Questions? Call us!
+1 (978) 295-7538
Mon-Fri: 9AM - 5PM EST
Insulation Removal Vacuums for Attic and Wall Tear-Out
What size insulation removal vacuum does the job?
Match the engine to how much attic you clear in a week, not to the largest machine you can afford. The 10 HP INSUL10 moves 3,000 cu.ft/hr, the 14 HP INSUL14 moves 5,400, and the 18 HP INSUL18 moves 6,000.
The jump from 10 to 14 HP is the one that changes a schedule: 5,400 cu.ft/hr is 80% more throughput per hour. Weight moves with it. The INSUL10 is 125 lbs and loads into a van or pickup, which is why Nikro positions it for smaller crews. The INSUL14 and INSUL18 are 312 and 330 lbs and stay on their wheels between the truck and the job. All three run their own gas engines, so they do not need site power.
Start type follows the same split. The INSUL10 is recoil start. The INSUL14 and INSUL18 use 12V electric start, which matters when a crew is restarting the machine between attics all day rather than once in the morning.
Machine only, or the complete package?
The packages pair the same vacuum with the hose run and disposal supplies, so those arrive with the machine rather than on a separate parts list.
Each package adds Vaculite hose, metal hose connectors, a 6"-to-4" reducer, a 4' metal pick-up tube, adjustable clamps and disposable bags, and the hose and connector counts scale with the engine. Buying the machine alone makes sense when you already run Nikro 6" hose and keep bags on hand.
What should you check before the first attic?
Vermiculite is one material to stop for. The EPA advises treating vermiculite attic insulation as though it contains asbestos and leaving it undisturbed, because a large share of the vermiculite sold in the US came from a mine with asbestos contamination and distribution continued into 1990. Age alone does not rule it out, and it is not a call to make by eye on the day.
The EPA's guidance on vermiculite insulation covers what to do when you find it. Where asbestos-containing material is known or presumed, OSHA's construction asbestos standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101, sets out the exposure assessment, work classification and respiratory requirements that apply. Which controls a specific job needs depends on the material, the work and the rules in your jurisdiction, so both are worth reading before quoting a house of unknown age.
Free Sizing Tools
Not Sure What Size Equipment You Need?
Answer a few questions and get a spec-matched recommendation from our free calculators — no email required.
Dehumidifier Sizing Calculator
Enter room size and conditions to get the right pints-per-day capacity for your space.
Use the calculator →Air Scrubber Calculator
Match CFM and air changes per hour to your room for mold, dust, and restoration jobs.
Use the calculator →Floor Scrubber Selector
Size a walk-behind or ride-on scrubber to your floor area and cleaning schedule.
Use the calculator →Water Damage Equipment Calculator
Plan how many air movers and dehumidifiers a water-loss job needs, by class and size.
Use the calculator →