closets, etc. so they aren't seen). And on each floor you cut a hole in the wall, put an outlet and shazam! You have instant access to vacuuming all over. All you need is the hose, which I keep wound on the back of a door on my main floor. And THAT is central vac. ~ karen
Sue W.
I'd love to know more about installing a central vac. I have one fluffy dog, two fluffy cats, and one less-fluffy cat, and, well, I'm kind of fluffy too (naturally curly, anyhow...)
Oh, and loved hearing about the mini shop vac seed starter! I can so relate! We solved that sort of "snafu", sort of, we have a pair of them. Yep, his & hers... "snuffler" and "snufflette". Supposed to help with those issues. In theory one is always used dry and the other one is for wet, but, well...
Rosecampion
I'm just curious, what are the advantages of a central vacuum vs. a regular old canister/upright vac? I've never been dissatisfied with my Dyson and it's never clogged on me either in the eight or so years I've had it. Is it just that you don't have to drag the vacuum to each room or does it suck better than a regular vac?
Karen
Rose - Better suction, more convenient, wayyyy easier to do stairs, 2 bars, one for hardwood, one for carpets and a lot lighter. It's a lot more convenient to just carry the hose upstairs, as opposed to an entire vacuum. Finally, you only have to empty out the huge cannister once or twice a year. I cannot sing the praises of Central Vac. enough. I love it. You can even install an outlet in your kitchen along your baseboard so that when you sweep your kitchen floor you just sweep it towards the special outlet, which sucks everything away. ~ karen!
Rosecampion
I would probably consider one if we had a house. We own a condo though, so no place for the big canister to go plus I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put stuff inside the walls. In any case, our condo is small enough and the Dyson cord is long enough that I plug into an outlet in the living room and can then vacuum the whole place.
Katharina
Karen you have to upgrade one of your hose openings to an opening in the wall where you open a vent, it turns on and you can sweep debris in there with a broom for little everyday crumbs in the kitchen without taking out the hose. It sucks up everything near it. Saw it in my friend’s house and was mesmerized by it for like 10 min as she demonstrated how easy it was. I then hurried to Home Depot to change one of my openings. LOVE IT!
Karen
They are great! I know! The only place I wanted one was in the kitchen, but because my kitchen has no basement under it and solid brick walls it was going to be too much of a pain to install one there. :/ Both of my sisters had them in their kitchens on their past houses. ~ karen!
Surani
You should do a tutorial on how to install a central vac!!!! Puh-leeeze!
Lori
Okay, you are hilarious. The "SUCK IT" written on the picture had me roaring.
Thanks, you're the best.
Nancy Blue Moon
Solved your problem and created a new form of art..sounds like a good day to me..
Kate S.
My husband has always found my obsession with cleaning the vacuum a bit perverse and befuddling. After this post, at least he'll know for certain I'm not alone in the world.
Karen
You are not. :) ~ karen
Pats
This is why I enjoy unclogging my bathroom sink. I use one of those Zip-It thingies to pull up the disgusting black goo. How it gets black, I will never understand. It's sooo much fun to pull all that yechy stuff out!
Elaine
Your fuzzy blockage looked like an owl pellet. You know, the kind that thrilled us all to bits when we were young and out walking like young Davey Crocketts? The coughed-up fur and bones of previous owl-meals kept us occupied for ages.
Never found an After Eight wrapper, though. The birds are classier than that.
AmieM
I love that you framed the offending hair balls!
Jake
Please, please tell us you didn't really frame and hang that vomit pic. Can't wait to see the dancing mice.
Tracy McCabe Stewart
I completely love that you showed us all of that disgusting stuff laid out on a beautiful frame. You're a class act all the way.
Tina
I'm with Sally! Queen of it all !! I mean there is no one else in blogdom with your wit, sarcasm, talent...... I mean who else but you would gild frame your blockage!!
Mickey
Karen
Can't wait to find out what this rather insane
thing that you're doing to your house is.
Mickey
Sally
I just spit coffee all over my keyboard! I LOVE that you photographed your vac vomit framed in gold! Seriously, if you're not crowned Queen of the diy blogdom next year I'm going to start a riot.
michelle
and here i thought i was the only one who had a vomiting central vac like that! yay! ~m