Central Vacuum Education: Electric vs. Air
Electrically powered attachment kits include an electrified hose and vacuum brush head. There are two types of electrified hoses (right). There are Direct Connect hoses, which have little prongs that stick out on the wall-side of the hose and fit right into an inlet valve. And there are corded Pigtail hoses, which include a cord on the wall-side of the hose that users can plug into the nearest power outlet.

Electric Brush Motor

An electrically powered vacuum brush head has a motor that spins the brush, aiding the function of the vacuum by digging into the carpet with enough force to lift dirt from the base of the carpet. Some electric brush heads have power settings (low & high). Also, some heads like the Stealth brush have height adjustment settings for optimal use on short and tall carpets. Most modern electric heads have a microchip board that governs the RPMs and functions related to the motor and brush roller.

Electric Spinning Brush Roller


Because electric brushes have a motor assisting the brush spin, the brush loses less power to friction as opposed to Air Powered brushes that may stall if introduced to an increased amount of friction. Also, since an electric head isn't using the suction of the vacuum to spin the brush, more suction and air flow reaches the carpet.

Electric power heads will give your carpet that "Groomed" look that we come to expect from a vacuum cleaner. Because of the superior airflow, and the spinning brush, carpet bristles are lifted, vacuumed, and laid down in the direction that the power head is pushed. Air powered heads won't always do this because they simply don't have enough power.

Answered for
Electric Kit
Comparison 		Ace Kit
Hayden Kit BlackHawk Kit Ace Kit Stealth Kit
Price Range $449 - $461 $319 - $329 $439 - $449 $559 - $569
Customer's Ratings
28 Reviews
78 Reviews
53 Reviews
391 Reviews
MD's Ratings Old-Style Workhorse Entry-Level Best Value Highest Quality
Overload Belt Protection yes yes yes Circuit Board Sensitivity
Cogged Belt yes yes yes yes
Noise Not Quiet Not Quiet Quiet Very Quiet
Edge Cleaning* Good Acceptable Excellent Superb
Height Adjustment** 4 Levels x 4 Levels 12 Levels
Neck Swivel*** 90-degree x 90-degree 180-degree
Brush Disconnect
Foot-Release		 x x
Main Brush
Measurements (WxL)		 14-1/2" x 8-1/2" 13" x 8" 14-1/2" x 8-1/2" 15" x 8-3/4"
Furniture Clearance 3-1/2" 4" 3-1/4" 3-1/2"
Durability High Good High Outstanding
Headlight x
Pliable Crushproof
Electric Hose
Warranty 2-year
Entire Kit		 2-year
Entire Kit		 2-year
Entire Kit		 Lifetime Belt, 5-year Motor,
3-year Stealth, 2-year Kit
Main Wands 2-piece 2-piece 2-piece Telescopic
Secondary Wands x x Telescopic Telescopic
Swivel Hard
Floor Brush Wheeled		 12" 12" 12" Axis Floor Brush
6" Upholstery Tool
Air Relief Valve x
Basic Dusting Brush Deluxe Deluxe
Crevice Tool
Snap-On
Tool Caddy		 x x
Hose Hanger PVC Wire Wire Wire
Wand Wall Clamp x x x 2
Tool Storage Bag Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy
Purchase Options

*    Edge Cleaning refers to the side of the brush with the smallest gap between the outer edge of the brush and the suction chamber.
**   Height Adjustment allows for optimum carpet grooming.
***  Neck Swivel refers to the degree the hose handle can be rotated left and right. More rotation makes for easier maneuvering and more comfort.

Air powered attachment kits include a basic or low voltage hose and an air powered brush head. There is a switch on the low voltage hose that signals to the vacuum unit to turn on/off via a low voltage wire hidden in the hose. Basic hoses don’t have a switch, and normally the vacuum unit turns on when the hose is plugged into the wall or the inlet valve door is opened.

Air powered vacuum brushes channel the suction and air flow of a vacuum through a small tube in the brush (a smaller channel than in an electric brush). In the tube is a turbine which is forced to spin via the air flow. The turbine is responsible for spinning the brush in the head. The turbine duct is the only inlet for air in the brush, so all vacuumed particles pass through the turbine (sometimes stalling the spin). The suction of the vacuum (different from the air flow) determines how much friction the brush can withstand before it freezes. So, vacuum units with low suction (Water Lift) may not be strong enough for an Air Powered brush head. Consequently, if the air powered brush starts spinning slower for an unknown reason, it probably means your vacuum bag is full in the unit (causing less air flow).

Turbocat Zoom

Air powered heads do a good job on hard floor and short carpers. They also do a good job at picking up dirt and small particles on these surfaces, however, watch out for medium to large sized debris, because air powered turbines are easy to clog. To decrease the friction energy on the turbine, some air powered heads have less bristles on their brush like in the TurboCat shown to the left. Instead of a steady row of bristles, notice the gaps.

Use the comparison charts on this page to review specifications for electric and air powered kits and brushes. For expert advice, give us a call at (800) 997-2278.

Answered for
Air Kit Comparison
Basic Kit Combo Kit TT27 Kit TurboCat Kit Zoom Kit
Price Range $125 $115 $169 $255 - $349 $309 - $399
Customer's Ratings
39 Reviews
58 Reviews
21 Reviews
108 Reviews
106 Reviews
MD's Ratings Basic Air Only Combo Air Only Good Beater Quality Beater High Quality Beater
Overload Belt Protection x x x x x
Cogged Belt x x yes yes yes
Noise x x Mostly Loud Loud Loud
Edge Cleaning Acceptable Acceptable Good Excellent Acceptable
Height Adjustment x x x x x
Neck Swivel 180-degree 180-degree 180-degree x x
Brush Disconnect
Foot-Release		 x x x yes yes
Main Brush
Measurements (WxL)		 11" x 2-3/4" 10-1/2" x 3" 11-1/4" x 7-1/4" 12-3/4" x 12-1/2" 12-3/4" x 12-1/2"
Furniture Clearance 2-1/4" 2" 3-1/4" 3-1/4" 3-1/2"
Durability Good Good Good High Very High
On/Off Hose x x x yes yes
Bleeder Valve x x x yes yes
Warranty 2-year
Entire Kit		 2-year
Entire Kit		 2-year
Entire Kit		 2-year
Entire Kit		 2-year
Entire Kit
Main Wands 2-piece 2-piece 2-piece Telescopic Telescopic
12" Swivel Hard
Floor Brush Wheeled		 yes x yes yes yes
6" Upholstery Tool yes yes yes yes yes
Basic Dusting Brush yes yes yes yes yes
Crevice Tool yes yes yes yes yes
Hose Hanger Wire Wire Wire Wire Wire
Tool Storage Bag Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy Mesh Caddy
Purchase Options