A lot of homeowners want a central vacuum, but sometimes cannot afford the installation costs that come along with installing in an already built home.  So how can your family affordably put in a home vacuum system? The answer is to do it yourself! (However, this isn’t recommended. Those that are handy, have the correct tools, and 24-48 hours of time to dedicate to the project should be able to install it though.)

Central Vacuum Installation

Steps to deciding if you can install your system:

1)      The first step in deciding whether you’ll be able to tackle this type of project is to deem whether you are capable of correctly plumbing the system. Central vacuum pipe can be a bit tricky when you’re installing it. Those who have any type of plumbing know that you need to make sure there are no crazy twists and turns, and proper flow. Without this you may run into possible clog points, or even worst you could torque the pipe which could lead to leakage after a couple of years. If you have no prior plumbing knowledge we recommend that you contact a professional. If you feel comfortable with vacuum pipe, or plumbing pipe, go on to step 2 for more information.

2)      The second step would be to see if you have the proper tools to start and finish the installation.

You will need:

1. A high powered drill, preferably one that is plugs into a high voltage outlet. These drills have a lot more torque and will provide the power needed to drill through 2×4’s.
2. A circular drill bit with a diameter of greater than 2 ½ inches but less than 4 inches. 3 inches works best in this scenario.
3. A Philips and regular screwdriver.
4. Wire cutters & wire strippers.
5. 2 ½ inch thin wall pipe cutter or hack-saw
6. 12 inch pilot hole drill bit
7. A Flashlight

3)      If you have all of the proper tools, you will then want to move on to the next step of installation. Here at central vacuum direct, we have written a step by step installation tutorial to walk you through the process which you can find here.

Thanks for reading & happy cleaning!

The Central Vacuum Direct Team