Where do you install your central vac?

[marklin]

I posted here earlier looking for a handyman to reroute my central vac piping from basement to garage. Then today I made a new discovery while talking to a store expert. He suggests not to install the central vac in the garage unless the garage is heated! for the simple reason that because of cold winter time, the air will freeze and create condensation inside the unit, hence rusting and damaging the machine. I think the guy has made a good point there. What do you guys think?

So after all, I might be saving the $$$ and install the unit myself if basement is an ideal location!

 

[小傻]

Mine is installed in the un-finished area of my basement..Put it in the garage is easy for cleaning and I know some people do it this way..

 

[Timothy's]

Mine is in the garage. The unit is at least few years old which I got it with the house. I have not found any problem yet.

 

[kliu]

The previous house, we installed in the basement, and for the current house, we have it in the garage.

The garage is easier to access. I do find something though: when the vac is in garage (ground floor), the heavy dirt (like an iron nail for example), will end up getting stuck in the vac inlet down the basement. I guess the suction is not as good as having the vac unit installed in the basement.

 

[Timothy's]

最初由 kliu 发布
The previous house, we installed in the basement, and for the current house, we have it in the garage.

The garage is easier to access. I do find something though: when the vac is in garage (ground floor), the heavy dirt (like an iron nail for example), will end up getting stuck in the vac inlet down the basement. I guess the suction is not as good as having the vac unit installed in the basement.

I kind of have feeling your problem is due to the pipe. check your basement piping. If it is like diagram A,it is the likely problem. The pipe should be installed like diagram B: May be I am wrong. It is just my guess.

 

[kliu]

Thanks Timothy. I'll try to see.

 

[marklin]

Just had my central vac done (to the garage) over the weekend by a guy I found on the newsgroup. He is a jack-of-all-trade and is quite handy in electrical and plumbing. He did a great job in explaining to me how he'd proceed and gave me some advices on home maintenance as well. Took him 7 hrs total to finish the job alone, mind you mine has 4 drops! he only charged me $200. I'd highly recommend him for any jobs around the house. If anyone is looking for an electrician/plumber/installer, let me know and I can QQH his contact.

 

[Nanfang]

My experience is: basement is better.
Adv: 1) much less noise 2) less dust come to house (very important to people with dust allergy)
dis: you need climb one floor to dump the dust.

 

[marklin]

Actually quite contrary:

- garage door is better insulated than door to basement because it has to prevent winter draft, hence quieter in garage

- garage offers better ventilation, the dust goes out easily when you open the garage. Basement traps dust, dust stays inside the house and gets recirculated by air vent throughout the entire home, now that's worse!

If you do a google, you'll see the pros and cons...

 

[new2ottawa]

I think it would not be good for a finished basement at least. On the contrary, the garage is a big garbage can anyway.

 

[Nanfang]

Sorry, I made a mistake for my previous posting.
Yes, I meant Garage is better!