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Archive for the 'MD Products' Category
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007
We are often asked why MD does not recommend or sell the Double Wye fitting that is commonly seen other places in the industry. This fitting is quite convenient for attaching two runs together to then flow into the power unit but unfortunately it has also too often been installed improperly. Because many central vacuum installers only work at the trade part-time and are unfamiliar with proper installation techniques, they end up producing systems very susceptible to clogs. Here are the two most common errors committed with this fitting:
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Picture a pipe directly out of the unit needing to go both into the attic and under the house. The unit would be mounted to the left of the pipe. The problem with the Double Y shown on the right is that debris coming down from above, trying to make the turn to the left to go into the unit, will have a strong tendency to drop out of the airflow into the pipe below. If inlets on the lower line are not used often, then the pipe will build up with debris and clog the system. Although the setup on the left might take a few extra fittings, you can see that all the debris will properly flow to the unit.
In this picture we have used a 90 Sweep Tee (#508) and a 90 Sweep Spigot (#503)
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Secondly, picture the Double Y (on the right) being used where all pipes are running horizontally. There would be one pipe coming from the left and one from the right. They want to flow toward the bottom of the picture. Again it is possible for debris coming from either the left or right to carry themselves through the air stream and centrifugal force would push the debris into the opposite dead-air of the line that is in direct flow rather than making the turn toward the lower part of the picture toward where the power unit is located.
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To properly make this connection we used a 45 Wye (#509), 90 Sweep Spigot, a short piece of pipe, and a 45 Ell (#504)
Posted in Business Practice, MD Products, CV Installation, Buying / Shopping for a CV | No Comments »
Thursday, July 5th, 2007
Savvy consumers are finally picking up on the concept of central vacuums. Reading of any on-line blog forums will quickly split the consumers into two diametrically opposed camps: Those who absolutely love their central vacuums, and those who hate them. This has actually been going on for over four decades but there exists one single element at the center of the contention…. that terribly long hose.
Over the past few years a number of products have been introduced on the market to eliminate this objection, from Versa-Reel that wound the hose up, stretch-hoses that expanded to six times their length, the Hose Genie that dispensed the hose out of a wall cavity, to the expensive Hide-a-Hose that sucked the hose back into the wall. But none have caught on seriously with the consumers. Most consumers accept the fact that they need to use a hose but seriously wished it was much shorter.
Since 1983, tradeshow seminars within the central vacuum industry have been recommending that systems be designed around a 20 foot hose with a 10 or 15 foot extension. The major traffic areas could be easily cleaned, with the extensions being utilized for less trafficked areas. The advent of electric hoses halted this option as it was impossible to make a logical simultaneous connection of both the high and low voltage.
The solution: Quick-Click™ hose has finally brought the solution to the market. Not only does the hose disconnect at twenty feet, it also allows for additional expansion capabilities. The unique disconnect system sets the standard far above any other hose connection system in terms of function, design, safety, and ease-of-use.
Here’s How it Works: The two hose ends roll together over two horizontally opposed catch points on the hose ends. This locking effect occurs both at the joint of the two hose sections as well as at the end that connects to the wand. According to its inventor, Scott Walker, the wand handle actually now stays in the wand and the hose is removed from the handle for storage. So now you can vacuum your major traffic areas with a 20 foot hose and add on a 10 or 15 foot extension for thorough cleaning. In fact, you could add additional hose sections if extra-long distances were required.
But the real challenge for this hose came with a test pool of the toughest magnitude possible. Imagine in your mind 15 female inspectors all closely examining a product for every minute flaw. Not just any females, we’re talking experienced, real vacuum warriors who have tried every vacuum on the planet. No, not because they run vacuum stores, but because they’ve been around for 80 years plus! Not the best candidates for telling you how easy something is going to work! Most of them in this assisted-care facility were in wheelchairs, all had arthritis, and one particular lady could not even lift her arms and could barely move her hands. After many apologies about inability to perform the test due to her condition, she was finally coaxed into attempting to disconnect the hose. “This lady about cried in excitement when she found she could do it,” says Scott Walker. “It took her two moves to adjust her grip but she still was able to disconnect the hose.”
“Conventional hoses require many synchronistic strengths and manipulations to disconnect,” states Walker. “A person needs to both squeeze the button lock in with their thumb while grasping the wand strongly enough for the other hand to pull against it. The process requires hand, arm and shoulder strength to complete this function.” Because many weaker handed people find this very difficult, they actually “hate” their entire central vacuum system.
It’s a fact of nature that women typically (not always) have weaker hands. Seeing historically that women make the purchasing decision regarding the home’s vacuum, it would be wise to pay attention to their marketing requirements! There are over 54 million women over age 46 in the United States with another 38 million entering this age bracket in the next 12 years. Add to this the complication of Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel, etc., and it’s easy to see the serious need for a simpler hose connection.
Quick Click not only solves the “long hose” issue, it simultaneously meets the demand for an easier-to-use hose.
Reviews and availability: A limited quantity of these hoses have been released to MD Manufacturing dealers throughout the country and reviews have been excellent. Owen Perkins from Wehrli’s Vacuum Center in Naperville, Illinois was really excited to get this hose into his client’s hands. “It’s just the solution we’ve been waiting for,” said Owen. And dealers are already pointing out many other advantages.
“The interior of the hose handle contains a gradual curve that reduces friction while constantly maintaining a 1.25” interior” boasts Grant Olewiler, General Manager of M.D. Manufacturing. The hose now actually has three swivel points further reducing the potential for kinking as well. One swivel at the handle is further supported by a swivel on both sides of the mid-hose connection. And with the ability to remove the hose right behind the handle it will greatly reduce consumer clogs. Every time you put the hose away you will be able to see the interior of the connection.
“The first time I saw the hose I was concerned that this bulky joint twenty feet along the hose would be banging and catching on furniture,” stated Olewiler. “But to my delight I hardly even knew the hose was there.” The hose does come with a short hose sock to cover the joint and MD will soon have matching hose socks available for all the varying lengths of Quick-Click ™ hoses.
Vacuum performance tests have not yet been conducted but feedback from the field is already overwhelming. “The hose is clearly the largest factor in performance friction loss.” states Olewiler. A few Quick-Click hose users complained their power heads were now too difficult to push because of the increased suction performance when using only a twenty foot hose. This is a good problem simply remedified by altering the height adjustment on the brush!
Did you accidentally miss installing an inlet in a certain area or does a large piece of furniture block access to an inlet? The Quick-Click™ hose can be extended. Need to carry the hose upstairs? The twenty foot length only weighs 5 pounds! And another unique feature is that each hose comes standard as a corded hose and easily converts to a direct connect with the plug adaptor included with each and every hose!
The bottom line is that the Quick-Click™ hose will simultaneously provide you with increased profit and greater customer satisfaction than any hose ever offered before. It is going to appeal to a larger audience and work in more applications than previous hose solutions. Its durability is unmatched and it is in stock ready to ship! M.D. Manufacturing has been chosen as the premier agent distributing the QuickClick™ hose in the USA. The 30 foot hose includes a 20 foot base, 10 foot extension (15 for a 35 foot hose), electric handle grip, low voltage handle grip, direct connect plug and small hose sock for the middle connection. MD has priced the hose slightly higher than their standard hose and is making it available in all their electric kits including Stealth®, Stealth II, Blackhawk, and EdgeLift. Additional extension hoses can also be purchased separately.
For additional dealer or distribution information, please contact Mike Kretsinger at M.D. Manufacturing at 800-525-2055 or mike@builtinvacuum.com. M.D. Manufacturing Inc. has specialized in the innovation and distribution of central vacuum products since 1961. Their 6,000 page www.centralvacuum.com website is the industry-acclaimed information center of the central vacuum industry
Posted in New Products, CV News | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
Did you know that the MD Stealth Powerbrush is proven to be the most efficient powerbrush on the market? We’ve been asked why its amperage is only 1.4 Amps while other brushes are 2.4 to 2.9 Amps. The reason for this is remarkable. The Stealth is the only brush that employs a 24-bar commutator for transferring the electricity to a rotating armature of the motor. (The bars are the actual segmented copper bars that are located around the perimeter of the armature.) Every other brush uses a 12-bar commutator. Yes, it comes with increased difficulty and cost to build a more precise motor with 24 bars but the end result is a motor twice as efficient in its usage of electricity. At the same time, this enhancement feature reduces the brush’s heat as well as reducing the electrical load put on the wire in the long central vacuum hose.
While many central vacuum hoses use a 22-gauge wire that might be 380 feet long, you can see how that would create a greater amount of electrical stress and loss of energy. (Have you even noticed how the wire on your Christmas lights gets really warm when you are 200 feet away?) And our AirForce hose is the only one that uses a heavier 18-gauge wire!
The end result of all of this is a far more efficient brush using less energy, producing less heat, and allowing less opportunity for problems. With this level of excellence in performance, I think we should apply for the government Energy Star Rating!
Posted in MD Products | No Comments »
Monday, October 23rd, 2006
MD Mfg. recently conducted a series of inspections on the newest version of AirForce central vacuum. The test results were dazzling. The first test performed involved an artificially created metal plate to notify us when the airflow was too low. The technology worked great. We were notified when the airflow had diminished to where the bag needed changing. The new AirForce technology was built around this.
When we came to the final part of the testing of the technology with real time “dust,” we were astonished to see how much it actually took to clog the bag. The quality in the new AirForce left us amazed. While checking the airflow differential switch power unit that shuts off automatically when the bag is full, the unit demonstrated much more than we expected. The new AirForce not only impressed us with its science & technology, but we also discovered a side advantage during the testing.
For the second test, after plugging the unit in and attaching the vacuum hose, we ran the unit on an air-driven power brush (which easily identifies inadequate airflow since it will not run/spin unless adequate airflow is coming from the unit). We then took the hose off of the power brush and began ingesting flour from a 10 lb. bag. First we ingested 1 lb. and did not notice any difference in suction strength. Then 2 lbs., 3 lbs., 4 lbs., 5 lbs.— still no appreciable loss of performance. We lifted the lid and observed 5 lbs. of flour caked to the side of the unit.
Our filtration system is very good, and therefore the exhaust had no dust coming out of it (if we had a cyclonic system, we would not have seen everything due to the dust particles that would have been emitted into the room). We then resumed the test with the bag of flour—6 lbs., 7 lbs., 8 lbs., 9 lbs., all the way up to 10 lbs. And we still had good suction—shocking! We lifted the lid of the central vacuum unit. The bag was coated but it was not full. There was 10 lbs of flour in the unit and we still had adequate suction!
We then sent Jason off to the store again to buy another 10 lbs. of flour. We figured that we would need maybe 2 or 3 lbs. of flour. Still using the air-driven power brush, we vacuumed almost every pound! And finally when we got to 19.35 lbs. of flour, the vacuum began to weaken significantly, losing power, having insufficient airflow and ultimately shutting off.
Obviously, this test proved our technology by having the unit shut off when the airflow differential diminished. There is no other product like this on the market. It is incredibly unique. And this test also demonstrated how amazing our filtration system is, which prohibits dirt from going through it yet simultaneously allows good airflow. This is because AirForce uses a tapered bag with a 2-ply microfilter. The first layer of paper is like Tyvek material and its grabs the major debris. It is slippery, causing the debris (e.g., dog hair, carpet fuzz, etc.) to fall off.
There is an air gap between 1st layer (porous) and the 2nd layer (fine filter). The air gap allows the air to channel through the large particles of dust into the finer pores and does not clog the pores of the finer layer filter. Therefore, over a long period of time, vacuuming up a lot of household dust, you will still have wonderful, longer performance until this bag is full as testified to by the homeowners who have this product. They will tell you that the bag must be almost entirely full before getting suction loss to the point where there is inadequate cleaning.
Once again, we have been convinced of the superiority of MD Mfg.’s products. Not only are we blazing the pathway in modern technological innovations for the central vacuum industry, with our award-winning UPB technology, but our products are incomparable in their quality of performance. This recent test proves once again that MD Mfg. produces the best, most powerful, most reliable central vacuum unit on the market.
To read this document in a full pdf version on the MD website, including dazzling pictures to prove the events, click here.
Posted in MD Products | No Comments »
Monday, October 9th, 2006
MD Manufacturing offers an incredible countrywide tool as a service to our customers. The Dealer Locator. Benefits from the MD dealer locator are enormous! It allows our loyal customers the advantage of easily finding an MD central vac dealer and installer at almost any place in the United States. Our dealer locator also provides you with a link to our representatives in other countries.
The dealer locator is designed to assist out-of-town customers, and customers who are relocating to another part of the country. It is helpful for notifying friends, family about where to get a quality central vacuum. And it also may be useful for someone thinking of purchasing a central vacuum as a gift for a faraway friend or family member. This could be very helpful with the holidays right around the corner!
MD certainly welcomes all of our customers to use our dealer locator on the web for any and all of your central vac wants. MD has hundreds of reputable dealers who will be very helpful in meeting your needs for a new central vacuum cleaning system.
Posted in MD Products, MD's Website, Buying / Shopping for a CV | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
Whenever we are asked which central vacuum is our best, we always have a different answer. The fact is that MD has many “best ” vacuums but really needs to know what is the “best” central vacuum for your individual home. We really need to know your needs. Do you have lots of hardwood floors or lots of carpet? Is noise something that doesn’t bother you much, or is it more important that the unit be quiet? Will the central vacuum be used in a commercial or industrial setting? How large is the home where the central vacuum will be installed?
The best way to answer these questions is by a flowchart that MD Manufacturing has designed. After answering 3-5 questions from our System Advisor, you will be notified of which power unit and brush are the best for your application. You will also be given a link for your local dealer so that you can obtain the pricing of their package, including installation. Many of our dealers would also be more than happy to help you get started if you wanted to install the unit yourself.
Posted in MD Products, MD's Website, Buying / Shopping for a CV, CV Facts, Cleaning Tips | 2 Comments »
Monday, October 2nd, 2006
There are reasons why someone would sell a portable vacuum over a central vacuum. But there are far more superior reasons to sell the central vac.
If a customer comes into a vacuum store showroom looking for a central vac, a dealer could easily convince him that he does not need one and switch him over to a quality portable vac. The customer would pay for the vacuum, and walk out of the store leaving the dealer a few hundred dollars in profit. Sale completed, the customer is happy and the dealer has been well paid. To sell a central vac, however, takes more work, requires the dealer to be far more convincing (and convinced of the superiority of the central vac) and most likely, even if the customer does want to buy a central vac, he leaves you little if any deposit or payment because his home may not be ready for the central vac for months down the road. The portable vac usually is the surefire sale, while the central vac is the “tough” sale.
This happens regularly every day! Unfortunately, the central vac is “disruptive technology” and needs to be sold more through relationship rather than brute sales tactics. The central vac is a completely different way of cleaning and the customer needs to be assured that the product will exceed their expectations. This is done through word-of-mouth, testimonials, and in-store, hands-on wow-factor.
The advantages of a central vac to a dealer can far outweigh those of the portable vacs. Of course, the large boxes portable vacs come in slowly inch dealers out of their precious real estate and counter space. And everyone seems to offer those portable vacs! A vacuum dealer must be unique, offering something that others cannot. This is why products are invented and businesses get started in the first place! At some point, there was a need in the community and the store founder or product inventor identified a way to make it a profitable opportunity. Since central vacs are sold more through relationship, dealers have good opportunities of getting the sale. And while a select few will buy central vacs over the internet as replacements, most customers will not purchase an installation over the internet from a company halfway across the country! Central vac sales make a profit far greater than portable vacs, the potential for referral sales also skyrockets, and customer loyalty (given excellent service) is unsurpassable!
Advantages of the central vac owner over the portable vac owner have been given here and here on the MD website. But they also have tremendous resale value, they only require emptying once or twice per year, they aren’t carried around the house and thus last much longer, they don’t beat up the baseboards and furniture as easily as a portable and you don’t have to live with a smelly closet where the portable vac is normally located. The central vac’s versatility allows the user to take full advantage of the suction in far more places of the home and its lightweight nature reduces back stress and fatigue. Most manufacturers offer an extra inlet on the unit for cleaning out the car as well.
Operated properly with a crushproof hose, electric beater brush and powerful motored system, the central vac will provide a far-cleaner environment. The UC Davis Study clearly proves that the central vac is healthier. The evidence then is quite overwhelming: the central vacuum is a far more superior product to handle.
Posted in CV Sales, MD Products, Buying / Shopping for a CV, CV Facts | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
As the first central vacuum manufacturer to exhibit in the Custom Electronic Design Installation Association eight years ago, M.D. Manufacturing has always held a special place in its heart for this show. Sure, there are alarm shows and builder shows, but CEDIA is truly the best of the best when it comes to companies that care about quality products.
I actually drove to the show and enjoyed a side tour through some of the most beautiful scenery in Utah and Colorado. It was hard not to simply stay a few days in Aspen soaking in the fall colors! With a beautiful convention center and friendly atmosphere, Denver, Colorado provided a great venue for the show. Even the restaurants didn’t seem overcrowded, and parking was feasible. OK, our hotel was sandwiched between the freeway and railroad tracks, but it still was restful.
Our staff did a fantastic job explaining the litany of new products introduced this year,including the new Stealth II with user-friendly features. The VacnSeal was also a great stimulator as almost all viewers quickly grasped the user benefits from such a simple item. But the thunder of the show was displaying a prototype of our new AirForce central vacuum that e-mails the homeowner when the bag is full. These Home integrators just ate up the concept as it logically incorporated itself into their product mix. How simple to make the central vacuum a core part of their product offering, rather than just an add-on item.
So our booth was full for most of the show hours and our voices went horse after the second day. That is a gauge of a successful trade show! What made it even more fun was to see dealers bringing other fellow dealers to our booth to have a demonstration of our new products. Obviously they grasped the value of our products and just had to spread the news!
Yes, there were a few other central vacuums at the show but no new pizzazz exuded from their portion of the show floor. Beam showed the new set of tools that had headlights to shine on the dirt and also dusting brushes with varying bristle softness. Linear showed their newer Nutone and AirVac units that are made of plastic. Vacu-Flo showed the Hide-a-Hose that is available to the entire market. Hayden, Aqua-Air and Honeywell had nothing new to show.
So the MD booth was sucking in new prospective dealers from all sides! What does this mean to end-users of our product? …. Easier access to MD products across the country. What does this mean to MD Dealers? ….. More name recognition that you are selling the foremost leading central vacuum on the planet!
Posted in MD Products, Trade Shows | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 12th, 2006
MD Manufacturing is widely recognized as being on the cutting edge of technological advancements in the central vacuum industry. This year at CEDIA, MD is introducing 3 brand new outstanding products.
VacnSeal Central Vacuum Appliance
A simple touch of the finger releases the suction arm to quickly vacuum-seal goods in a re-sealable ZipLoc® Double Zipper Freezer Bag. VacnSeal is the low-cost food storage solution nicely located underneath the kitchen cupboard and is installed like any central vacuum inlet. Bring central vacuum suction right to a ZipLoc® bag and begin preserving food today.
www.vacnseal.com
Stealth II Central Vacuum Attachment
Discriminating buyers will not accept inferior quality, and no other central vacuum power brush boasts the long-term durability and success like the Stealth. Its on-board computer eliminates belt breakage and assures proper carpet height settings. And now the Stealth II, with quick foot release, hidden cord management, and Glide-Release handle, is easier to connect and remove, making it the best brush on the market.
www.builtinvacuum.com
MD AirForce Central Vacuum
Introducing the most advanced central vacuum system ever invented. MD’s AirForce incorporates central vacuum advantages with home automation. Central vacuums provide deep cleaning power, better indoor air quality, and quieter operation, but AirForce also utilizes UPB powerline technology to eliminate the low voltage wire and allow shut-off based on telephone, doorbell, or other alarm activations.
www.airforcevac.com
MD’s 3 new products, along with much more, will be displayed at booth #176 during the CEDIA show. Hurry to visit our booth at CEDIA in order to receive a demonstration of our new products, and to be given a free sample of the new VacnSeal. Free VacnSeal samples will be given out to the first 400 people who stop by to visit the MD team at booth #176.
For more information contact MD Manufacturing at (800) 525-2055 or visit our 5,000+ page website at www.builtinvacuum.com.
Posted in New Products, Trade Shows | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006
MD is the only central vacuum manufacturer who offers the most-admired power brush in the industry. In fact, we are the only company who sells and distributes the highly-acclaimed Stealth power brush. We have trademarks on the Stealth name and have created a vast cornucopia of information about it on our website.
The Stealth brush comes in 12″ or 14″ and we carry the kits with 25′, 30′, or 35′ Plastiflex’ hoses. The rest of the kit includes top of the line equipment comprising a 14″ wide horse-hair floor tool, and other notable items.
Take a look at all the features offered on the Stealth @ the Stealth page of our website.
Posted in CV News, MD Products, CV Facts | 2 Comments »
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