Central Vaccum Placement

17 years ago

Building a new home and going to go with a hide-a-hose system.

I am trying to figure out the best location for the motor and canister. The LV subcontractor recommends "As far as placement, we prefer the basement, just so it has optimal pull". However, I was leaning towards the garage - I think I would prefer to have it there because it would be easier to empty the canister - just walk it over to the trash can right outside the access door, rather than having to bring it upstairs or dump it into a bag inside the basement and cart that upstairs. In the end, the placement is up to me. So my questions are:

(1) Has anyone had experiences with both and noticed better performance from a basement system?

(2) Anyone have complaints about suction from a garage based system?

I would think that in the end, I could simply by a more powerful vacuum to overcome any potential reduction in pull from a garage based system.

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Comments (6)

lyfia
17 years ago
I don't have a basement so the motor is in the attic (Quieter that way for us) and the thing you empty is in the garage.
crazyhouse6
17 years ago
Our motor and canister is in the garage. I've never had a central vac before, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but the performance is excellent. Love that it's easy to empty.
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sis3
17 years ago
We originally had an estimate from a CV installer who insisted that the only place it could be installed was in an interior closet with no exhaust to outdoors. We finally installed it ourselves, and as it wasn't possible to put it in the garage, we put it in the 2nd floor laundry room. It exhausts to outside. Our canister needs emptying only once or twice a year so the placement for emptying purposes was not so important. It would be good to not hear the motor at all, so that it could be used after bedtime. I think the sound issue and exhausting to outside would be my first considerations. I can't comment on the garage v basement question.

This CV is one of the very best decisions we made and the Hide A Hose may be the very best!
arleneb
17 years ago
In my last house, my VaccuFlo canister was in the garage, beside the door that led to the trash cans and to the dog's run. That meant I passed the canister several times a day. It was easy to notice when it needed emptying, and easy to get to the trash cans. Of course, thanks to my Golden Retriever, it needed emptying more than a "normal" household!

When we were getting bids for the VF system in the house we're building, both vendors said that the garage was a better location for that very reason. In the basement, out of sight is easily out of mind.

The new one is in the exact same location -- in the garage by the dog's door!
timber.j
17 years ago
Ours is in the garage, and the performance is excellent. It is loud enough that I am very glad it is out there.
broconne
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks everyone, I will have them put it in the garage. I haven't found one person yet who wishes it was in the basement :-)