Central vacuum systems have been around for years, but what place do they have in the connected home of tomorrow? Dimi Kyriakou reports.

When asked to describe the latest technologies on offer in home automation, a custom installer could be forgiven for initially thinking of distributed audio, lighting control and security systems.

One less common option and, ironically, one that has also existed for a number of years, is central vacuum systems.

This option may not be the first port of call for a client who is looking to jazz up their home with the latest technologies, but central vacuum systems are becoming an increasingly popular feature in the connected home – and manufacturers are starting to promote its merit to custom installers.

Among the frontrunners in this technology is iCentral by Ness. Last year, the company decided to tap into the central vacuum system market with its newly-acquired Valet range – a system designed to remove all dust, dirt and air polluting pollen from inside a home.

iCentral Ness general manager Larry Circosta says that the idea of ducted vacuum systems has taken off rapidly overseas and, in turn, the Australian market is also starting to find its feet.

“Valet is traditionally known for its ducted vacuum systems and in countries like Canada, almost every new home will install a ducted vacuum system. But, in Australia, we’re still somewhat behind in this trend,” Larry says.

Given this information, the question still remains: what role can a central vacuum system play in an otherwise ‘connected home’?

According to Larry, an opportunity does exist for custom installers to integrate Valet with home automation. In fact, he advises installers to avoid the temptation to dismiss this technology as one that holds no merit to their business overall.

“It’s a very solid market. Admittedly, the penetration in the Australian market with central vacs isn’t very high at the moment, but it is growing. We know there’s a lot of potential there but it all depends on the type of products that an installer can handle,” he says.

Currently, iCentral Ness believes that the ongoing maintenance of the Valet vacuum system will be key to its integration into a whole-house system, and this is one area the company is examining closely.

“To be honest, there probably aren’t many reasons to collect a lot of data from your vacuum cleaner. iCentral Ness is heading down this path and we are currently looking at some very simple integration techniques. This includes building a wireless product that connects to a wireless transmitter in the hose, which will be a lot cheaper than running a cable running through the hose in order to switch it on and off,” he says.

“This will be integrated with a new intercom system that we’re developing. We’ve been able to collect data out of the vacuums systems and there are some diagnostics that we will be handled through the intercom.”

The new product development for iCentral Ness includes a new video touch station that can be located in each room and will tell the home owner when the vacuum needs to be checked and the brushes replaced. Also, if the airflow is blocked or stops working, it will activate a message that will remind the owner to check the bag or replace it.

Fortunately for a custom installer, the system has many selling points that can be presented to clients as a more favourable alternative to portable vacuum cleaners.

Valet’s six-year guarantee reflects the longevity of a central vacuum system. The electric motor can be installed in a remote area such as a garage or basement, so the living areas are not affected by the noise of the motor when it is in use.

This also prevents the vacuum being subject to the wear and tear of the portable alternative, which also carries design constraints in size, weight and noise.

More importantly, Larry says that the Valet system is more effective in keeping the dust outside, which is beneficial to household members who have allergies.

“Any vacuum system needs an inlet, outlet and filtration system. But you can get almost half of what you vacuum back out through the exhaust in a portable vacuum cleaner, so you would be better off leaving dust in the carpet if you have any allergies. This isn’t the case for a central vacuum system,” Larry says.

“Many people don’t realise the significance of installing this option, because they aren’t always aware of the problems potentially caused by their health by the dust that lingers in the air and then takes time to settle after you’ve vacuumed.”

The installation process is also straightforward and suitable for both new builds and retrofit installations, which makes value-adding to a custom installer’s business easy. Larry says that even those with a limited experience in trade would be capable of installing the Valet system with minimal training.

“It’s a handy back-up to have, especially considering that many installers will lean towards projects in a new home. If you’re running a small business, I always think it’s wise to put some marketing effort into existing homes because it’s a very untapped market. In some cases, the technology will be a little more difficult to install, but it’s still a potentially lucrative market,” he says.

“Central vacuum systems are much easier to install than most people probably think, particularly in homes that are under construction.”

The system is installed within the walls of a home and the location of the main trunk line and adjoining branch lines depends on the layout of the house. The amount of airflow that reaches the hose is dependent on the efficiency of this layout, as lines are to be kept as straight as possible. Correctly positioned inlet valves will ensure trouble-free vacuuming and the hose must be able to reach every corner of the house and dodge furniture placement.

One of the greatest benefits of central vacuum systems is that the power is turned on and off automatically. This function is activated by completing a circuit at the inlet valves, so simply inserting the hose into the inlet valve will turn on the power unit. To facilitate this, a low voltage wire must follow the tubing system.

The integration of central vacuum systems also has a great opportunity to succeed in the commercial market, particularly in situations where the system is installed in a multi-level building where more than one person may be vacuuming at any one time.

“We’re looking at some enhancements in one of our new products for this scenario, so the system will be able to regulate the speed and airflow when another hose is plugged in. These enhancements are probably about 12 months away,” Larry says.

“Central vacs are a fairly easy thing to install, so there’s some potential there for trade guys who are already in a similar area of business. There are also a lot of low voltage guys out there who are currently installing secure technologies and intercoms into homes, so central vacs could be a good enhancement to their business.”