How to Rough-in a Hide-a-Hose Central Vacuum System

First determine your valve height. In a down orientation where the tubing is being run in a crawl space, align the bottom of the valve with the height of the electrical plug outlets (about 11 inches). If you mount the valve higher in a down orientation you will create a more difficult angle for the hose to retract.

In an up orientation where the hose exits the valve toward the ceiling, most people find it convenient to locate the valve at the height of the light switch outlets.

For existing construction go to step 7. For new construction, attach the frame to the stud. Be sure the frame is level. Insert the pipe fitting.

The Pipe Fitting is designed to slide in the frame to adjust for variations in wall board thickness. The maximum wall thickness the valve can work with is 3/4".

Install the pipe into the fitting. Glue the pipe into the fitting, making sure it seals all the way to the ridge of the pipe fitting.

Install the mud cover.

In existing homes, use the mud cover as a template to cut the hole in your wall. Insert the rough in frame vertically, then turn it back upright behind the wall. Depending on how close you are to a stud, you may need to score and cut off one or both of the mounting tabs. Push the bottom two pointed tabs into the sheetrock. The top pointed tab can be bent down as you pull the top of the frame into the hole. The tabs will help hold the frame into place while you install the valve. You may need to push a couple of small finish nails horizontally into the holes located on the side of the frame. Follow the same instructions for installing the pipe runs and trim.

Begin pipe runs. Unlike a traditional install do not join pipe runs until you have enough pipe to hold the hose. For example, if you are using a 40' hose, install at least 44' of pipe before connecting to another pipe run. In order to ensure enough pipe to store the hose, the pipe runs will sometimes need to begin running away from the power unit, then make a loop and head back to the power unit.

Always glue the pipe and not the fittings. Make sure to remove all burrs from the pipe ends that were cut. Carefully inspect the pipe to make sure the inside is smooth and the pipe is round and undamaged. Only Hide-a-Hose special sweep 90's, 45's, and 22.5's can be in the section or pipe that stores the hose. A 90 to a 22.5 is often needed to get around an obstacle. Try to space out 90's as much as possible. The more 90's used the more force is needed to pull the hose out of the wall. Try not to use more than four 90's for each valve.

Avoid using back to back 90's. It is important to design the pipe runs so that the hose is stored on one plane. Do not store a hose on two different planes.

Run low voltage wire to each inlet just as you would a typical central vacuum system. In new construction it is a good idea to test the system before the walls are sheet rocked. Since the doors are needed to seal the system, a handball can be placed over each valve opening that is not being tested, to seal the system. In an up orientation you will need to tape the handball in place. Using a portable vacuum, check the system for sealed vacuum.