The word around the vacuum world these days is "central." It is, people are finding, the best way to clean there is.
And, said Rico Dubach, owner of Swiss Boy Sew and Vac in Bountiful, growing in popularity.What is central vacuum?
It is a built-in system where instead of pushing around a portable vacuum, an individual simply plugs in a hose at various outlets around the house and cleans.
The power source for a central vacuum system is usually placed outside the home, in a garage or shed. It can, however, be installed anywhere. The advantage of having it outside the home is noise. There is almost none, which means vacuuming can go on while someone is sitting in front of the TV watching a favorite show or a big game.
The biggest advantage, of course, is that the central vacuum system takes the dirt directly out of the home. With portable systems, some dirt is blown back into the air where it settles on tables and counters. With a central vacuum system, the dirt is sucked out of the home and out into a large container. Usually this is about a seven-gallon container that needs to be emptied only once or twice a year.
And, by having the power system in one location, a more powerful motor can be used. It doesn't have to be pushed or lugged around. True, the dirt must be pulled a greater distance, but the motors are usually five to six times the size of motors on portable units.
Dubach said that the systems can be installed in new or existing home.
"Naturally," he said, "it is easier to install a system into a new home, before all the walls and ceilings are put up. But, we can install them in existing homes. You'd be amazed at what space is available. . . . unfinished basements, cold-air returns, crawl spaces, recessed ceilings, attics. If you look around, you can always find places."
Cost difference is only about $100 between new and existing homes. In new homes, for example, a system will run between $600 and $800, while in an existing home it will run between $700 and $900.
"When you consider that a lot of the portable machines on the market now are running over $1,000, you can see it's very reasonable," Dubach said.
The systems come with all sorts of attachments, including some of the floors, cars and boats, and stairs.
Another advantage to central systems is that they are very low maintenance - no bags, belts, or wheels to wear out.
According to Dubach, the systems are very popular in Canada. About 25 percent of the homes there have the central vacuum systems. Here in the U.S., only about two to three percent of the homes have the system, "but about 30 to 50 percent of the new homes are going with central vacuum," he added.
Installation is, of course, available from Swiss Boy. Do-it-yourselfers can, if they choose, install it on their own. Dubach said that installing one is no more difficult than putting in a sprinkling system.
Two-inch PVC pipe is used to link up the different outlets with the power source.
Looking at another part of the business, Dubach said that the big thing in sewing machines is the mixing of machines with computers.
He pointed out, however, that the market in sewing machines is changing.
"People are not buying machines to sew because they want to save money, but are buying because they like to sew. People are finding out, now, that they can go out and buy a piece of clothing for less than they can make it," he said.
One area of clothing-making that has helped is surging, which binds and trims fabric to give is a very professional look.
Included in the new computerized machines is the ability to write, do patterns, and different stitches.
Prices on the computer machines run up to $1,500. Less expensive machines start at $200. Surgers, which are becoming very popular, range in prices from $300 to $700.
Swiss Boy has a showroom at its Bountiful location to show everything from the central vacuum systems to new sewing machines.