- Sep 5, 2007
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With the advent of better chemistry, agitation and education is heat less important to carpet cleaning?

No. Just coming to realization that times and chemistry has changed the gameLooks like another thread to start a big debate just like the recent porty vs TM one.
For a number of years, I cleaned with about 150 to 160 because that's all my propane heater could put out. I found that with the right prespray I could clean just about anything. There were some exceptions I think where higher heat would've definitely helped.I never have been a fan of high heat. Once you go over 180 the hotter water causes faster wear to our equipment. Hoses blow, wand triggers go bad, pumps can possibly be damaged. Add to that the dangers of being burned (either you or a customer), killing grass, even damaging some poly carpets because a 230 degree hose laid in the same place for an hour ( I’ve personally seen this). 170-180 degree water cleans just fine.
Here’s a picture of a job I did a few years ago when my heat exchanger hose blew and I had to bypass the heat exchanger to finish the day. The water I was using was around 60 degrees.
View attachment 87255
View attachment 87254
And here’s a Chinese restaurant I clean quarterly using 160-170 degree water.
Those courtesy hoses or a serious safety concern. Most cleaners have no idea that the water coming through that courtesy hose is extremely close to the heat exchanger. It’s probably 50° warmer than what comes out at the Wand.
Scary hot, we only use it after the 1st job of the day to fill bottles on the jobs after before firing up the heat.Those courtesy hoses or a serious safety concern. Most cleaners have no idea that the water coming through that courtesy hose is extremely close to the heat exchanger. It’s probably 50° warmer than what comes out at the Wand.
Sometimes it comes out as just steam. Wonder why or how it gets thats hot.Scary hot, we only use it after the 1st job of the day to fill bottles on the jobs after before firing up the heat.
I've used it before with heater full blast and all I can say is if I was being mugged at the truck that's the first thing I would grab lol