Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

January 18 2024

No Need for a Service Center for a Cool Machines Insulation Blower or Vacuum

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

Cool Machines makes equipment that is simple to maintain and fix. They make it a priority to have equipment that reduces and eliminates down-time. Most issues can be taken care of while in the field!

Many times, while meeting customers, we will walk through maintenance and troubleshooting. From changing Air Lock Seals to replacing blowers, the Cool Machine brand is simple. You do not have to return your machine to the manufacturer to be fixed.

Cool Machines does offer in-shop fixes and updates. We can offer help at your location. The need for that is few and far between.

If you need help with your machine, call us today! We can certainly get you up and running!

No need for a Service Center with a Cool Machine

December 20 2023

JobSite Efficiency: Having Necessary Tools for Insulation Removal

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

Be prepared when you are removing insulation! Other than owning an insulation vacuum and hoses, what are other items you should have with you to be as efficient as possible?

Extra Hose Clamps: Hose clamps fail when used over and over again. Make sure you have a couple of each size, on hand, to make sure you can make connections. While you can source 3”, 4” and 6” clamps at a local hardware store, finding a 8” clamp is difficult.

Duct Tape: Always have a supply of duct tape. We recommend that you have a cheap, easy to tear tape and a thick, long-lasting duct tape. Use the easy to tear for connection points you will remove and join frequently. Use the thick tape for connections that are not going to be removed.

Extra Connectors: Most of the vacuum hoses have a wire that spirals through the hose to prevent the hose from collapsing with the suction. If that hose gets crushed, then it is very difficult to reform. Be prepared to cut the crushed section out and use an extra connector.

Three or Four Pronged Cultivator: Old mineral wool and cellulose can be caked on the drywall under it. Having a cultivator tool will break up the compressed insulation. You can also reach deeply into the soffit areas with this tool.

Sand Bags: With the larger machines that are capable of sucking fiberglass batts, your hose will buck. This could damage the person’s house if it bucks wildly. Get some cheap, small sandbags like those used for kids soccer goals. This will prevent damage.

Always Carry Extra Vacuum Bags: We do have an occasional call from a contractor late Friday night, needing vacuum bags on Saturday. Most often, it is impossible to ship that quickly. If your vacuum bags break, then having extras on hand is critical. NOTE WELL: Do not leave your bags in extreme heat or exposed to the sun. They can be destroyed by the excessive heat and UV rays within a few days.

November 2 2023

The Versatility of the Large Insulation Vacuums, CoolVac37 and CoolVac25: The Insulation Professionals

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

We took the Combination Vacuum and Dump Trailer to Joshua Fiala and his brother John for a demo. Josh owns The Insulation Professionals in Loxley, Alabama. We spend a lot of time in Gulf Shores, Alabama, just 20 minutes south of them. So, we offered them to use the vacuum as a demo on a mid-sized ranch.

Josh typically vacuums solo. He has a Cool Machines CoolVac16. That is quite an impressive feat! He is able to do so because he vacuums to a dump trailer. While in the attic, he uses 6 inch hose and when he does the finer work, he quickly slips on a 4” tube.

This day, Josh brought his brother into the attic. The CoolVac37 is in a combination box and dump trailer. This vacuum has enough CFM and Water Column rate that they are able to split from the 8 inch hose to two 6 inch hoses. John went deep into the end of the attic and Josh started at the entrance. They met in the middle. Midway through vacuuming, Josh changed up and decreased his hose size to 4 inches. He then followed behind his brother. That made for very quick and tidy work! John sucked up a majority of the loose blown and then Josh, using the smaller hose, followed up and got the more detailed stuff.

This is a great efficiency technique. Instead of vacuuming the attic twice, to pick up the remaining residue, you can work, methodically through the attic with a lead extractor and a detailer.

Special thanks to THE Insulation Professionals. We enjoyed our time with Josh and John on-site down here in the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Consider following them on their Facebook page!

: The CoolVac37 in the Combo Trailer

: Setting up the 8" to 6" Wye

: Great placement for the Wye.

: The CoolVac37 has enough CFM and Water Column for two people

June 21 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: Keep Some Blower and Vacuum Hoses Connected

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

Probably the biggest timewaster on a job site is dealing with hoses. Installing connectors, using hose clamps, and taping everything up can take a lot of time. To save time during setup and teardown, leave as many hoses connected as possible. Here are some suggestions:

Leave connectors connected. Hose reels are helpful. You can leave all the hoses connected and not deal with separating, clamping and taping on every job start. Consider getting a hose reel to save time. If you don’t have a hose reel, consider installing a connector on the end of each hose and leaving it connected. Use strong duct tape.

Leave reducers connected to hose sections that always need reducers. When installing a reducer to dense pack hose or hoses that always require a reducer, consider using a strong duct tape and clamp to keep that reducer attached to the hose. There is no value in separating reducers at the end of a job.

It is the simple things that help save a lot of time on a job. Good hose management can help you trim off costly time.

June 14 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: The Importance of Having Exact Times

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

One of the more important things a business owner can establish is having set times and communicating them well.

Many companies establish working hours from 9-5 and that works well. There is no flex and everyone knows what time to be ready to work. Some companies find themselves scheduling jobs at odd times and the times change. These fluctuations can be a problem if communication is not clear.

When communicating to your crew or a new employee, what time to be at the job, don’t give flex times. What we mean by “flex times” is that troublesome statement, “Be here between 7:00 and 7:30.” Here is why this is a problem:

Some employees may arrive at 7:00 while the rest of the employees arrive at 7:30. That is highly inconsiderate to the punctual employee and causes confusion. Besides, if you told this person to be there by 7:00, you will owe him for that time.
If a worker intended to be there until 7:30 and a problem arises where they need an extra 10 to 15 minutes, this can translate into a lot of wasted time. If the employer expected to begin at 7:00 (even though there was some flex given), this means the employer thinks the worker is 45 minutes late.

Clear, accurate communication is critical to a good working environment. This includes giving specific start times. As the owner, give a specific start time and proper expectations are more likely to be met!

June 7 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: The Person Tending the Insulation Removal Vacuum

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

It is very important to establish a person to tend the vacuum and vacuum bags while doing extractions. Tending to the vacuum ensures its proper functioning, maximizing its efficiency in removing the insulation material. The vacuum/s should not be left alone for a variety of reasons:

What Does a Vacuum Tender do During the Extraction

The person tending the vacuum will perform two tasks throughout the duration of the job. If using bags, the person tending will situate the vacuum bags for optimal fill and change them when needed. They will also make sure that the vacuum has proper oil levels, remains as free from dust as possible and is running efficiently.

Tending a Vacuum will Mitigate Hazards on the JobSite

Static electricity builds up and the person tending the vacuum can help with mitigating the jolts from the electric. This may involve running a spike into the ground with grounding wire run into the attic.

Another common hazard involves fuel. Too often fuel cans are left by the machines. Since these machines are susceptible to high volumes of static electricity, great care needs to be made to remove fuel from the vicinity.

The reason insulation is being removed usually means that it has been contaminated. It is important that the vacuum tender keeps a close watch on the hoses and bags to make sure that dust is not floating around the neighborhood. A blowout on a hose will cause a lot of insulation being thrown into the yard. So, keeping a close watch on these issues cannot be understated.

Another value is to make sure that the hoses remain connected and blowouts are quickly managed. This is one of the most common issues. Since set-up and tear-down occurs daily, these connectors and clamps can loosen.

Hidden objects in loose-fill insulation will be sucked into either a vacuum saver or the machine. These objects always carry a great deal of hazard and having someone tending the machines to deal with machine lockups or compromised hose is very important.

The tender will make sure the vacuum/s are in perfect position to avoid problems. If an object makes its way through the vacuum, it can go through the hose and damage items 50 feet away. Case in point, we were helping a crew with set-up on a jobsite. They laid out all of the hoses and vacuums. One vacuum was aimed directly at a Maserati! Nothing happened because the vacuum was repositioned. A conscientious vacuum tender will note these possible problems.

In summary, tending to an insulation vacuum during an extraction process is essential for efficiency, safety, environmental considerations, quality of extraction, and the durability of the equipment. Proper maintenance and monitoring ensure the smooth operation of the vacuum, facilitating effective insulation removal and replacement while minimizing risks and maximizing overall project success.

May 31 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: Everything Has its Place in Your Shop

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

My very first insulation job was the most memorable. I was working with my dad’s business partner, Art. We had a 24 foot truck that was a mess. The truck was a beater and all kinds of stuff was on the floor boards.

The truck would not start up. So, Art poured gasoline down the carburetor. He told me to crank over the engine and BOOM! Flames were everywhere. I saw Art dancing with flames engulfing him. It was at that moment that I realized; the messy truck was our enemy. I dug through the junk and FINALLY FOUND the fire extinguisher. Meanwhile, Art had the presence of mind to stop, drop and roll in a pile of brick sand. Were it not for that pile of sand, things would have gone much worse.

This blog post is about being well-organized. Everything must have its own place. Let’s discuss your shop. It’s essential to equip your shop with the right tools and arrange them in a logical and accessible manner. Since you will be transferring from the shop to your truck/trailer, here are practical tips for organizing tools, ensuring that everything you need is readily available.

Assess and Reassess Your Equipment Needs: Before you start organizing, think hard about the tools you need. Keep the tools to a reasonable minimum. Here are some other posts we wrote about outfitting your trailer/truck for loose fill and dense packing and outfitting your truck/trailer for wall spray.
Divide and Conquer: Organize your tools and products into groups based on their functionality. Keep your foam guns with your foam. Keep your staplers with the staples. This approach will help you identify the most efficient storage options and ensure that items are easy to locate when needed.
Utilize Storage Solutions: Storage can take up valuable space. You have a machine, product and hoses. All of these will dictate the amount of room you have for tools.
- Toolboxes: Today, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Craftsman and others are adding a variety of options. They organize the smallest to the largest of tools. So, develop a plan, figure out what you really need and then design an organizational system.
- Shelves and Racks: Install shelves or racks along the sides of your truck or trailer to maximize vertical space. This setup allows you to store larger tools, equipment, and supplies securely, while keeping them easily accessible.
Optimize Accessibility: Arrange your tools in a way that promotes easy access and efficient workflow. Store frequently used items in the front of the shop.

Organizing tools in your shop is a fundamental step toward improving efficiency and productivity. By categorizing, securing, and optimizing accessibility, you’ll have a well-structured system that saves time and reduces stress. Remember to invest in quality storage solutions and conduct regular maintenance to uphold your organization over time.

April 18 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: Build a Wall Spray / Dense Pack Training Wall

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

Often, when we visit a company to train, they may not have a job ready. That is no problem! We have helped people construct training walls. These walls are very helpful and will allow teaching the newbies and refining the skills of the experienced.

Our recent visit with Insulation Plus in Port Huron has a wall they use to train their crews. On both of our visits with this company, we used the wall and had a great training experience.

There are a number of reasons why you will want to build a testing wall:

This is an excellent way to train new installers.
This is an excellent way to refine the skills of your current installers. Perhaps, have an occasional spray-off to see who can spray the fastest with accurate fills.
Cellulose manufacturers change their forumlas. Testing various tip sizes and different pressures will keep your crew productive.
When switching from one brand to another brand of material, a testing wall is helpful to measure coverage and make sure your machine settings are accurate.
If you want us to visit, on-site, and you do not have a current job, these walls provide for excellent training.

Factors to consider when building your wall:

Build the wall to 100 or 200 square feet. This allows you to quickly measure coverages.
Use various substrates for the wall: foam, Zip system, Particle board, Tyvek, corrugated steel and even a cavity with wall fabric to imitate an interior wall. These varieties of materials will prepare your team to be able to get familiar with these walls.
Consider building three walls if you have the space: 2×4-16” oc, 2×6-16” oc, and even a 2×6-24” oc. If you don’t have room for all three, make sure you build the more common 2×6-16” oc.

These walls can be used over and over. They are indispensable and helpful in training and making your business as successful as can be.

April 16 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: Have a Person Tend the Vacuums

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

Extracting insulation from an attic is a time-consuming chore. One of the ways to increase your efficiency is to assign a person to tend the vacuum/s while extracting.

If you are using vacuum bags, you need a person tending the vacuum. This person will change the bags, make sure the vacuum hose remains coupled together and keep the machines running.

The tender will watch the position of the vacuums and make sure that the outputs are not aimed at the sides of houses or cars. Debris can go through the hose on the output and cause serious harm and damage. Cool Machines calculated the velocity of an object exiting the CoolVac23 at over 215 miles per hour. A conscientious tender will help eliminate the danger.

Cool Machines has a couple of innovative insulation removal vacuums products to help the person tending the vacuums. The Cool Diverter allows the vacuum tender to switch bags instantly. He does not need to shut the vacuums down to swap bags. The extractors, in the attic, will have zero down-time with that device.

Another product is the Output Safety Elbow. This is a deflector that stops objects (nails, wiring components, brick mortar, etc) from flying through the hose on the output. It is an added measure of safety for those who are working around the machine.

We strongly recommend having a person watching the vacuum. It is a two-person job, minimally, so plan accordingly!

April 5 2023

Insulation Job Site Efficiency: Wall Spray Finish an Entire Room

Barry Pendley Insulation Jobsite Efficiency

What is better?

Spray the entire house, then go back to the beginning and respray the entire house to fix the problems? OR,
Spray an entire room and then fix the problems in that room before moving on?

The title gives away our preferred approach. We believe that spraying an entire room, fixing problems, and not moving on before that room is finished is most efficient. One of the enemies of efficiency is a non-linear work practice. What we mean by “non-linear” when it is applied to wall spray is the practice of spraying random walls and moving through the house in a haphazard way. It may give the illusion of speed and progress, but it really isn’t efficient.

Here are a few reasons why we come to that conclusion:

When you spray without finishing a room, you may have divots, material that falls out of the cavities, and tops that sag. If you move on to another room, you have to re-vacuum and re-clean the top plates and around windows. It can double your work.
There is a good chance you will miss cavities. Working in a linear fashion will help ensure you fill every cavity.
If you move to another room and need to return, you need to untangle your hose and spray hose as you move through the interior. THAT is a huge time-waster.
If you need to fix divots and fall outs, you need to repeat the entire process. Spray, vacuum again and sweep off the top plates again. You double your work.

These are a few of the common problems with spraying in a haphazard fashion. Don’t race through the job, leaving problems behind. Finish a room at a time and you will find that your wall spray job will go faster.