Local Bakersfield central vacuum installer, Bob Norville of California Central Vacuum regularly donates his time and effort to many worthwhile causes in our community and he came to MD asking for a central vacuum unit for Cpl Evan Morgan. This young man lost both legs and part of his eyesight in Iraq and as a “thank you” for his service and sacrifice, Homes for our Troops has built him a new home to assist him in his new challenges in life.

Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2004 strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is their duty and our honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently.

Bob had been telling us of the great example Evan was but meeting Evan at the home last weekend energized us as we saw in him, not despair and uncertainty, but life and hope and excitement. M.D. Manufacturing, Inc. is proud to have donated a central vacuum to Corporal Evan Morgan, a hero who donated so much more for our country. Thank you all who have served in our military and the families who have supported them back home.

By Grant Olewiler

Why is it that more than 65 percent of the CE Pro 100 companies are not offering central vacuums? Is it the ugly step-child the industry only offers when it’s absolutely necessary? Is the category not sexy enough? Is the price point too low to include in a package?

Our company participated in a recent CE Pro 100 Summit and even offered a free vacuum system for each of the participants. Yet, they still didn’t pursue the offer.

How do you reconcile this with regular statements from industry leaders that claim that central vacuums are one of their most important category products?

It’s time for the industry to wake up. Maybe you’ll never get excited about selling vacuum cleaners, but you should have a proper perspective of this as a “must have” item.

In Canada every home has the central vacuum pipe-work automatically installed during construction. This year in the U.S. a paltry 145,000 central vacuums are projected to be installed, according to Appliance Magazine. That’s pathetic compared to the over 12 million portable vacuums sold.

Central vacuums have been clinically proven to provide one of the greatest health benefits for allergy and asthma patients because the air is exhausted outside the home. The aging population loves the lightweight convenience and versatility, especially in multi-level homes. The product fits the green initiative perfectly with tremendous efficiency.

Get Educated

So why doesn’t the average CE pro install them? I believe the acceptance of this product centers around education and information.

The major gaps in knowledge are related to the profit potential, ease of sale and installation and technical aspects. No one wants to add a category that will contain a huge learning curve, but central vac offers one of the easiest entry pathways.

Profit Potential

A central vacuum installation in a 3,500-square-foot home sells for about $2,500 with about $800 in component costs in the U.S. A pro should be able to complete the installation in less than eight hours. Do the math. The quick-added profit is hard to argue with.

We are told regularly that dealers love the central vacuum because it does not require any tweaking after you leave the home. In fact the accolades for the central vac are higher than most other installed devices. The central vacuum is often what brings in the referrals of new clients.

Ease of Sale

Matt Panter of Waco, Texas-based Panter Home Theater received an Internet referral for a Silent Master Central Vacuum on George Bush’s home and ended up doing over $30,000 of electronics because of the quality of the lead. The central vacuum can be your entrance into projects you never knew existed.

Upon gaining the clients’ trust on any one of your trades, the add-on sales are far easier.

Ease of Installation

I believe this is the major barrier keeping CE pros out of the C-Vac market. Having exhibited at 12 CEDIA Expos and almost all EHX events, I’ve had the dealers come up to me excited about selling central vacs but lost with the installation. New or existing construction projects are actually quite easy with the aid of training manuals and videos. Or subcontract out the installation to other experts in the area who would love the additional work. They can often assist with ongoing maintenance as well.

Technical Aspects

“CFM,” “waterlift” and “airwatts” are all Greek to the average integrator. Take an hour to browse the thousands of educational pages. Over 12,000 product reviews there can help you understand what the clients appreciate and what they don’t like. And if you can’t find an answer, technicians can respond to your e-mails.

Don’t let a lack of education keep you from adding this great category to your package of products. Give central vacuums an opportunity to prove themselves and you’ll find a bright spot in these tough times. The market for existing home central vacuum installations is unbelievable and now is an ideal time for you to educate yourself on it.

Come out to California and I’ll train you myself!

There are essentially three major options for pipe choices for installing a central vacuum: Plumbing Pipe (such as schedule 40 PVC), Flexible Hose, and Vacuum Tubing designed specifically for central vacuums. Herein please find the advantages and disadvantages of each:

Plumbing Pipe: This installation would include standard plumbing pipe that is used in the construction of homes for carrying waste water or even supply water. Generally it has an inside dimension (ID) of slightly greater than 2” (50 mm) and is available in 10 foot or 20 foot (3-7 meter) sections.

The advantage is that this pipe is readily available in most countries and can be found at local hardware and plumbing stores. It has a thicker wall and is generally inexpensive as it is mass-produced for various applications.

The disadvantage is that the interior of this pipe is not very critical to the manufacturing process. Generally it is assumed that it is carrying water which weight will easily push any obstructions through the pipe. The wall thickness varies greatly and the joint between the pipe and the fittings normally leaves rough transition points where stiff objects can easily lodge. Because the pipe is also fairly thick, it is normally cut with a chop-saw or hack saw and the edge of the cut normally results in a crooked and/or rough finish. This too creates a strong potential of debris getting stuck. Some retailers have offered a transition fitting for this pipe to mate with central vacuum pipe but one must always be extremely careful when transitioning from a larger pipe back down to a smaller pipe at it will increase the potential for obstructions. No known USA manufacturers of central vacuums recommend this pipe for central vacuum applications and it is not an acceptable standard for installation based upon IAPMO or ASTM F2158 standards.

Flexible Hose: This option was attempted in the early 1960’s with central vacuums and was soon abandoned as a disaster. This method employs a 2” (50mm) flexible hose in lieu of the fittings and elbows in the system. Currently this flexible hose is only used within the first few feet of VacPan locations to allow for more accurate installation capabilities. The hose currently is available in two styles; one as a vinyl material with a wire reinforcement and the other as a more rigid PVC material. Both exhibit the issues listed below.

The advantage is that the installer can reduce his inventory of fittings and the complexity of the installation process. He would simply cut short pieces of the flexible tube any time the installation requires a bend. Some installers have even proposed running the entire system in flexible hose except where one pipe intersects another to add it into the flow. The cost savings is mainly achieved by reducing the skill required for the installer to properly install the system; having a solid knowledge of proper installation techniques.

The disadvantage is that this flexible piping adds a tremendous amount of friction loss to the system. The air bounces as it passed the ridges of the pipe that are intended to flex when the hose is bent. Also in short radius turns, the propensity for a clog greatly increases as sharp pieces of debris could easily lodge in the corrugations of the flexible pipe. This pipe is often much thicker walled to allow for the absorption of the radius of the bends and thus this ledge is accentuated and the smaller diameter of the pipe further increases friction loss. This “ledge” is where debris and long objects can permanently lodge. Because of the unique structure of this pipe, it cannot be cut with a pipe cutter but rather only a saw, again creating additional opportunity for problems. All of this friction loss results in a major decrease in the useable AirWatts of the system. No known USA manufacturers of central vacuums recommend this pipe for central vacuum applications and it is not an acceptable standard for installation based upon IAPMO or ASTM F2158 standards.

Vacuum Tubing: This pipe is made specifically for the central vacuum industry and almost all manufacturers adhere to a strict guideline established by American Standard of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Ruling F2158. This standard was developed by pipe manufacturers, central vacuum manufacturers, installers, and consumers as a means to build consistency into the manner that central vacuums are installed. Most municipalities in the USA have adopted this as a part of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and building inspectors in these regions have a right to reject any central vacuum installation that does not meet this standard or have this value stamped on the pipe and fittings. This pipe maintains a very concise wall thickness and rigidity to allow for maximum airflow through the system.

The advantage is that it is specifically designed to minimize the potential for clogs in the system. Its thinner wall allows for cost savings but more importantly it exactly matches the thickness of the hub of the fittings; almost creating a bob-sled run inside the pipe wherein there are no potential gaps or crevices. The thin pipe can easily be cut with a special plastic tubing cutter to obtain a precise flat surface each and every time and professional installers also use a pipe reamer to insure that the pipe-to-fitting transitions will not present any possibility of restriction. The thinner wall also bonds more easily to the fittings without the aid of any PVC primers. All currently know back up plates in the industry are designed to fit this size pipe whereas schedule 40 pipes require a special adapter. As of the date of this publication, every central vacuum manufacturer is recommending solely the use of this type of piping over any other of the options.

The disadvantage is that this pipe is not readily available at the local hardware store or plumbing supply house. Because of its limited production, the freight expense to obtain this pipe has become a major cost as part of the system. Countries where central vacuums are not manufactured require even greater costs to import the pipe as the pipe product is not even produced in their country. Some retailers have begun to suggest that the do-it-yourselfer should use one of the other options mainly because it is difficult for even the retailer to handle and work with storing the pipe. In the entire scope of the cost, an average installation may only incur a few dollars of additional cost for the correct pipe.

Conclusion: All central vacuum manufacturers recommend using the proper Vacuum Tubing for very logical reasons.

M.D. Manufacturing, Inc. has reaffirmed its commitment to the American workforce by building a brand new, state-of-the-art operations facility in Bakersfield, California.  Many US manufacturers committed to American-made goods continue to give in to the lure of low-cost labor moving production out side the United States; however, MD put action behind their beliefs in keeping quality jobs in America.

The new MD plant is double the size of the former location and offers three times the storage capacity.  The new facility houses all manufacturing, inventory, sales and support staff in one central location. A priority for investment capital was to be as efficient and eco-friendly as possible while increasing MD’s competitive edge. MD’s new technology based infrastructure is a tremendous advancement toward this goal. Other initiatives were successful as well including solar lighting designed to reduce electrical consumption and provide an open, creative atmosphere.

Brian Graves, MD’s VP of Operations spearheaded the entire transition to maximize workflow and reduce operating expenses. A pearl of Brian’s wisdom reads: “In the long run, it is always less expensive to build true quality than to overlook it. This is the most logical response to competing with low-cost alternative labor markets. We had to build on a foundation of efficiency and quality.”

MD maintained the expectation of quality throughout this entire transition. Director of Quality Mike Kretsinger is a Six Sigma Black-Belt trainer who analyzes each company procedure for minimizing potential errors and maximizing results to improve MD’s processes, workflow, and product lines.

Despite unprecedented gloom-and-doom media forecasts, MD has a commitment to sustain staffing while improving capabilities. Each employee is aware of his or her vital role to ensure an accurate and timely response to every client’s needs. The result is excellent intra-office communication, efficient order taking, and same-day shipping. Within MD’s new operations facility, the commitment for on-going research and development will remain a priority and focus.

All of the employees at MD are true central vacuum enthusiasts. Experienced professionals will get you the right product, right away, and for the right price. Accessories for any central vacuum brand, year, or model are also available.

MD has paved foundations in the industry with the first quiet central vacuum, the most extensive filtration system, the bulletproof Stealth power brush, and many other innovative products. At the recent VDTA show, MD introduced a number of brand new products: a vacuum pipe inspection camera, a compact central vacuum for RV’s, a method to easily convert all MD units to a closed bag system, a PetVac kit, and an inexpensive water-separator bucket. Creativity is a hallmark of MD’s history and the next few years should be exciting ones for MD.

Today is a monumental day in the history of MD Manufacturing, Inc.  We are now entering a new era of professionalism and growth that could have never been anticipated at any time in the past.  After 3 years of intense planning and design, we finally are moving into our brand new building. This beautiful facility has been planned around each and every need of our entire operation with as insightful of a plan as possible toward future growth.  It also makes a very bold statement that we remain intently committed to keeping jobs in the USA.

While competitors have announced that they are shutting their manufacturing facilities in the United States, MD has pledged an even deeper commitment to their employees.  Through the recent recession MD has not laid off a single employee and do not intend to change that fact.  They have also committed large resources to obtain new manufacturing equipment to move even more jobs in-house. 

The new facility is centered around a theme of cleanliness.  “We build vacuum cleaners so our factory should display that we believe things should be clean,” states Brian Graves, Operations Manager and project manager for the new building.  And the building was also designed with energy savings implementation throughout.  Skylights in both the warehouse and offices reduce daily consumption.  The UPB lighting system allows constant control of lighting to dim or eliminate lighting in areas not being occupied.  Six sixteen foot giant ceiling fans reduce the needs for expensive cooling systems, and all the latest insulation measures will reduce operating electricity consumption.

This new facility will allow MD to better serve our loyal clients with more efficient order picking and processing and broader product offerings. It will also allow MD to better serve the high-end of the central vacuum market that realizes that quality products can actually cost less if they are manufactured properly the first time!

MD Manufacturing would like to thank the hundreds of thousands of clients that have purchased their products over the past five decades.  Without your loyal support we would not be enjoying today!

So don’t be surprised if we do not answer the phones or e-mails from 3:30 PST Wednesday April 1^st through 7:00 Monday morning April 6^th as we are preparing for our next significant growth curve.

M.D. Manufacturing boldly announced at the recent VDTA Show in Las Vegas that they refuse to participate in the current recession!  It’s one thing to make such a statement, it’s another to live it out.  By the looks of the constant crowd of dealers around the booth you had to figure something different was happening there. 

Show participants have always anticipated that MD would be always presenting new ideas to the industry and this year proved consistent.  Of greatest interest was their new Vacuum Pipe Inspection Camera System.  This very cool suitcase kit contains a 60 foot fiber optic black & white camera system that can be inserted into the piping system to detect clogs, breaks, or any other abnormality in the pipes.  Its infrared lighting illuminates the pipe crystal-clear on the accompanying video screen reducing tons of hours of potential research work.  Simply remove an inlet and start the inspection.  It even contains a battery back-up system when power is not available on the job site.  MD plans an exciting launch of this product for a dealer cost of $499.

Additionally MD displayed a new PetVac kit that allow you to vacuum and groom dogs or cats with an awesome new tool but its fifteen foot hose contains a bleeder valve at the opposite end to keep from disturbing the animal near you.  And they also had a new inexpensive plastic separator bucket system.  Most homeowners rarely need to pick up water but what a convenience when it is needed.  Rather than retailing at over $150, this slick unit will be sold for less than $50.

MD also displayed a new hand-held electric beater brush that will fit right on the end of any electric hose.  No more loud air-driven tools; this one is great for staircases, couches or the interior of your car.  Speaking of small places, MD also displayed their new “MDU” unit for small central vacuum applications.  Measuring in at less that one cubic foot, this quiet, powerful central vacuum can fit inside cabinets, or will work ideal for RV and boat applications.  It’s new Allerex filtration system will also capture an amazing percentage of micro-particles.  MD hopes to introduce this to the market also in the next few months.

The Central Vacuum Track of seminars also showed no sign of the recession;  More than 50 dealers faithfully sat through hours of training including creative marketing techniques, installation helps, existing home installation, central vacuum technical theory and a comprehensive course on service.  Reaction of the participants indicated that this was a highlight of the entire show.

Its unfortunate if you missed the convention but let this be a catalyst to insure that you make a concerted effort to be a part of the show next year.  Overcoming a shifting economy can be far easier with a plan of action different than your historic direction.  We must constantly be making these adjustments or our business will simply be just like the other guy down the street.  So join MD in avoiding this so-called recession!  

MD was the first central vacuum company on the internet and we will continue to dominate this media.  Our original website launch in 1996 contained over 100 pages of information and this newly launched revision has literally 1000’s of pages!  This includes nearly 9,000 product reviews and thousands of dealer & customer service reviews.  The newer look is intended to ease navigation and get you quicker to the specific information requested.  It has a greater emphasis on our wonderful national and international dealer network but it still allows real-time feedback for any of your central vacuum needs.  No, MD is not just another internet reseller. We don’t copy content from competing websites, but have organically grown this entire site from our own top-rate marketing, engineering, and installation expertise. You are currently experiencing the first Central Vacuum Website delivered on the World Wide Web. It is true. Builtinvacuum.com 1.0 was launched in 1996 as the first in the industry, and we’ve been innovating ever since. If you find any ways to enhance our website, we would love to hear from you. Thank you for the trust you have in M.D. Manufacturing, Inc.

“Large enough to be competitive…small enough to be personal.”

The new Hide-a-Hose system is becoming quite popular, and for good reason. It conveniently stores the hose inside of the vacuum tubing for easy access whenever the user wants to vacuum. We have written before on the issue and identified the pros and cons of the concept. Today we heard of a potential problem that can occur in the installation and a few simple warnings may avoid major headaches for you should you install these Hide-a-Hose systems.

First, if you run pipe up into an attic, you must insure that the attic remains below 147 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature above this tends to break down the viscosity of the pipe and it gets quite pliable This is true for any central vacuum system with pipes in the attic. The temptation; though, with Hide-a-hose is to run the pipes as a raceway tied up to the underside of the joists; suspended in the attic. Here the heat intensifies and thus problems can begin.

The pipe truly must be supported well for the hose to be able to easily slide in and out of the pipe. Looping it from every five feet of rafters will not make it rigid enough. The pipe, exposed to high temperatures will have a tendency to warp and sag and then fittings can come loose. You must also use quality pipe that has the ASTM 2158 approval stamped on it.

Another issue is that you should not place the Hide-a-Hose sweep 90’s too close to each other. We have heard reports that this makes it harder to suck the hose back into the walls. If you need to use fittings, you should make a “square-like” pipe design as opposed to an long oval.

Lastly, we are seeing Hide-a-Hose advocates such as HP Products recommend a high waterlift designed motor in the vacuum system used to operate the system. We certainly agree with them on this issue and would advocate our Model S4, S44, S5, M45, M85, M92, J, K, G23, and Model SV.

Michael Goldberg was arrested Sunday after a home show customer contacted St. John’s police. (CBC)

Police in St. John’s laid 11 more fraud charges against a U.S. man arrested after setting up a booth at a weekend home show.

Michael Goldberg, 51, was selling vacuum cleaning systems from a booth at Mile One Centre.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary launched an investigation after a customer contacted police after finding a fraud alert on the website of Vacu-Maid, whose products Goldberg was representing. Goldberg was specifically named in the alert.

One charge of fraud was laid Monday against Goldberg, who the RNC said has done business under other names.

Goldberg is not seeking bail and is being held in custody in St. John’s.

A warrant was issued for Goldberg in Sacramento County in California, although the RNC says U.S. officials do not at this time want to extradite him.

Investigators in Newfoundland announced on May 6^th that they had finally caught up with Michael Goldberg, who had been running from the law in at least 5 states. Goldberg had attended Home Shows in cities from Hawaii to Minnesota where he would take deposits for central vacuums; yet he never would deliver the goods. Goldberg also conned central vacuum installers for installations and would not pay them for their services. Most of all, unsuspecting consumers were bilked out of tens of thousands of dollars for a number of products.

The last we heard, he had headed to Canada, while authorities at the border were awaiting his re-entry to arrest him. The law caught up with him earlier than expected and he was arrested in Canada. Over the past three years, various dealers of ours have reported that Goldberg came to them claiming MD had recommended them for installation expertise. MD had spoken with Michael Goldberg at one point (he also had five other alias’) and saw through his scheme. He was officially refused business with MD. We understand that he did choose a number of other manufacturers to purchase from but would use MD’s extensive dealer locater to find dealers for his installs.

Thankfully he is now behind bars. If you have additional information on the case you might want to contact Police Sgt. Victor Quezada of Sandy Utah who has been pursuing Michael for some time.