The Central Vacuum

• Picking the central vacuum is the heart of this project. You want to choose a model that has enough cleaning power to efficiently clean your home. Know the square footage of your home as you shop for your central vacuum system. Follow manufacturer's guidelines for choosing a system large enough to clean your house well.
  
  If you or someone in your home suffers from allergies, you should also consider a central vacuum with built-in filters. Hepa filters remove many allergens from the air and trap them in the vacuum.
  
  Once you choose your central vacuum, you need to decide if you want to install it in your basement or in your garage. Since you have to haul the collected dirt from the vacuum to the trash, pick a location that's easy for you to access.
  
  

The Central Vacuum Installation Kit

• Decide how many vacuum inlets you need in your house. Use a 30-foot piece of string as a measure of how far apart you can place inlet valves. Consider placing a valve close to the garage so you can easily clean there, as well.
  
  Now decide if you want to use a low-voltage system to power the cleaning accessories or if you would rather just plug in the accessories to a wall outlet to operate them. The low-voltage system takes a bit more electrical work in the installation process; the advantage is you don't have an electrical cord in the way as you clean.
  
  Once you know how many inlets you need, it's a matter of picking out the inlets, PVC pipe and connectors. You can find a central vacuum installation kit to suit your needs or you can individually piece together the parts of the system for your home.
  
  

Central Vacuum Accessories

• In addition to a 30-foot vacuum hose that's integral to any central vacuum system, you need a beater attachment that has wheels for easy mobility. It should be low enough to get under furniture easily. The carpet height adjustment should allow for cleaning all types of floors.
  
  Pick other accessories such as extension wands, cleaning brushes and upholstery tools that you need. To avoid damaging the furniture, you can purchase a cushioned sock for the hose. It's also a good idea to purchase a storage bag for all of your equipment.