Central Vacuum Cleaner or Miele Vacuum Cleaner?

Eureka boss central vacuum and Miele Red Star vacuums compared

by Mercia Tapping, President, AllergyBuyersClub.com

A question was asked recently about whether to buy a central Vacuum System or a Miele vacuum cleaner, a brand that we rate highly. I will share with you my reply. I happen to personally own both a central vacuum and a Miele - so am probably in a unique position to tell you the pros and cons of both. The advantages of a central system are that if you own your own house, the dust can be exhausted to the outside - so nothing can be cleaner than that.

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If you live in a condo as I do, with a condo association which does not allow outside exhausts, the dirt collects in a giant collection bag in a container in the basement and needs replacing every few months. It is a little dusty when you replace the bags but nothing too much to grumble about considering how infrequently you do have to do this. One very long hose goes about 30 feet or so .It is a very quiet method of vacuuming as all the noise goes in the basement.

One thing I didn't know until recently is that central vacuum systems do not have to be built into a house right from the start. In fact, it is very easy to retrofit them. Eureka swear that their central vacuum kit can be installed by someone handy in half a day. If my husband installed it, it would be longer. If you buy the kit on the web and you have someone else install it for you, factor in the labor cost. The big minus of our central system as far as I was concerned was I had to buy an apron with big pockets and load it up with the hand tools. So guess what, the tools stayed in the closet - and if you really want to get your place dust free- and in my case, cat hair and dander free - using those tools are imperative.

I also found wrestling with yards of hose somewhat awkward, although I have to say my system is 10 years old and I intend to replace the hose sometime as now hoses are much lighter and easier to manipulate. And, remember -for total particulate free vacuuming, central vacuuming is the best way overall for allergy sufferers. It is a bit more expensive but not as much as you would think. In the meantime, I personally bought a Miele - the "Red Star", but if you have little carpet or no pets, The Miele "White Star" is easier to use, cheaper and will do you fine. Make sure you get a Miele with a hepa filter as not all Mieles come with one [carbon instead] although the carbon filter can be replaced with hepa in most instances- but it is an extra cost.

The advantage of the Miele is that it is that it is light, easy to move around and the tools are on board. I use the tools for everything- dusting bookshelves, lights in the bathroom pleated lampshades etc . Although the Miele consistently scores top or near top in any testing of particulate emissions- I was a little concerned before I bought one for my own personal use that it was not spewing dust particulates all over the place[ the trouble with most vacuums].

So, when I was doing some informal testing, I held a particulate counter right next to the exhaust. Interestingly enough, although there was some stirring up of particulates in the area right next to the exhaust, it really was microscopic and returned to normal in 4 to 6 seconds. I also held the counter up at head height and there was no change in readings what so ever.

Since, I decided that I was not going to be pressing my nose against the exhaust in everyday usage, I felt I was not going to give up much by using it instead of my central system. You do have to change the vacuum cleaner bag more often in the Mieles[same with any regular vacuum] as opposed to a central system and you do need to replace hepa filters at least once a year[more is better]- so there is some ongoing replacement costs with any regular hepa vacuum system. I am very happy with the Miele but I have found out recently that I can buy a hose and power brush from another company and retrofit it to my central system- still going strong after 13 years.

So I will probably do that sometime. Not out of dissatisfaction with Miele, which I truly think is an excellent machine but professional curiosity and somehow feeling as an allergy sufferer I SHOULD be using the central system.

If you prefer to order online - the internet equivalent is the Red Star with the HEPA filter sold in our store.

The Eureka Central Vacuum may be purchased in our store.

First Published: February 2000
Updated: April 2007

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