Add Central Vacuum Systems to Your Services

Adding a new service to your offerings can be a great way to increase your marketability and help you to get through slow periods. However, running a business does not often leave you with spare time to learn new skills. Central vacuum installation allows you to take advantage of the skills you have already. And the good news is, the systems are growing in demand.

In fact, central vacuum systems are starting to become a standard feature in homes, says Rick Beckwith of Vacuum Systems & Supply Co. in Madison, Wis., who has been working with central vacuum systems since 1984. “Now, I have building contractors I work with that, unless the clients object, they include central vacuum systems in all new projects,” he says.

Increased awareness and education about central vacuum systems are responsible for the growth in demand, according to Rob Livingston owner and CEO of RL Construction & Design in Hill City, S.D. For anyone considering entering the business he offers two words, “Do it.”

Advantages
Central vacuum systems typically consist of a central power unit connected via special PVC tubing to a number of in-wall inlets strategically located throughout the house. When the homeowner wants to vacuum, he or she just attaches a hose to the most convenient inlet and turns the system on.

Central vacuum systems offer numerous advantages over portable units, Beckwith says.  These include less noise, more suction and cleaner air within the home. Further, it is easier to vacuum stairs with a central vacuum system, he adds. The units are also durable, and they don’t have the built-in obsolescence of portables. Livingston describes them to homeowners as “the last vacuum you will ever buy.” Installing a central vacuum system also may add to the resale value of a house.

Installation
Installing central vacuum systems is very similar to the work most plumbers and HVAC contractors already perform, according to Livingston. He expects that someone in either line of work should be able to pick it up quickly.

According to Livingston and Beckwith, the first step is to decide where to install the inlets. One inlet is usually needed per 600 sq. feet (the standard hose attachment is 30 feet long). 

Once the location of all of the inlets has been decided, you determine the route for the piping to take. This is relatively straightforward for new construction. Even retrofitting a system in an existing home is not that difficult. An experienced installer may be able to install a system without opening any walls or sheetrock, which often is a last resort. Instead, seek alternate routes for tubing that can’t go behind walls. This may include running pipe through closets or cabinets, or leaving it exposed in corners. In some instances, you may need to rethink where you put the inlets. "There are many existing homes that have been able to enjoy the benefits of a central vacuum system," Beckwith says.

Once the pipe is hung and glued, low-voltage wire needs to be attached to the pipe with cable ties. The wiring is not complicated, and both Beckwith and Livingston install it themselves, but in some places, code may require that an electrician be brought in.

The last step is to hang and vent the central power unit. This is usually installed in a basement, garage or utility room to remove the air that sucks up all of the dust from the main living area. When deciding where to put the central unit, Beckwith recommends considering accessibility for maintenance purposes and whether or not you will be venting the unit outside the house. Livingston prefers to locate the central unit in the garage, so the homeowner can also use it for vacuuming vehicles.

Materials, Repairs
For someone looking to install central vacuum systems full time, it is most common to choose a brand you prefer and purchase the systems directly from the dealer. Beckwith says those who install the systems as a side business, “usually install anything they can get their hands on. Most plumbing, heating and electrical contractors that install typically buy from wholesale houses because it’s convenient.”

Beckwith cautions that if you forgo the support system a dealer typically provides, you have to make sure you are familiar with the warranty information for all of the parts and that you are capable of servicing the system should problems arise. Despite their durability, central vacuum units can succumb to wear and tear just like any other appliance. “You have to be prepared to service the products,” he says. “Things break. Like anything else, you have to be ready to deal with it.”