The most important decisions when choosing a central vacuum would be power & quietness. The idea of a central vacuum typically located outside your living environment is for it not to be heard at all. Noise pollution is one of the most common complaints we get when our technicians are out on service calls. Loud vibrating sounds throughout the house, screeching noises and certainly the neighbors know when you are using the central vacuum. Most central vacuum systems are installed in the garage, basement or a utility closet. In reality, the sound you hear would be at a minimal if your unit is designed for quiet operation.
The lower the decibel rating (dB) the quieter the vacuum, any central vacuum over 67dB is extremely loud and annoying. There's a HUGE difference between 67dB and 60dB. For example, a 60dB rating is so quiet you could whisper to someone standing right next to it and they'd hear it, whereas 67dB would have your eyes squinting due to the irritating loud sound level. While decibels are a measurement of sound volume there are a tremendous number of variables which can be used to create the desired sound decibel rating. There are shortcuts to having a quieter central vacuum without buying a whole new one, such as our deluxe muffler kit, but it's not a full solution. It's like a band-aid.
All premium central vacuum companies, such as PurVac, Drainvac, PowerStar, DuoVac, Canavac, and Electrolux, are the most popular and quietest vacuums around. These particular companies, we have found, use the most advanced acoustic sound suppression material there are available on the market to make some of the quietest vacuums possible and some even come with anti-vibration molded gaskets. Metal body units tend to be much louder than ones made of new ABS resin materials.