Upgrading your vacuum cleaner to a central vac system installed in your home is a wise investment that will leave you with a much quieter and more efficient machine than a portable vacuum. Although initially pricey, most users find that a central vacuum is well worth the cost due to the convenience and the quality work that they produce. However, not all central vacuum systems are built the same, and learning some of the differences between models can go a long way toward making a good decision when you decide to purchase one.

There are three main central vac motor designs on the market today. The Flow-Thru motor, the Peripheral By-Pass motor, and the Tangential By-Pass motor. The most affordable model is the Flow-Thru motor, which is closely related to the motors used in many portable vacuum cleaners. Rather than using a noisy fan to cool down the motor during operation, Flow-Thru motors recycle the vacuumed air through the armature to cool itself. However it is important that this air be filtered properly, as a filter bag failure will result in dirty air and dust being blown directly on the motor, leading to damage and a large mess.

The Peripheral By-Pass motor is a bit better than the Flow-Thru. It uses a separate fan to blow cool and clean air over the armature to cool the motor during operation. These motors are slightly more powerful than a Flow-Thru model, but also a bit louder. Tangential By-Pass models, on the other hand, implement a tangential exhaust that blows the heated and dirty exhaust away from the motor chamber, increasing the life of the motor significantly. This is the most commonly used model, but also the most expensive.