Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
With a central vacuum system, you simply plug a long, flexible hose equipped with a cleaning attachment into a special wall or floor inlet.
With some types, the vacuum turns on automatically; a switch is activated when you plug in the vacuum hose. With others, you flip on a switch at the hose handle.
Dust and debris travel through the hose into a pipeline of PVC tubing that runs through the house walls, floors, or attic to a large power unit/dirt-collection canister mounted in the basement, garage, or utility room.
Because the motor and collector are remote, most central vacuum units are considerably larger and have more-powerful motors than portable vacuums. They also have much more capacity for collecting dust and dirt. Canisters typically need emptying only two or three times a year.
