Hands down, a central vac! But then I'm not a big movie buff -- we had surround sound in our last house and for me, at least, it was ho-hum. But the central vac -- I was grateful for it every time I cleaned! My DH even used it -- and he'd never EVER used the old vac! We're in an apartment now, hoping to move into the new house in a couple months -- no central vac here, and I miss it terribly.

There were very few things in this house that were non-negotiable -- the central vac was one of the top 5.

Arlene

I chose Central Vac and Surround Sound...our cost 1400 for the vac system and 1800 for the surround sound which included speakers outside on our backporch. We'll be done with the house in about 6 weeks.

I'm most excited about the Central Vac. No Whirlpool here. I chose these items instead.

Our house is large and the central vacuum was budgeted at 1200 (3 years ago) and came in under budget. I love it....but also love the surround sound and onzen tub too.

I would skip the tub and try to do the other two.

1500 is a little high for a surround system in my opinion. I just recently ran my wires and placed speaker brackets in my new build and it was about 150.00. The speakers are another 600 -800. I am using regular speakers at all points so I can rock out or use as surround. But thats me. Im a shower guy who never vaccums ( see I cant even spell it). So for me that one is easy.

I know what you mean though so many decisions and compromises

Central vac. To save some money you could have the piping roughed in and buy the vacuum unit later.

Easy choice. Plumb for the central vac - can add the motor later. Wire for the surround sound -- you can add the speakers later. As to the whirlpool tub if you are really going to use it add now. however, we only use ours maybe once/year.

I'd wire for the surround, but install the vac.

As to the tub, I've been loving my air-tub: blows huge volumes of air through the water instead of water. Cleaner-- no water sitting in the piping to support fungus and bacteria-- and a nice, whole body massage since there are dozens of jets.

Like others have said....run the piping for central vac now and add the motor later. Run wires for sound and add system later. And then splurge for an air jet tub instead of a water jet tub.

I wouldn't do a wired surround sound system. It will be outdated within 5 yrs by the wireless systems that are on the market now and will become the standard as they become cheaper.

I would do a jetted tub and/or the central vac. I love the hard massage that I can get with my jetted tub that I couldn't get with the air tubs, which tickle more than massage. As far as cleaning the jets - I put about a tablespoon of of bleach in the tub every other week and run the jets for about 5 minutes. Drain it and run the same cycle using just water and drain. Done.

We have all 3 but would choose the central vac (with Hide A Hose) without question. I would wire for the surround sound while the walls are open but I wouldn't wait for the central vacuum if it was my choice!

My preference:
1 - surround sound
2 - central vac

I would not want a whirlpool tub at all.

I would have them put the piping in for the central vac and the wiring for the surround sound and then get the vac and the surround sound system later because both are really nice to have. If you or your DH are handy at all, you can put the piping in for the central vac--my DH did it himself and he said it was easy.

I guess I'm the odd one out! I faced/am facing similar choice and went with the whirlpool tub. So relaxing! It's installed, but I'm a couple of weeks away from closing in my walls so I can still add stereo wire or central vac if I decided to.

As far as stereo wire, I'm just not that into music. As far as TV surround sound, given the layout of my great room it's not really feasible anyway...maybe I better relook that!

But it's the central vac I have to ask about. I've never actually seen one, but I can't figure out what so great about it. You still have to haul this hose around right? The new vacs are pretty ligthweight, so what's the difference? If it matters, I'll have all hardwoods with rugs.

omg, wired audio will NEVER be replaced with wireless technology, thats just retarded.

to the OP, If you can wire the audio yourself do it, it will be a lot cheaper, if not just have it prewired for the speakers, a surround sound preire shouldn't run more than $300.00. and about $150.00 per room for stereo.

Central Vac rocks but that price is kinda high, can you get another bid on it? A lot of the audio and security guys install them and it should run about $1400.00 for a good size home, of course if your home is 10,000 sqft then that is a good price.

86 the tub for mildew reason, maybe spend a little extra in the shower with upgraded shower head and rain heads...

Hi,

I built a house 4 years ago from the ground up. My thoughts are:

1) Surround sound. Put in the wiring for it but do NOT go for built in speakers. Speakers break and go out of date etc. Bracket mounted speakers give you more of an option to change later when new technology comes along. More importantly remember to put in 2x4 wood, and extra plywood for where you want to mount that HD-TV. Those TV puppies are heavy up to 100 lbs range. You also want to put in pre-drywall a bunch of RGB, HDMI, Video, Ether, phone and the speaker cables.

2) Whirpool tub. We have one which we bought at Lowes. it was cheap. We have never use it. Note if you do like a hot tub buy an expensive one. They look the same BUT there is a big difference. That difference is in NOISE. Our cheapo whirlpool looks great, but when you turn it on the punp is real noisy. Not the relaxing serene picture as in the brochures. Note also with these Whirlpool tubs you need to be sort of clean before you get in. Note all that water is circulating around the pipes and pumps. You do not want to take a bath with the last bath's bath water.... Most hottubs need a clean out with solution once in a while to clear all the tubes etc.

3) Central Vac. My wife loves it. Note it is not just the pipes you need to install but the electical too. Most central vacs have power brush heads which need power to be run along with the vaccum pipes.

Best, Mike.

Thanks for all your advice! I decided to go ahead with the Surround Sound and Central Vac and forego the tub.

My builder is excited I finally made up my mind!

Jacesmom

ditto what msm said. To have both ruffed in now should cost less than $1,000. Don't know if you're going to sell this house in the future, but a whirlpool tub might be important to have when you sell.

I'd kill for a good whirlpool! Rough in the others- it isn't easy or cost efficient to put a whirlpool in later- do it now. If it is a good one- lots of jets, quiet, powerful, you will use it! And depending on what you/husband does for living/fun, a whirlpool is always welcome!

I guess it's all a matter of personal preference. Like Kangell, I just don't see the benefit. Could somebody explain it to me? I grew up with one, and we had a central vac in our last house, and we hated it! The hose was so big and clunky, and we had to drag it everywhere. It was awkward maneuvering this big fat hose around furniture, and it was annoying putting it away bc you had to perfectly coil up this big clunky hose. We much prefer a regular vacuum. We didn't have a hide-a-hose model, and may be that would make it much better. Still then, you'd have to have several of them in different locations of your house, bc I couldn't imagine one in-wall hide-a-hose reaching every corner of your house, and you still have to manuever a big fat hose around furniture. I just think it's easier to pull a skinny cord attached to a lightweight vacuum.
I am sincerely curious though what people see in a central vacuum. I'm seriously trying to understand it bc may be I'm not considering something that I should? Ok, just wondering!

I would install my central vacuum pipe and surround sound wires while the walls are open, put the tub in now because it won't be easy to come back to. Once you have the money ready you can buy the central vac unit and hang it yourself. This is really really easy to do. Actually it is really easy to install the whole system yourself if you are handy. You can get a top of the line system, attachment set, and inlet online for about $1200.00 and this will do up to 4000 sq ft. I would look into Vacumaids and Imperium systems.

The surround sound is the same thing, once you have the money ready buy the speakers. If you don't run the wires now it will be a big pain later.

Love my central vac. I have all hardwood and low pile rugs. Don't need the elec. boost; suction is plenty.

I've never seen a portable vac this powerful -- even when you first begin vacuuming with one and the bag or dirt container is empty.

All the dirt vanishes, out of the air, out of the living quarters, into a large bag in the basement that only has to be touched a few times a year (not after every use of the vacuum). Equally good, all the motor noise stays in the basement! It's much less tiring when you don't have to hear that roar. Go for enough outlets and your hose doesn't have to be 'a drag'. LOL

Our teardown came with a whirlpool which we put in the guest room bathroom. Master bath has an airtub which gets a lot of use. It's 'just my size': small enough to fill and empty rapidly; blows its jets dry after every use. There is no contest between the two as to real massage therapy; whirlpool wins easily.

We have unfinished attic and basement. Wires for anything can go in any time.

Central vac. That price may be a little high, though. How many square feet?

Buy a Dyson, skip the whirlygig pool, and put in a killer HT system! Been there, done that (twice), and got two t-shirts!!!

I've only been in my house a week, but I gotta say, central vac is the greatest invention of all time. My wife and I have two dogs, and have always used a Dyson...no matter how good the filtration mechanism (and I'm not sure Dyson's are all the great), the machine still needs to exhaust...and the finest dust is recirculated right back into the room...with the central vac, it's WAY more powerful than the Dyson, and it exhausts to the outside...NO smell, VERY quiet, powerful, and no bag or canister to unload every use...

As for Surround Sound, I've got it; it's nice (and can be impressive), but I don't feel like I have a better or more functional house because of it...

Whirlpool tubs are totally overrated and yucky in my opinion. Some people canÂt live without them (my brother and his wife for example), most have them but never use them. If you love to soak or have a medical condition that warrants one, go for it...but if you do, at least get an air tub that self-purges...I've seen black gunk come out of way too many whirlpool tubs over the years...

Central vac, hands down. We put the pipes in before the motor, and if I had known how much I would like it, buying the motor would have moved WAY up the list of $$$ priorities.
When we get to the master bath, having a deep soaking tub matters more than having jets. I can't stand the noise.
Surround sound isn't on my list at all.