Central vacuum cleaner

Central vacuum installed with an air inlet
Antique central vacuum inlet located in a dining room at Château Dufresne (Canadian Register of Historic Places, c. 1918)
Typical central vacuum cleaner power unit for residential use (North America)

A central vacuum cleaner (also known as built-in or ducted) is a type of vacuum cleaner appliance installed into a building as a semi-permanent fixture. Central vacuum systems are designed to remove dirt and debris from homes and buildings by sending dirt particles through piping installed inside the walls to a collection container in a remote utility space. The power unit is a permanent fixture, usually installed in a basement, garage, or storage room, along with the collection container. Inlets are installed in walls throughout the building that attach to power hoses and other central vacuum accessories to remove dust, particles, and small debris from interior rooms. Most power hoses have a power switch located on the handle.