Skip to content
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE | FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $100
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE | FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $100

——— CENTRAL VACUUM REPAIR TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE ———

Central Vacuum Troubleshooting Solutions

#1 - Electrical Failure

If the inlets are Supervalves, plug the power brush directly into the valve. If the power brush works, the problem is in the high voltage lines in the hose – likely a blown fuse in the hose, but also look at #14.

  • Check brush for bad neck tilt switch or reset button.
  • Put power directly to brush motor to see if the motor is bad.
  • Check cord connections from hose to brush.
  • Check to see that Supervalves/Electravalves have 110 volts.
#2 - Clog somewhere else in the system
  • Check power brush.
  • Check wands.
#3 - Clog vacuum tubing
  1. Check fitting just inside inlet and just inside or right at the power unit for stuck debris.
  2. Isolate exactly where clog is – by determining the inlet furthest from the vacuum unit that is not suctioning well. The clog is between that inlet and the unit and is the one you will be working on. You can also find the clog by running 1 styrofoam ball (each numbered) through each inlet. Find which balls made it to the power unit.
  3. Reverse vacuum with another portable vacuum or built-in vacuum (first disconnect built-in vacuum unit from vacuum PVC line(s) coming from the home.) Suck from the inlet that is bad if your hose is long enough.
  4. Run electrician’s fish-tape or plumber’s snake, through pipe and try to hook object/clog.
  5. Put hose end in, plug end to build pressure, then suddenly release. Do this with your hand over the hose end. Try this multiple times from various inlets. The release will send a shock wave through the pipes and over time release the clog.
  6. You can even plug the hose into the unit, disconnect the intake pipe, and bring the hose to the clogged inlet and suction it out.
  7. Run paper towel through as a “pigs” towards motor unit, then reverse suck with a portable.
  8. Run paper towel through from motor unit toward portable at non functioning inlet.

*Very important: Now run paper towel through all inlets and make sure they all arrive in power unit. If they don’t, repeat steps 1 through 6. *If these solutions will still not free up the line – approximate where clog is and locate if accessible. (attic, crawls pace, closet…)

  • Cut pipe and feel suction and visually inspect.
  • Run paper towel through and listen for humming or vibration – possible nail in pipe or picture hung with toggle into pipe.
  • Run small string through from motor unit to inlet with portable then tie heavier string – attach large object to heavier string. (always tie a safety line to large object to pull it back if needed).
  • Locate exact location by creating noise w/ ping-pong ball. Insert in inlet and turn on unit (remove inlet to get ball in). (Find least obvious way of lifting flooring or cutting into back of cupboard or ceiling to access clogged spot.
  • Cut pipe, remove clog, patch back access.)
  • Again run paper towel through each inlet.
  • If only one inlet is clogged and cannot be fixed, relocate new pipe via existing installation method.
  • Pipes that run underground can sometimes coagulate with debris from moisture.
  • Route out with long blunt object.
  • Run 10 pounds of rice through system into unit, repeat.
  • Trench old lines and replace.
  • If lines run under concrete driveway, relocate power unit in area where accessible to locate.
  • Re-route pipes from section that does work to section that does not work. Abandon any unnecessary lines.
  • Check for “wrong way” Y’s or T’s.
  • Any recent construction or workers who might have driven nail into pipes (esp. closet organizers, phones, or alarms)?
#4-Bad inlet - replace inlet & plug hose in again

#5 - Low voltage wire cut

#6 - Clog in the screen or clog in the hose

#7 - Unit is good, pipes have leaks

#8 - The Power unit has bad suction

#9 - Short in power unit

#10 - Short in low voltage system

#11 - Relay getting power but not starting unit

#12 - The power unit is not getting electricity

#13 - Transformer and motor not getting power

#14 - Low voltage in hose is not working

*Source: www.builtinvacuum.com

Compare products

{"one"=>"Select 2 or 3 items to compare", "other"=>"{{ count }} of 3 items selected"}

Select first item to compare

Select second item to compare

Select third item to compare

Compare