InterVac GarageVac GH-120 Review

Specifications

Bars place each figure against the 7 garage and utility units we track, from the lowest published value to the highest, with the median marked. A bar is drawn only where at least three units publish the figure. Green sits on the better side of the median, amber on the weaker side; amps and weight have no better side.

"Not yet verified" means the manufacturer has not published the figure or we could not confirm it. We never fill a gap with a guess and we do not invent measurements: every figure is the maker's own or a specialty dealer's, and the source is named.

The short version

Who this unit is for

The InterVac GarageVac GH-120 is a wall-mounted garage vacuum, not a whole-house central vacuum. It is a 29.5 in tall, 9.5 in wide panel that sticks out 4 in from the wall, with the hose, wands and tools stored on it, and a 35 ft stretch hose that plugs into the unit. InterVac Design builds it in Palm City, Florida, and it takes about 2.5 sq ft of wall.

It is for a garage where depth is the problem: a bay where a car door swings close to the wall, or a narrow space between the garage door track and a corner. The peers are the Dirt Devil CV1500, another 1 gal unit with a 35 ft stretch hose, and VacuMaid’s GV30 and Garage Vac PRO, which are heavier steel canisters with 7 gal bags for buyers who have the wall space.

What the specs tell you

InterVac lists 530 air watts, 110 in of sealed water lift and 114 CFM maximum from a 1,300 W thru-flow motor with a thermal protector, drawing 10 A at 120 V. Air watts predicts cleaning power at the tool; 530 is a touch above the Dirt Devil CV1500’s 501 and the VacuMaid GV30’s 507. InterVac also publishes working figures, 72 in and 42 CFM, which describe the unit with air moving and are closer to what the hose delivers. Few makers print those.

InterVac rates it for 1,500 sq ft, the only garage unit in the group with a square-footage figure. That is a garage-and-shop number, not a house number, and we do not score it. Noise is 72 dB.

Collection is bagged: a 1 gal sealed HEPA-type Y08 dust bag with a Y21 motor filter behind it, rated to 0.3 microns, with a patented chamber that keeps the bag from collapsing as it fills. No certified HEPA rating is claimed. One gallon is the trade for the 4 in depth, and in a garage it fills fast. InterVac says dry pick-up only and not for drywall or sawdust.

Fit and compatibility

Nothing to pipe. The record lists no inlet systems and no pipe size; the stretch hose plugs into the unit. Mount it on drywall, wood or block with four #8 keyhole screws using the supplied template, at least 3 in above the floor so the exhaust has room. The attached 5.5 ft polarized cord plugs into a 120 V outlet; at 10 A it is the lightest draw in the group and will share a garage circuit. Exhaust outside is optional.

If you want it hardwired and flush, the GF-120 is the sibling to look at. The GH120-E-RC adds a remote control.

What’s in the box, and what you still need

In the box: the GH120 power unit with attached 5.5 ft cord and integrated tool caddy, a 35 ft stretch hose (8 ft collapsed) with pistol grip, X157 telescoping wand, X404 bare floor tool, X511 snake wand, X153 wall clamp hose retainer, X200 crevice tool, X251 elongated dust brush, X300 upholstery tool, mounting template and screws, and a Y08 bag and Y21 motor filter already installed.

Not included: spare bags (buy the Y08-5 pack), the remote control, and anything to pipe.

Warranty and support

InterVac warrants power units for two years and accessories for 30 days from the original purchase, against defects in materials or workmanship, for the original purchaser. A warranty card or online registration is required. Commercial use (hotel, office, restaurant, rental) is excluded, as are non-genuine bags or filters, and hoses and tools as wear items. No cash refunds. The older brochure’s six-year term is superseded.

InterVac’s warranty page says coverage applies to products bought directly from InterVac or from authorized retailers, and names Amazon as one. Its reseller policy prohibits unauthorized marketplace selling and tracks units by serial number, without saying how a purchase from an unauthorized marketplace seller is treated. Buy from the InterVac storefront or an authorized seller and register the unit. Support is by phone and email from Palm City, Florida.

Living with it

Expect bag changes often; keep Y08-5 packs on hand and check the Y21 motor filter at each change. Use genuine bags and filters, since non-genuine ones void the warranty. Keep sawdust and drywall dust away from it; this is a vacuum for grit, leaves and car interiors.

The stretch hose collapses to 8 ft and hangs on its wall clamp, and the tools live in the caddy, so the floor stays clear. At 72 dB it is a shop vacuum in noise terms; it will be heard through a shared wall.

What we’d verify before buying

• Which figures the seller quotes: current (530 air watts, 10 A, 35 ft hose, 2-year warranty) or the older brochure’s.
• Motor stages and motor brand: not stated.
• HEPA: described as HEPA-type; no certified rating stated.
• Whether you want the GH-120 (surface, plug-in) or GF-120 (flush, hardwired).
• Whether your seller is InterVac or an authorized retailer.

What's in the box, and what you still need

Most power units ship without a hose or powerhead. Our attachments guide explains which hose fits your inlets.