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