2010 Ahoy!

As 2009 comes to a close, we look back at all of the things that happened this past year, both at Thinkvacuums and in the vacuum industry in general.

A lot has happened around the Thinkvacuums offices in 2009. We've had a few new employees come on board to speed up our order processing and shipping, been featured on Bravo Television along with the Carpet and Rug Institute, partnered with Drainvac International and filmed a segment for the TV show Designing Spaces on the TLC network, and of course our whole new website layout (which was a huge success!).

It's going to be hard to out-do ourselves in 2010 but we'll certainly try! This coming year, we're going to be introducing a lot of new and exciting products. Since technology changes faster every year, new products are always on the horizon, and of course we'll be here to introduce them to the industry.
The VDTA, which is held in Vegas every year, is sure to have a lot of new and improved products to make cleaning quicker and more effective. Also, Las Vegas is an awesome place to go to.

We sincerely want to thank all of our customers for continuing to do business with us, and we hope you'll like all the new stuff we have to offer in 2010!

Thinkvacuums annual holiday dinner super mega spectacular bash!

Last night we had our annual Thinkvacuums Holiday Dinner at an amazing pizza/wings place, anybody in South Florida knows that Anthony's Coal Fire Pizza is incredible. We had a Secret Santa this year in the office and we all exchanged gifts after dinner. Now, the Secret Santa gifts were all nice, but the gag gifts were the best part (I don't think listing them in the blog would be professional appropriate though!). In all, it was a good night with lots of food and lots of laughs.
If you ever get the chance to go to an Anthony's, you need to try to Paul and Young Ron pizza. It's named after the two biggest radio personalities around here, and it's delicious. Sausage, meatballs, hot peppers and ricotta cheese go very, very well together on Anthony's famous pizzas.

Anyway, with the end of the year coming around and the holidays going on all month we just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday and new year, and hope everyone has a good ol' family dinner as delicious as ours last night!

Now, the matter of who gets to eat what leftovers begins...they are now gone.

Thank You For Another Great Year

As 2009 gets closer and closer to becoming 2010, we wanted to thank everyone for their patronage this year. We've had a great year. Lots of good things have happened and we look forward to more great things this coming year. We have some projects that we're working on that just blow the pants off the competition when the time comes. We promise to continue providing the best customer service and the best prices on the internet. We know the holidays can be a stressful time for you. Just know that you can find anything and everything to know about central vacuums from our website. From exhausting outside to what system is best for the size of your home. We have it all here. You can expect some great things from us this coming new year, but I'm not going to give anything away too soon ;)

From ThinkVacuums To All Our Customers, New and Returning
HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Give us a call at 1-800-322-2965
Or to order visit www.ThinkVacuums.com

Oh and for your viewing enjoyment, a random video we just found..

Lights, Camera, Action!

Designing Spaces, a Quorum Production, featured on the TLC Network, as well as a host of different networks, just wrapped up filming their segment on central vacuums and how they are more environmentally friendly than ever. The episode is called Thinking Green with Central Vacuums. Martin Sevigny, VP and Head Honcho of Drainvac International, came down here and showed off one model in front of the cameras, and Robert, owner of Thinkvacuums, did the same with another model. They even filmed it at Robert's house to show off the Drainvac that's there!


Thinkvacuums and Drainvac were picked to be part of this enormous production on educating the public on how central vacuums can improve the air in homes everywhere - a "Going Green" theme. The production lasted the entire day with a director, stage hand, lighting people, sound people, and the interviewer. This was the real deal.

Designing Spaces wanted to plug Drainvac as the best, state of the art vacuum on the market. Quorum Productions researched all of the central vacuums on the market, and decided that Drainvac was the vacuum to feature. They found that Drainvac was the leader compared to the others, it's probably because it has the most unique filtration method as well as many "going green" features. They considered the Drainvac central vacuum the Mercedes-Benz of vacuums, without the high price tag.

You'll be able to check out our spot on Designing Spaces in a couple months airing on the TLC network, we'll keep the site informed when we get more specific information. And of course we'll have a copy of it on our YouTube Channel, and we might even Tweet about it.

Thinkvacuums introduces another product!

The new item we're introducing today is called the Mini Electric Stair and Upholstery Tool. It's made of super strong ABS plastic, which is virtually indestructible. The German engineered powerful motor requires zero maintenance. It measures in at 6 inches wide, and the rotating brush roller is 6 inches long as well, and it even self-cleans itself!

The smooth 180-degree swivel neck and sleek low profile allows you to get into small nooks and crannies with easy, and its large dirt channel and cogged geared belt prevents clogging. It has a slim side profile to make cleaning edges easier. Even the bearings are sealed to be dirt and hair resistant to clogging. It also features an automatic safety shut-off.

It's also a very quiet nozzle. Physically, it's rough matte black surface is rugged and fingerprint-proof. 11inch electrical cord easily hooks up to any electric hose, and the button lock design ensures it stays secured. It's easy to push and pull around your carpeting due to the smooth bottom plate.

Best of all it comes with a great warranty, 5 years on parts and 10 years on the motor.

This is great for stairs/steps as well as couches, chairs, auto upholstery, and for deep cleaning dirt, sand, and pet hair.

This usually retails for $99.95 but our introductory sale price will be only $74.95 and can be viewed on our website here.

Thinkvacuums introduces another product!

Thinkvacuums is proud to introduce another great product to the industry. We get many calls about the subject of dust mites and fleas, and it's especially a concern for pet owners. Pets can easily bring fleas into your home unknowingly. How can it end up in your central vacuum? Well, when your pets shed, flea eggs can fall on the floor, so when you vacuum them up they travel right to your central vacuum main unit. When you go to clean out the vacuum, if you have a paper bag that's a tremendous benefit because it's all contained in the bag, you simply throw the bag out; when you have a bagless unit you are exposed to everything that was vacuumed up. It's pretty gross to even look at, but it's bad because when you dump it out you're breathing in all the dirt that's falling out.

Dustmites are one of the most common causes of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. The main cause is some of the guy enzymes produced by house dustmites persist in their fecal matter, which is the strongest source of allergies. Dustmites feed on organic debris such as flakes of skin that humans shed every day. Did you know that an average person sheds about 1.5 grams of skin flakes every day? That's enough to feed about a MILLION dustmites!

We're introducing this product that will help many allergy sufferers who have problems with dutmites. For maximum allergen relief, DustMite and Flea Control is a specially formulated compound that mixes easily in water. It provides long lasting control over dustmites.
DustMite and Flea Control is clear and odorless, has a neutral pH, and will not stain lightly colored fabrics. Simply mix with water in a spray bottle and spray the inside of your central vacuum canister and/or the filters and bags, as well as any portable vacuum. For smaller areas like an upholstered chair, just mix one cup of DustMite and Flea Control to a half gallon of water and apply with spray bottle.

What's more, University tests show one remarkable result is the long term effectiveness DustMite and Flea Control has on lowering the dust mite populations. The numbers of dustmites detected in these efficiency studies were extremely low in week 2 and almost non-existent week 8.

This product is now available, you can view our information page on the DustMite and Flea Control here.

PVC Piping Information

Was your central vacuum installed with plumbing PVC instead of central vacuum certified PVC? I hope not...but if so, we now have adapters that will convert plumbing PVC to central vacuum PVC elbows and inlets. There are instances where installers either

1) look for the cheapest route and the cheapest place to get pipe to run for a central vacuum,
2) the installer believes that it's no big deal installing Schedule 40 PVC instead of CV approved Schedule 20, or
3) the installer doesn't know too much about the central vacuum industry and the do's/don'ts of this market.

Would a building inspector approve your Schedule 40 plumbing PVC pipe? Probably not. They'll most likely tell you to rip it out and put Schedule 20 (certified) for the proper code regulation.

If for some reason there is no building inspector and you must use these adapters, so be it. We'll have them on the site soon to sell, although we're not encouraging it at all. These adapters will cost around 3 bucks each. We know of some websites that sell these same adapters for about 3 or 4 dollars each, multiply that by the 50-75 of them you may need, it can get very costly in the long run. So by using plumbing PVC, it can actually cost you more than if you used the right PVC the first time.

First of all, the angle of the elbow on central vac PVC is much larger than Schedule 40 so it doesn't restrict airflow. Plumbing PVC also has a smaller diameter, which is mostly made for water to travel through and is not wide enough for central vacuums. Schedule 20 PVC has a much smoother internal surface, which prevents air flow resistance which can be very harmful to your system. One internet source claims that schedule 40 PVC is ok to be used as a replacement if you cannot find proper Schedule 20.

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. 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. The nature of scrap makes it hard to keep out foreign materials. Because of this, reused p:lastic often contains foreign materials like metal, stone or other non-PVC plastic materials that cancause poor glue adhesion, holes, tears, rough inside surfaces, inconsistent wall thicknesses, out-of-spec diameters, or easily cracked pipes. This pipe cuts like a dream, reacts much better to PVC adhesive and is consistent piece to piece, order to order and year to year. It's near perfect outside diameter mates with fittings like they were designed to mate.

Lots more information can be found on our PVC pipe information page.

edit: We just put it up on our website, you can find it here in the New Items section.

20th Anniversary Celebration!

Yesterday, November 3rd, we celebrated our 20th anniversary of our brick-and-mortar store here in South Florida! Previously, we've had stores in California and New York. This is a second-generation business, passed down from father to son. Robert, the owner, started working in his dads workshop when he was only 8 years old, and for the past 32 years since has been involved in selling and repairing vacuums and central vacuums, dealing with customers and owning several retail businesses.

Now, 20 years after the founding of our current location, we're doing better than ever. Our website, Thinkvacuums.com, is one of the largest dealers of household, commercial, and central vacuums in the United States.

My mother and father started way back in 1957 in Brooklyn, NY with pretty much nothing. Building this business one customer at a time, making them happy to tell their friends and spreading the word that there's a vacuum store in the neighborhood. Word got around, business grew, and the rest is history.

In fact, we're still very much a family owned business, with myself and my wife running the business and my mom helps out in the retail section assisting customers. We hope a third generation will take over in time.

We love when customers call or walk into our store. We feel that we are the pros in the industry. We have the knowledge people want and we're more than happy to educate the community. Our team of knowledgeable staff is here to assist anyone looking for a home-type vacuum or central vacuums.

All the staff here at Thinkvacuums sincerely thanks all of our suppliers and especially our customers for their business. As a bonus to truly say thanks, anybody who calls us will receive an additional discount off our already low prices, just by mentioning this 20th anniversary blog post.

Again, thank you to everybody for their continued patronage!

Introducing a great new product...

Thinkvacuums introduces yet another great product to the central vacuum market. The exhaust vent deflector...what does it do? Do I need it? Will it stop my rodent problem?

First, everyone who owns a central vacuum and vents outside should buy this product. This one product solves all of the problems people face when exhausting a central vacuum outside. It was developed to keep out birds, rodents, and other crawling animals like snakes, etc...you get the idea. From entering your home via the central vacuum pipes.

In most weather conditions, it also covers and deflects rain, snow, sleet, and sun rays. Installation couldn't be easier, it installs in minutes by simply covering the existing central vacuum vent.

Could it stop smaller animals? No, it wasn't designed for that.
We've never been a real fan of exhausting outside, click here to read some truths about outside venting.










To check out the Central Vacuum Exhaust Vent Deflector, click here.

The All New Miele S2 Series

We're happy to announce the newest line of Miele canister vacuums hitting the market! The Miele S2 Comfort Pricing Series canister vacuums are affordable, lightweight vacuums that deliver incredible performance and have top-notch hygienic filtration using a combination of Active HEPA filters and HyClean dust bags.
These new S2 canisters are an excellent value without sacrificing Miele's legendary high-quality engineering. These are ideal for first-time Miele customers or people who need a second vacuum cleaner.

There are 3 models, the Delphi, Olympus and Titan. All 3 feature a super powerful 1,200 watt Vortex motor system, which are custom made by Miele themselves. Whether you have high pile carpeting, low pile carpeting, or hard surfaces, there's a Miele S2 canister vacuum that will meet your needs. All of these models also include accessories such as a dusting brush, upholstery nozzle and a crevice tool, as well as convenience features like an automatic rewinding power cord and a 6-speed rotary dial for suction power control.


Last year we were Miele's #1 top dealer in the whole state of Florida, selling more units than anyone. The name Miele is becoming so strong in the industry these days that it's winning over the critics. The Callisto also won the Consumer's Digest Best Buy Award.

You can view our full line of Miele upright and canister vacuums on our website, or go directly to the S2 series.

Central Vacuum Deodorizer

Introducing the newest product offered by Thinkvacuums.com, the Central Vacuum Deodorizer!

One of the biggest complaints we have about central vacuums is the smell/odors coming from bagless, cyclonic, even bagged central vacuums. Whether you have pet problems such as dander and hair everywhere, smelly kitty litter, or maybe an "accident" on the carpet. Simply sprinkle a bit of the Central Vacuum Deodorizer on the carpet and vacuum it up! You don't have to cover the entire carpet to get the fresh smell, it works while inside of your vacuum as well. You don't have to come into contact with any hazardous cleaning chemicals, the container has a flip top with holes to make pouring on your carpet easier, it's also non-toxic so it's safe to use.

Remember, what you smell is also what you're breathing in. It makes sense to deodorize your vacuum. If you ever shampoo your carpeting or have it professionally cleaned, this product is safe enough to use if the carpet is still a little damp. It works great for other uses such as boats, RV's, automobiles, portable upright vacuums, canister vacuums, even garbage cans.

Did you know that carpeting typically retains a foul smell, which in turn makes your house smell. This is caused by dust and dirt, foot odors, pets, etc. all contribute to odors that stay within the fibers of the carpeting, so it's always a good idea to vacuum often and use the Deodorizer periodically to keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

This product is proudly made in the United States.
For more information you can view our website by clicking here!

Ametek-Lamb Central Vacuum Motors

Ametek-Lamb, one of the largest central vacuum motor manufacturers in the world, deserves many props for introducing the physically largest motor to ever be made. Clocking in at a whopping 8.4" in diameter, with 110" of water lift, is a bigger sized motor necessarily better or more powerful?

The answer to this question is simply "no, it's not". One downside of these motors is that it has only a single fan blade, while other motors have two or even three fan blades, which gives it more of a "pull action" or water lift. This motor was designed to carry it's strength through lots of central vacuum piping footage. Ametek is soon releasing a stronger, more powerful line of motors while still staying at 8.4" in diameter.

The secret about this motor is that it will lower airwatts but bring up the water lift to a more respectable measurement, creating a better balance for more suction power. We're very impressed with this new motor and are looking forward to it's release.

To the left is a picture of a brand new motor Ametek's come out with. This motor pushes it's limits at about 700 airwatts. The motor itself is assembled in Mexico using parts of unknown origin, but typically from China. We know of 3 central vacuum manufacturers that have rejected this motor because it did not live up to the testing criteria. We at Thinkvacuums personally have tested this motor and don't see anything wrong with it. But, just because we think it's a good motor doesn't mean we'll be labeling it as such, because at Thinkvacuums we try to look at things from an unbiased viewpoint, unlike some internet resellers who push whatever fattens their wallets more.

Both Domel and Ametek-Lamb motors have their good points and bad points, like many things in life. We try to look at things without any bias, and we display this by offering our customers a choice; Thinkvacuums sells a wide variety of central vacuum brands that utilize both of these motor manufacturers. For example, take DuoVac, a company who wins awards every year for quality and design, uses the Ametek motor in their central vacuums. We also carry Drainvac central vacuums, known for their incredible engineering, who uses Domel motors in their vacuums. A little known fact about Drainvac is they actually also use Ametek motors in their Wet/Dry central vacuums!

Just like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, these two motor manufacturing giants thrive off each other and constantly play the cat-and-mouse game and are always trying to out-do each other. In the end though, it's we the consumers who win, because they each keep coming out with better and better motors.

P.S. Ametek-Lamb motors are not American-made motors, like some companies claim. They were at one point, but it's been a long time since. They are a company based in America who designs and manufactures their products overseas. If they are so sensitive and don't like people talking about their motors being assembled in Mexico using Chinese parts, maybe they should re-think their strategy and open up manufacturing plants here in the States, giving Americans jobs. We know of one company in particular in the northwest that claims their vacuums are "American Made", when in reality the motors are made in Mexico/China, relays/transformers are made in Asia, nowadays the metal used in construction are imported from South America, and are only assembled in America.
There is no American company that makes central vacuums. Fact. It's unfortunate, but that's how it is.

For more information on Ametek motors, visit their website by clicking here.
For more information on Domel motors, visit their website at Domel.com or view our page by clicking here.
You can also view a video of their manufacturing process on the Thinkvacuums YouTube channel by clicking here.

Domel Central Vacuum Motors

The best just got better. Domel, the largest European motor manufacturer in the world, will be introducing their new lineup of central vacuum motors soon. Domel sat down with 3 of the major central vacuum manufacturers in the world and asked them what they'd like to see in a motor, now through a collaboration of ideas they're putting the finishing touches on their new top of the line motors. This "spy shot" is of one of several of their new motors which have taken years to develop.

These new motors are very high-tech and pretty hush-hush....very little information is known about it until it's officially unveiled at the VDTA trade show in Las Vegas. The little that we do know about this motor is that the power is...well, vicious would describe it pretty well. They're also going to be 10-12% cooler during operation due to new compound materials that should eliminate carbon dust by at least 45%, which in turns makes the motor much more efficient and longer lasting than ever before.

There is no model number or identification for this motor yet, it's still in production and has been in the testing lab for countless hours for longevity and durability, and emissions testing is showing it's much more eco-friendly than ever before.

The quality of the materials used in the motor is unmatched...the bulk material compound (the part sitting on top of the aluminum) is the same material that BMW and Mercedes-Benz uses on their air intake.

Out of all of the central vacuum companies out there, the first one to be receiving and using these new motors will be DrainVac International, based in Canada. We believe the warranty for this new motor may double, the sound (dB) levels will drop, and need even less servicing than other motors. The relationship Domel and DrainVac has go back many many years. They both set the standards for the industry that all other companies try to follow. Someone's got to be the leader...

Simply put, these new motors are over-the-top and we can't wait until we're able to offer them on our website and have them in new lines of central vacuums, which are coming very soon. More details to follow.

Our next blog will be about the American central vacuum motor manufacturer, Ametek-Lamb. Stay tuned for that!

For more information on Domel motors, click here.

Nutone Intercom Systems - Now Available!

Nutone intercom systems are now available on our website! For years, we've been selling intercoms to builders and DIY-ers. The Nutone company finally persuaded us to put their products on our website. If you're installing an intercom master station to remote stations and door speakers, or if you need wiring or just technical advise, feel free to call us at any time; or for even more technical assistance you can call Nutone themselves at 1-888-336-6151.

We're now introducing in-home entertainment, security and communication systems from Nutone, the leader in "styled for today" radio intercom and intercom systems. You can choose a 'Master' station in a variety of colors and functions to pair up with recess wall-mounted speakers and remote stations. They are the easiest, most affordable way to build security, convenience and entertainment into your home. And with a variety of style and color options, Nutone has a system to compliment the decor of any home.

Music, news, information...in any room, at any time! A Nutone intercom system can play your favorite radio stations throughout the house, the CD system adds crisp, clean music on demand to any room. You'll be amazed by the superb sound quality produced by Nutone intercom systems. Nutone remote stations fill your home with music...indoors and out!

To check out our line of Nutone intercom systems, click here.

Using PVC in Commercial Applications

"What's the difference between plumbing PVC and Schedule 20 PVC? It's just PVC pipe I can install whatever I want, right?" "What type of PVC pipe should I use in commercial applications?" We come across these questions from our customers fairly often...The number 1 rule of thumb would be to never use Schedule 40 PVC piping in the home. Schedule 40 is not certified to be used, and it has not been approved for use in the home. We're hearing so many horror stories that people have to rip out the PVC Schedule 40 they have used or a builder has installed for them.
Many of these stories end in hundreds of dollars of waste and labor costs because the Schedule 40 was not up to building code for a central vacuum application. More and more states are following increasingly rigid code guidelines for installation purposes. Schedule 40, also known as "plumbing PVC", should only be used for sewage or plumbing applications. Schedule 40 elbows, wise T's, etc., have too small of a radius, which will hinder the suction power from the central vacuum, causing too much turbulence and restricting airflow.

The only times you should use plumbing PVC would be for a commercial application, and it would have to be a 3" opening instead of the standard 2" opening. Another application would be to hide a 2" Schedule 20 pipe underground by using the 3" plumbing PVC as a "jacket", or cover, for the Schedule 20, thus not causing the 2" PVC to crack from the pressure of the dirt or cement it's buried in.

Any and every central vacuum company will not endorse using plumbing PVC, for the reasons mentioned above.
Please read our information about PVC pipes if you're installing or thinking of installing a central vacuum system, it's very important. Click here.

Busy bees at Thinkvacuums

Everybody here at Thinkvacuums is so thankful to have such great customers. We wouldn't be where we are today without our great customers, and fantastic staff. Our biggest asset as a company is our professional and extremely knowledgeable staff, they're the backbone of Thinkvacuums.com.

We pride ourselves on getting orders shipped out to you as fast as possible. The overwhelming amount orders have given us the need to bring in two new employees to help pick, pack and get orders ready to ship. Unfortunately, a lot of companies are laying off their employees, so it gives us some satisfaction knowing we are able to open up some new jobs to help out good people in a rut.

Since the launch of our newly redesigned website, we've been getting a lot of feedback on how people feel about it and how they're using some of the new features. My email inbox is full of compliments saying how easy and informative it is, even some great suggestions on things people want to see. Remember, you can always send us an email 24/7 about anything, but we really like hearing what people want to see in a website. After all, anything that makes our website better is better for us and better for consumers - it's a win-win situation!

Feeling secure with a company is very important, especially when ordering online. We just wanted to take the time to remind everybody that we absolutely do not sell or give any personal information away to anyone or any company. You'll never get any spam emails from us either, we hate spam just as much as you do. Our shopping cart is secured with top of the line SHA-1/RSA encryption; for the techies out there, you know that's about as good as it gets. Our certificate is issued by GoDaddy.com, one of the largest and most trusted domain registrars out there.

Again, thank you to all our loyal customers. And for our new customers, you'll never be more satisfied with your purchase knowing that you got the best expert advice on internet. Our expert staff will assist you with any question you may have.

Give us call at 1-800-322-2965 or visit www.thinkvacuums.com for product and ordering information

PowerStar Revamps their Vacuum Lineup

PowerStar has decided to improve on an already great central vacuum. They're upping the power, putting bigger motors in their systems and adding features that customers will love. They have fallen back a little bit in the sales of their units for the past 2 years, and now want to create a big event in the central vacuum industry by bringing their units up to par with everybody else. Further information will come in a couple of days. We worked in conjunction with advice and feedback to make this universal change to all their models. Giving the customer more for the money is what it's all about, a better bang for your buck.

These machines have been so rock solid in the industry with a 1% repair rate, it is one of our favorite central vacuums of all time. Their units range in price and can usually fit anybody's budget. They smart with the smallest unit, called the Genesis, that's suitable for condos, small apartments, townhomes, all the way up to 20,000 sq. ft. mansion. These units now will not have to be vented outside and the filtration of these machines will increase and be better than ever before.
We'll let you know more about the new models coming in next week, we're looking forward to getting them in our warehouse and selling them right away.

Click here to check out our current line of PowerStar central vacuums. Give us a call at 800-322-2965, we've got some discounts on these units, just mention this blog post to receive up to $200 off special models.

Pets and vacuums, do they get along?

Pets, our small household friends for life. It's well known that pets and vacuums aren't exactly the best of friends, but yet they have to live in harmony.
Here at Thinkvacuums, we are bombarded with calls from our customers in regards to how to deal with their pet hair and related problems, such as dander and allergens, which lots of families suffer with.

What are cat or dog allergens, and what causes them? Cat allergies are typically caused by the development of an allergic reaction to the cats saliva. When the cat cleans its fur, the saliva is distributed onto its fur. The saliva dries and the highly allergic protein that remains on the hair surface breaks off when the cat moves about and becomes airborne. The size of these allergen particles is very small indeed, two microns or smaller. That's the size of many bacteria. One of the biggest concerns people have with a central vacuum is the odor. The solution to this problem is the new CanaVac Pet vacuum that actually eliminates all the odors, and is more powerful than any central vacuum on the market. Click here to learn more.

A powerful high-quality HEPA central vacuum should be part of every cat or other pet allergen avoidance strategy. It serves two purposes. First, it constantly reduces the concentration of cat allergen from the air, thus reducing the airborne exposure of the allergy sufferer. It also reduces the amount of cat allergen that settles onto room surfaces. Our feline friends track in not only dirt and sand but sometimes fleas and ticks when they do their business outside. You're also keeping a friendly environment for your pets inside the house by vacuuming often, if they suffer from allergens. How does a pet vacuum differ from any other central vacuum? There are a total of 11 distinct features that no other central vacuum has in combination with each other.


People that are looking for a household vacuum and not a central vacuum, the Miele vacuum company now introduces the all new Cat & Dog with the best odor control, highest filtration, and best sucking power of almost any canister on the market. You will love this canister vacuum. It was designed with people who have allergies / are pet owners. They have graded a winner with this particular vacuum and our sales have skyrocketed because of this. Here is a link to the all new pet vacuum from Miele, a must for any pet owner.

We hope everybody has a great Labor Day weekend! Stay safe!

Central Vacuum PVC vs Regular PVC

Some of the concerns we've heard from people in the industry. The most common question asked regarding piping has been, "Can't I use PVC that I can get an Home Depot or something?". The answer is NO you can't.

Here's why:
Plumbing pipe does not meet the ASTM F2158-01 standard that was specifically written for pipe and fittings to be used in central vacuum systems. this standard, while not in force all over, is now being checked by inspectors in more and more areas. Since plumbing pipe does not meet this standard on several points, technically, a building inspector can reject an installation and order the pipe removed.

In a completed house, if they find a piece of pipe in a wall, they won't be able to tell if it is central vacuum tubing or plumbing pipe if everything has been done in the plumbing pipe.
Does the slower speed of air and dirt flowing through the plumbing pipe affect the performance of the central vacuum units? I don't have the answer but the 2" plumbing pipe is about 10% larger ID than vacuum pipe which translates to a 21% larger cross sectional area. This theoretically slows the speed through the pipe by 21%. Dirt moving at a slower speed may drop out and collect somewhere and plug up the piping system.

Is the smoothness (or lack of smoothness) of the plumbing pipe an issue? Are the inside joint areas between the plumbing pipe and the corresponding fitting smooth enough for dirt flow?
How are the transitions handled between the plumbing pipes to the outlets, canisters, etc.

It's important to use the right pipe and not skimp on a few bucks here and there. Do the right thing the first time around.

For purchasing central vacuum pipe you can either give us a call at 1-800-322-2965 or visit the installation materials page for everything you need to properly install your central vacuum.

Cash for Clunkers (for Central Vacs, of course)

Is your vacuum burnt out? Noisy? Smelly? Not working? Is it time to replace it? Just like the car industry has pretty much been successful with the "Cash for Clunkers" rebate program, we've decided to offer our own Cash for Clunkers program for central vacuums!

We have joined forces with 5 of the top U.S. selling central vacuum companies to have a giant rebate sale for one week only. The sale starts Saturday 8/22/2009 through Saturday 8/29/2009.



Get a $50 off instant-rebate for any participating company:
- DuoVac Central Vacuums
- DrainVac Central Vacuums
- PurVac Central Vacuums
- PowerStar Central Vacuums
- WalVac Central Vacuums

Any and all models from these companies is a special offer, available only through Thinkvacuums.com. To qualify for this special, you need to call in at 800-322-2965 and place the order over the phone with any one of our trained staff members, and mention you want to cash in on the Cash for Clunkers deal. It's that simple! A deal this great doesn't come around too often, take advantage of it while it lasts! There's no catch, no gimmicks, just great savings.
Remember, this deal only lasts for one week only (or while supplies last).

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Top Dog of the Industry - Drainvac Central Vacuums

One of the largest central vacuum manufacturers - Drainvac - recently traveled from Canada to the Thinkvacuums store today. Martin Sévigny, Drainvac's Vice President and Director of Production, stopped by personally to talk about the latest and greatest coming from Drainvac, and to award Thinkvacuums as the Top Dealer of the Year for Sales and Customer Service. We feel honored to receive this prestigious award.
Out of all the internet dealers of vacuums and central vacuums, Drainvac chooses Thinkvacuums exclusively to carry their superior vacuums year after year. Our huge customer base and top-notch customer service continues to impress the head honchos at Drainvac.
What makes the Drainvac company so unique? Is it the impeccable construction of their vacuums? Is it their longevity? Every unit is designed to last 20 years and uses far less energy than almost any other central vacuum on the market.

-- BREAKING NEWS --

Hot off the news press, Drainvac was chosen in conjunction with Thinkvacuums, out of every other central vacuum company, by TLC Television Network, to have a whole segment about central vacuums and how they work, how beneficial they are to people who suffer from asthma and allergies, and also will go over their Going Green features that highlight Drainvac's forward-thinking initiative to make their vacuums safer and friendlier to the environment. Keep an eye out on the TLC network for it! It's being produced now and will air in the first quarter of next year. We at Thinkvacuums were so shocked and feel very privileged to be a part of this television event. We thank Drainvac for picking us to have it filmed in our neck of the woods and they'll be there with us for the filming.

View all of Drainvac's Central Vacuum Units

Introducing the Cabinet Vac by interVac

From the folks that brought you the GarageVac has now released a central vacuum system that is both easy to install and portable. Meaning you can move it to different areas of your home or place it in an RV or Boat to save space that normally would be taken up by an upright or canister vacuum. Can be easily installed with or without pipe fittings. By centrally locating the vacuum unit, one interVac vacuum along with the accessory kit can clean a 1200 square foot area with ease. Need to clean more space? They have you covered, by simply adding additional vacuum units you can increase the square footage, so every inch of the surroundings are dirt and allergen free. The accessory kit comes with a stretch hose that reaches a maximum of 40 feet and shrinks down to 8 feet for easy storage. The vacuums feature a 400 airwatt motor with 100 waterlift, 120 volts, 12 amps. It's made of durable Polycarbonate/ABS that will not rust or break and uses a high efficiency Micron Triple-Filtration Process with a dust bag to catch all your dirt.

There are 3 models to choose from. The easiest being the Model H, which is a surface mounted unit with a built-in inlet valve located on front of the unit. The "H" means it is designed to hang on the surface of a wall using four screws or Velcro. The vacuum has a six foot electric cord attach so no special electrical hook-up is required. This model can easily be removed and remounted in other locations with extreme ease.

The next model is the Model F. The "F" mean it is designed to be mounted flush (recessed) into a 2x4 interior wall, a cabinet or any other stable surface. The unit does not have a electric cord and must be hard-wired for a proper electrical connection. It's fairly easy to install. All you have to do is drill out the four corner indentations, and by following the template provided for you with the unit, make a cut out for the unit into the wall. Wire it up to a near-by electrical outlet or circuit breaker and secure the vacuum with four screws. It's that simple.

The last model they released is similar to a traditional central vacuum system. This model is called Model RM & RMG. A vacuum inlet is installed in a convenient place in your home, like your living room and the unit is mounted on the other side of the wall or further away. A 2inch flexible hose connects the valve with the unit. Ideally it's best for condos, town homes, engine room in a yacht or in an office setting. One power unit can take care of an area between 900 and 1400 sqft. This model is broken up into 2 sub-models. The RM is supplied with an electric cord for an easy power connection. The RMG is to be hard-wired into an electrical outlet or to your circuit breaker. Other than that, the units are the same.

We just started selling these and those who've already purchased them have called us back to let us know how well they work and how extremely easy it was to install in their home or RV. They come in 3 colors: Beige, White, and Black. And start at $289.95 for the unit and a deluxe attachment kits. The kit comes with the stretch hose, an adjustable non-corrosive one-piece telescoping wand, a floor/rug tool, dusting brush, upholstery tool, crevice tool and a mesh storage bag to keep all these things in a nice neat place.

For more info on the interVac central vacuum or to purchase one of these systems, give us a call at 1.800.322.2965 or visit ThinkVacuums.com