the installation of a central vac in our home made by MD
Manufacturing
QUESTION: We are considering the installation of a central vac in our home
(exisitng construction The brand we are considering is made by MD
Manufacturing, the model is the Silent Master. It has a two stage
motor, can be vented out side if necessary, and uses a bag. Has anyone
had any experience with this particular model? Also, can anyone comment
on how much, if any, value a central vac system adds to home (in general
terms of course)?
BTW, for those interested MD Manufacturing has a website at
www.builtinvacuum.com.
ANSWER: MD is one of the companies I am looking at for a central vac. Their Web
site is the best I've seen for a central, or any, vacuum cleaning company.
However, I don't like their bottom motor arrangement. It precludes
any option of wet pickup (like spills, vacuum component of a carpet
extractor, floor wash pickup, flood bildging, etc.) I would seriously
look at cyclonic filtering, like Vacuflo, Vacu-Maid, etc. Actually, MD
has been forced to offer their own cyclonic product, the AirMaster series, because
of the success of cyclonics. Beam makes good units, offering self
cleaning inverted-bag filter.
What ever you do, don't buy an underpowered unit! There are plenty
of owners who are unhappy because they don't know anything about
them and buy on price alone. Many times a builder will install
a cheap, marginal unit in a new house to "elevate the status" for
gullible buyers. You can buy pet grooming tools, and other specialty
items through some sources. Go to a commercial site, restaurant, beauty
salon, etc., to see their setup.
Vent outside and you get HEPA performance without the expense of
HEPA filters. Odors are expelled, and the typical vacuum smell of
heated fine particles which always get through a non-HEPA filter.
The only downside to outside venting is loss of inside conditioned
air (heat/cool). This can be minimized by venting through a heat
exchanger. There are units designed for outside air exchange for
regular HVAC in "tightly sealed" new housing.
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