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.
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.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Rachel
Central vacuum! This boggles my mind. It's like something out of the Jetsons.
Cyndee Baldwin
I'm gonna try this with my central vac, not sure I can just hook any ol hose though, I think the central vac hose has a metal piece that has to hook to the outlet that turns it on.... might have to put the vaccum direct to the central hose, not sure it would suck that far, as I think it's in the wall pipes. gonna try it with my dyson
Sandi
With all that cat hair, it's no wonder you don't have dancing mice! :)
Thanks for the laugh. Off to clean the central vac system that my husband said didn't work when we got married. We shall see, CV…we shall see.
Karen
Oooo! That'll be fun if you fix it! ~ karen
Jenny
Thank you so much for posting this! After accidentally sucking up a terry cloth headband during my "nesting" frenzy, the last thing I wanted to do was have to pay someone to come and fix my central vac. Your second vacuum sucked the headband right out and let me continue my cleaning without being out of pocket or out of time!
Karen
Your'e welcome Jenny! I remember the first time I did this and it worked I was more excited than Christmas morning! Have fun with your nesting frenzy. ~ karen
Robert
Thanks ALOT.
Looked like a big blue post-it note came out.
And it works!!!
Karen
Great! Yup, it's one of my favourite quick fixes! ~ karen
Stephanie
Well, my vacuum system still doesn't work, but that is not what I was going for today. Your technique helped me retrieve a two-year-old's toy car that was dropped down into it and saved our evening. Thank you!!
Karen
LOL! Excellent. :) ~ karen
Kent Davis
Thank you for your information on the central vac clog. Worked just like you said.
Karen
You're welcome. It's fun when things work, isn't it? ~ karen
Laureen O' (@ViBarkley)
I. Love. This. Your post was made oh so much more charming by sharing the victory of the gunk.
Karen
Thanks Laureen. Yup. It was all about the gunk that post. I don't even remember having After 8 Dinner mints in the house! ~ karen
Colleen
That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time....I was cracking up reading it....so now I'm off to try it out
Thanks for the laugh
Karen
Thanks Colleen. You should hear some of my knock knock jokes. Hope it works for you! - karen!
Autum
I can't believe I'm going to say I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It takes a special talent to make a post about unclogging a central vac entertaining.
I have a central vac in my house, but the hose is, as a previous commenter mentioned, like dragging an anaconda around the house. It is a heavy pain in the rear. I love the power it has and the fact that the canister is in the garage, but that darn hose made me dread vacuuming. A few months ago, I bought a reconditioned dyson.
Do they make easier to handle hoses? I don't think I could hang mine on the back of a door. I keep in in a hall closet.
Karen
LOL, well thank you Autum. ~ karen
Linda Eade
I guess I didn't reply in the right place, but maybe you will see what I said below Karen's reply.
Linda
You can buy an aftermarket hose that is lighter than the one that comes with a central vac. I too hated using the central vac because of that heavy, unwieldy hose. I bought the plastic one and it works well, You stretch it out as you vacuum. I don't think it is as long as the original, but that's ok. I have two Dysons - one is the big upright and the other is the portable upright that you can also use as a hand vac.
Sandy
Tried your technique to unstop the hose, when a lingerie bag was sucked up. Didn't work. Ended up going to the vac store for them to fix it but they couldn't unstick it. Had to buy a new hose. Ended up trying to use a snake plumbing attachment meant for an elec drill. Worked like a charm!! Thought I'd pass it along, since no one really wants to be hosed by a vac store...
Karen
LOL! ~ karen
Emil
Thanks for the original post. The method worked perfectly. I accidentally pulled a dust cloth into the hose. Used my shop vac---within 30 seconds I heard a small thump and a change in the noise. Pulled out the shop vac and with needle nose pliers, I extracted the rag. Initially I had other plans.
Karen
I'm glad it worked for you Emil. It's definitely one of my favourite tips! ~ karen
Paula
I too love my central vac. Mine is a different brand than yours but we discovered a screen like thing on the inside that sometimes needs brushed off. On ours you take the bottom off like when you empty it and brush up inside there. We use a toliet bowl brush. Your arm will get very dusty but it makes that baby really suck haha. Love your blog and I can't believe you came it third. Next year...
karen
Holy cow - is that a tampon in there????
tina seashore
i'm having conflicting reactions to this post: ew. cool. ew. cool.
with as many hairy beings that reside in my house, it makes me wonder what the intake vents on my central ac/heat look like. probably just ew.
Joe
Thank you for the very entertaining story. I am not even sure how I ended up here but I did enjoy your humor. Yes Central vacuum can be aDIY project. I have installed 2 in each of my homes. The first in a 2000 square foot ranch house and the second in a 3 level 4000 square foot house. Harder, for sure on the larger house but what a savings. I had a bid of 5000.00 for the big house which ended up costing me about 600 with everything included. How do people clean without Central Vacuum? Joe
Karen
Joe! Welcome to my site. :) Glad you found it. ~ karen!
Bols
Hi Karen,
thanks. Yeah, after having greyhounds for 20 years I am bit biased but what can you do. :-)
I love them madly. And it's true, off leash is a no-no unless in a fenced in doggie park. But walking is good for me, too, especially since I am on my arse 9 hours a day at work.
Karen
:( We'd just like to let the dog go at the cottage w/out fear they'd never come back. Chickens and frogs and cats and fish are probably enough anyway. ~ karen
Bols
Well, this totally did not work.
Maybe I will try feeding my central vac some of those prunes ... :-)
Bols
This is brilliant - I am going to try it immediately. Indeed, this house has a central vac which I always hated. There is only one outlet and I hated schlepping the hose that coiled like an anaconda all around the house. The central vac's suction (not the greatest from the day I moved in) suddenly deteriorated after about 3.5 years and I got a Dyson (I have 2 greyhounds who shed all year round). I am going to see if the Dyson will suck anything out of the central vac.
Karen
Bois - I *love* greyhounds. LOVE them. If I were add another animal into the mix it would either be a standard poodle or a rescue Greyhound. We've heard you can't really let them off leash, which is a concern. SUCH nice dogs. ~ karen
Jasmine
What I would like to know is-what else happened in your dream? If the central vac thing came true, then what else might be around the corner? Last night I dreamed about Julia Roberts??? I dunno, seemed okay at the time...
Karen
LOL! ~ k
Sharm's Outlet
looks like fun...