Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does Hose Genie cost?
A complete Hose Genie, including Central Vacuum power unit costs approximately 41¢ – 60¢ per sq/ft.
Example
A. 2800 square foot home:
Hose Genie 60′ Primary Kit with Hose Sock $746.52 Plus a Cyclovac GS135 Central Vacuum 829.00. Everything included, parts, pipe, supplies, cleaning attachments glue… Total Cost Delivered: $1575.52 = 57¢ per sq/ft.
B. 5000 sq/ft Home
(1) Hose Genie Primary Kit $746.52 with a Hose Sock, (1) Hose Genie Add-On Kit Plus (1) Cyclovac H215 Central Vacuum at $829.00… Total Cost Delivered $2445.12 = 45¢ per sq/ft.
I'm not Handy. I need someone to install for me.
Installing the Hose Genie system in new or existing constuction is a relatively simple task if you have average DIY skills.
If this isn’t you, don’t fret, you will still save a bundle by ordering a Hose Genie Kit and hiring an installer.
Even if you don’t have a central vacuum installation company in your area, handymen are a great resource for installation.
Other trades that can install your Hose Genie central vacuum system are plumbers, hvac contractors, electricians, low voltage integrators, home security companies…
If you need help finding someone to install your Hose Genie system, contact Hose Genie to help you search for someone in your area.
Q: How much should I pay someone to install my system.
Average installation prices per inlet run between $200 and $400/ea.
This price should include installing the central vacuum unit in your garage or utility room.
As an example, a 2500 square foot home with one Hose Genie Inlet and a central vacuum power, unit labor should cost between $200 and $400.
A 5000 square foot home with a central vacuum power unit and two valves will cost between $400 and $800.00.
Q: Can a Hose Genie Central Vacuum System be added to an existing home?
Yes! The Hose Genie system is the perfect central vacuum system to add to an existing home and is much less complicated to install than traditional central vacuum systems.
Traditional central vacuum systems use a single 30 foot hose that needs to be to be stored and dragged from one inlet to another to another and so on. A 30 foot hose can only cover 600 – 800 square feet and requires 3 to 4 inlets to be installed for every one retractable hose inlet.
A Hose Genie Central Vacuum Inlet uses a hose up to 60 feet that conveniently stores inside of the inlet and piping in the wall until needed. Each inlet can clean an area up to 2800 square feet requiring fewer inlets to be installed.
Fewer inlets translates to fewer pipes running down the inside of wall. The most difficult task by far when installing a central vacuum in existing construction is the installation of inlets. A retractable hose system requires 1/3 to 1/4 of the number of installed inlets compared with a traditional system.
Not only can a self-retracting central vacuum hose system be installed in existing construction, Central vacuum installation experts agree, installing retractable hose is a significantly easier than the installation of a traditional inlet system.
Q: What is the difference between Hose Genie and Hide-A-Hose?
Hide-A-Hose manufactures the world’s finest central vacuum retractable valve on the market today. Hose Genie began as a central vacuum sales & installation business and quickly grew to become one of the largest and most respected Hide-A-Hose installation companies in the United States.
Hose Genie is the only central vacuum supplier to offer a Pre-Packaged Kit, containing “EVERYTHING” needed to install a Hide-A-Hose self retracting inlet in one convenient package. We’ve taken the frustration and guesswork out of ordering the individual parts, pieces and supplies and offer a wide range of kits pre-configured for a perfect installation.
Q: How does the Hose Genie system retract the hose?
The Hose Genie retraction system uses the suction from your central vacuum to pull the hose back into the inlet. There are no motors, springs or mechanical systems required for the Hose Genie System to work, thereby ensuring years of trouble free convenience. Retracting the hose into the valve works on much the same principle as sucking a single strand of spaghetti into your mouth.
Q: Can Hose Genie be installed on an existing central vacuum system?
Yes! The Hose Genie Self-Retracting Hose is the perfect upgrade to existing central vacuum systems. One inlet can clean up to 2800 square feet, replacing up to 4 standard inlets.
Installing a Hose Genie Inlet in an existing house is a simple matter of locating where you would like to place the inlet for best coverage and convenience, adding the necessary pipe in the attic, basement or mid-floor to store and retract the hose and then using a sweep-t PVC connection to tie the new valve into the existing suction lines.
This allows you to use all of your traditional valves if you desire.
Q: Where does the hose go?

Q: When is the best time to install Hose Genie in new construction?
The best time for installation of the Hose Genie in new construction is after electric and plumbing are installed and before drywall is installed.
If construction is already past this point, don’t worry. Hose Genie can be installed in most homes even after construction is completed.
Q: How many Hose Genie inlets will I need?
You will need a minimum of (1) Hose Genie Inlet for every 2800 square feet that you need to clean if you are using a 60 foot Hose Genie Inlet.
For comparison, a standard central vacuum system uses a 30 foot hose which is only capable of cleaning up to 800 square feet.
Each Hose Genie inlet is capable of storing up to a 60 foot hose. A 60 foot hose can clean up to 2800 square feet. Most homes under 2800 sq/ft require only one inlet to conveniently clean the entire home.
Q: How many Hose Genie Inlets can I have?

As an other consideration, Hose Genie Inlets are available with hose lengths of 40, 50 and 60 foot. Your Authorized Hose Genie Installer can advise you of the optimal length for your installation.
Q: Is a 60 foot hose difficult to manage?
When you need to vacuum, Hose Genie is always ready. Simply open up the inlet and pull out only as much hose as you need, anywhere from 5 feet to the entire 60 foot length. With a standard central vacuum system, you’ll need to run to your garage or hose storage area and retrieve a 30 foot hose for even the smallest of cleaning tasks.
Instead of dragging a typical central vacuum hose from inlet to inlet every 800 square feet, the Hose Genie hose is capable of cleaning up to 3000 square feet of area.
Hose Genie Hoses are crush-proof. Never worry again about stepping on or even driving your car over the hose if your using it to vacuum your automobile and forget to put it away.
Q: What makes a Hose Genie System different from other Self-Retracting hose systems.
Hose Genie is a complete self-retracting central vacuum hose installation kit containing only the best quality components available.
The Hose Genie Kit uses the Hide-A-Hose HS4000 inlet valve, the most used and tested self-retracting hose inlet available today.
Hide-A-Hose also manufactures the HS5000 valve which is new, but has not withstood the test of time as the HS4000 valve has. The mechanism on the HS5000 valve is more difficult to opperate and some users with arthritis and/or weakened hand stregnth have reported problems operating the HS5000 valve.
Chameleon is a brand new retractable hose valve that has been only been on the market for about one year. Hose Genie is taking a wait and see approach to this valve system.
The Chameleon valve does not lock the hose in place and may retract while being used with certain tools, and so must be pulled completely out to the end for use. This is a major inconvenience when there are areas close to the inlet that need a quick cleaning.
Q: What happens if my Hose Genie system gets clogged?
The Hose Genie system is less likely to get clogged than a traditional system because our hoses retract into the central vacuum piping system. If Hose Genie experiences a clog, the obstruction will be located in the hose itself due to the hose having a smaller diameter than the air return piping the system uses. Simply remove the Hose Genie Hose by pulling the full length of hose out of the wall and gently tugging on the very end that feeds into the inlet. The hose will remove with very little effort. Inset the tool end of the hose into the inlet opening and turn your system on. Since most clogs are directional in nature, reversing the suction on the hose removes over 90% of all clogs.
For the 10% of clogs that can not be removed by reversing the suction, use a 30 foot plumbers snake which is a thin long metal device available at most hardware stores, to remove the clog. Unlike conventional central vacuum hoses, there are no electrical wires running through the Hose Genie hose so it is safe to use a plumbers snake for difficult clogs.
Q: Can the hose be replaced?

Q: Does the Hose Genie Central Vacuum System require maintenance.

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