The only drawback I see to HAH is inability to run a powerhead via electric power, whether low voltage or line.
Air powered heads aren't the equivalent yet.
Installation of HAH requires long radius turns (bends/fittings). If the MFG.'s specs are followed there should be only minor problems, of which life is full to the brim.

The dealer we're working with cautioned against the HAH for 2 reasons:
1) No electric power = No beater brushes for carpet. He does not believe the air powered heads are adequate for carpet.
2) In his experience, people tend to use longer hoses with fewer outlets with HAH. He said HAH tend to run 40 - 50 feet while he recommends more manageable 30 foot hoses for non-HAH installations.

That being said ... we're still debating.

It is really easy to pull out the hose and I love not having to store a 30 ft hose either. Also you don't need to pull the full length out if you don't need it. You only pull out what you need. Since it is attached there is no lugging around a heavy hose to move it to another outlet and it is very light weight. Lighter than in my old house where I had the 30ft hose I had to lug around.

As for retracting. That is the easiest. You just cover the hose hole with the vaccum on and it retracts itself. Depending how much you cover controls the speed in which it retracts.

We don't have carpet so the air powered is not an issue for me here, however it never was in my old house either where only the spare bedrooms were carpeted. Cleaned those really good. A Kirby guy tried to sell me his vaccum and he tried to show me how dirty my carpet was, but couldn't. Of course being that they were spare rooms they didn't see as much use as a living area would.

I don't know what's unmanageable about a 50' hose, you just keep pulling it out of the wall until you get to where you're going and when you're done retract it. Half the time I don't even bother setting the little lock thing that prevents retraction (if you make the thing suck hard enough yes it will start to retract, but it's not often a problem).

By the way, it can't be that hard to be authorized. I told the GC that while the HP Vacuflo power unit was something I was willing to negotiate on the H-A-H was not. The alarm/vac subcontractor within a month had authorization for both.

For those of you considering or with a new HAH... When I spoke with the installers a few weeks ago, they had a neat idea. First of all, I didn't really understand how it works ( it's not installed yet), so when he told me you pull out as much hose as you need, I was confused. I thought you just kept pulling it while you vacuumed. They suggested for example when vacuuming my dd room, pull out the hose as far as you need and mark with a permanent marker "Emma's Room", so when she gets older and asks to clean her room (ha-ha) she'll know how much she needs. I suggested using a different color for each room. If someone else buys the house, they aren't going to want other people's kids' names on my HAH. He recommended doing it for all the rooms. Anybody else do this?

Lori

I've never found it that involved. I just yank out several lengths of hose. You get good at remembering how much you're going to need for what you want to do. But putting some dots on the hose doesn't sound like a bad idea.

In most cases, if you can't see the outlet you can't pull hose from it. Of course if you've locked the collar that prevents it from retracting, I don't think you can pull any out either.

We have no carpet but plenty of wool, and woven jute area rugs. The 'Turbocat' air driven head does a great job on them.

There is nothing difficult or problematic about pulling out or retracting the hoses. Retracting them is actually fun, visitors love to try it!

We have 30' and 40' hoses for a very long, 2 story house. Both lengths are equally easy to use.

Soooo! There are still no actual owner/users of Hide A Hose that don't recommend them!!! Hmmmm!

I've had a CV for over 20 years and love the great suction of the power brush on deep carpet. When I found out that the HAH didn't allow you to have an electric power beater, I crossed it off the list for things I needed to put in our new build.

I'd say it all depends on the amount of carpet you have and the pet hair etc on that carpet. If HAH changes and allows a electric beater then I'll go for it, but til then I'll keep dragging out my hose!