VacuMaid SR38 Disposable Bag Central Vacuum - 5.7" Ultra 2-Stage Flow-Thru Motor

The SR38 has the same compact body as the SR36 but steps up to the Ultra version of the 5.7-inch two-stage flow-through motor. VacuMaid sizes it for homes up to about 6,000 square feet while keeping the footprint small: 12⅞ inches across and 23⅜ inches high, with a 27-quart canister for a disposable bag. If your basement corner is cramped but the house has outgrown a smaller unit, that is the reason to look at it.

Where the SR38 fits among its siblings

Next to the SR36, the SR38 uses the same cabinet size and the same bag. What changes is the motor rating and the home-size guide. Against the SR52, it is shorter and ships with a standard paper bag instead of a HEPA-style one.

What you receive

• SR38 power unit with canister and a disposable bag installed
• Wall mounting bracket

The hose, floor tools, inlets and piping are not part of this listing.

Setting it up

• A grounded 120-volt supply whose outlet and circuit match the rating plate. VacuMaid lists a 14.5-amp maximum current, more than the SR36 draws, so do not assume a circuit that served an older unit is adequate.
• Six inches of clearance around the unit, plus room to lift the lid.
• A bracket fastened to solid framing, with the tubing and low-voltage inlet wiring connected as the manual directs.

VacuMaid rates the sound at 58 dB with the exhaust vented. That is the maker's own figure, handy for comparing models, not a promise about how it will sound in your house.

Bags and how often to change them

The supplied bag is a sealed paper bag; the reorder reference is HPB1. If you want the HEPA-style option, HPB2H is the one VacuMaid lists. Unplug the unit, slide the old collar off the stem, close the bag's flap and lift it out. Seat the new bag's collar in the stem groove and leave the protector plate and safety screen where they are.

Check it weekly at first. Fine dust coating the inside of a bag will restrict airflow long before the bag feels heavy. If a bag leaks, clean the screens per the manual before you restart.

Reading the motor numbers

The SR38 lists 740 air watts, 138 CFM and 138 inches of sealed water lift. They are peak figures measured separately, not a combined reading at the tool. Pipe length, elbows, leaks and the hose you choose set what you actually feel.

Warranty in brief

Eligible single-family homes in the U.S. get a lifetime limited canister warranty for the original owner and 10 years on the motor and internal electrical parts. The canister term stops if the original owner no longer owns the system or the original building. Commercial use is limited to 90 days. Brush wear, consumables, installation materials and installation work are excluded, and transportation or removal charges can be the owner's. Keep your purchase record.

Common questions

Can it replace an Imperium CV300?

VacuMaid calls it a quick and easy replacement for that model. Verify the intake position and mounting height against your existing pipe before you commit.

Why choose it over the SR36?

Choose it if the larger home-size guide, 6,000 square feet against 3,000, matters. The two are the same size, so the choice does not change where the unit goes.

Connecticut homeowners can call (860) 678-0011 with the dimensions of the current unit, and we will tell you whether it lines up.