Abstract: A built-in vacuum system which has improved vacuum drawing capability, an improved filtering system, and an improved vacuum hook-up arrangement. The built-in vacuum apparatus comprises in combination: (a) a container having therein at least one vacuum inlet port and one vacuum outlet port; (b) means for drawing a vacuum upon the vacuum inlet port, and exhausting drawn air through the vacuum outlet port; and (c) a particle filtering medium which is so disposed within the container that none of the effective filtering surface of the filtering medium contacts the container when a vacuum is drawn upon the system by the vacuum drawing means. The apparatus includes removable air-tight vacuum inlet post fittings and detachable attachments for installing one or more vacuum drawing means in the apparatus.