We did hideahose with a vacuflo motor..I thought about doing it myself but didn't..mostly to time constraints (i was framing the bsmt) Centralvacuum.com has instructions and support...the vacuflo dealer charged around $700 for the install (two outlets bsmt/main which is about 2300 sqft. We didn't do a vac pan and dont miss it. Good luck

Hi, I read all the posts on Hide a Hose on here too while building but unfortunately, my builder would only install a conventional system. I love it but one year later, I decided to contact the local HAH dealer to inquire about a retrofit as most of my main floor is hardwood. He put in a outlet near my kitchen and because of its central location, it can reach the entire main level and I can even do the basement and upstairs steps. Ever since we put in the HAH outlet we haven't used our vacpan...it's far easier to just pull out the hose than fuss with a broom and trying to switch on the vacpan hidden underneath a cabinet. Definitely do a rough-in....it takes everything I hated about central vac out of the equation. We still alternate using the regular hose and power nozzle upstairs in the bedrooms and downstairs in the basement with a Dyson DC41.

I have central vac with HAH and while I like it and find it pretty easy to take it out and use it, there is some overhead (pulling out the hose, adding attachments). I am glad I put in a vac pan in my kitchen -- I use it all the time -- it's foot activated, so I can do a quick sweep of the floor, tap it on, suck up the dirt, tap it off.

thanks you guys, we are talking to my builder right now about this and you've given me some good info to make a decision