You run a tight ship in your home; Perhaps you even vacuum daily, thats great. But if you're still using an upright or canister vacuum, your cleaning may not be as thorough as you think. Upright and canister vacuums can be great for many instances of cleaning, and they are usually affordable, but most upright vacuums will actually move dust and dirt around instead of picking it up. This can aggravate allergies and asthma, releasing millions of tiny particles into the air of your home. When you use a central vacuum system, the dust and dirt is transferred from your power nozzle to the central vacuum unit mounted in the garage or basement of your home. You can even mount a central vacuum outside of your home for increased filtration.

Because HEPA filtration only removes 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, rather than 100%, central vacuum units mounted outside of your home are actually even more efficient than HEPA filtration in removing harmful particles from the air. While the health benefits of installing one of these systems are great, they aren't the only reason to install a built in vacuum. Using a whole house vacuum is fiscally responsible. These powerful systems will save you thousands of dollars in costs for supplies for your canister or upright vacuum. Most power units don't require the use of a bag and only need to be emptied once or twice a year. 

When using a portable vacuum cleaner, there are many hidden costs that you don't take into account. If your machine is bagged, you'll need to change the bag once every 2-3 months and even if you use a bagless machine you'll need to change the filter every 6 months which can be quite expensive. In contrast, most central vacuum systems offer self-cleaning filters that never need to be changed. Installing a central vacuum cleaner in your home can also increase the value of your home by thousands of dollars. While these systems can initially be expensive, they are built to last from 20-30 years whereas a quality portable vacuum will only last you five to ten years. 

What it really comes down to is the fact that central vacs are more powerful, efficient and easy to use than a portable vacuum cleaner. Instead of carrying a heavy vacuum up and down the stairs and from room to room, you'll plug in a hose to an inlet in your wall that connects to the power unit. To find out more about installing a central vacuum system, visit our online store.

When choosing a new air purifier for your home, it is very important to put a lot of thought and consideration into your decision. While most of these machines are highly effective in removing allergens, dust and other harmful substances from the air, some are better than others and some might actually do more harm than help.

The first thing to think about when choosing the right model for your home is your needs. Do you suffer from allergies, asthma or perhaps a multiple chemical sensitivity? There are so many different makes and models of air purifiers on the market today, so there is sure to be one that suits your unique needs. You'll also want to take into account the size of your home. Most residential air purifiers are designed to clean the air in one room at a time. While most units will have the option of caster wheels, it is important to know that using one household room air purifier will not be effective in cleaning the air in your entire house. Because of this, we recommend that you place your unit in the room where you spend the most time - the bedroom. However if you do need to clean the air throughout your entire home, there are a few whole house air purifiers available.

There are quite a few different brands on the market today, each with their ups and downs. A company called IQAir designed the first residential air purifier in the 1960s in Germany for asthma sufferers who used coal burning stoves in their homes, they are now one of the largest brands of air purifiers in the world and offer some of the best units available. The filter used in each IQAir air purifier is composed of a HyperHEPA media that is about 100 times more effective than the standard HEPA filter that is used in other brands.

A HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air, filter is capable of capturing 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns and 95% of all particles as small as 0.003 microns. With the IQAir's HyperHEPA Filtration, these systems capture 99.97% of all particles as small as 0.3 microns and 99.5% of all particles as small as 0.003 microns. Studies have shown that the ultra fine particles that only an IQAir machine is capable of capturing are the most dangerous because they enter your bloodstream through your lungs.

While the IQAir systems are great, they can be a bit pricey. If you need a great machine but you're on a lower budget, I recommend using an Austin Air purifier. These machines are great because they use a medical grade filter that emulates a hospital clean room. The filters in these machines also last five years without needing to be changed or cleaned and they are offered in either a full sized unit or the smaller, junior series air purifier for smaller rooms.

A few things to look out for:

• Stay away from units that use UV lights. Air travels through these lights too quick and therefore this method is ineffective.
• Make sure any machine you use in your home does not produce ozone. Ozone can be hazardous to your health.
• Call 1-866-972-8227 to speak with an air purifier specialist if you have any questions or need help choosing the right model for your home.

Have you ever wondered why fresh air feels so much nicer and cleaner than the air in your home? Well the answer is simply because it is. What most people, myself included, fail to realize is that the air you breathe most frequently: The air in your home, is filled with harmful gases, pollutants, dust mites, odors, and airborne diseases. 

Indoor Air Quality is a term that did not exist just 75 years ago. This term is used to describe the quality of the air that you breathe during most of your day, indoor air. Recent developments in scientific research have discovered that the quality of indoor air is often three to five times worse than the air outside. When you stop and think about how much time you actually spend indoors, you realize how crucial it is to improve the air quality in your home. Now you may assume that pollutants in the air at home can be linked to asthma, allergies and breathing complications, such as bronchitis. While this is true, the medical community has recently established a direct link between harmful pollutants in the air in your home and heart attacks. 

Dust and allergens aren't the only hazards that are present in indoor air, though. Mold spores, Tobacco smoke, pet allergens and dust mites can also be found in the air in your home. Mold spores are perhaps the most underrated threats to the personal well-being in any home. Tobacco smoke is also a very serious hazard that has potentially fatal consequences even for non-smokers. All of these substances can easily find their way into your home and cause serious harm to you and your family. These pollutants are no laughing matter and don't rest just because you've gone to sleep.

At this point you may be asking yourself: How do I improve the air quality in my home?

The answer is simple. You need a machine that will filter out toxins in the air while generating fresh air throughout your home. An Austin Air purifier will do just that.

Austin Air Purifiers such as the Healthmate or Bedroom Machine use true medical grade HEPA filtration to remove harmful toxins from the air and generate fresh and clean into your home. These machines use a complex 5 step filtration system composed of an inside HEPA or HEGA filter and an outer Carbon Zeolite filter. These machines are 99.97% effective in removing all particulates as small as 0.3 microns and 95% effective in removing all other substances. All of the air purifiers by Austin Air come with a 5 year mechanical warranty as well as a 5 year warranty on the filter. 

If you're going to use an air purifier in your home, why not use the best one on the market? In fact, these machines were trusted by the American Red Cross and FEMA to address the air quality problems in post September 11th New York City. The Austin Air purifier is designed to last and the filter doesn't have to be replaced for five years. Take a look at the Austin Air selection in our store to find the perfect air purifier for your home.

Improving the indoor air quality in your home is extremely important to your health. Pollutants in indoor air are a serious threat and should be taken seriously. 

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Electrolux Central Vacuum. You have taken the first steps towards a cleaner home and a convenient cleaning routine. You'll want to take a few easy steps to ensure that your central vacuum cleaner is kept at it's optimal performance level.

Each Electrolux central vacuum unit comes with a lifetime warranty, your unit will last you a lifetime and provide ideal service if you follow these few simple guidelines:

-First of all, your motor bearings are permanently sealed and lubricated. This means that your unit will never require lubrication. Be sure to keep these bearings  sealed. 

-The Motor brushes on your unit should be checked by an authorized Electrolux dealer after every 500 hours of use.

-To clean the outside of your power unit, use a cleab soft cloth. DO NOT: use liquid cleaners or water, an electrical shock may occur.

-Tampering with your power unit or placing anything on top of the power unit can result in the restriction of cooling air to the motor. This will cause the motor to  overheat.

-Do not attempt to pick up anything that will not go through the cleaning tool or the hose end or use your central vacuum system to pick up debris from  construction.

-Do not attach any other cords to the system's electrical power source. Be sure that a properly-sized, protected circuit is used for your unit's electrical requirements.  Your authorized Electrolux dealer can help you with sizing.

-After removing the hose from the inlet, hold the inlet door open for a few seconds to help clear dirt from the vacuum tubing and make sure that the power unit  has been shut off.

-To ensure the maximum suction power and proper cleaning, use only one inlet at a time.

-If service is required, make sure that it is only performed by an authorized Electrolux Dealer.

Filter Maintenance

The Filter in your Electrolux Central Vacuum unit is permanent and self-cleaning. However, if you do decide to clean it, follow these five easy steps:

1. Remove the dirt receptacle

2. Wrap a large plastic trash bag around the lower portion of the power unit, holding it firmly in place.

3. Grasp the sewn-in weight at the bottom of the filter through the bag; Shake vigorously; Dirt will drop into the bag.

4. Carefully remove the plastic bag from the unit. Then empty the dirt receptacle into the bag, as well.

5. Replace the dirt receptavle on the power unit. Remeber, any dirt that spilled can be easily vacuumed by attaching the hose to the utility inlet and activating the     power unit with the manual switch.

Once again, congratulations on the purchase of your new central vacuum cleaner. Making sure to follow all of these simple steps will ensure that your central vacuum remains at it's peak performance!

So you’ve recently purchased a new Electrolux vacuum cleaner and it’s time to change the filter. You’re used to having to buy a new HEPA filter for your vacuum cleaner every six months or so but this vacuum cleaner comes with a washable filter. Sounds great right? But how on earth do you clean this filthy thing?

The folks at eVacuumStore have come up with a solution in this 4-Step process for cleaning your Washable HEPA Filter.

Step  1:

Locate the filter door on your vacuum cleaner. On most canister models, this will be at the back of the canister, on the top of the vacuum. On the upright models it will be on the front of the vacuum under the dust cup, just above the base of the vacuum.

Step 2:

Remove your HEPA Filter, and wipe away any heavy dust or debris over a trash container. Shake it out, slapping it against your palm or wrist to release any built up dust or dirt.

Step 3:

Rinse your washable HEPA filter under warm water in the sink. Do not use any soap or cleaning products.

Step 4:

Allow your HEPA Filter to air dry overnight and replace it into the HEPA Filter compartment in your vacuum cleaner.

Washable HEPA Filters should be routinely washed every month and replaced every 2-3 years as needed.