Best Central Vacuum for Pet Hair

The only way you can certainly clean up stubborn pet hair is with a central vacuum system - but they're not all the same. Check out our suggestions for the three systems, which will eliminate that hair and leave your home smelling cleaner, too.

There are usually small annoyances – and sometimes, big ones – when you own a pet. Housebreaking the dog or getting the cat to stop ripping apart the furniture can be a routine. Those problems pale in comparison, though, to the never-ending routine of cleaning up ALL THAT HAIR.

During shedding season, even short-haired pets leave an impossibly massive trail of hair anywhere they go. Canister, upright, and hand-held vacuums marketed explicitly as "pet hair vacuums" typically don't have enough power to deal with the vast, matted clumps that dogs and cats thoughtfully leave behind for us. And they don't remove pollutants like pet dander, which stay in the air long after the equipment is turned off.

What you actually need is a robust central vacuum system designed for the work – whether you have a constantly-shedding German shepherd or sheepdog, or a sweet tabby who seems to delight in turning your dark couch into an orange and white blanket of hair. Courtesy of Think Vacuums, here's a look at the best selections.

CanaVac Pet Central Vacuum Systems

There are four levels of this central vacuum created specifically for homes with pets, but you probably don't need their budget offering since it has a lesser motor and doesn't have HEPA membrane filters to remove pet dander and odors from the air. The higher-level models have those HEPA filters, and more powerful Ametek/Lamb motors for a lot of suction: 600 airwatts and 101 CFM airflow for medium-sized houses (Silver), 710 airwatts and 139 CFM airflow created by an ESP (additional suction power) motor (Gold), or an even larger ESP motor with 808 airwatts of suction power and a whopping 169 CFM airflow (Platinum) for larger houses with lots of pets – and pet hair.

As central vacuums go, these are quiet equipment with sound levels between 55dB and 62dB depending on the model. They also have high-capacity storage canisters (which can be used either bagless or with a bag), which hold nine gallons of dust, dirt, and hair, so they don't have to be emptied frequently.

Some central vacuums aren't built with the messy problem of pet hair in mind, so they're not equipped to do the work efficiently and completely.

Imperium CV3800 Filtered Cyclonic Central Vacuum

While not intended to combat pet dander and odor (it has a Micro-Tex filter similar to that on the CanaVac Bronze, not a HEPA filter), this monster Imperium unit doesn't just pick up pet hair; it has enough power to suck the hair right off of your pet if you're not careful. A pair of two-stage motors produce an amazing 1040 airwatts and 220 CFM airflow, enough suction to grab every last piece of hair and dirt in a mansion. That means more noise (74dB), but impressive cleaning capabilities. There's a can volume of almost 10 gallons.

This system's abilities – not to mention the huge price tag – may make the Imperium too much for your home. But it will definitely make short work of pet hair.

Electrolux PU3650 QuietClean Central Vacuum Unit

A smaller unit, the Electrolux PU3650, is a nice, lower-priced alternative for medium-to-large homes with pets. It has a self-cleaning HEPA filter and a two-stage motor, which gives you 600 airwatts at 125 CFM airflow, adequate juice to get most pet hair out of your hair with comfort while also eliminating dander and pet odor from the air.

This unit's can capacity is just 4 gallons, but emptying the dirt more often could be a small price to pay for a central vacuum with the Electrolux name and the features you require to clean up after your dogs and cats completely.

Think Vacuums can quickly and efficiently install any of these units – or any other you may prefer – to finally give you the upper hand in your battle against pet hair.

Resources and References:

• How Central Vacuum Suction Works