Insulation Jobsite Efficiency: Using the Right Insulation Machine Equipment Makes You Profitable
Have you ever found yourself running to a big box store to get an insulation machine to fill an attic? You have to start somewhere. We have done this! You know the painful, time-killing work that takes 8-10 hours to top off a 1,200 square foot attic with just 6” of insulation. The slow machines, poorly maintained and designed for only one kind of insulation, frustrates many insulators. What’s worse? Owning a machine that ends up being slow, difficult to maintain and doesn’t have good support from the manufacturer. We cannot stress enough the importance of using the right equipment. So, how do you find the right equipment to make you profitable?
The Right Equipment is Innovative with Strong Engineering
Insulation changes. The formulas and packaging are always being tweaked or even overhauled. This presents challenges to insulation equipment. The right equipment manufacturer recognizes these changes and is able to adapt and offer corrections and innovations to keep up.
The Right Equipment Matches YOUR Needs
No company should follow a cookie-cutter approach. You may not need a vacuum right away. You may not need that monstrosity of a blower at first. Make sure you think about scalability and consider how big the homes are in your community. How much building is happening and what you want to be prepared to insulate. If you have a well-established community, then there will most likely be alot of work require the extracting side. These considerations help determine what machines (including sizing and power) you need.
The Right Equipment is Durable
I remember my grandfather’s toolbox. It was built very well. It had dents, but there were no breaks in the welds and the steel was thicker than my tool box. Think in these terms when purchasing equipment. You want powder-coated equipment with a good gauge of steel. Your vacuums and blowers should have a good amount of protection with abrasion-resistant steel at the wear points.
The Right Equipment is Well-attested
What are people saying about the equipment? Follow social media (twitter, facebook, instagram, linked in). What are people saying? What do they say about the equipment? How about support? When there are questions, how are they addressed regarding the equipment?
The Right Equipment is Simple to Maintain and Fix
Equipment will fail. The more complicated the equipment, the more attention is needed. Look for equipment that is simple to fix and does not require special tools.
The Right Equipment is Safe Equipment
I began insulating with my dad’s company in the 1970s. Essentially there was really only two things we were taught: 1) Don’t stick your arms into the hopper; 2) Keep the gas cans away from the equipment. Today, equipment exists that helps make it nearly impossible to get caught in the augers. Vacuums are getting larger and more dangerous. Look for those vacuums that have safety built in (i.e., vacuum savers, output safety deflectors).
The Right Equipment Comes With Excellent Support
When your equipment fails or does not perform as it should, find an equipment manufacturer that provides plenty of support. Social media will reveal those companies that support their products.