5. Service-ability

Yes, you are going to buy a NEW vacuum and, yes, you are going to pay more for a bigger name brand.

But with that comes availability of parts and service.

AND SAVINGS OVER TIME. Buying the best wood floor vacuum cleaner is just like buying the best wood flooring... you buy them once.

You keep them because YOU CAN!

Back Pack Vacs

Nothing beats a backpack vac, in my book. Pro-Team is my favorite and strongest recommendation as a best wood floor vacuum cleaner.

Bought my first one, a SuperCoach, in 1998 and another one in 2000, (not because the first one wore out, either.)

I still have both and their motors are just as powerful as when they were new.

With the right attachments on my belt, I can knock down a whole dining room, let's say,

floor to ceiling, window sills, drapes, door frames, light fixtures in less than 10 minutes AND do the floors!

Don't believe me? This video illustrates the point.

If you come to agree that the best wood floor vacuum cleaner for you is a backpack, the hardest part will be remembering you have something hanging from your posterior.

No doubt, at first, you will swipe something while turning.

But oh, the ease AND the suction. If I had to pick a best wood floor vacuum cleaner, it would be one of the Proteam Backpack Vacs, above.

Central Vacuum Systems (CVS)

Shoppers and Existing Owners

How to keep your Power Unit
from
"Biting the Dust"

Whether you are a first-time shopper, or you inherited a CVS when you bought the house, or you are a lifetime owner, this is critical.

Your system will ingest a sock sometime. Your power unit needs relief when that happens. It has to get air, plenty of air, from somewhere, else.

This simple design feature, which works with any system, will protect the most expensive and integral part of your CVS, the power unit.

It's my strong recommendation if not already in your system or plans.

It's too late, you say? Then, here's a short buyer's guide for a replacement power unit. Add these to the 5 S's .

First, determine whether your system requires 110V or 220V. Check the specifications for the new unit, (as well as the unit, itself,) carefully.

(If you clean less than 6000 square feet, it's probably a 110V system.)

And last, measure. How big is too big for the power unit mounting space, AND measure your square footage.

You never want to assume that the old unit was spec-ed properly for the demand. It may have underperformed because it simply was designed for a smaller space.

Many, not all, CVS units are similar simply because they are Electrolux-made and private labeled.

Such brands as Honeywell, Eureka, Beam are very likely private-labeled Electrolux units made in Iowa.

Another strong possibility is you own a Broan-Nutone, which marketed builders heavily through the roaring 90's.

Your Power Unit is Strong...
( but smell isn't everything.)

Just like floor cleaners, there are a lot of perfectly good products on the market for cleaning and freshening your CVS pipelines.

This is one of them and worth throwing in the cart if you are an Amazon shopper.

And I want to learn and share.

If a central vac is your best wood floor vacuum cleaner and you have a helpful hint for keeping it fresh and running its best drop me a line!

And by all means
Don't get hosed.

No black hoses, remember? That doesn't mean you need a new hose, just one of these.

Even gray and white hoses will be hard on your door trim and cabinets

as you pull it around the corners,

so this helpful accessory seems to me to be a must.

Installing a New CVS System

You are convinced the best wood floor vacuum cleaner for you is a central vacuum system. Furthermore, you intend to install it yourself.

Air King systems really cater to the Do-It-Yourselfer.

The following video is excellent. While it is made by Hoover, the same basic installation guidelines can be followed for most, if not all, central vac systems you see above.

Of course, retro-fitting a system to an existing house presents challenges unique from a new construction install.

Without thorough planning, you won't have a best wood floor vacuum cleaner, just a lot of expense trying.

Here, again, if you have a helpful DIY tip I will pass it along to all the readers. Just let me know.