Thread: Portable Carpet Cleaning Machines Tips and Tricks!!

I will start with this one with a tip from Jaime Fabara.

(Text tips are ok but videos are even better!)

What do you do with the unused solution in your fresh water tank? Most guys with leave it, or drain it out. However, I suck it back through the hose to help clean out the hose, and the waste tank after it's completely empty.

It really helps to wash out the sand or hair that might be at the bottom of your waste tank.

Go to 2" vac hose and wand to double your reach.

You'll have the same performance without having to add more vacs/cords.

Get auto fill/auto pump out, and buy a 360.

Why auto fill/pump out? Making money is about speed. The less time you spend running back and forth to drain sights and water sources the faster you finish.

Why a 360? It combines agitation with the flush and suck, again, speeding up the process.

Heat is a luxury, but, it speeds up the process. If you have a heater and auto fill, set your auto fill for the top 1/4 of the tank. Use the rest of the tank as a heat sink. This gives your heater a chance to "keep up" with the water use. Start the heater as soon as you are filling the tank, then vac, pre-spray, etc. This will again, help the heater keep up.

I can keep my water hot enough I don't let the solution hose laying on my leg.

George, I think it is good to have the auto fill and the auto pump in commercial jobs, residential no that much in my opinion, now if there is started guy, he can have all the time to do the job, but your point is very valid. Also is about necessity.

Jaime, fair enough. I could be spoiled by auto fill & dump.

Alex, really that is more about preferences, I would not use auto dump, that will take power from the motors, and I really care about vacuum, in commercial I can loose some vacuum and I would use auto dump.

Ya, AF/AD are more of a preference but if you are portable shopping it might worth you're while to get the options from the very beginning. It would probably be cheaper and easier to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it (???). I learned to clean without the stuff and it's not that bad IMO, if I could only have 1 it would AD......Just my $.02

Jamie,
As you know the Recoil comes with an 45 degree fitting at the gate vale and b4 I got my auto dump I used the same exact tip (turn it up/turn it down) to fill the bucket.
The C/A optional auto/dump has its own separate cord for power not taking power and performance from vacuum etc..I use this option to fill the 5 gallon bucket if simpler or of course to another source for proper disposal toilet,holding tank etc. .
The bucket brigade gets old quick!!

As far as the waste /recovery tank I always use an shop vac to remove any standing water,lint etc..

Originally Posted by locko-fabara

Alex, really that is more about preferences, I would not use auto dump, that will take power from the motors, and I really care about vacuum, in commercial I can loose some vacuum and I would use auto dump.

It shouldn't take much, 2 amps tops.

I know George, but how i said before in residential I care about vacuum, I won't use too much water, in commercial I might sacrifice some vacuum and have the pump out. If i sacrifice some vacuum i wouldn't care because there is more air circulating in commercial places than houses.

That is all about the type of job and your necesities, but if i have available 20 amps, i want my machine use 20 amps, I want every single inch of advantage.

Originally Posted by 1ST CHOICE CLEANING

OK, here is my tip. If it is possible use a truckmount instead of a portable. OK I am just joking and these are some great tips/info.

Haha!!!!!!!!

Run a cup of white vinegar thru the pump each month to keep it free of build up..

Tips

To fill up yor solution tank:

Use your truck mount- I use my heat bypass on my TM I run it for a bit and fiil it up in our porty....instant HOT water, and its full ready to go.

Kitchen sink- optional fill up instead of using the tub, cut some 1.5 vac hose about 4' long and insert into kitchen faucet (res tinto solution tank) and fill up with instant hot water with no mess.

If you have a TM:

Vac out your solution and dump tank at the end of the day. This helps keep it clean and the waste tank odor free.


If at all possible do not use same bucket to dump and fill with.....small grains of sand can damage your pump.


more later....gotta go to work.

Something it reaally good is if you want to use your apo auto pump out, use an inline filter, it is better than the small net inside the tank, sometimes, the net inside the tank gets a lot of dirty and gets heavy and fall to the botton of the recovery tank, then you pump out will star failing.
so everytime you use the pump out use a inline filter.