We traveled to Thousand Oaks, California (outside LA) to help set up an insulation truck. The truck was 16′ long. The company, Conejo Valley, is a well-established HVAC company and added insulation to it’s offerings. This truck would be equipment-only. We thought it a bit odd, but when we worked with this crew for three days, we found it to be an extremely efficient, clean way to insulate.
Malibu, California is just over the hills and within their daily work range. As such, their clients demand cleanliness and efficiency. This company excels in both.
When insulating or extracting insulation from a house, they would bring out material with another truck and use this one with just equipment. They already had an established routine where the other truck would deliver material and pick up the trash. This kept the installers, installing and the extractors, extracting.
Here are some pictures of their setup.
In the process of adding CM2400, Generator and CoolVac23
Steve Forwood, of Forwood Brothers Insulation, located in Mobile Alabama has a great friend! His friend told him about InsulationMachines.net and the awesome CM2400 Insulation Blower from Cool Machines.
Steve purchased one right away and we met him on-site to go over the details of the machine and to be with them on their first job. Steve has a capable crew… so, after showing them a couple of items, they were very insulating an attic of a beautiful custom home.
One of the great things we gain from visiting our customers is to see all of the tricks and tips they use for their own insulation blower setups. FBI’s trailer has a ramp door. Steve built som blocking so that they don’t need to pull their generator all the way off the trailer. They can slide it out enough to keep the generator out of the dust and the exhaust outside.
They were able to insulate this home within a couple of hours from set-up to tear-down. While filming the crew, we had an unexpected guest flying through the backyard… an American Bald Eagle.
The insulation machine industry has standards for measuring the performance of blowing machines. Unfortunately, the industry has lacked in providing customers with information related to the real performance of insulation removal vacuums.
This video explains the two factors you should know before you buy a machine. Cool Machines, in Van Wert, Ohio tests all of their machines and provides accurate measurements. Why not? They excel in the industry with these numbers. See our line-up of top-performing insulation vacuums here: https://insulationmachines.net/insulation-removal-vacuums/
Tempblocker is an insulation company based in Mooresville, North Carolina. We visited Karter, the owner, on-site at a project in Wilmington, North Carolina. As we like to do, we provided on-site training and created a video to help him market his services.
Karter purchased the CoolVac37 in December 2020. This project was a 1,500(ish) sq ft house. They removed the insulation with TWO operators in the attic. The bags filled so quickly, he needed a diverter. Shutting the vacuum down every 6 minutes is a time-killer.
Nevertheless, the vacuum out-performed another manufactures’ vacuum. As Karter told us, it is faster by 2-1/2 times!
Cool Machines CoolVac37 has a powerful 37 horsepower Briggs/Stratton Vanguard engine. It powers a belt-driven fan blade measuring 24″ in diameter by 4″ thick. The blade is 1/4″ thick AR500 steel. With these physics, you would expect this hog to be extremely noisy?
We measured the decibels of a smaller 27 horsepower vacuum (by another manufacturer). That vacuum measured as loud as a semi-truck when standing next to it. That is to be expected! Fans create alot of noise… coupled with engines of that size.
We visited TempBlocker in Wilmington, North Carolina to see the vacuum in action. The vacuum performed as expected. Two people were in the attic extracting at the same time. This vacuum had so much power that they never noticed a lag in performance. One benefit was having a vacuum of this magnitude that would not bother the neighbors.
CoolMachine’s vacuums are perfect for the insulator who wants to minimize noise volumes on the job site. Watch the video below and you will see, for yourself, the noise measurement of this vacuum… standing right next to it! The results are amazing!
Our CoolVac37 and MOAV are currently (year 2021) the most innovative and powerful insulation removal machines on the market. The vacuum capabilities of these two monster vacs allows for multiple people to extract at the same time, using a “Y” tube.
While the CoolVac37 and MOAV have similar production capabilities (as demonstrated in the video below), they do serve two different purposes.
The CoolVac37 is perfect for the general insulation contractor that needs a powerful machine to cut job durations by up to 50%. Using 150 – 200 feet of hose (and a split combination in the attic), this will move a lot of material, fast.
The MOAV is perfect for the more industrial and agricultural jobs that require a long reach. Unlike the CoolVac37, the MOAV is based on a pump, not a fan blade. Material is sucked through the machine with a Positive Displacement blower. You can reach lengths up to 400-600 without losing production.
If you are undecided which vacuum works best for your situation, consider what kind of buildings from which you will be removing insulation. Do you need a long reach? Then choose the MOAV. If you just need more power and want to save time without a long reach, then the CoolVac37 makes sense.
Static electricity builds up in the hose in low humidity conditions and when the material (e.g., fiberglass) is dry. Whether you are blowing or vacuuming, this static electricity cannot be avoided when the conditions are right. Sometimes, this can present a very powerful jolt to the person at the end of the hose.
Yes. Anti-static hose is available. It is very expensive. a 50 foot length of 3″ anti-static hose runs $500 (as of the year 2015). 4″ diameter hose with a 50 foot length is $755 (plus shipping).
Here is an alternative that really works! You can make your own static eliminator. The illustration below shows a couple of sections of hose. Figure A is a steel hose connector that is placed within 10 feet of the end of the hose. If you place the connection any further back from the person at the end of the hose, he will still get static electricity. Loosely coil a strand of wire (Figure B) around the hose and attach the end to an iron stake that is driven into the ground (Figure C) to ground the current that builds up.
Should you rent or purchase insulation equipment? The answer is not always “purchase.” There are some things to consider when you you need equipment.
Building Your Business
Hardware stores and equipment rental companies provide a quick solution to getting insulation equipment. They typically offer small blowing machines. If you need a vacuum, then that is a harder find. Renting may make sense at times. Here’s when:
If your job is small and it is on-off. Purchasing a few thousand dollars worth of equipment does not pay off if you are doing a small job.
If you are “cash-strapped” and don’t want to liquidate your cash. There is an alternative answer for this one.
If you need equipment so immediately that you will lose the job. Although we can get you equipment within a day or two, depending on location, sometimes you just can’t wait.
You want to try out a piece of equipment before purchasing. We offer some limited rentals. Ask us if you need some equipment. We may be able to help!
Renting equipment should be a temporary, quick-fix. It is not a long-term solution.
When Purchasing Equipment Makes Sense
If you are in business that seeks to remain in business and save money, purchasing equipment is always the best long-term solution. Renting equipment is expensive. Within the first few jobs, many insulation blowers can be paid for in full. If you rent a vacuum at $300-$400 a day, you will pay that off within 7-10 days. Rental vacuums usually are smaller horsepower and will require multiple day rentals to complete one job.
Here are some reasons why you want to own your own equipment.
Owning your own machine saves you time. When renting, you need to pick up the machine and return the machine adding hours to the day. Rentals are often abused and are not blowing at peak performance. See the next point!
You get the right machine for the job. If you rent a small blower to insulate a 1,000 sq ft house, you will spend 8-10 hours in the attic. That is unproductive and an undersized machine for long-term use.
You can maintain your own equipment. Productivity can be maintained and you will save hours!
Can You Afford to Purchase?
You can own BOTH a decent blower and vacuum for under $10,000. You don’t need a lot of equity. Usually, new companies start with a blower (approximately $6,000) and then add on a vacuum when jobs require them. So, the cash out-lay is on the low end when working in this construction industry.
If you don’t have the case and a credit card does not make sense, ask us about payment options! North Star Leasing has helped many of our customers with their equipment purchases. When considering equipment financing, be careful not to us a company that has penalties built-in for early pay-off. If you are productive, you will usually be able to pay off your equipment far before the length of your lease.
Here is a testimonial of one of our customers who purchased multiple machines from us, Tyson Energy Solutions in Fresno, California.
Styrofoam, despite being environmentally problematic, is everywhere because it works so well. It makes for a great coffee cup. It insulates buildings. It protects products during shipping. But it’s also made from petroleum, a finite resource.
Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) announced on Thursday that they’ve developed a plant-based alternative material…
OCCASIONALLY, we hear, “[Another manufacturer] gets way more production than your machine for the same price.” Production rates, published on websites and sent in PDF emails, can be pernicious and sometimes misleading. So… how can you work through the fluff production rates?
INDUSTRY STANDARD TESTING. For blowing machines, the measurements that should appear in websites and literature are rates that come from a common measurement. When testing machines for production, manufacturers should be using real-life situations. That means, they attach 100 feet of hose with a lift of 12 feet. That is what a person typically uses. Since contractors always use hose it is not accurate to test a machine’s production capabilities without hose.
PHYSICS determine production rates. There is no “magical machine” that defies the math and science of production. This levels the playing field for all manufacturers. This does not prevent some from making wild production rate claims. Physics cannot prevent biased information. So, how can you make an accurate choice and understand production rates and not be disappointed by “fluffed-up” production rates? Here are the main factors:
Airlock Size: This determines the maximum amount of material that is able to be blown.
Airlock Rotor Speed: This is how fast the airlock spins and sends material down the hose.
Airlock Feed: This is how fast and how much material is actually fed into the airlock.
Yes. The common denominator is “the airlock.” The airlock is the main component that determines production rates.
BLOWERS, why are they not in the bullet points above? Because blowers do not contribute to the amount of material being processed by the machine. They simply blow what is in the airlock. You cannot add additional blowers and expect more material to flow when the airlock is a certain size.
What blowers do is enable you to push your material. If you have a long distance to go, THEN, you will need an additional blower to MAINTAIN the production rates. If you are exceeding 200 feet on a regular basis, you will want to consider an additional blower. The airlock will not empty completely if there is not enough air supplied.
Simply put, no matter how many or big your blowers are, you cannot blow what is not in the airlock.
OUTPUT HOSE DIAMETER does not have a measurable increase in production rates. The output is determined by a relationship to the size of airlock. The larger the airlock, the larger output you will have. If you put a large output on an undersized airlock, you will never get more material into the hose.
ABOUT THE FEED. Not all machines feed the same. Most machines use gravity to feed the airlock. The material is beat by beater arms. These arms do not actively feed the airlock. Since they are passively feeding material into the airlock, the feed is inconsistent and production rates are lost. In general, the airlock rotation is a bit slower to allow as much material as possible to fall into the airlock veins. Another factor that results in lower production is that the beater arms often create a bridging effect. Have you ever used an insulation machine that you had to use a stick to push material into? THAT is a gravity-fed machine.
You want a machine (plug for Cool Machines is coming), that has an auger system that not only pulverizes your material, but force-feeds the airlock. The Cool Machine brand has a dual auger system designed to force-feed the airlock as full as possible. Also, the airlock rotor speeds are increased so that they are fed as full as possible.
Note well… just because a machine has one or two augers does not mean that the machine will feed in the most efficient way. Also, there is a speed at which the airlock rotor should not exceed. Too fast, then the material does not fill the airlock veins. There is a “sweet spot” in rotational speed. It is truly a science to the way the augers are designed to feed correctly and efficiently.
“MY MACHINE LOST PRODUCTION” Yes. The physics law of entropy means that everything wears down. Has your machine lost production? Are you not able to achieve published productions rates? Consider the following:
Head pressure. This is the pressure being exerted on the material that is at the bottom of a hopper. Have you ever loaded your “last bag of the day,” and it seems to take twice as long? Well… there is no longer “head pressure.” Material feeds better when the hopper is full. The head pressure keeps the material going into the airlock.
Airlock Seal Wear. Airlock seals keep the material going in one direction… out the output. They maintain the air pressure so that it cannot back up into the hopper. When these seals wear, the air pressure may back up into the hopper. Those loading cellulose into machines quickly realize that their machine seemingly burps air back up into their faces. That is time to check the integrity of the airlock seals.
Material changes. Fiber manufacturers always “play” with the density of their packaging… especially when fuel costs rise. They want to compress their material tighter and tighter. Some materials, like fiberglass, are cut in different lengths. The smaller portable machines sometimes need help in processing different brands of fiberglass. Cool Machines offers a variety of options to help you achieve production rates when material manufacturers push out their changes.
Summary: So, you have done your homework and compared machine after machine. You see some very different numbers. Unfortunately, there is nothing the industry can do to force everyone into compliance.
There is something Cool Machines IS doing. They are willing to back-up their published production rates with a real-time video. If you are considering purchasing a Cool Machine, just ask, we will provide you a video achieving the published production rates, minimally.