Are you using the correct PVC pipe?

The average person might just think that PVC pipe is PVC pipe and that's that, but there is more to it than that. There are different sizes, thicknesses, schedules, and the material they're made from. A lot of PVC pipe is made from used or recycled materials that often contains foreign materials like metal, stone or other non-PVC plastic materials that can cause poor glue adhesion, holes, tears, rough inside surfaces, inconsistent wall thicknesses, out-of-spec diameters, or easily cracked pipes. This recycled material basically comes from discarded plastic products or scrap that is gathered together, ground up, reheated, and re-extruded into vacuum pipe. Scrap material typically varies from lot to lot depending on what has been ground up.

PVC piping is the most important part of a central vacuum system, more important than even the vacuum unit itself. If you're using the wrong kind of pipes, they can clog, break, crack, and leak air which will cause a drastic reduction of suction power and performance in any central vac system. It's very difficult, time consuming and costly process to tear apart walls and crawl around looking for a leak or crack in the pipes...it's better to do it right the first time.

The correct PVC pipe to use is thin-wall Schedule 20 pipe. Every single central vacuum manufacturer will tell you to use schedule 20, and will always advise against using adapters for schedule 40 pipe to make them work with central vacuums. Schedule 20 pipe has smooth interiors and uses larger sweeping elbows to maximize airflow, while Schedule 40 pipe is all about thickness and generally has very rough interiors and sharper elbows which hamper airflow, especially around corners.

Thinkvacuums.com is the exclusive dealer for FlowMax Gold central vacuum PVC piping. FlowMax Gold is produced only from 100% virgin PVC material. We use no recycled material or ground-up plastic of any type in FlowMax Gold.
FlowMax Gold is manufactured to rigorous standards to ensure part to part consistency. Better cuts, consistent fit to fittings, and superior cement adhesion let you get the installation done right and quickly the first time – every time. Sorting pipe at the job site, having to cut out bad sections, or in the worst case, getting a callback to the job site of a finished home where finished walls must be torn apart to find a leak, all rob you of your time and profit.

Have you ever had a problem with your fittings being too loose or falling off the pipe? Have you ever had to hammer a fitting on to the end of a pipe? If so, you’ve probably been seeing the effects of bad or inconsistent pipe outside diameter.
Using our proprietary, outside diameter production control technology, we have remarkable control on the outside diameter of our FlowMax Gold. This means a superior and very consistent fit.

So save yourself time and money - get the right piping the first time.


It's also getting closer and closer to the end of the year! It went so fast it's unbelievable! We want to wish all of our friends, family, and customers a very happy and safe holiday and new years, and we'll see you next year!