Before You Buy A Vacuum, Find Out
Where The Dirt Goes

It is very important to know where the dirt goes after a vacuum cleaner picks it up off the floor. Most portables let a significant amount or dust be blown right back into the room you're vacuuming. Many built-in systems blow dust outside where a breeze can carry it onto a clean car or through an open window back into the home. Others put the dirt into cloth or paper bags which are messy to empty and expensive to replace. Dirt should be taken out of the living area where it can be disposed of easily and properly!

Generally, the best place for a power unit is in the garage. This makes it quiet in the house while you are vacuuming and is convenient to empty the dirt into a trash can. Also, the dirt is taken out of your house completely, not merely recirculated back into the air of your home.

One of the main differences that separate the different brands of built-in vacuum systems is the filtering system. In other words, how does the power unit separate the dirt from the air stream? This is done by using one of four methods, each describe below.

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Cloth or Paper bag

With a bag unit, the incoming dirt is separated from the air stream by the bag. Different brands use cloth bags, paper bags or both. The air is filtered before going through the motor thus extending motor life. There is also no need to exhaust the system outside because the exhaust air is relatively clean. However, both bags are messy to empty and paper bags are expensive to replace. Also, as the bag fills up, the vacuum begins to lose performance because the accumulated dirt restricts the air flow.

 

1. Intake.
2. Paper bag (loss of suction as bag fills with dirt). Bags can break causing a mess. Also, you need to purchase extra bags.
3. Secondary filter (protects the motor but needs periodic cleaning).
4. Clean are needs no exhausting.

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Cyclonic Action with outside exhaust

With a cyclonic unit, the dirty air is allowed to enter the vacuum chamber and whirl around in a fashion similar to a cyclone or tornado, wherein the heavier dirt falls to the bottom into a bucket and the lighter dust is carried through the motor and exhausted outside the building. This has the advantage of not losing suction as the bucket fills up. However, motor life is generally shortened because of dirt build-up in the fans and around the bearings. Most cyclonic systems have a screen or mesh to protect the motor from lint and hair. This screen must be cleaned frequently to maintain peak performance. Care must also be taken in exhausting outside as quite a bit of dust does spew out, especially fine dust such as sheet rock dust, fireplace ash, etc.

 

1. Intake.
2. Filter screen (must clean regularly for peak performance). Failure to clean can cause motor damage limiting motor life.
3. Cyclonic code (,may need to be removed before dirt can be emptied.
4. Dirty air must be exhausted outside of the living area and can reduce performance if vented too far. Dirt is exhausted through motor impellers.

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Filtered cyclonic action with fixed filter

With a filtered cyclonic unit, the heavy dirt is allowed to drop into a bucket also, but the light dust is filtered out before the dirty air goes through the motor. Most filtered cyclonic systems use a fixed foam filter to separate fine dust. This filter must be removed and cleaned frequently to maintain peak performance, This is a very messy job.

 

1. Intake.
2. Foam/paper filter (needs periodic cleaning) - very dirty and difficult to clean. Failure to clean will stop air flow causing motor damage.
3. Clean air needs no exhausting.

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Filtered cyclonic action with self cleaning filter

The BEAM power unit uses an exclusive 2-layer self-cleaning filter which literally empties itself into the bucket after each use. The Beam System gives you all the advantages of the bag and cyclonic systems with none of the disadvantages, All you do is empty the bucket every 3 to 6 months into the trash can. It does not lose suction as the bucket fills up and you do not have the added expense and messiness of exhausting outside. The quality of this system is reflected in the lifetime limited warranty from BEAM which covers the motor, filter, and electronics.

If it is necessary to put the power unit in the house, usually the furnace or utility room is the best choice. Because of Beam's exclusive filtering system, outside venting is not required. However, you can still choose this option if you so desire.

 

1. Intake.
2. Self cleaning filter cleans itself every time the system is turned on and off. This filters out 98.9% at 2 microns and larger. No loss of performance and prolongs the motors life.
3. Large capacity dirt receptacle. Only need to empty 2-3 times each year.

HARRIS SECURITY SYSTEMS

1807 Highway 231 South, Ozark, Alabama
toll free: 800-240-1717  fax: 334-445-1341
dothan 794-0079 - troy 566-8988 - eufaula 687-8985 - ozark 774-8564
email. sales@harrissecurity.com