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.
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Thank you! I alternated the shop vac between the outlet and the hose itself and eventually I got suction back!! All the other googled answers for 'loss of suction in a central vac' (by men, btw) were not at all helpful. Vacuuming the vacuum definitely works!
Thanks so much for this post. My vac was not sucking. Lol! My son and I tried this and it only took ten minutes. Found a big clog of dog hair. I have rescue dogs so there is a lot of hair. Now the shop vac is where we can get at it. Thanks again.
Thinking about a central vac. Read your missive and loved it. Sensible and funny.
Thanks Galen. I LOVE my central vac. My mother on the other hand hates hers for some reason. She thinks it's bulky to drag the hose around. I think it's a cleaning miracle. ~ karen!
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Thanks, I didn't think of the 2nd vacuum to unclog a line. Job done in 5 min...
I know! It's a great tip isn't it? ~ karen!
Thank you so much.....I sucked up a plastic grocery bag by mistake and it clogged up one of the lines. I got out my Kirby and sucked that baby right on out of there! I was using a clothes hanger and then thought if I needed to buy a long auger. Then I remembered....the internet....whatever I am experiencing someone out there has already experienced it and has the answer. And you surely did. Thanks again a million times over!!
Your'e welcome Suzy! Yeah, sometimes the Internet is a big, fat, liar but other times it's your very best friend in the world, lol. Glad I could help! ~ karen
I am having problems with my central vacuum- there is no suction from all the ports. I cleaned and shop vac the canister, the filter and took a leaf blower inside and blew out all the ports, the canister and the hose thinking that would do the trick. It blew open the ports so we each held one while the leaf blower was on. There was a steady flow of air coming out of the port leading to the canister. You would think if there was a clog the air wouldn't be as strong coming out? Leaf blower didn't do the trick:( I will try your shop vac trick tomorrow. Wish me luck!! If not I'll be paying a repair man to look at it. Thanks for your post. Keeping my fingers crossed it works for mine.
What a fantastic writing style you have. Please let me know when your first novel is released.
Thanks Bob. No novel, but a book is in the works. :) ~ karen!
Sure enough, there were some serious hairballs in there! Nothing too exciting, but the central vac works wonderfully now, thanks!
Sometimes not too exciting is good. I mean it could have been a dead mouse you sucked out. On the other hand it could have been deadmau5 which would have been very exciting indeed. ~ karen!
I've got an old central vac that came with my house that has never really had enough suction to be practical. Never thought of reverse sucking the pipes! Then again, I haven't checked the filter either. Guess I better get to it!
Yup, lol, give them a check. Good luck! ~ karen!
Loved this idea - we however, apparently have much scarier monsters as it didn't quite work for us. Some of the crap jammed up came out but there is still something stopping the suction...off to buy a snake as someone else had luck with that....will let you know!
Thanks for the great ideas :)
THANK YOU KAREN!!! One of my central vac outlets lost all suction a few days ago, while the other two were fine. The tank is empty and the filter is clean. I have been looking online for help, and found lot of things that would cost money, didn't make sense, or both.
Tonight, your site came up first on my laptop and I did what you suggested with the shop vac. Yes, I got the normal dust balls, but also large chunks of what looked like porous concrete. Some got stuck in the pipe elbow, so with a straightened coat hanger with a hook on the end, I worked for an hour to pry them up and suck them to the opening; needle nose pliers broke them up further and got them out.
It finally occurred to me what they are - 20 years of solidified baby powder from the bathroom!! Lesson learned - DO NOT vacuum up baby powder!! From now on, it's the sponge mop only for the bathroom. Thank you so much!!!
Hi Wendi! No problem. That's what I'm here for. Figuring crap out, lol. (this method works great doesn't it?!) And that's a LOT of baby powder, lol. I'd have figured my house was falling apart from the inside out at the sight of concrete. ~ karen!
Thanks for the tip. Worked great for me using a shop vac.
You're welcome Matt. It's easily one of my favourite home tips. You may only need it twice in a life time but when you need it, you reallyyy need it, lol. ~ karen!
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Hi Karen: Great post. I was at an event recently and saw a twist tie on the floor. I did not pick it up but now worry about the tie damaging the vacuum that they may be using to clean the floor. I know this is crazy, but should I really worry about this? 1 twist tie will not clog a conventional vacuum, right? Thanks for any thoughts. -Dave O.
Thanks for this post! You're number one when I searched: "get toy car out of vacuum". The shop-vac idea's brilliant and simple :)
Sadly this didn't pull the cars all the way out, but they did move enough that I could maneuver them with fish tape until they came loose.
Thanks for the idea!
Matt, matt, matt. You have to put your toys away when you're done with them otherwise the same thing is just going to happen again. ~ karen!
So glad I found your post. It worked like a charm, thank you. Phyllis
thank you so much for your post! I had the same problem and fell on your blog ! :) My central vacuum is now sucking up like a new machine!!
That's great Daniel. Coincidentally, I had to fix mine today too. It was the hose that was clogged though. Glad it worked for you! ~ karen
I am going to find a shop vac to borrow. Your story made me smile and I was pretty put out that the vacuum died. I'll let you know how it goes:-)
Good luck! If it's a clog the shop vac method should work! ~ karen
Thanks so much for this article! My toddler had shoved a bunch of my favorite headbands down the central vac outlet and I was trying to figure out how to get them out! Thank goodness for a shop vac :)
Yay! I'm glad it worked for you. It rarely doesn't! It's one of my favourite tricks. Hope your headbands survived. :) ~ karen