It normally has a large central vacuum with multiple hoses connected to it.

Bag breakage is an issue that arises with filtered central vacuums.

Filterless central vacuums are completely immune to such failures.

Instead, central vacuums exhaust spent air into a utility space, or directly outdoors.

The chief disadvantage of central vacuums is higher initial cost.

"People expect central vacuum, central air-conditioning and total prewiring for whatever systems they intend to install, but a home-automation system isn't on their wish list."

Learn more about how central vacuums work.

Why, then, don't most homes have central vacuums?

"That's the true spirit of a central vacuum," Mr. Kitney said.

What types of central vacuums are available?