Take It Outside
is to remove dirt, dust, and allergens
completely from the living space, thus
helping to reduce allergy and asthma
symptoms, unlike portable vacuums
elling in a down economy is
which merely recirculate those partidownright difficult. Selling
cles back into the air to be breathed in.
an unseen advantage can be
But to completely remove those
nearly impossible. That is, unless
dangerous particles, it is recommendyou can convince your prospective
ed that all central vacuums be vented
customer that what they can’t see
outside. Venting is a simple and relawill or is hurting them.
tively inexpensive process to
Central vacuum systems
guarantee to your customer
enjoy numerous advantages
that their living space can be
over typical portable vacudust and allergen free. With
ums. From cleaning power
a quality power unit, you can
to convenience to quiet
run your exhaust line 20 to
operation to increased home
25 feet without affecting the
value. However, one advanperformance of the system.
tage stands alone: Improved WinstonLindsay III
It is best to mount the
indoor air quality.
exhaust port as low as pos
The basic concept of central vacs
sible on the outside wall as to reduce
motor noise. VacuMaid
offers two exhaust
vent covers, one with a
door, and the preferred
model, because it has no
moving parts in a smart,
quality trim design. It is
never advisable to vent
the exhaust into a wall or
attic space. This practice
would invite additional
recirculation as well as
odor issues that could
permeate the living space.
“Green” building
concepts continue to
gain traction. As the
housing market recovers,
“Green” concepts may
play an important role in
homebuying decisions.
Two sources confirm the
importance of venting
central vacuums outside.
LEED for Homes Rating
HEPA disposable bags in convenient 3 pack.
System, issued by the
By Winston Lindsay III
CEO Lindsay Manufacturing
S
30
VacuMaid exhaust ports.
US Green Building Council notes,
“Install Central Vacuum System with
exhaust to the outdoors. Ensure that
the exhaust is not near any ventilation intake = 1 point.” The National
Green Building Standard issued by
the National Association of Home
Builders, Green Building Practices
paragraph 902.1, “Central Vacuum
System is installed and vented to the
outside = 5 points. The LEED and
NGSB issue points for compliance
with their standards and the weight
of these accumulated points can
determine if a home attains green
building certification.
For those occasions when a
central vacuum system cannot be
vented outside, a power unit that offers HEPA filtration via a disposable
bag or fixed HEPA filter cartridge is
required. HEPA filtration and their
function depends on passing air
through the media and screening
particles out. To maintain performance, a multi-layer filter media is
preferred over a tightly wound single-layer material that might restrict
airflow and suction. VacuMaid and
other central vacuum OEM’s offer
HEPA disposable bags in convenient
3 packs or bulk cartons.
When you sell your customer a
central vacuum system, it’s always a
smart business practice to sell all of
the advantages, even the ones they
cannot see. When you vent the system
outside, your customer will reap the
benefit of a happy, healthy, home. r
FLOORCAREProfessional™ | August 2012 | CENTRALVACProfessional™