Bagged or Bagless Central Vacuums...
What Should I Choose?

When vacuuming up the dirt from your floors, you would like to know where it's going. Most household vacuums let the dirt you just cleaned up back in the room you were just cleaning. Many central vacuum systems blow the dust right outside where the wind can carry it away to a clean car or through an open window, thus letting all the dirt back into your house. The best place to put a central vacuum is in the garage where the waste can be easily disposed of later, away from the general living area. Having it in the garage makes the home quieter while vacuuming and disposing of the dirt is easy with the trash cans being so close. The dirt isn't just re-circulated back into the house but is actually taken out of the house completely.

Do You Know What's In Your Canister???

Many things can be collected in your dirt canister such as household dirt, hair, sand, skin flakes, dust mites, pollen, bacteria, carpet fibers, smells, as well as, other lung-damaging particles such as mildew, rotting food particles & pet dander. You may also have such things as dead bugs, dead spiders, dead ants, dead lizards, dead flies... You get the idea.

VIDEO: This Is What It Looks Like When You Have To Empty A Bagless System!

 

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Important Things You Should Know:

The Common Allergens Hiding In Every Central Vacuum Can Affect Your Families Health

It's important to understand when dumping out the canister of a central vacuum, using a paper bag is certainly a healthier and more hygienic way of disposing of your dirt, germs, bacteria, mold, and other harmful substances.

 

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MOLD & POLLEN:

Mold thrives in wet or moist areas of your home like the kitchen and bathrooms, especially in shower stalls. These mold spores can trigger allergies. Food particles picked up by the vacuum can lead to the growth of bacteria and mold inside of the canister.

 

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DUST MITES:
Dust mites live buried deep in your carpets, upholstery, and mattresses. Their skin and fecal matter break down into a fine powder that, when disturbed, floats easily into the air you breathe causing allergies to react. Many people have allergies to Dustmites.

 

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ROACHES:

Roaches can be a powerful source of indoor allergens. The most common are found in their digestive enzymes, saliva and body parts. These allergens are easily stirred up by movement in a room and combine with the rest of the dust in the air, becoming potentially harmful especially to those who suffer from asthma and allergies.

 

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PET DANDER:

Pet dander, a common allergen in homes with pets, is the shedding skin of the animal. The dander is more likely to be the cause of allergic reactions rather than hair or fur. Saliva, fur and dander of pets trigger allergic reactions. These allergens can affect up to 20% of North Americans.

 

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What to Consider When Purchasing
a Central Vacuum System
Are you considering the purchase of a bagless central vacuum cleaner?

If so, please allow us to share some thoughts on this topic as you ponder the issue. On this page, you will read on several places that our qualified technicians are firm in their position that a bagged unit is the most hygienic and scientifically substantiated method to dispose of household dirt and lung-damaging particles. A dust cloud around the wastebasket and washing dirty containers do not paint a clear picture of hygienic dust removal, especially if you have even the mildest case of allergies or asthma.

Try asking yourself; Would you use a kitchen garbage can without a garbage bag?
THAT WOULD JUST BE NASTY, SMELLY AND DISGUSTING!

Did you know bagless central vacuums give off a horrible dirt smell?
It's not advised to be breathing in these germs which is a health risk to anyone with a set of lungs, especially for asthma and allergy sufferers.

Many people contemplate bagless central vacuums in order to avoid the cost of disposable replacement bags. We believe the cost of a bag is a small price to pay for securing your health and the protection of your vacuum motor. Exposure to tiny, lung-damaging particles has been linked to many health issues. Also, the smell of dirt, dust, dead bugs, decaying food particles, bacteria, dust mites, mold spores, and microbes is very disgusting.

We will be the first to admit that a dump-out system will have some performance loss as the dust collecting canister fills up. The fact is that all systems will have a slight loss of performance over a period of time. It is our opinion that semi-annual replacement of a paper bag is, by far, more efficient with less hassle and the benefits far outweigh the health risk of using a dump-out system.

 

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Types of Bagged &
Bagless Central Vacuums

Currently, there are four methods of filtration currently used for central vacuums.

1) Paper Bag System
2) Bagless With Self Cleaning Filter
3) Filtered Cyclonic Action With Fixed Filter
4) True-Cyclonic® Action With Outside Exhaust.

 

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1. Paper Bag Central Vacuum System - Overall Rating - EXCELLENT

Don't want to see everything you've vacuumed over the past months? With a bagged system, the incoming suction carries dirt and debris from your floors. It is then separated from the air with a paper or cloth style bag. By filtering the air at the same time, it increases the life of your motor and releases relatively clean air so there's no need to vent outside. This method is the cleanest and hygienic way. Paper bags eliminate mold spores, bacteria and fungi from growing. No cleaning of the canister is required & there will be no dust in your face upon dumping. A bagged unit is rated as the best form of protection for allergy sufferers and foul odors. A bag is also recognized as the first line of defense in motor protection. Takes 20 seconds to change a bag, with no mess no hassle. Just that easy. Bags need to be changed once or twice a year. This type of filtration keeps you free from contact with dust mites and nasty bed bugs and other harmful allergies laden waste.

These Systems Include...
Drainvac®, Powerstar®, PurVac®, Nutone®, AirVac®, Dust Care®, Valet®, Hoover®, Brute®, Pullman-Holt®, Black & Decker®, Honeywell®, CycloVac®, Filtex®, Riccar®, Simplicity®, DuoVac®, WalVac®, Eureka®, AstroVac®, Aggresor®, Cana-Vac®, Dynavac®, etc.

 

 

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2. Bagless Central Vacuum System With Inverted Filter - Overall Rating - OK

With a bagless type unit, the dirt enters into the vacuum canister with a tornado effect. It's this effect that prevents the dirt from clinging to the filter. One advantage is that the filter will protect your motor from dirt and debris. When the vacuum unit is shut off all the dirt will then drop to the bottom of the wastebasket. Emptying the bucket every 3 to 6 months into the trash to ensure a clean home is all you need to do. This type of system should be exhausted outside of the home. You will begin to lose suction and performance as the canister fills up. Just unclip & empty. Some steps such as shaking or washing off the loose dirt from the filter, wiping down the inside of the bucket etc. may be necessary when emptying. Unfortunately, with this filtration type, you cannot prevent the build-up of mold, bacteria, dust mites, fungi and other harmful pollutants, and foul odors. Every bagless central vacuum smells horribly from all the dust, dirt, and allergens. Remember what you smell is what you breathe in.

 

These Systems Include...
Eureka®, Nutone®, Beam®, Electrolux®, Hoover®, AirVac®, Honeywell®, Dust Care®, etc.

 

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3. Filtered Cyclonic Action With Cartridge Filter - Overall Rating - POOR

In a filtered cyclonic unit, the heavier dirt falls down the bottom of the canister, but instead of the lighter debris going through the motor and outside, it is filtered out and only the exhaust air is pushed out. Most systems of this design have a fixed foam filter to sort out the fine dirt and debris. This filter needs to be removed and cleaned often in order to maintain the same performance as if it was brand new. As the canister fills up, you will begin to lose suction and performance. With this type of unit, you must always vent to the outside. Unfortunately, with this filtration type, you cannot prevent the build-up of mold, bacteria, fungi and other harmful pollutants, and foul odors. Every bagless central vacuum smells horribly from all the dust, dirt, and allergens. Remember what you smell is what you breathe in.

Dump canister at least 6 times a year. This filtration type requires changing more often to prevent clogging and loss of suction. You will also have to clean off your filter each and every time.

These Systems Include...
Hayden®, Electrolux® AB (Aerus)®, Dirt Devil®, Royal® & Vacuflo®

 

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4. True-Cyclonic® Action With Outside Exhaust - Overall Rating - VERY POOR

In a cyclonic unit, the dirty air is forced through the vacuum chamber in a tornado-style of movement. The heavier dirt falls down the bottom of the canister and the lighter dust is carried off through the motor and then exhausted outside.

However... Because of dirt build-up in the fan blades, armature and around the bearings the life of the motor is shortened due to the all the finer dust particles passing through the
motor. This is the same as opening the hood of the car and throwing dirt on your engine. This makes for a messy cleanup. This is why virtually all manufacturers choose to use a filter. In most cyclonic systems there is a screen or mesh to protect the motor from hair and other debris. This protection needs to be cleaned frequently in order to properly maintenance peak performance. Care must be taken to exhaust properly as you'll be pushing a lot of harmful air pollutants, dust mite particles and as well as motor carbon outside. Unfortunately, with this filtration type, you cannot prevent the build-up of mold, bacteria, fungi and other harmful pollutants, and foul odors. Every bagless central vacuum smells horribly from all the dust, dirt, and allergens. Remember what you smell is what you breathe in. Many built-in systems such as Vacu-Maid®, Vacuflo® and Imperium® blow dust outside where a breeze can carry it onto a clean car or through an open window back into the home. The two leading causes of premature motor failure are dust and heat. This is also regarded as the worst form of filtration for allergy sufferers. Dump canister at least 8 times a year. This vacuum type requires changing much more often to prevent clogging and loss of suction. You will also have to clean off your metal screen each and every time you dump your canister to prevent damaging the motor's fan blades. You will also need to clean the upper inside of your canister with a damp rag or cloth. All as per instructed in the owners manual.

These Systems Include...
Vacu-Maid®, Vacuflo®, and Imperium®