Jeff Grimm has one of the most unique business names among our customers: Reaper Rodent Removal. Jeff’s company is located on the Gulf side of Florida in beautiful North Port.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian smashed into the city of North Port. Jeff found himself in the middle of a community devastated by houses with debris that needed to be removed. He already owned a CM1500 which he used to top off attics that were in need of more insulation. When the hurricane swept through, he needed a vacuum… so, he got one of the best, most powerful vacuums in the industry… a CoolVac37.
With the CoolVac37 and 8” hose, he routinely removes fiberglass batts from attics damaged by the hurricane and pests who nest in the attic.
Diversifying his business into an industry that allows him to remove the damaged insulation fits well within his business model as a pest control company.
Bugsy’s Pest Control in Lakeworth, Florida just purchased a CM1500HP and a CoolVac27. Why would they need an insulation blower and vacuum? Zach, the owner of the company, is a biologist/entomologist that realizes people need to get rid of pests, keep them out of their homes AND get rid of their waste.
We enjoyed a later morning meeting with Zach. He explained how he deals with rats, various cockroach species and a number of other pests. He knows the importance of getting rid of the toxic mess they leave behind. So, we discussed various methods of insulating and how he can add a very important dimension to his company.
We showed him around his equipment and made recommendations on how to use it.
The CM1500HP and CoolVac27 add a decent amount of power to deal with insulation removals and quick reblows. All of his equipment fits into a 16 foot v-nose trailer with room for material.
This past June, I was on my way to meet with a group associated with Cornell University regarding the development of Hemp insulation. I posted my travels on facebook. Right away, Ryan with Wise Home Energy in Rochester, New York noticed and asked if I was able to stop by. I was only 45 minutes away was going right past Rochester. This is not the first time we had unexpected great visits!
I met with Wise Home Energy and met Jeff Flaherty, owner, and his crew including Ryan. We discussed business, what is happening with hemp insulation and got a tour of his facilities. Jeff has been a customer for awhile. He has purchased multiple CM1500HPs a CoolVac 23 and they are having great success.
Wise Home Energy provides HVAC, home energy audits and obviously, insulation. You can visit their site at: www.wisehomeenergy.com
Follow us on Facebook! If you notice us traveling through your area, we would love to stop and meet you if possible.
My dad and his best friend bought an insulation company in 1977 when I was eleven years old. Once a week, my brothers and I unloaded hundreds of bags of cellulose and stacked them in the upper loft area. We were exhausted… but not too exhausted to make tunnels! That barn still stands today on I-75 in Clarkston, Michigan. When I drive by, it always reminds me of those days, growing up in the insulation industry.
The insulation machine was an old Vanco. I was just tall enough to toss the material into the hopper. We weren’t using knives to open the bags, so I got pretty good at punching a hole into them and breaking them into the hopper. Yes, there was plenty of wrappings that went through that machine.
My dad eventually could not keep the machine running well. So, for some strange reason he thought that downsizing to the portable, through-blowers was good enough. Mind you, he did have three sons to load and blow, so time was not an issue. We insulated many homes: even apartment complexes and a very large warehouse with those blowers.
Over the years, my dad just kept us going with the portable blowers. We used the old Regals, Krendls, Intechs and Accu machines. Whatever portable machine he could get his hands on, we used it.
Thriving Through Difficult Economies
1980s. The recession hit Michigan very hard. Car companies and their suppliers were leaving Michigan. The building industry took a big hit. It was at this time that I went to college and worked my way through, helping my dad during the breaks and the summers. He sacrificially paid my college bills while I worked with the family business on these breaks.
Many companies came and went during those years, he stuck it out and built a solid base of over 75 builders/developers. He was able to work through those times and enjoyed the relief which came later that decade.
2008. By this time, we were insulating 250 plus homes/buildings in a year. I now had a family of my own. Instead of boys, we had three girls. My daughters would come and insulate with me when they had time off school. They were not afraid of fiberglass!
I didn’t realize that Michigan was going to go through another recession. Little did I know how important building a website for the business would be and the opportunities that would grow out of that.
My dad was a builder-focused business. Builders were going out of business. Insulation companies were closing down. Things changed overnight.
Companies asked us if we were interested in buying their machines. We were in no position to purchase a machine, but I started a webpage to flip machines. This was the start of a great opportunity but I didn’t realize it.
With website experience and the ability to get internet exposure, we eventually became master distributors for Cool Machines and were able to overcome the turbulent Michigan economy.
I never imagined all this would lead to us traveling the United States, helping insulation companies with their equipment needs and training. You never know what comes out of a family business. We are thankful to have had this great experience.
Florida has plenty of work for those in the insulation industry. Natural disasters and pests are a recurring problem and lends to a variety of companies getting into insulation work. In Florida, you can specialize your services to offer insulation to only a small segment of clientele. We have Florida-based customers that only remove and reinstall insulation when rodents are in the attic. Some will only do extraction work. While others, are looking to add insulation to improve their existing service.
Geiger’s Pest Control Services provides pest control and specializes in whole building fumigation. A house with that amount of pest infiltration, no doubt, needs extraction and reinstallation of insulation. This is why Geiger’s chose to add insulation extraction and blow in to their services.
They purchased a CoolVac23 and a CM2400 with a 12 inch airlock. We met Derek and Tony, on-site, in Tampa, Florida. They were removing insulation from a 1,200 sq foot house. Within a couple of hours, they removed all of the insulation (only 4-6” deep of cellulose) and then added new insulation. The workday started at 9am and was done by 1pm.
Derek designed a unique vacuum bag hanging system. You can fill insulation bags without much fuss when you set them up vertically. It was a great idea! It worked well and they have more ideas to make it work even better.
We thank Geiger’s Pest Control for their business and the excellent team spirit as we were able to complete the job quickly!
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.
We deliver insulation machines across the Canada border every month. Canada Customs requires proper paperwork to import insulation equipment. Because of the intricacies involved in moving equipment across the border, all companies use a broker who is specialized and endorsed by Canada.
What are the down-sides of having us secure a broker?
We often set up our shipments with these brokers. However, it is always better for you to have your own broker. Here is why:
It is always cheaper for your purchases.
You can deduct the brokerage fees from your taxes.
You are in control of your purchases.
99% of the time, your equipment will arrive on-time and smoothly. However, when we are trying to “push” your equipment across the border, we have had a few times when the equipment sat at the custom’s dock. It is far better for you to “pull” your equipment across, using your own broker.
What do you need to do to secure a broker?
All you need to do is to contact a broker. They will ask you to provide:
Details about who manufactures the goods: Cool Machines, Inc.
Where the goods are manufactured: Van Wert, Ohio
The end-use and/or user of the goods: Insulation equipment to insulate buildings
Value of the goods: Email them your invoice
Pay the broker, a fee for his services.
Here are a few brokers you can contact:
Universal Logistics Solutions, Eric Bailey, 313-965-8299
Okay… so, it is harmless fun! THIS TIME 😀 Please NOTE! There are some key things that you should know BEFORE you click on facebook links like that!
Notice the URL: EN.SUCCESSTESTS.COM
This is telling you that you are going to the ENGLISH version of a multi-language website. See the “EN” Most of these “tests” are published from overseas companies that are all about collecting your data. Typically, that collection is for nefarious uses!
Notice the Bait!
The old phrase fits, “If it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t.” Of course, these clicks are viewed as harmless fun. They are usually not. In fact, they most likely are dangerous.
Now… PLEASE share this and prevent others from making the same mistakes 😀
As a HVAC contractor, you are already in people’s attics and wall systems. You know that more insulation is typically needed when you are crawling through their attic. We help HVAC contractors enter into the insulation business.
With an investment in a blowing machine (typically $5,500), you can add additional fiberglass, cellulose, rockwool, even sheep’s wool into your contract.
Unlike the HVAC industry, installing insulation is simple. You already know the basics of ventilation and your customers will benefit by working with only one contractor.
See this page to find a flyer ready to hand your customer with an evaluation checklist for your customers.
Contact us today for a quote on insulation machine equipment. We sell blowers and vacuums to add a well-rounded service to your HVAC company.
Having been an insulation contractor, one of my greatest needs was accurate estimating software. My excel spreadsheets became quite unmanageable and just one faulty formula meant that I either overbid or underbid a job. Both are very costly mistakes!
Whether you do take-offs directly from a blueprint or field notes, this software will help an insulation contractor develop accurate estimates, saving time and helping you prevent errors.