A vacuum leak is one of the things that causes a central vacuum system to slow down. 

Before using your central vacuum system, you must first make sure that none of the parts are leaking in order for your system to provide the vacuum suction required to capture and hold dust and debris. Otherwise, you’ll end up using an inefficient vacuum that scatters more dust into the air. 

Here’s how to find a leak in a central vacuum system and how to fix it.

Signs of a Vacuum Leak

You can tell if there is a leak in your central vacuum system if it is showing the following symptoms:

• There is partial or total loss of suction.
• The collection container or bag is not accumulating as much dust as it normally would.
• Dust seems to be scattered in the air as you are using the vacuum.
  

How To Trace Leaks In A Central Vacuum System

How to Find a Vacuum Hose Leak

The vacuum hose is the component most likely to spring a leak. Hoses get stretched farther than they should, or they become brittle and crack.

To find a leak, run your fingers over the surface of the hose. You may be able to feel a bump, a rough spot, or a slit that is allowing air to leak out.

If you didn’t find the leak, you will need to remove the hose from the vacuum, For canister vacuums, this is a simple process, but it can be more complicated on upright vacuums where one end of the hose is permanently attached. This usually requires unscrewing a panel to gain access to the hose coupling. Always refer to the user’s manual or search the manufacturer’s website for repair diagrams.

Take the hose to a large sink, bathtub, or outside to a bucket of water and fill the hose with water. Be sure to hold it from both ends so the water is trapped in the hose. With the hose in a U-shape, slosh the water back and forth until you can spot the area that is leaking.

If you cannot disconnect the hose from the vacuum, be sure to keep the motor components of the vacuum at a higher level than the water so that no moisture will enter the vacuum housing.

How to Repair a Vacuum Cleaner Hose Leak

Small repairs can be made easily and let you get back to cleaning. However, the best solution is to replace the hose. Many home improvement stores carry replacement vacuum hoses, or one can be ordered from the manufacturer.

Leaks Near the End of the Hose

If the leak is located near the end of the hose, use a pair of pliers to remove the plastic connector from the end of the hose. Then, use a utility knife to cut off the end of the hose above the leak. Replace the connector and reattach the hose to the vacuum cleaner.

Leaks in the Center of the Hose

1. For leaks in the center of the hose, duct tape is your best short-term fix-it tool. To get a good seal, clean the area around the leak with a sponge dipped in hot, soapy water to remove as much of the grease and dirt as possible. Allow the hose to dry completely before proceeding.
2. The hose needs to be stretched so that you can apply the tape flatly over the slit and a significant area of the hose. A broom handle that you have sprinkled with talcum powder or cornstarch can help you stretch the hose. (The talcum powder or cornstarch keeps the duct tape from sticking to the broom.)
3. Insert the broom handle and stretch out the leaky area. Use strips of duct tape to seal the crack. Overlap the strips to get the best seal.
4. Sprinkle some talcum powder or cornstarch on the floor and vacuum it up. This will coat the interior of the hose repair and reduce the chance of clogs from dirt and hair sticking to the duct tape.
5. If the repair begins to warp from the power of the suction, clean away the old tape and repeat the steps with fresh tape. Remember, this is a short-term repair until you can buy a new hose.

How to fix a leaky central vacuum inlet valve?

If you identify the loss of suction and it’s in a leaky inlet valve, you’ll want to start with unscrewing the inlet valve from the wall. If you need to remove any paint or wallpaper from the inlet, gently score around it with a knife to remove the paint or paper. This will safely remove the inlet and allow its complete removal from the wall. 

Gently pull and twist to remove the inlet from the wall. You won’t need to remove or cut any wires, so make sure to leave those intact. Taking some electrician tape, place one or two good wraps around the neck of the valve. This will help build up the gasket that has likely deteriorated in older inlets. 

Feed the wires back in safely, and twist the inlet back into place. Push it in firmly and parallel to the wall, and screw it back into place. This should help with air loss and help retain suction back in your vacuum system. If need be, go back in and place slightly more tape for added suction. One more go-around should do it. 

Other Ways To Detect Leaks In Your Central Vacuum System

Bubble Test

One of the simpler ways to test for air leaks is to use regular soapy water. After isolating and pressurizing the system, use a brush to apply soapy water to all potential leaking areas. These include fittings and threaded areas. Anywhere where a leak is present, the soapy water will start to bubble. You can then mark these areas and move into fixing those leaks down the line. 

Make sure to take care when pressurizing your vacuum system, as too much pressure can cause damage. O-rings and seals can become damaged if the pressure becomes too much. 

Tape test

Tape is another inexpensive way to test for potential leaks upon your vacuum system. Place pieces of tape on any suspected leaking areas and turn on your system. Any area that has leaks will cause suction, thus causing the tape to be deflected inward. Your system won’t need pressurization for the tape method to work. 

Ultrasonic leak detector

Ultrasonic leak detectors work by detecting high-frequency sounds that are associated with air leaks. These detectors convert these sounds to an audible range that is then transmissible through headsets. The one issue with this form of leak detection is its susceptibility to background noise. Any amount of background noise can mask or obfuscate the noise of a leak. 

Helium leak detector 

A helium leak detector is an incredibly accurate way of detecting leaks through the use of helium. A sensor is placed by the vacuum’s inlet and used to detect any increase in concentrated helium in the airstream. Helium is then sprayed on any potential leaking spots, and if leaking, the helium gets sucked inward. The sensor then detects this movement of helium and alerts the user to a leak.