Consumers
Choosing the Right Power Unit For You
Selecting the right central vacuum system can be mind boggling. Here's how to be sure the system you choose for your home will provide the performance and cleaning power you expect. The following facts will help you make the best buying decision.
Vacuum Performance Buzzwords
Below are the measurements manufactures use to assess their vacuum system's performance. But, what does it all mean?
Amps: represent the amount of electrical current consumed by the motor during use. The implication is that the more electricity the motor uses, the more powerful it is. This is not necessarily true. A motor that uses more electrical current does not always mean the current is being used more efficiently.
Horsepower: measures the power of a motor. Horsepower can vary according to voltages, motor loads and temperature variances and is not an accurate measure of how well a vacuum system will pick up dirt.
Sealed Suction: measures the maximum suction generated by the motor without airflow. Because vacuum cleaners rely on airflow to clean effectively, high sealed suction without airflow will not clean anything.
CFM: is the maximum volume of airflow measured in Cubic Feet Per Minute. Maximum CFM ratings occur when the vacuum system is operating without restrictions to airflow. In normal vacuuming conditions, hoses, cleaning attachments, bags , filters and accumulated dust create restrictions to airflow, reducing CFM. Therefore, CFM alone is not a good indicator of vacuum cleaning performance.
Measurements To Look For
Maximum Air Watts: represent the air power delivered by the power unit. CFM and Sealed Suction are combined to represent actual vacuum cleaning power. Maximum Air Watts is recognized by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) as the best way to measure the actual cleaning power of a vacuum system.
Sustained Cleaning Power: is the ability to maintain maximum cleaning power over time. The very first time you vacuum with a system that has a bag or filter, there will be a measurable decrease in suction power and airflow as dirt and dust begin to accumulate.