When you are building or remodeling a home, a built-in central vacuum is the type of upgrade that quietly delivers daily convenience, healthier indoor air, and higher resale value. The obvious first question, however, is always the same: How much will a central vacuum installation cost? At CountBricks, we answer that question with data-rich AI, real-time material feeds, and voice-driven estimating that turns a vague idea into an actionable line item in minutes. This guide unpacks every factor so you can see exactly where your budget is going—and where CountBricks can help you save.
Across most U.S. metros, CountBricks sees finished residential projects fall into these typical price brackets:
• $1,500 – $2,500 for a rough-in on a new build where tubing is installed pre-drywall and the power unit is purchased later
• $2,500 – $4,500 for a complete system during new construction, including power unit, inlets, hose kit, and labor
• $3,500 – $6,500 for a retrofit installation in an existing finished home, driven up by selective drywall cuts and longer labor hours
Every estimate generated inside CountBricks.com instantly adjusts those numbers to your zip code, your chosen brand, and today’s live supplier pricing.
1. System Capacity and Power Unit
2. Number of Wall Inlets and Hose Length
3. Type of Tubing Route (attic, crawlspace, stud cavity)
4. Level of Filtration (bag, bagless, cyclonic) and Sound Insulation
5. Finish Phase Labor vs. Rough-In Only
6. Local Labor Rates and Permit Fees
Because CountBricks syncs with more than 15,000 regional labor inputs, your estimate never relies on generic national averages. If licensed electrical tie-ins in your county run higher, you will see the delta immediately.
• 2-inch PVC vacuum tubing: $1.30 – $1.70 per linear foot
• 90-degree sweep elbows and fittings: $2.40 – $4.10 each
• Standard inlet valves: $14 – $22 each
• Hide-A-Hose retractable inlets: $145 – $225 each
• Power units (550 – 700 air-watts): $650 – $1,400
• HEPA bags or cyclonic filter sets: $45 – $110 annually
Prices above reflect last week’s supplier feed inside CountBricks.com/services and update nightly. You can lock pricing on an estimate for 30 days with our “Price Freeze” toggle.
• Rough-in tubing by licensed installer: 3 – 4 hours per 1,000 sq ft
• Mounting power unit and exhaust: 1.5 – 2 hours
• Electrical outlet install (dedicated 20-amp): 1 hour
• Finish trim and inlet cover plates: 10 – 15 minutes per inlet
• Retrofit drywall patching and paint: 8 – 12 hours total depending on room count
CountBricks AI cross-checks these hours against your blueprint takeoff. If you add or remove a floor, the labor line recalculates in seconds.
Installing during new construction is almost always 25 % – 35 % less expensive than retrofitting. Tubing runs effortlessly through open studs, and trades are already on-site. By contrast, retrofit work adds selective demolition and patching expenses. CountBricks visually flags those extra tasks in your estimate so nothing is hidden.
Appraisers typically assign 50 % – 70 % of the installed cost to increased property value—higher in allergy-prone regions where indoor air quality sells. Homeowners also report a 30 % reduction in airborne dust compared to portable vacuums, cutting cleaning time by roughly 20 minutes per week. Over a 10-year span that equals more than 170 hours saved, a figure our proposal generator highlights for clients during bid reviews.
1. Upload your PDF or CAD blueprints to CountBricks.com/blueprint-takeoff
2. Speak your scope into the microphone—“Add central vacuum to first and second floors.”
3. The AI extracts wall lengths, floor areas, and stud bays to map tubing routes.
4. Real-time supplier feeds pull material prices for your selected brand.
5. Local labor tables overlay jurisdictional wage data.
6. A branded proposal with images, terms, and payment schedule publishes in under five minutes.
Need revisions? Simply voice, “Swap standard inlets for hide-a-hose upstairs,” and the system refreshes both material and labor totals instantly.
• Place the power unit in a garage or utility room to minimize noise inside living areas.
• Add one extra inlet in larger master suites; dragging a 30-foot hose around furniture can feel tight.
• Use 45-degree elbows in long vertical drops to reduce clogs and maintain suction.
• Install a dedicated 20-amp circuit; sharing with appliances can trip breakers and void warranties.
• If retrofitting, schedule tubing runs parallel with other low-voltage installs to limit drywall cuts.
• Long-radius Wyes: Specialty fittings for tight corners can add $200 – $350 if not pre-counted. CountBricks AI recognizes corner counts directly from your plan view.
• Exterior Exhaust Venting: Some municipalities now require outside vent kits. Our compliance engine checks local code libraries and prices the kit automatically.
• Sheetrock Patching: A single inlet relocation may spawn multiple patches. The system attaches square-foot patch and paint costs to each change order in real time.
Whether you are a custom home builder, a remodeling GC, or a DIY-savvy homeowner, CountBricks turns “ballpark” into “budget-ready.” Create a free account at CountBricks.com/signup, upload your drawings, and talk through your scope with our voice assistant. In less time than it takes to vacuum one room, you will know your central vacuum installation cost down to the last elbow fitting.
A recent client wanted a full central vacuum system with hide-a-hose inlets on both floors. Using CountBricks, the builder spoke the scope in less than 30 seconds. The AI mapped 285 feet of tubing, six inlets, and a 650 air-watt unit. Within four minutes the platform produced a detailed breakdown:
• Materials: $3,740 (live-priced)
• Labor: $1,980 (regional wages)
• Permits & electrical: $320
• Total central vacuum installation cost: $6,040
Before CountBricks, the same contractor spent two hours pulling line items from spreadsheets and still missed two elbows. Our automated blueprint takeoff flagged those elbows, saving an estimated $175 in change orders.
• Schedule tubing rough-in with plumbing runs so trades share wall openings and ladder setups.
• Opt for standard inlet valves in guest rooms; reserve hide-a-hose for high-traffic zones only.
• Purchase HEPA filter packs in bundles during our quarterly supplier promotions listed on CountBricks.com/services.
Not every project can wait for a new build. CountBricks routinely retrofits two-story homes in three days or less by leveraging attic chases and basement runs. The key is strategic placement of vertical drops behind closets to avoid visible drywall seams. Our field toolkit generates color-coded route diagrams so installers open only the sections of wall they need—cutting average patching time by 40 %.
Your clients care about healthy homes and effortless cleaning. Deliver both—on budget—by letting CountBricks handle the math. Log in, speak your scope, and watch an accurate, branded proposal appear in minutes. The vacuum will do the dirty work later; for now, CountBricks cleans up the estimating process.
