Veterinary Clinic Wet/Dry Vacuum Systems – Keeping Animal Care Clean
Animal care facilities like veterinary hospitals, clinics, kennels, and grooming salons require rigorous cleanliness to prevent the spread of disease and keep animals and staff healthy. TVD Industries provides specialized wet/dry central vacuum systems for the pet care industry, making it easy to maintain sanitary, odor-free, and hair-free environments. Say goodbye to the mop-and-bucket and hello to a faster, more effective way to clean up after our furry friends.
The Pet Facility Cleaning Challenge
Anyone who’s run a vet clinic or groomer knows the mess is constant. Animals have “accidents” on the floor, cages and exam tables need frequent disinfecting, and fur gets everywhere from grooming and shedding. Traditional cleaning involves multiple steps: picking up solids, mopping up liquids, squeegeeing, and trying to sweep or vacuum hair that clogs regular vacuums. It’s labor intensive and not always thorough – odors can linger and germs can spread if not fully removed. Additionally, these facilities often use lots of water and cleaning agents (think kennels being hosed down, or exam rooms sprayed with disinfectant), so the cleaning equipment must handle wet conditions and even aid in the process by applying and then extracting fluids.
Another challenge is time and disturbance. In a busy animal hospital, staff need to clean up quickly between patients or in the aftermath of a messy procedure, all while keeping noise low to avoid further stressing the animals. Sloshing a mop around or running loud shop-vacs isn’t ideal when a nervous pet is in the vicinity.
TVD’s Wet/Dry Vacuum Solution
TVD has answered these challenges with a state-of-the-art central wet/dry vacuum system specifically configured for veterinary and pet care settings. Here’s how it works and what we provide:
Central Unit with Separator
We install a powerful central vacuum unit (often an Aqua Air or similar system known in the vet industry) usually in a utility room or closet. This unit is designed to intake both liquids and solids. Inside, it features a separator tank that traps solids/debris in a strainer or mesh net and pumps the liquid to a drain. All the urine, dirty water, etc., gets automatically discharged to your plumbing drain, while solid waste (like pet hair, kibble bits, kitty litter, etc.) is caught in an easy-to-empty basket. This design means no more lugging around wet shop vacs or dealing with foul water buckets.
Piped Vacuum Inlets Throughout Facility
We strategically route vacuum piping (typically PVC or corrosion-resistant pipe) around your clinic or kennel with inlet valves at convenient locations – exam rooms, hallways, kennel areas, grooming stations. Staff can plug a lightweight vacuum hose into the nearest inlet and have instant suction for both wet and dry cleanup. No outlet plug or motor to carry; it’s as easy as plugging in a garden hose. We often include different attachments: floor wands with squeegee heads for hard floors, standard vacuum heads for general use, and crevice or brush tools for tight spots.
Integrated Wash-Down and Chemical Cleaning
Here’s where it gets really helpful: our systems can integrate a solution sprayer along with the vacuum. For example, a kennel attendant can attach a sprayer wand that applies disinfectant or hot water onto the floor or exam table, let it sit for the required contact time, then switch to vacuum mode to suck up all the liquid along with the dissolved dirt and waste. This two-in-one approach saves a ton of time. We calibrate the system to deliver appropriate water flow for washing and strong suction for recovery. All the dirty solution gets sucked away into the central unit – floors are left virtually dry and clean. This is fantastic for large dog runs or kennel halls where traditional mopping would leave puddles.
Hair and Lint Handling
Pet hair is notorious for clogging vacuums. Our system’s separator and net are specifically designed to capture hair clumps without clogging pipes. In grooming areas, we provide floor and table ports where groomers can sweep piles of fur into a floor inlet or use a vacuum hose to suck trimmings right off the pet or table. Because the suction is strong and continuous, even fine dander is pulled out of the air, improving the room’s air quality (no more clouds of hair when you brush out a dog).
Maintenance Features
Wet vacuum systems need regular flushing to stay fresh. We design the system maintenance regimen in – for instance, at the end of the day, a technician simply vacuums a few gallons of clean hot water (with a deodorizing agent if desired) through the system. This rinses any residue out of the piping and separator. The central unit’s strainer basket is easy to remove and dump (we advise doing this daily or weekly depending on usage to avoid any odors). With stainless or plastic construction, the system is impervious to urine or bleach-type cleaners that might corrode other equipment.
Compliance & Health Standards
Our vet vacuum systems help clinics comply with OSHA guidelines for veterinary safety and AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) cleaning recommendations by ensuring thorough removal of biological wastes and chemicals. By reducing reliance on mops (which can just spread contaminants), you’re practicing better infection control – important for preventing spread of parvovirus, kennel cough, or any zoonotic diseases. The use of vacuum for waste also means less aerosolization of allergens; veterinary staff often develop allergies or asthma from dander and fur – our solution mitigates that by capturing it at source. We make sure any cleaning chemical injection components are compatible with veterinary disinfectants (chlorohexidine solutions, etc.) and that backflow prevention is in place to protect your water supply as per plumbing codes.
The system itself is UL listed and installed to code, and we’ll train your team on its use and OSHA-recommended PPE (like using gloves when emptying the strainer, etc.). Importantly, by keeping floors dry and clean, you also reduce slip hazards – a key OSHA concern in any workplace.
Benefits for Animal Care Providers
The difference our system makes is immediately noticeable:
•Faster Turnaround & Less Labor: What used to take 30 minutes of scrubbing, mopping, and air-drying can now be done in a few minutes. If a dog has an accident in the lobby, a staffer can spray-disinfect and vacuum it up in no time, with clients barely noticing. Your team spends less time on hands-and-knees cleaning and more time on patient care (or grooming, or client interaction).
•Odor Control: By extracting urine and soiled fluids completely (instead of pushing a mop that leaves a thin film), odors are significantly reduced. The vacuum’s immediate removal of waste to a sealed tank means smells don’t linger in the room. Many clinic owners report their facilities smell fresher and cleaner consistently after installing central wet vacs, which is great for client perception.
•Improved Hygiene: Cleaner floors and kennels mean healthier animals. You’ll lower the risk of disease transmission within your facility – something that’s critical in boarding kennels and vet clinics alike. It also contributes to better hospital inspection results if you’re pursuing accreditation or just an exemplary reputation.
•Durability & Cost Savings: Our systems are built to last in commercial settings – heavy-duty motors, corrosion-proof materials – so you’re investing in a long-term solution. No more constantly buying new shop vacs or floor scrubbers that break down. With proper maintenance, a central vacuum can serve for many years. Additionally, by preventing water damage (quickly removing wash water) you protect your facility’s infrastructure – reducing floor and wall maintenance costs over time.
•Staff Wellness: Your staff will thank you. Using a lightweight hose is far easier than lugging buckets and wringing mops. Less physical strain and exposure to dirty wastewater means happier employees and potentially lower injury risk. Plus, eliminating the noise of portable vacuums (our central unit is usually isolated in a back room) creates a calmer environment for both pets and people.
TVD Industries has installed dozens of these wet/dry vacuum systems in veterinary and pet care facilities across California – we understand what you need because we’ve seen it (and cleaned it) all. If you’re ready to modernize your clinic’s cleaning method and elevate your level of hygiene, contact TVD Industries today. We’ll design a custom layout for your building and handle everything from installation to staff training. Give your team the tools they deserve to keep your animal facility spotless, and give your clients the peace of mind of a truly clean clinic. Reach out now to schedule a free consultation and demonstration – a cleaner, easier pet care environment is just a phone call away!