Everyone with a central vacuum system gets a clog at one point or another.  But, it does not have to be a costly and tedious problem if you understand how to unclog them yourself, or who to call if you can’t unclog it yourself.

The first thing to do if you think you have a central vacuum system clog is make sure it is actually a clog and not an issue with the vacuum unit. To do this, you must go to the unit and unplug the hose from the intake. Once you slide it out, turn the unit on by either flipping on the manual switch on the vacuum unit or connecting a host to any of the inlets. If you feel full suction power at the intake hose, you know you have a clog. If, on the other hand, you feel weakened suction at the intake, then the issue is with your vacuum unit, and you might want to call in a serviceman to avoid further damaging the unit.

But if it is only a clog, the next step is to reconnect the intake hose and test each inlet with a napkin or tissue – if you put in one of these and they make it through the system, there is no clog in that inlet. If they do not make it through, then there is a clog which needs to be removed. To remove the clog, you simply set a high powered compact vacuum (something akin to a wetvac) up to the inlet, sucking the clog out through the inlet. This usually will be enough, but for some tougher clogs you may need to alternate between the wetvac suction and using the central vacuum system. Once the clog is removed, again put a tissue or napkin through the system, to ensure the entire clog is removed.

If this does not work for you, or if you do not have the machinery required to do this, contact a professional to help you out. The more information you can give the professional, such as which intakes are clogged, and what steps you have already taken, the easier it will be for the service person to fix your clog, and the cheaper it will be in labor and time. Do not, under any circumstance, try to dislodge the clog with a plumbing snake or other snake tool. Plumbing snakes are used on thicker PVC and can damage your piping. You also do not want to use a snake that can damage the piping in other ways, which is possible if you do not use the correct tools.