Central Vacuum - Worth the Cost?

[scfr]

If you installed a central vacuum in your home, do you think it was worth the cost? If you have one that came with a house you bought, do you like it?
Our under-construction house is plumbed for central vac and I'm doing a hard lean towards having a system installed.

[rennigade]

I would say no, it's not worth it. My parents had it installed when they built new around 25 years ago. It was really nice then. That was a time when vacuums were clunky and heavy. Now, most vacuums are battery operated, light weight, and their suction is the best it's ever been. Not to mention a really nice vacuum costs sub $400. Central vac hoses are massive/bulky. It seems so dated compared to a Dyson or what we have, shark vacuums.

[ua_guy]

We bought a house (used) that had a central vac. To be honest, I kind of scoffed at it, at first. How 80's, right?

A couple of benefits I've really, really enjoyed:

1. I've eliminated sweeping with a broom. Centrals have hardwood attachments with soft ends that you just push along and suck everything up. Yes, I vacuum our kitchen, laundry, mud, AND bathrooms. Regularly. No more stooping over a broom, or bending over to load a dustpan. Some central vacs have slots so you can sweep hardwood floor debris into them with a broom...I prefer the hose with attachments.

2. They suck air into the hose, and it exhausts the air outside the home. No more stinky vacuum bags or vacuum smell. Centrals do require emptying the canister occasionally, and they do have replaceable filters that need changed every so often.

3. It's quiet. Just the rush of air when using the hardwood attachment. A little more noise with the carpet attachment, there is a motor in that to spin the brush, but the motor in the canister outside pulls the air. Still pretty quiet.

4. Our canister is in the garage. There's also a hose receptacle there. Makes vacuuming out the cars super easy when they're parked in the garage, as well as the mats and rugs leading into the mud room. No hauling a vacuum out there, or need for a shop vac for the cars. Just a light hose.

They are fairly expensive and require significant install. I think there is a good alternative case for a high end, lightweight vacuum like a dyson ball. I'm fairly certain it can do hardwoods too, and lithium batteries have successfully eliminated the cord, and they really do suck!. Centrals are a bit old-school but they work well. When the attachments become old, they can be renewed fairly cheaply.