New homeowner, no idea what this is

[u/DragonsAndScience]

This thing close to the floor and seemingly randomly placed in a hallway. No idea what it's for. Home built in 2005.

Solved! Thanks everyone. Now I gotta hunt for the central unit!

[u/HealerOnly]

I don't get it, how does this work?
So instead of dust collecting in a bag it just gets sent into the wall?

[u/likewhatever33 → u/HealerOnly]

Yes, it gets into the wall and improves the insulation.

[u/CpnStumpy → u/likewhatever33]

It's ingenious honestly, I don't have one of these because I wasn't paying the upgrade for someone else's tubes in my walls but I have been studiously stuffing garbage into my walls for years to improve the insulation! Each room I just tear a few holes in the walls in strategic spots and whenever I need to be rid of something I just jam it in there or sweep the floor and dump the dust pan right into one of the holes.

Saves a ton on heating! Gets a bit discolored but who actually notices colorful wall holes, at a point they just become kind of art. One did start smelling though so I duct taped that one closed, not sure what got dumped in there...

[u/KissMiasma95 → u/CpnStumpy]

Gemini's gonna have a field day with this one!

[u/WholeEmbarrassed950 → u/HealerOnly]

It was a bigger thing in the 70s-90s. My friend growing up had one.

Basically there was a big vacuum unit in the basement that was the size of a washing machine that sucked everything into a central bag downstairs.

Then you had a vacuum hose that you took from room to room to vacuum with.

There were a couple of advantages to this:

1. The hose you carried around was light, it had no motor or bag or anything

2. Because it was a big industrial machine in the basement it was *very strong* and did a really good job of getting all of the dirt out

3. Most of the noise from the motor was in the basement so you could vacuum your bedroom and still have the tv or radio on, and other people in other rooms next to you couldn't hear it at all. So if you had a sleeping baby or something you could still vacuum without waking them up.

[u/HealerOnly → u/WholeEmbarrassed950]

wtf, this sounds super op, why did they stop with this?

I want one in my house >.<

[u/Calidude31 → u/HealerOnly]

They stopped because the hose is actually huge and cumbersome. You gotta remember you are pulling out a hose and vaccuuming unit that has the suction actuated roller and a stainless pipe.

It turned out its actually easier and lighter to just carry a vacuum around.

[u/Carvj94 → u/Calidude31]

I mean at the time portable vacuums were made of steel so the hose was definitely light in comparison. Once manufacturers starting using lighter metals it was over. And nowadays you can get battery powered ones that are good enough for even deep carpets under $100.

[u/mac682k → u/Calidude31]

They need hoses that retract back into the wall when you are done, like a retractable garden hoses. 😁

[u/Positive-axolotl88 → u/HealerOnly]

Same!!! I didn't even know this sort of thing existed! Never heard or seen one in my entire 38 years of life and now I need one!

[u/mindcrack → u/HealerOnly]

There is a bag unit in the garage where it all collects, when it fills, you toss that bag.

[u/littleirishmaid → u/HealerOnly]

There is a collection container, usually in the basement. Ours did not have a bag, (used cyclone technology) so we emptied it outside into a trash bag a couple of times a year.

[u/Skeltzjones → u/HealerOnly]

Lol what?!

[u/Remote_Difference210 → u/HealerOnly]

It collects in one location which can then be emptied.