You are probably going to get some replies to "do a search". There have been some good and thorough threads on here relating to central vac. The overwhelming concensus is most people are installing a central vac. Alot of those are installing a Hide-A-Hose option. Most people are very pleased with the HAH option.

Me personally, yes, we're installing a central vac. We're just in framing, so haven't ordered it yet...but will order from thinkvacuums.com. We are not, however, going with the HAH option for two reasons: added cost, we really need a powered brush with two indoor shedding machines (labradors).

My experience with them, is my mother has one and its great. One of the truly neat options with them is the vacpan. Sweep up hair, dirt, etc. to a vacpan port...kick it open with your foot and it sucks it all up. That'll come in handy big time with all of our hair we'll be dealing with!

We're right at the stage where we have to install it too. I just checked one place, but it only did Beam brand CV. I wanted hide-a-hose, so I understand that would require Vacuflo, Vacu-maid, or Imperium (?).

I'm thinking HAH on main floor (where only the master br is carpeted) with regular outlet in the upstairs. Maybe I'll leave the basement decision until we've used the system and install just prior to finishing basement next year.

My quote just to rough-in the Beam was about $1400. Add another $675 for motor and $520 for accessories/hoses, etc.

Gotta find a Vacuflo dealer for quote.

Good luck!

We have a Beam in our current house installed by the prior owner. I have used it once. My cleaning lady doesn't ever use it.

The hose is a major major pain!!!!

I would rather use a normal vac any day (although I do like the idea of a vac pan for hairy dogs - they have one in my vet's office).

The other complicating factor in my house is there are a couple of outlets which were put in terrible places (now that I think of it, maybe it was installed by the builder?) One is opposite the bed in the master bedroom where we have a linen press holding the tv and the other is behind the couch in our den . . .

Even if the outlets were convenient I still wouldn't use it and I vacuum every day (often a couple of time a day). A hide a hose sounds much more appealing though.

I opted against.

I don't know if we would have had enough of a straight run for HAH, and I didnt want to deal with a long hose.

We don't have any carpets, and I have a roomba that is one of the Family now.

I am sure I would have liked it, but since I have never had one, I don't know what I am missing, so I don't miss it :-)

For me, I think it just came down to using the $3000 somewhere else. I figured I would use the kirby when I needed to, and the roomba goes almost daily.

OOh, I have found though, that with construction clean up, I LOVE the shop vac, so much so that I have bought other attachments and it may become a major part of my cleaning routine. Would like to get the little baby one that my electrician has.

So, I probably would have liked the central vac if it has other attachments, which I would assume it does?

I have never had a regular vacuum that is even close to being as good as my central vac (and I have had my share of good, bad, and ugly vacuum cleaners in the last almost 40 years!!) I hope, and intend that I will never again have to live in a home that does not have a CV. If you were to compile a wish list of features for a dream vacuum cleaner I guess you would have...

Powerful suction that does not diminish over time
No fine particles of dust recycling in the air (and coating your furniture and floors, and lungs)
Only have to empty bag once or twice a year
Quiet or silent motor
Light as a feather
A breeze for cleaning stairs
Ability to clean hard floors and carpet
Extensive selection of tools
No vacuum cleaner storage required

This is what a central vac provides. Add Hide A Hose for ultimate convenience - no hose to carry around and nothing to store but the tools. Plus you are likely to find your DH, your kids, relatives, or friends volunteering to do your vacuuming - it's such fun to watch the hoses snaking back into the wall!

Other than that I have no opinion :-)

I got an estimate from another CV installer who handles Vacu-maid and hide-a-hose. He said it would be about $1300 to rough in for 2 hide-a-hose runs (2-story). I don't remember if that included the 2 dust-pan thingies we talked about too, or not. That's cheaper than the rough-in the Beam guy gave me without HAH. I'll probably end up buying the hoses and accessories online when I'm ready (maybe when we move in, maybe for Christmas)....maybe the unit, too.

I'm going to do it. Never had one before, but I like what I hear. At any rate, at least having it pre-wired will make it an attractive feature if we ever need to sell.

We put one in our new home, and I love it for all of the reasons sis3 gave above. No HAH, but the hose is so light, I don't mind carrying it around. I always hated vacuuming before with both a canister and an upright. I don't mind it at all now.

Anne

Nope. But we don't have carpeting anywhere.