I have a Riccor. I spent extra to get sweep pans in the kitchen and in the mudroom. I could live without those, as I nearly always drag the hose out to vacuum and just do the kitchen at the same time, with the hose, not with a broom. I love my central vac. I have never had problems with how much it is sucking up, although with a house your size, I wonder if you might need two motors. I have my motor in the utility room, on the very far side of our 4,000Sq foot house. It works fine, even in the farthest part of the house from the motor. I think the best thing to spend your money on is the power head. I can't remember what mine cost, but I did buy the best that is available in this brand. I went with the brand because the guy who sold it was a great guy and I really wanted to give him the sale.

Doesn't seem too bad, but how many outlets etc?

Ours was $2K including, installation, vaccumaid motor in attic and the unit to empty in the garage with two 50' hide-a-hose outlets, and a tool kit. Our house is only 2300 sq ft.

minnt, thanks for the info. what is a powerhead and can i ask how much you paid installed?

lyfia, I will find out the details and let you know. thanks

ebay $750 with 2 extra vacpans

dt1234 - the powerhead is the attachement you use for carpets. We only went with the air propelled one as we have hardwood or tile throughout plus the hide-a-hose only supports that I believe. I only use it on area rugs, so didn't want to spend the extra, but if you have carpets it would be worth looking at your options.

We have the Vacuflo system, which we love and works like a dream. We paid about $2K and our home is 3800 sq.ft. It included a carpet powerhead, 2 hoses (one with sock), all attachments, 5 outlets in the main floor, one in the basement and one in the garage and 2 vacpans (the crumb catcher).

We have this saying that some decisions we made with the house were ok and others were perfect. The vac was one of those perfect decisions.
We have a 140ft long house, 4600 sq feet with high ceiling in the GR right in the center of the house. So we were advised to buy 2 units- one for each end of the house. We also have an upstairs gameroom and for health reasons I didn't want to lug hoses up and down the stairs. So, we got Broan, 2 units, 2 vacpans, 2-35" hoses, 2 powerheads, 2 wood-floor heads and all the other attachments......
priceless......
at $3500 installed.

Our vacuum system really sucks!
It's a Vacu-Maid whole house system with 10 outlets and 2 toe kicks. We opted for a silent partner double 7.2 motor with 240 volts, 142" H20 and 121 CFM. It is a commercial unit and we installed 3" pipes for the flow. The great thing about this system for us is that 2 users can vacuume at the same time, our home is split level and long, and to clean it is a bear with just one person doing it.
It is the BEST purchase we have made, hands down. My DH didn't even want one, but I convinced him with his allergies it was the way to go. He loves it more than I do!

Our whole system, including 2 wands and hoses and all of the attachments cost us $5K

It was well worth it, our home is approx. 5200 sf.
V

We have an Electrolux system, so I can't help you on the prices but I will say that I really like having a central vac. We do have two vac pans (sweep pans). I really use the one in the laundry room that is near the cat's litter box often and love it. I don't use the one in the kitchen as often as I thought I would, but I am glad that I have it. I also wish that we had put outlets in the garage and in our screened in porch. We also have a power head and I would not want to be without it.

Okay, here are the bids, please comment on them:
1. Vacuflo Electric $3912 total
Vacuflo 760 Power Unit w/ manafacturers lifetime warranty
(2) Prestige Carpet Brush
(2) Deluxe electric hose
(2)12" delux bare floor brush
(2) dusting brush
(2) upholstery brush
(2) crevice tool
(3) fac pan
rug rat
bare floor kit
supervalves (as many as needed)

2. Airvac zx7000 master central vacuum unit in garage $3109 total
(master unit requires dedicated 110v power outlet)
(12 or 13) electravalve vacuum inlets w/integrated electrical to operate power brush attachment (power wires to be run from inlets to nearby electrical)
(1) dust pan inlet in kitchen
(1) airvac vm4200D deluxe accessory kit with power brush, assorted cleaning attachments, ccaddy and hose hanger
(1) rough-in and trim out installation including all piping, wiring labor and connections.

3. Vacu Maid S3240 unit (manafc. lifetime warranty) $1495
VSP1 Accessory kit $455
Kit features 30' tear-drop style 4-wire swivel electric crush proof hose with stainless stub wand, 14" clean sweep electric brush with quiedtdrive and chevron brush roll, stainlesstelescopic top wand and lower wand, 12" floor brsh, crevice tool, dusting brushk, upholestery tool with brush, plastic hose hanger, clip on tool caddy, mesh tool caddy bag, wall mounted wand holder, and hose hanger mounting kit.
turbo team accessory kit $355 includes turbo cat turbine pwerhead, 30' turbo grip hose, one piece adjustable wand, 12" bare floor brush, premium crevice, dusting and upholestery tools, deluxe wire attachment caddy and wire hose rack.
Sound off muffler
hose socks
(16) electr valves
(2) utility valves - garage
(2) vac pans
TOTAL: $4795

dt1234, Your quotes seem really reasonable for the size of your home!! Our home is 5270 sq. feet and the guy estimated that an Airvac system with 3 vacpans and the necessary inlets and hoses etc. would run about $3,000. He wants to use the large system with a 12000 at the end of it which means it is supposed to be strong enough for a 12000 sq. foot home!!! But it probably isn't that strong. He didn't give us a real bid yet.

I am also looking at the Hide a Hose system. This guy found out today he can't add the hide a hose to his vacuum. Hide a hose will only allow you to use the Vacuflo system, so now we are getting a bid on that system tomorrow.

I live in the Dallas area and the only Hide a hose dealer around here is in Richardson. Maybe Hide a Hose is another option you want to look into. Do a search for hide-a-hose and read about what people are saying.

Ginny

dt, it sounds reasonable to (vacu-maid) that is.
Ask about the garage hose as well, that should be included.
V

Another loyal Hide-a-Hose user here. After using this system, there is no way I would use the traditional hose system because I know it would get old having to put away the long hose every time. My house isn't nearly the size that is being discussed in this thread, but it is one story and 100' long. Two 50' hoses are more than sufficient for me. I only installed one vac-pan, but wish I would have added at least one more because I find them to be very convenient. Even DH will use the vac-pans.

I cannot encourage you enough to at least get a Hide-a-hose bid. I think I remember my installer saying it adds approximately $300 per outlet plus the extra cost of the required larger unit. Whatever the price difference, certainly not a place I want to scrimp - especially if I'm cleaning 8400sqft!!

Ginny - I know exactly who you are talking about in Richardson. Bob was my installer and was by far one of the most professional subs to have worked on my build. I cannot possibly say enough good things about him and I recommend him to everyone I know who is building. I managed to damage one of my vacuum lines not long after we moved in and he was absolutely prompt in getting my system back in working order. Even a year after installation, I can always reach him if I have a question. Super nice guy.

dannie_gal,

I just met Bob from the Hide a Hose dealership in Richardson!! He met me at our new house and did a bid for me. He is a super nice and friendly guy. My new house is 5270 sq. feet. He recommends a large Vacuflo system, the 220 volt one, with 2 hide a hose inlets downstairs and one upstairs. I will have 3 vacpans. With the garage brushes, basic brush set and one turbo head, his bid was $5200.

It seems high compared to the guy who installs the Airvac system without the hide a hose. His bid was $3000. Now I have to decide if the HAH is worth the extra money.

Do people who have the hide a hose think it is worth an extra $2000?

Ginny

I didn't get any other bids since I was so dead set on the HAH, so I can't really compare. Knowing your bid amount and your square footage, it seems comparable and in line to my pricing. I have two hoses, one vac pan, all the tools I could possibly need, and the garage outlet/tools/garage hose. I think the extra costs are there not because he marks it up for profit, but because of the HAH requirements. He has to build in enough tubing to house each retractable hose, so the price difference is for the material and the extra time it takes him to install. The main trunk line can't really house the hose because it would render the system unusable. Also, because the HAH uses special sweeps, that can rack up the price as well.

Is it worth the extra cost? That is going to entirely depend on you and the way you plan on using and storing the hoses. For me, the HAH was essential because I knew I would end up with the hose tangled up in the bottom of the coat closet rather than neatly put away. I just know myself and knew I would be neat with it at first, but would eventually give in and just not do it which would result in a mess (and then the toddler would probably end up climbing on it and smashing it, etc.). I didn't see the point of having the central vac if I was still having to take up space in the closet for it like I did with the traditional vacuum. I also knew I would drive myself and my neat freak DH crazy with the tangled hose! :) Frequent vacuuming is essential in my house (a minimum of 2-3 times per week) because we have three dogs that shed, so I have to stay on top of it or suffer the consequences.

I have to make it easy on myself to be organized or I just simply won't do it. Since you have a two story home, you would probably also want a hose on each floor if you didn't go with the HAH, so that is something to consider as well. If you don't think you would mind dealing with the hose (and some people don't), then you may not see the $2,000 benefit of the HAH. I just know myself and have been able to come to terms with my weaknesses! If you are a person who always puts things away regardless of any amount of hassle involved, then you probably wouldn't miss the HAH. However, if you have the slightest suspicion you might ever get a little lazy (you have to be brutally honest with yourself), I promise the HAH is money well spent.

Another point to consider whether you go with Bob or not, I'm not crazy about the Turbo cat with the amount of dog hair we have to control. We have all concrete floors with plush carpet rugs here and there. Just based on its performance with the rugs, I know I wouldn't like the air driven head if I had actual carpet. I don't know if I would have the same opinion if we didn't have the dogs though, but for our situation, it just doesn't work. If we had carpet any thicker than berber and animals that shed a lot, the electric head would be a much better tool.

The HAH was my splurge in our build, and even my husband, who rarely sees the value in these types of things, has said on numerous occasions that it was by far the best money we spent in our entire build. That was a profound statement coming from him because I swear sometimes I can hear him squeak when he walks! ;)

dannie_gal,

Thank you for your helpful information on the Hide a Hose system. I started another thread about testing out 2 systems today! I met Bob at a model home near Denton and tried out the HAH and really loved it. I tried out a tradtional system also.

Where are you located, BTW? We are currently in Flower Mound and moving to north Keller.

I hope the OP got some help from this thread.

Dannie gave you some good information . . . I posted on your other thread but thought I'd repeat here . . . the Vacu-Flo system in this house was one of my best choices. The new house will have Hide a hose along with it. As an aside, our GC - who is also our SIL - used to pooh-pooh central vacs. He builds only high end houses and just thought they were a waste. When he built, I talked him into installing a Vacu-Flo to see how he liked it, so he could better advise his clients. He hasn't built a house without one since!

Incidentally, I have a dust pan in the kitchen and before my Golden Retriever died in December, I used it every couple of days to sweep up sheddings. I'll have at least two of them in the new house -- kitchen and laundry room, where the future puppy will eat and sleep, for sure.

I think money spent here will never be regretted.

i had a good experience with this company.
https://www.centralvacuumstores.com/cvs/hideahose.php
https://www.centralvacuumstores.com/

thanks for the awesome posts. anyone have any experience with dealers in houston? also, do you suggest getting a cannister with the lining or no lining, does it make a difference?

So we are being told by the GC we need to make a decision soon. After speaking with non HAH retailers, our contractor, and a HAH retailer in Houston, no one really pushed the absolute need of a HAH system.

My contractor chuckled and said, why do you care if HAH is easier, your maid will be doing the cleaning anyway.

the non HAH (conventional Vacuflow or vacumaid system installer) said he did one one time and did not have a good experience.

our HAH installer said it is expensive, and we would reccomend doing one location.

So no one has really pushed HAH on us. They did say it would cost i think 500 more per outlet.

thoughts??

dt1234,
i have no experience w/the vacs yet as we're just starting to price out ourselves BUT as a lesson: do NOT tell anyone where you are building prior to a quote. i always opt to meet a vendor at their location with my plans. when they ask where we're building i tell them which county but that's about it. if i tried to order a pizza and have it delivered it would be marked up $10. ;^)

$500 more per outlet - You're getting zipcoded.

We have two outlets and I think our cost was $350 more than if I'd gone with a conventional system. That includes the installation and the outlets.

I like the hide-a-hose because I don't have to store the hose somewhere.