More Central Vacuum Information

Innovative Central Vacuum Accessories

We are in the home stretch of our new warehouse management and point of sale system and it hasn't left much time for blogging.  I did want to remind our customers of the great selection of central vacuum accessories we carry.  You can browse them here.

 

Among my favorite accessories is the HolsterVacRoger invented this little gem.  We have one in our assembly shop at the store, we have one in our workshop at home, and I have one under my kitchen counter in our vacation home.  It is sooo convenient because you just lift the wand from the holster and the central vacuum is turned on by a tiny induction switch...vacuum up your mess...and replace the wand to turn off the system.  They come with a ten or thirty foot stretch hose.  We've sold the Holster Vac for use in a variety of applications, including shops, beauty salons, and veterinarian offices.  Recently a large engineering school included them in their plans for their teaching labs.  It is so fast and so easy.  Check it our on our website and don't miss Roger's video.

Central Vacuum Customer Recommendations

The year is coming to a close and it's been a whirlwind year for us.  This small business has done our part to help with unemployment!  We've added several full time and a few part time employees this year.  We've also outsourced new  Point of Sale and Warehouse Management projects.  As we begin 2012 we are excited about a lot of changes that will take place during the first six months of the year.  Our customers will notice the improved features as we complete each of the projects planned for this year. 

No matter how many changes we make, our committment to our customers is what sets Central Vacuum Stores apart. Our expert staff has years of experience and are eager to answer ANY question you have, our prices are competitive and fair, if an item is in stock we ship quickly, and our return policy is customer friendly. 

Our customers are so great and often they send us "love letters" thanking us for the pleasant buying experience.  Business has kept us hopping this year, and I have not had the time to post many of our customer emails, (Since September I have saved 735 "love letters" from customers) so I thought I'd post just a few before the year ends.  I cut and paste these emails, so you get to read them just like the customer sent them.

 

Hello Centralvac, First of all, Happy Holiday and Happy New Year to you all. It is Thursday 12/8 approx. 10:35 am and I just received the product I ordered. At this time, I could not be any happier then what I feel right now. With your help and guidance, a simple task was able to be accomplished in just four days. This task, which was originally taking a licensed electrician / condo manager almost 3 1/2 weeks to finish, was totally completed in a nick of time by a real live honest to goodness MORON named Tony Archer. I spent less time and money dealing with the  REAL PROFESSIONALS at CENTRAL VAC then I did here back home with these no good incompetent #$$@#% FOOLS. I wish that I was RICH!  Because if I was rich, I'd send you all some money! But I'm as broke as a lawn chair found in a garbage can in the winter time!  Tony Archer

It was a great dealing with your company and your representatives.  They were so much help to me. The new neutone vacuum far exceeded my expectations. It is much more the vacuum than the last one I had to purchase to replace my original.  Your representative was precise and knowledgeable of what was needed.  She was kind and didn't make me feel like I didn't know anything which I really didn't. I have now had 2 dealing with your company and will continue to use you as needed.  Thank you again for your being so cordial to me.Mrs. John K. C.

Renee, I must say I have great experiences every time I deal with your company. I is not often these days when you call a company and have no problems and everyone is so nice.Thank you,Illyssa G

Renee, I would like to thank you and your entire support team for making our intercom purchase a pleasant experience.  From placement of the order through the installation process, you were accessible and stayed on top of everything.   You manage your business as though you were physically located next door to your customer.  Frankly, I was not expecting that level of service and attention to detail from a purchase that I made over the Internet.  Your follow up  is very professional and underscores the good decision we made in selecting you for our purchase.John H

Just yesterday my wife and I were discussing the better quality and suction of our new vacuum. The installation was a snap. I was able to replace the old Nu-Tone with the new Imperium in 2 hours. We are extremely pleased with the product and its operation. Michael D.

I am truly impressed with my new central vacuum.  I spoke to your staff and I was not pressured to buy any more than I truly needed and your staff even provided a small "discount" to me in consideration of my service to the US Military!!  You have earned my respect and my loyalty as a customer.Major Zack Kolnsberg

I have  been pleasantly surprised at the performance of the central vacuum system.  Most impressive is the suction power with the extended length hose.  The attachments provided meet every possible need.  I use the vacuum both in my home and in my workshop/garage.  The filter/bag combination provides both protection of the motor and ample room for debris.  If there is one shortfall it is this.  I live in the Southwest and during the summer months the heat from the central vacuum is very noticeable when I use it in a small room in my home.  Otherwise I plan to purchase additional units for other residences.   R. Reid

Hi Renee, Yes I am very pleased with my new vacuum!  I had an older model, I’m guessing about 20 years old (it came with the house we bought) and had I known that upgrading to the new model was going to be this good I would have done it much sooner!  My old model had an extra cord to attach to the vacuum head which was a hassle, the electric plug-in cord on the new model is longer than the old one which is good as well as it is permanently attached, also good.  Plus, the hose is lighter.  The customer service I received via the website and also via telephone was wonderful with friendly and knowledgeable staff.

thank you for your excellant service. the motor replacement for my beam vacuum was easy. a few screws to get the cover and exhaust off then spring clips, a ground screw and fast-on terminals to replace the motor. 15 minutes tops. Thank You. David M.

Dear Ms. Ambrose,Thank you for your assistance and sincere interest . I have been a Nutone  customer for almost 50 years and this is the third Nutone Central Vacuum that I have purchased during that period of time. All of them performed very well and to date the newest, the VX 550C, appears to be as good or even better than the previous ones.Thank you again and I wish to say that I'm very impressed with the service that Central Vacuum Stores has given me. Sincerely, C. W. Schiffert, M.D.

Hi Renee,I moved into a house that had an older central vacuum system installed but no attachments at all. I didn’t know anyplace that sold parts so I searched the internet and found your company. I’m glad I did. I found everything I needed and more! Plus you had a special running that day I found your site. Quick easy purchase. Quick shipping, and pleasant communication will have me search for no other source for parts and accessories.Thank you.John O

You solved our problem!  Your staff was so amazing because we were looking to replace a specific part and they went to great lengths to find that part for us.  We are very pleased and we certainly will use Central Vacuum Stores again.Best Regards, Annette S

I am extremely pleased with my purchase from Central Vacuum Stores.   Usually, I'm hesitant to order from stores or companies that I'm not  familiar with. After pricing a new attachment set for my central vac   at the local "discount" electrical supplier, I searched online for a   less expensive option. Although I found a cheaper price on the set I   needed, the company did not have a reasonable return policy. Central Vacuum Stores offered a lower price AND a generous return policy. I saved almost $100 and received my order promptly. The attachment set was everything as promised and I wish I had replaced my old set years ago. If you are a comparison shopper, this company is for you!>C. McCollum

Merry Christmas

We are waiting for the last set of grandkids to arrive tonight, then all will be well.  

Merry Christmas to all our customers and friends.  May you the find the joy and peace Christmas promises.

 

Beam Central Vacuum Alternatives

I'm not a big Macy's or Walmart fan. I know, I'm in the minority and I shop there, I'm just not a fan.  I have nothing against the companies, but they have too much duplicate stuff for my taste.  I know choices are important, but sometimes it's overkill and takes up too much of my time sorting through all the nearly identical products.

We don't carry Beam central vacuum power units anymore.(We do stock replacement parts for your Beam central vac)  Electrolux is the parent company of Beam and they manufacture Electrolux, Beam, Honeywell, and Eureka units, as well as some private label products.  We do carry Electrolux and Honeywell which are, for all intents and purposes, identical to Beam.  We also carry Eureka filtered units. In addition you can find  Canavac's Rhino Vac, Lindsey Manufacturing's AstroVac, and Imperium power units on our site,  all offering inverted filter models, just like Beam central vacuum systems, except they are  made in the U.S. and Canada. In total we have 15 different brands of central vacuum systems with inverted filters and that's enough.

Central Vacuum Stores has been in business since 1948, we have longevity and experience.  We are an authorized dealer for most of the major central vacuum manufacturers in the U.S. We carefully consider which brands we want to carry because we don't like to have to wade through nearly identical products when we shop, and we think our customers feel the same way.

 

Central Vacuum Cyber Monday Giveaway

Thanks to all our customers for making Black Friday a success.  I have been listening to Squawkbox on CNBC this morning and everyone is excited because internet sales were up on Black Friday.  We're really excited because we beat the internet increase IBM is reporting. Thanks to everyone who helped!

Today, on Cyber Monday, Central Vacuum Stores is giving away money!  Make ANY purchase over $100 and earn FREE Central Vacuum gift cards.  If you are installing a central vacuum system or intercom you can start your purchase today, earn a gift card, and when you complete your purchase you'll have a gift card to use! 

Today is even bigger than our Black Friday sale!  We are not  limiting your savings to any particular brand or product, you can save on everything you buy. 

Learn More About Our Gift Card Giveaway

Central Vacuum Says "Thanks" for a Great Year

Today, people all across the country will take time to reflect and offer Thanks for the blessings of life.  We like to let your customers know we are thankful and so once a year, on Thanksgiving, we offer absolutely free shipping on every single order that comes in, regardless of the size of the order. We normally offer free shipping on all orders over $60, but today the offer is for everyone. Not a lot of hype, just a free gift to all our customers. Tomorrow morning we hit the floor running, but today we rest and say thanks. 

If you don't want to watch the football game, Click below and take a look at our Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials.  We offer some of the best central vacuum and intercom deals on the internet.

Cyber Monday Gift Card Give-away

P.S. Another Thanks for all your support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  We were able to write a check for over $1400 to Moffitt Cancer Center thanks to your purchases of Imperium central vacs and attachment sets.

Central Vacuum's Oldest and Largest Dealer

That's right, at Central Vacuum Stores we stock over a bazillion different brands of central vacuum systems and as soon as old Tom harnassed electricity, our great, great grands were thinking about central vacuum systems. 

Absurd, right?

Well, on the internet it's easy to make claims that can't be substantiated.  Some central vacuum companies make all kinds of absurd claims.  Slappin up the most central vacuum power units on a website, does not make you the largest company, just the most prolific, and adding more years to your experience every time you update your website, doesn't really mean you are experienced, it just means you are a great exaggerator. 

At Central Vacuum Stores, we tell you the truth about who we are...so here are the facts...all verifiable via a variety of public sources.

Grandpa Chris  moved to Florida and started Central Vacuum Stores in 1948 on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida.

After serving in the military during the Vietnam War, Chris's son Roger graduated from the University of South Florida and joined the company in 1972.

In the late 70's Roger began installing central vacuum systems in homes in St. Petersburg, Florida and we are still installing today.  Intercom installation soon followed in the early 80's.

In 1998 Central Vacuum Stores put their first website up on the Internet, it was really bare bones.  Today we have over 17,000 skus on our website.

Faith Ambrose Elliott, Roger's daughter, graduated from The Florida Institute of Technology in 2005, worked for a structural engineer, passed her PE certification and in 2009 we asked her to join the company as our staff engineer.

Thomas, Roger's  son, graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology in 2009 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  Thomas has been working as an analyst in Nashville, and this year we asked him to join the company to help us find the most efficient way to run our company and service our employees. 

Dawn and Nathan, two more Ambrose offspring, assist part time answering phones and emails from our customers.

At Central Vacuum Stores we have 11 highly trained phone team members. Roger, Nathan, Tammy, Pam, Debra, Luke, Debra, Val, Brad, Jeff, and Mary are waiting to answer any and every question you have about central vacuum systems.

And That's The Truth!

 

 

Central Vacuums on Sale in our Bargain Basement

Faith, Dawn and I were recently in New York City. We ate at Carnegie's Deli, had pizza at Lombardi's, saw Spiderman, visited the New 9-11 Memorial, saw the "Occupiers" and  got to spend time with  a friend who is going to college in the Empire State Building!  Right up the street from the Empire State is the original Macy's.  Macy's in New York City is incredible...the size is staggering and it is the home of  Macy's Bargain Basement.  I think Macy's may have coined that term.  You can read more about their history here.  At Central Vacuum Stores, we don't have a literal basement, but we do have a virtual  bargain basement!.

When you sell as many central vac products to as many customers as we do, there are bound to be returns.  Sometimes we have to scrap the product because it is damaged or has to go back to the manufacturer for warranty purposes.  However, often a customer doesn't like the product, or didn't order the right product, or whatever.  Often, we put those items in our bargain basement.  Customers can enjoy some significant savings in our bargain basement, and all products we sell from there have a full warranty.  If you are looking for something in particular, just fill out our inquiry here, and we'll go searching to see if we have what you need in our own bargain basement.

Imperium Central Vacuum Products Join the Race for a Cure

 


This month at Central Vacuum Stores, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness,  we are joining the fight against all forms of cancer by donating dollars to Moffitt Cancer Center for each Imperium central vacuum power unit or Imperium attachment set we sell.

With the death of Steve Jobs yesterday, we are all reminded of the cost of cancer.  Make your dollars do more this month.  Everytime we sell an Imperium PINK central vacuum system we donate $20 to Moffitt Cancer Center to fight all types of cancer, not just breast cancer.  This month we are also donating $5 for each Imperium central vacuum system and Imperium attachment set we sell.  Join us in the race to find a cure.

Nutone Generously Replaces Central Vacuum

Recently, we got a call from a customer in Vermont whose home had been damaged by Irene.  This particular customer had purchased a Nutone VX 1000 from us, but before they could install it, Irene hit. These folks up north never figured on a hurricane and so their insurance isn't covering a lot of the damage.   

Roger contacted Tony Pierce, Southeast Regional Sales Manager at Nutone, to see if they'd help us with replacing the unit.  Well, Nutone to the rescue!  They didn't just help us, they offered to replace the entire unit for no cost.  Wow! 

Kudos to Nutone for their exceptional customer service and for going the extra mile to service our customers. It's great to partner with a company that has a heart.  

Take a look at the damage...look to the left and you'll see the Nutone VX 1000 that was damaged.

We Will Never Forget

Today is September 11th  and I am getting ready to watch the news coverage of the memorial service in New York.  The 9/11 Memorial is beautiful.  I'm planning a trip to New York in October and I just made reservations to visit the new memorial. 

A few years ago I heard a message from a 9/11 survivor.  He was on the 81st floor of the North Tower when the plane hit.  The message is powerful and I just wanted to share it with anyone who is interested in a story of hope.

A 9/11 Survivor's Story

Central Vacuum Remembers

This week we are remembering 9-11 at Central Vacuum Stores, so our blogs, Twitter and facebook posts will not include anything commercial just rememberances.  But before we start, I do have to mention Miele vacuum cleaners and give them a thumbs up.  In the weeks and months following the attacks on the World Trade Center we sent A LOT of Mieles to New York City.  People who lived near the Twin Towers needed to clean up dust on a regular basis, and officials were recommending Miele vacuum cleaners because of their superior filtration.  We aren't allowed to discount the price on Miele vacuum cleaners, but we did give some away to folks whose world was turned upside down.

The morning after the attacks I went into my youngest son's bedroom.  A few years earlier we had painted his walls with chalkboard paint for fun.  That morning, in several spots around the room he had drawn chalk pictures of the Twin Towers.  It was his way of memorializing those who had lost their lives.  I've never had the heart to erase those images, and today the faint outline of those images remains on the walls of that bedroom. It was not long after that same son started talking about military service.  In May he will be graduating from military college and commissioning into the U.S. Army.   The images of that day are never far from us, and this week we remember.

Central Vacuum Commercial Attachments and Accessories

We recently expanded our online offering of commercial central vacuum accessories and attachments.  We have been installing and servicing central vacuum systems, as well as commercial vacuums for decades.  Recently we sold some commercial central vacuum systems to the veterinarian offices at one of the largest zoos in the country. 

Commercial central vacuum attachments, hoses, and accessories are usually slightly larger in diameter than household accessories.

We have a couple of very heavy duty sets from our good friends at Lindsay Manufacturing.  In addition we have added numerous sets from CenTec, a leader in vacuum accessories and attachments.  The tools we are offering are diverse and have different applications. Here's a preview of what you will see on our Commercial Accessories page. Visit the page here

 

Attachment Sets	Hoses	Hose Cuffs	Plastic Tools
Metal Tools	Car Detailing Accessories

Clean a Central Vacuum Inverted Filter

Lots of central vacuum systems have inverted filters. . . Beam, Eureka Electrolux, Canavac, RhinoVac, Imperium, and AstroVac are among the most popular brands with inverted filters. You can view all the inverted filtered central vacuum power units on her website in one convenient location.  In years gone by, inverted filters were just a mess.  There's a very funny Youtube video about self cleaning filters on central vacuums, but it is an example of the older type of  filter.

The newer inverted filters are made of revolutionary materials that repel dirt and dust. My daughter Faith installed a RhinoVac in her home and she had a very long hair fuzzy dog, Max...Meet Max. Max went to college with Faith at Florida Institute of Technology.  (This is Max getting ready to go back to school after spring break)

Max was going to be the ultimate test for the ability of the inverted filter to resist dog hair, one of the worst things for clogging filters.  To be honest, we were surprised because Max's hair did not cling to the inverted filter on the RhinoVac.  These filtered central vacuum units are very popular, but even with the new material, we recommend they be cleaned ocassionally, once a year for most people.  Roger has another of his short videos showing how to clean a central vacuum inverted filter. 

Watch our video and learn how to clean your inverted filter.

Replace a Beam Central Vacuum Motor

Central vacuum systems have many advantages.  One huge advantage is their longevity which is only extended by the  ability to easily replace the motor in almost any central vacuum, including the popular Beam central  vacuum.   On our website we have absolutley everything you need to replace the motor in almost any central vacuum system.  (Newer Nutones and Airvacs do not allow you to change the motor)

First we have our motor finder, which is exhaustive.  You can use this tool to locate the correct motor for your exact central vacuum brand and model #.  Next we have a great DIY article outlining step by step instructions for replacing a central vacuum motor.  Finally, we have a short video of how to replace a motor in a Beam central vacuum.  Because all central vacuum systems are so similar, we demonstrated on a Beam, but the procedure is almost identical in any central vacuum system. 

If you still need some assistance, just call one of our experts at 1-800-221-8227.  At Central Vacuum Stores we have been installing and servicing central vacuum systems in our local market since the early 1980's, so we can talk you through just about any central vacuum installation or repair.  Our experts are all highly trained often have been involved in the installation end of the business themselves.

Over our many years of business Roger has been very involved in training the experts at Central
Vacuum Stores, but you won't get any tech support from Roger for the next few days.  Our youngest son Micah headed back to military college, to finish his last year of school, and Roger drove back with him.  Our oldest son, Nathan lives in Charlotte, our son, Thomas, lives in Nashville, and Sunday is our grandson, Justin's birthday...so... they all met up in the Blue Ridge area of Georgia for a little r & r.The area looks beautiful.   (Avenair Mountain Rentals, if you are interested in a nice vacation spot.)