You invest in a central vacuum system to ease your everyday cleaning but end up spending hours trying to stuff the system into a cabinet. That is a complete bummer, no? However, providing each part of the system with an appropriate storage place could save you all the trouble. Here are a few tips to go about it.
Effectively storing a central vacuum house system can be done by ready-made apparatus, DIY experiments, or even professional help. A few ways to put away a central vacuum hose are:
- Hose tote
- Hose hangers
- Hose reel
- Wand wall champ
- A tool caddy
Perhaps these names sound too alien, or you are unsure how to implement them. Keep reading as we separately dissect the function of each of these means of storage and their method for proper installation.
Storage Techniques For A Central Vacuum
1. Central Vacuum Hose Tote
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Often, one of the significant difficulties a central vacuum hose presents is the struggle to carry the structure around. You reach the room and look back, only to realize the hose had unraveled all through the corridor. A central vacuum hose tote is a simple velcro connection that allows you to store the hose in a convenient coiled position. Most totes are adjustable to up to 50 feet of hose.
Velcro the hose around the polyester woven tote. Place it on a hook on the wall with the loop. For greater convenience, replace the hook with a hose hanger.
2. Central Vacuum Hose Hanger
Click here to see this hanger on Amazon.
A hose hanger is a simple wall-mounted connection that resolves the hassle of an intertwined hose. A hose is liable to damage if left on the cabinet shelf or crammed into tiny baskets. Through the hanger, you directly mount a coiled hose to the wall.
The coiled position makes it convenient to straighten the hose at the time of use. Do not worry about harming the original twisted structure of the hose, as you will only be making a few loops.
Most ready-made hangers have pre-drilled holes for installation. Use screws to mount the hanger inside a utility closet, a wall, or another place of convenience. Unplug your vacuum hose from both ends and turn it into 3-4 loops. Velcro with a hose tote or pick it up very carefully to place on the hanger.
3. Central Vacuum Hose Reel
A hose reel is the most organized structure you could give to a hose. The cylindrical structure provides you tidy storage for long vacuum pipes that are otherwise too heavy to handle. All reels come in a metal/wood structure strong enough to support up to 50 feet of hose.
Reels come equipped with separate suspension brackets. The additional support makes them easy to mount on the wall. After use, leave the vacuum by the wall and wind the pipe on the reel structure.
Of course, there are ways to make your hose reel. You can look at guides on Youtube to make your own. Here is one such example:
4. Wand Wall Clamp
With the hose taking up all the space, vacuum wands and nozzles are the hardest to fit in a cupboard. A wand wall clamp provides a way to get these mounted straight on the wall. You have to insert the wand into the opening in the structure. Then, the front rubber grip will keep a tight hold on it. Installing a wand wall clamp is also easy as it needs only two screws for mounting.
5. Tool Caddies
At its core, a tool caddy serves the purpose of storing accessories and stationery. You may use two types of tool caddies for a central vacuum.
Clip-on Tool Caddie
A clip-on tool caddy anchors to the wand for support. Firmly push the structure on the wand surface, and it will hold it tight in its small rubber opening. It allows you 3-tool storage space to keep your crevice, dust brush, and any upholstery tools right at hand during cleaning.
Mesh Tool Caddie
You may use a mesh tool caddy to gather up all your vacuum attachments in one place. Many of these tool caddies come with additional pockets that allow for more storage space. It may be placed in a drawer or hung over a hose hanger with its top strap.
Why So Much Hassle Over Storage?
While most components of a central vacuum system are right in the house, that does not eliminate the need for proper storage. Poorly-stored devices are prone to wear and tear, ultimately affecting their efficiency.
Additionally, it results in the frequent need for repairs and the possibility of equipment breakage. For instance, the pressure hose hits corners and rubs against edges all the time. All it will take is a tiny cut to turn it futile.
How Long Is A Central Vacuum Hose?
The standard length for a central vacuum hose is 30 feet. As an exception, this length may stretch to 50 feet but no more. If you would like to know more about central vacuum hose length, check our post here.
How Much Does A Central Vacuum Hose Weigh?
A 30 feet hose weighs around 7 lbs. A hose of greater length could be heavier. But, most central vacuums have a 30 feet standard.
How Do You Store Central Vacuum Accessories?
The most convenient way of storing central vacuum accessories is to utilize a complete vacuum organizer. The structure is full of shelves, hangers, and pockets so, even the smallest of accessories would be stored appropriately.
DIY Central Vacuum Organizer
You can always skip the trouble and get a professional to install a single unit of central vacuum organizer, equipped with every accessory we have mentioned.
Better yet, you can save up half the money and do the deed yourself. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you build a central vacuum organizer from scratch.
Plan The Layout
- Choose a location for the organizer that is convenient for your habitual use of the products.
- Decide the total area of the wall your organizer is going to cover.
- Take a paper and draw a scaled-down version of your ideal setup. A uniformly shelved structure, for instance, is not the best for a central vacuum organizer. There must be an extensive area clear of ledges to place the hose hanger and the power brush.
Getting The Supplies
Once you know what you want, you can decide how much and where to get it. Keeping your total space in mind, allocate dimensions to each part. These considerations will include the length and depth of all sides and shelves. A ¾” plywood is a common choice for storage cabinets.
Make a trip to the nearest craft store and get sheets of plywood as per the dimensions. Do remember to buy any other materials you may be missing for the project.
Cutting The Wood
As long as you buy an appropriate depth of plywood sheet, you can get it cut to length at most big hardware stores. However, if you do not have that facility, grab a jigsaw or a circular saw and cut it off as per the guidelines of a DIY guide.
The Mighty Rabbet Joints
A rabbet is a recess in the wood, which will serve as the joint between two panels. For your organizer, the rabbet cuts will ensure that your shelves slide in smoothly so that all the components find a sturdy home.
There are many different ways of cutting a rabbet, but the least complicated remains to be the table saw. The wood makes two passes across the blade to complete the rabbet. First, it needs to pass horizontally to achieve the required depth. Second, it rests vertically against the blade to cut at the exact width.
Assemble The Frame
To put the framework together and ultimately mount it to the wall, you need adhesive and screws. For a vacuum organizer, you should use about 1-¼” pocket screws and wood glue. You can, however, use panel adhesive and screws of any kind.
Put together the side panels and the top. Slide the shelves in by using adhesive in the rabbet joints. Finish it off with screws to keep it in its position.
If you plan on hanging the organizer to the wall, you will need to attach a cleat. Cut a 2” strip of wood and nail it to the top edge. If you put it against the wall, attach an inlet panel with ⅝” to ¾” long nails.
Finishing Touches
Attach the cleat to wall studs with screws. This step will hang your organizer against the wall. Wait for 24 hours for the glue to dry down. Sandpaper the edges, clean off debris, and decorate the organizer whatever way you like. We suggest adding a hose hanger, a tool caddy, and many storage boxes to utilize the organizer effectively.
Final Takeaway
Now that you have enough storage information, it is time to sort through the messy vacuum cabinet. Properly maintaining the equipment will ensure the components last as long as they should. Of course, you may run into a problem, still, at least you can research it anytime!
Before you go, do you more questions relating to central vacuum hoses? Not all hoses are the same. If you want to know more, check out our post here. Until next time!