Schools should be a safe place for children. The teachers should be compassionate, the administrators experienced and the staff equipped with the right tools. Central vacuum systems offer an efficient and convenient way to clean a school. They’re a modern approach that can save a janitorial staff significant time and effort. More importantly, they allow children to learn in a dust-free environment.
Join the Movement
Old buildings typically contain outlets where people can plug in a vacuum cleaner. They must run this bulky machine over every inch of a room. They also wipe down surfaces to remove stains and accumulated dust as well as take out the trash. It’s a laborious process that can take time away from other important tasks such as repair jobs.
Central vacuum systems include a lightweight and technology-advanced cleaning hose that works just as well as a traditional vacuum cleaner. The hose can be used in any room, which allows a janitorial staff member to easily clean the dozens of classrooms found in a typical high school or elementary school. Transporting bulky equipment is one of the least enjoyable parts of cleaning. Transitioning to a central vacuum system can take the difficulty out of labor.
Suck Up Dust and Debris in a Flash
The hoses of central vacuum systems are powerful enough to suck up all the nasty particulates that can accumulate in a space. Apart from the dust that gathers from vents, children can also trudge in debris such as mud or leaves. The janitorial staff might notice more tissues on the ground than usual during flu season. The hose is long enough for impressive maneuverability and it’s made from flexible material to make getting into tight corners and hard-to-reach places a breeze.
A vacuum system also comes with an option to hide the hose within walls and piping. A staff member simply needs to open an inlet and pull out the desired amount of hose. When he or she is finished, then they can retract it into the PVC tubing inside the wall and get on their merry way. The hide-a-hose option of central vacuum systems eliminates the need for storage closets and lugging equipment up flights of stairs.
Breathe Clean Air
The idea of a central system of removing dust might lead some to question whether it can protect the health of students and the integrity of buildings. In fact, central vacuum systems are a great way to improve the quality of indoor air. Anything sucked by the hose is vented outside. Traditional vacuums, on the contrary, expel dust and particles into the air when they’re running. People with allergies or sensitivities can appreciate the noticeable difference that might lead them to take less medication or use less tissues.
Furthermore, it’s standard practice to let vacuum systems run continuously, even after school hours. The enhanced air circulation is another way to remove micro-impurities from the air. Many homeowners are taking the jump and installing vacuum systems in their living spaces. If they can trust the innovative mechanics that create this system, then leaders can incorporate it into a school building.
How To Install Central Vacuum Systems
The installation process typically starts with an investigation of a building. An experienced professional can determine how to build a system in the least invasive way. If desired by the school representative, he or she can also find a discreet place to install an inlet. Every building is different, so the number of inlets can vary from school-to-school or floor-to-floor.
A professional should also match a power unit to a building by considering the following factors:
- Whether rooms have carpet, tile or hardwood floors
- How many people occupy the building on a daily basis
- Whether animals are in a building
Keep in mind that central vacuum systems can vary in quality. School representatives should strive to consult with a reputable company like Beam of St. Louis for advice. Working with a certified company that uses the best accessories can increase the chances of your system serving you well for years to come.
Take Advantage of Custom Systems
The innovators behind vacuum systems have designed perks to simplify cleaning. Accessories can help mop spills in cafeterias and laboratories as well as collect dust and fumes in art and science centers to keep nasty smells at bay. Staff members who have access to this convenient equipment can pass down their joy to the students they serve. It’s no wonder that more and more schools around the country are installing vacuum systems; it’s an unconventional yet effective way to help students succeed.
Before children can learn grammar, algebra or science, they must have safe and sanitary places to learn. Central vacuum systems are an excellent way to keep every room in a school free of harmful substances. Their efficiency can save schools money and relieve staff of the hard work it takes to keep a building in top condition.
5 Amazing Benefits of a Central Vacuum System
Are you tired of hauling your heavy vacuum around from room to room or changing your lightweight vacuum’s bag or canister every few minutes? If so, a central vacuum cleaner may be a life-changing solution for your home. Even if you think you don’t really need such a luxury, you’ll never want to go back to a traditional vacuum once you give a central vac system a try. There are many benefits central vacuum systems offer that make them well worth the initial cost. Here are the top five.
Convenience
Few things in life compare to the convenience offered by a central vac system. Since the main, canister portion of the system is hidden away (usually in the garage or basement), you don’t need to worry about it getting in your way. Instead, you can simply plug your vacuum hose into one of the many vacuum receptacles located on the wall or in the floor.
In addition to making your life much easier and making the chore of vacuuming less cumbersome, central vacuum systems also minimize strain on your body. You no longer need to carry or cart your heavy vacuum cleaner around your house. You’ll just need to retrieve the long hose and the cleaning attachment from wherever you store them. When you’re done, roll up your hose and place it with the cleaning attachment in a closet or other area tucked out of sight.
Cleaner Air
Did you know indoor air is often dirtier and more full of pollutants than outdoor air? This is because indoor air tends to remain stagnant and doesn’t get filtered, while outdoor air is naturally cleaned by the weather. Additionally, every time you walk into your house from being outside, you bring in small particles of dust, pollen and other unpleasant pollutants on your clothes and shoes.
When you vacuum with a regular vacuum cleaner, some of those pollutants make it past the air filter and back into your home through the exhaust. This can be frustrating, especially if you suffer from asthma or allergies.
Central vacuum systems, on the other hand, don’t have this problem because the main canister is not located in the main part of your home. Whether it’s located in your attic, basement or garage, your main vacuum canister is designed to exhaust outside. That means all the dirty air you just vacuumed up isn’t circulating right back into your home.
Powerful Motor
A central vacuum cleaner’s motor is very powerful (up to three times more powerful than a traditional vacuum’s!). Due to their increased power, they do a better job sucking up all the unwanted particles in your home than regular vacuum cleaners.
One reason a central vac has a more powerful motor is because it doesn’t have the same weight restrictions as a regular vacuum. You don’t have to roll or carry a central vac around with you, which means the motor can be much larger and stronger. This ultimately works to your advantage as you obtain a deeper level of cleanliness than your old standup vacuum offered.
Quiet Operation
Since a central vac is so powerful, it must also be extremely loud, right? Fortunately, this is not the case. In fact, central vacuum systems are so quiet you may still be able to watch the television while you vacuum. That’s an unheard-of perk that regular vacuums can’t offer. In fact, some traditional vacuums are so loud that they can damage your ears and cause hearing loss over time.
It’s important to note that the central vac motor is not actually very quiet. However, because it’s located in a completely separate area of the house and is removed from earshot, you can’t hear it very loudly. Depending on what room your main canister and motor are located in, you may only hear the air being sucked in through the canister and hose.
Long-Term Investment
It’s true that central vacuum systems are generally much more expensive than traditional vacuums – initially. However, they make up for their initial cost with convenience, quiet operation, powerful cleaning capacity and exceptional durability. Since the main operational portions of central vacs are usually located in cooler areas such as the garage or basement, they are less likely to overheat. Overheating is a primary concern for traditional vacuums.
Additionally, homeowners with central vacs often report that they don’t need to replace any major accessories until they’ve owned the vacuum at least 10 years. After that, regular (and affordable) maintenance services may be required to keep the vacuums in good working condition. Central vacuums also raise home value, which means the money you spend on installation will likely be returned to you when you sell your home in the future.
Find the Right Central Vac Systems
Now that you’re convinced of the benefits central vac systems can offer you, it’s time to find the perfect model for your home. Beam of St. Louis has the expertise to match the right Beam Vacuum to your unique needs. Give them a call to learn more.
6 Reasons to Install a Central Vacuum System in Your Existing House
Although a central vacuum system has been commonly considered a perk for the wealthy or only an option for new home builders, this type of system can actually be installed fairly easily into existing homes. Instead of a traditional vacuum that must be moved from room to room and plugged in or charged, a central vacuum system allows for easy cleaning of every room in the house simply by attaching a hose and flipping a switch. Read on for more reasons why central vacuum systems are beneficial to add to your current house.
1. Major Renovations Are not Necessary
In many cases, a central vacuum system installation can be completed without removing wall sections or parts of the ceiling. The system motor, collection bucket and filtration are housed in a power unit. This unit is typically installed in a garage, basement or utility room to decrease visibility and noise. The wires and PVC tubing the hose attaches to is placed between floor joists and inside interior walls. Installation of these components is easiest in homes with attics, crawl spaces or unfinished basements where it is simple to attach piping without disturbing any finished walls.
2. Fast Installation
While securing piping throughout an entire house may sound like a time-consuming project, most installations can be completed in a single day. A dealer will typically inspect the home prior to starting the project. This allows the project manager to properly assess the amount of work involved and strategize the best places to attach the piping, cut the valve holes and mount the power unit. Planning these details out ahead of time can help reduce the installation time as well as eliminate any surprises about piping placement or necessary adjustments to finished walls or ceilings.
3. Added Cleaning Power
The system motor of central vacuum systems is typically three to five times more powerful than that of a traditional vacuum. What used to take several passes with a traditional vacuum can be picked up in a single sweep of a central vacuum system hose. The system operates off of one main line with separate inlet lines for access to multiple rooms. This allows for stronger suction because all the inlets attach directly to the main line instead of having multiple lines competing for suction. The amount of tubing necessary is also reduced by installing branches off one main line, and less tubing equals more suction power.
4. Improved Air Quality
Traditional vacuums tend to stir up dust while they clean. More dust is then released when the vacuum collection bag or canister is emptied for cleaning. This results in dust and sometimes allergens being released into the air and possibly impacting the air quality of the room. Because central vacuum systems have a more powerful motor which is housed outside the common living space, captured dust can be removed completely instead of blown around the room. This can improve the air quality of the house and make a big difference for people with allergies who may have a difficult time during or after the use of a traditional vacuum.
5. Inconspicuous Valves
Due to the long reach of the vacuum hose, a 2,400 square foot home will only need a maximum of four inlet valves. The valves are also placed at the same height as standard electrical outlets so they don’t look out of place. To use the vacuum, simply place the hose into the inlet valve and flip the switch on the hose. Because the hose is 30-35 feet long, an entire room from baseboards to ceiling fans can be cleaned from a single inlet valve. This eliminates the need to turn off the vacuum and switch outlet plugs or unwind long amounts of electrical cord to trip over.
6. Low Maintenance
The strong suction of the system motor keeps the tubing clear, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning out the pipes. Just empty the collection canister three or four times a year and no additional maintenance is required. No unravelling hair from the spinning brush roller of a traditional vacuum or having to empty the canister after every use. Because the collection canister of central vacuum systems is typically located in a non-living area like a garage, there is no risk of spilling the contents on finished flooring when you empty it.
Any existing homes are candidates for central vacuum systems. There is no need to wait until it’s time for a major renovation to have one of these systems installed. The experienced team of professionals at Beam of St. Louis understands not only the need for minimal disturbance to a home but also the most efficient way to install a system like this. Every house is different and requires a unique setup to make the system as effective as possible while maintaining the visual integrity of the home. Trust the installation of a central vacuum system to the professionals at Beam of St. Louis.
Top 5 Ways Central Vacuum Systems Enhance Home Cleaning
For many people, it is difficult to picture a time when powered vacuum cleaners weren’t in widespread use. To that end, you can switch on your television today and still catch reruns of sitcoms from the 1950s, wherein door-to-door sales reps push the all-new must-have units of the day. More than half a century later, consumer cleaning technology has evolved by leaps and bounds. Homeowners can now choose from hundreds of different cleaners, ranging from efficient handheld models to heavy-duty monsters. So what’s all the fuss about central vacuum systems, and how do they make life easier? You may be surprised to learn what these modern solutions can do for your living space.
A New Approach
Dust. Dirt. Debris. These dreaded three D’s have burdened homeowners for about as long as there have been homes. The advent of electric vacuum cleaners changed the game many decades ago, but more recent innovations have introduced a new level of home-cleaning convenience: enter the centralized system. As the name suggests, this approach does away with standalone vacuum cleaner units, and instead relies on a permanently installed whole-home network that lives almost completely out of sight.
Rather than towing or pushing around a more traditional appliance, central vacuum systems utilize technology that is built right into the home itself. The heart of this approach is a centralized suction motor, which connects to a series of connection ports throughout a residence. These ports, similar to electric wall outlets, connect quickly and easily to flexible hoses much like those found on typical vacuums. From there, it’s no different than traditional vacuuming—aside from the considerable boost in suction power you can expect with a centrally powered system. You can also still employ the same types of attachments you’re used to for deeper, more detailed cleaning throughout the house.
A Solution for Every Room
One of the primary drawbacks of old-style vacuums is the often cumbersome nature of their builds. By contrast, central vacuum systems only require moving flexible hosing from room to room, as the powered unit itself remains stationary. Dirt and dust is sent to a similarly centralized collection chamber, which is usually located somewhere out of the way, like a garage or basement.
Furthermore, many central vacuuming systems now offer hide-a-hose convenience, which employs retractable tubing in place of those attachments that must be hand-carried between different parts of the house. Both system types offer the option for numerous wall ports throughout the home, though you will generally want at least one port available on each floor in order to ensure adequate reach.
A Laundry List of Reasons
You’ve probably owned your current vacuum cleaner long enough that you’re accustomed to its nuances. You are in-tune with its strengths, its weaknesses and all its little quirks. That said, the number of potential perks offered by central vacuum systems should make them a serious contender for just about any home. Take a moment to consider these core benefits:
1. Ease of Use
Why work harder when a smarter option exists? Centralized technology means less lugging and hauling of heavy appliances around your house. It’s likely that when you expend less energy on the preparation, you tend to accomplish a lot more actual cleaning.
2. Big-Picture Value
Homeowners always have to weigh the long-term benefit of any major changes made to a property, but this one is almost a no-brainer. The installation of central vacuum systems has the potential to increase your home’s resale value considerably—perhaps adding thousands of dollars to the overall price tag. This should certainly factor in if you’re looking to list in the near future.
3. Powerful Performance
It goes without saying that suction power is essential to a good vacuum cleaner, centralized or not. It just so happens that centralized systems do typically offer more power—generally three to five times more power, in fact. This means less dirt, and potentially less need to clean as frequently.
4. Peacefully Quiet
Another important consideration—especially if you have little ones or pets who hate the noise—is that central vacuum systems are usually much quieter than traditional alternatives. Motors are usually installed far from common and sleeping areas of a home, so there’s less disturbance when it’s time to clean.
5. Cleaner Air
When your home is cleaner and freer of dust particles, you stand to enjoy better air quality. Breathing cleaner tends to correlate with better health, and better health tends to correlate with all kinds of good things. Put simply, better cleaning performance is better for you and your family.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your home this year, and you appreciate the virtues of a fresh, clean environment, then central vacuum systems should rank high on your list. When considering how they can elevate everything from your property’s market value to your family’s everyday quality of life, it’s no wonder these innovative installations have seen such a boom in recent popularity.
9 Ways a Central Vacuum System Will Change Your Life
If you’ve never lived in a home with a centralized vacuum system, you may be surprised to learn about the many excellent benefits central vacuum systems provide. From saving you money to making your regular cleaning easier and more efficient, there are many reasons to consider installing a centralized unit in your home. If you’re considering a central vacuum system for your home, here are the top nine benefits you’ll enjoy once your system is installed and operational.
Quieter Operation with Decentralized Units
Everybody knows that a vacuum cleaner is loud, and if you have a pet it’s likely they’ve grown to fear or even hate your home’s vacuum cleaner. With central vacuum systems, this is not the case, because the main unit providing power to your vacuum is kept away from the rest of the home, often in a garage or basement. This means that in the rooms you are cleaning the system is much quieter and more pleasant to use.
They’re Easy to Use
Because you aren’t lugging a vacuum around with you, central vacuum systems are easier to use. With just a hose, there’s no heavy equipment to roll around the room, and no cumbersome efforts to fit the vacuum into tight spaces or navigate around furniture. You simply hook up a hose and get cleaning. Cleaning your whole house becomes much quicker as well, as you don’t need to move your vacuum from room to room.
No Fighting with Vacuum Cords
For many vacuums, the term portable vacuum is a bit of a misnomer, as they still require a plug in the wall to stay powered. Although the cord on a vacuum may seem similar to the tube used with a central vacuum system’s wall ports, it can be far more cumbersome to work with. By ditching the cord that’s attached off the end of a handle and instead of keeping full control over the tube with a central vacuum system it becomes easier to move around a busy room without getting tied in knots.
Cleaner Air for Happier Lungs
Central vacuum systems cause less dust to be kicked up when you use them, which means that you end up with fewer particles in the air in your home. While your home’s HVAC system and filters can help to clean the air in your home, it always helps to make the air being circulated cleaner in the first place. Cleaner air makes breathing easier, particularly for individuals who suffer from breathing-related illnesses.
Accessories Make Your System Diverse
There is a wide range of accessories available to use with a central vacuum system, all of which help you get the most out of your home’s vacuum. Whether you need an extension to reach the upper corners of your rooms, or a pet brush attachment to help you brush your pets with no mess, there’s an accessory for your central vacuum system to get the job done. This means you can do a more thorough job with less work than a traditional vacuum cleaner.
Stronger Suction Produces Cleaner Rooms
Because central vacuum systems are powered from a centralized unit that is much larger than the average home vacuum cleaner, they are capable of creating significantly more suction, as well. This means that every time you vacuum you leave less small particles behind allowing you to get your rooms cleaner so that they keep looking better for longer.
You’ll Save Money in the Long Run
Although some homeowners are put off by the up-front costs of installing a new central vacuum system in a home, making the decision to switch to a centralized system can actually be cost-effective in the long run. While personal vacuums are less expensive, they also have shorter lifespans, so while each vacuum may cost you less than the central vacuum system, the total cost of purchasing several vacuums in the time that you would only need one central vacuum system becomes more expensive than the centralized option.
It Increases Your Home’s Resale Value
All the great benefits that your home’s central vacuum system provides aren’t just great news for you, but for the next person to live in your house if you decide to sell. By having a central vacuum system installed you make the home more functional, which raises your home’s market value and increases the amount of money you can get when renting or selling.
With so many excellent benefits to installing a central vacuum system in your home, it’s easy to see why homeowners who already have one love their system so much. If you think you can benefit from having your own central vacuum system, there’s no time like the present to see what it can do for you. Contact BEAM of St. Louis today about a consultation and learn about how a central vacuum system can change your home and change your life.