Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 06, 2010, 12:11:51 pm

Title: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 06, 2010, 12:11:51 pm
What psi do you tend to clean at for carpets and upholstery?

I'm a stead 350 on each may be slight change now and again but not much.

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Colin Day on January 06, 2010, 12:39:23 pm
80-100 for upholstery and 200-300 for carpets depnding on soiling, carpet type etc..... I have gone up to 400 on a really smelly school carpet which came up a treat :)

For upholstery cleaning I like to keep it to a fine mist thus preventing over wetting.... But I am aware that a lot of people prefer a higher PSI..... I suppose it an individual choice!!!!!
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: JandS on January 06, 2010, 01:08:08 pm
400 carpets 300 upholstery.

John
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: richy27 on January 06, 2010, 01:15:14 pm
3-400 carpets 200 upholstery
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: deep-cleaningukltd on January 06, 2010, 01:25:14 pm
350/400 with a wand. 130/150 with the (original) Rotovac. About 135 for upholstery.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on January 06, 2010, 01:37:59 pm
350-400 for carpets; 100-150 for upholstery as a general rule of thumb.

Roger
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Steve Chapman on January 06, 2010, 01:40:27 pm
400 for carpets 200 for upholstery

steve
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Neil Williams on January 06, 2010, 02:11:05 pm
As a general rule
carpets 300 upholstery 150

Title: Re: PSI
Post by: markpowell on January 06, 2010, 03:45:17 pm
250 carpets and 100-150 upholstery
Mark
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Jim_77 on January 06, 2010, 03:56:00 pm
3 months ago my answer to your question would have been "135" :D

But how useful is knowing everyone's PSI?  300psi on my machine is different from on a porty or small TM.  Only if we all used the same machine and tools it'd be a fair comparison wouldn't it?  (surely flow rate is the key?)

On my bluewave I generally run a 2-jet wand (total flow '06) at 300-350 for carpets up to 100', crank it up a bit on longer hose runs to compensate for loss of pressure and heat.

With a standard detailer, can't go much above 250 or it gets the walls and ceiling wetter than the upholstery.  This is the nice thing about the drimaster tool, because it flows constantly you can use a little higher psi and have oodles of heat pumping through - a hand tool never really gets properly hot because you simply aren't pulling enough solution through to keep heat at the tool.

It's just a shame I've had to send my drimaster back because it sprang a leak after a couple of weeks ::)
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: stu_thomson on January 06, 2010, 06:42:36 pm
350ish on carpets unless im using wonder wand in which case 400 +

400-500 on upholstery using cfr handtools

stu
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 06, 2010, 06:51:28 pm
I use a cfr and find that you need a good psi to make it to the end of the tool problem is I have too much suck with my TM but the drying times are very good.

What upholstery tools do everyone use?

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: stu_thomson on January 06, 2010, 06:58:12 pm
Shaun it can be a problem with my T/M but thats why ive got a right arm like pop-eye!

may help to turn the valve open on the cfr tool...

sometimes go back to my porty for upholstery but dont like to

stu
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 06, 2010, 07:17:58 pm
I have the dial open full most of the time, I was thinking of getting a porti for that reason.

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Magic Dry Perth on January 06, 2010, 09:33:33 pm
With the EMV I use 70 on carpets but have gone up to 90 and about 45 on upholstery
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 06, 2010, 09:37:13 pm
What's the flow rate in gallons? what size jets do you have?

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: richie on January 07, 2010, 03:04:40 pm
Shaun,
As Jim has pointed out portables & truckmounts differ in the psi department. This is due to water flow on a truckmount been much higher than on portable units. Domestic and light commercial carpets about 300-350 psi. Night club carpets 350-450 psi.  Upholstery around 200 psi.

Jim,
Im surprised that regardless of hose runs you are seeing a significant reduction of water pressure from your truckmount. In theory you should not get a drop in pressure.  I can honestly say that in 15 years of using truckmounts ive never needed to up the water pressure on long hose runs as it has stayed the same. 
Richie.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Jim_77 on January 07, 2010, 05:26:05 pm
Doesn't matter what machine or hoses etc.... the more you use, the more you lose (there's a catchphrase in there for someone!)

In theory there will always be a drop in pressure the more hose you put on,  I agree though that a CAT 3CP isn't going to show much difference going up from 50 to 200 ft but there is a little difference.  (sorry, science lesson coming up :\ )  The walls of the hose expand under pressure (like blowing up a balloon) and the solution compresses under pressure, so the more hose and solution the pump is pushing against the more loss of energy you'll experience.  Obviously these amounts are small but it is happening.

But bumping up the PSI isn't so much for the pressure but the heat really, especially in winter.  Getting more flow keeps it hot at the wand.  When you've got solution lines outside in sub-zero temps and laid along frosty ground you're losing quite a bit!
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: richie on January 07, 2010, 05:45:09 pm
As i said Jim,  ive never had a noticeable drop in pressure where i have had to up the water pressure to compensate.
I know what you mean regarding the heat loss.  There are ways to limit the heat loss though.  The common solution hoses sold by most suppliers are steel braided.  Hydramaster ued to supply solution hose that was not steel braided and it does keep the heat in more.  We still have some of it & use it regular so you could buy a couple of lengths if you can source it. Another way is the obvious one. Keep the minimum amount of solution hose outside and the rest in the property been cleaned.  In the warmer months any extra solution line i leave outside but inside when weather is colder.  Another way that could help is pull out a extra length of vac hose. Feed the solution hose through the vac hose that way the solution hose will not be directly open to the cold.  I cant imagine it would help much but would do so a little.  Another way would be to buy some of the pipe lagging like the one in the link below.

http://www.tradingdepot.co.uk/DEF/product/!!PLF42X13F%2FLAG!!/

Richie.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: JandS on January 07, 2010, 06:42:38 pm
Wether it's a Porty or a TM you'll still get loss of pressure the longer the run
through friction loss and also if it's pushing it uphill you'll lose some.
Would imagine it would be minimal though depending on the smoothness
of the bore of the solution hose.
Probably no more than 10psi over a 200 foot run.

John
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Ricky M on January 07, 2010, 07:01:21 pm
Carpets 400-600 upholstery 200-300

cfr at the min
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Joe H on January 07, 2010, 07:17:29 pm
Carpets 400
Upholstery 200 ish with the CFR
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 07:24:41 pm
What size jet do you use Joe?

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Stu.Clem on January 07, 2010, 07:24:57 pm
500 - 600 minging or deeper pile carpets

Average 400 - 500 on carpets with standard 2 jet wand medium to high soil

300 carpets light clean quick one pass wanding

350 - 400 with 3" & 5"cfr handtools mostly no.2 65 jet with 1 or 2 slots open. More holes open = slight decrease in vac at fabric so more solution contact time = more aggressive cleaning and less arm ache in my experience tho then wise to do dry passes.

500 with 7.5" single jet  cfr on stairs.

Using these psi' happily acheive sensible water useage ie 400 litres easy does a long day cleaning - with very acceptable drying times.

All the best

Stu

Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Joe H on January 07, 2010, 07:28:13 pm
What size jet do you use Joe?
Shaun

Whatever the standard JK pushes out on the wand he supplies with the Prowler - I think it may be 2x1.5
Dont know what it is on the CFR and the head is in the van - too cold to go and look. ::)
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 07:31:11 pm
Stuart you sound like a Prowler advert ;D

Did I leave you enough money in your safe when I robbed your house ? didn't want you starving ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Stu.Clem on January 07, 2010, 09:24:31 pm
I love prowlers me!!


My main safe is just a visible decoy to divert you vagabonds from my 2 covert cash stuffed ones...  8)

Stu

ps cant recall mentioning a prowler in that particular post  ::)
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 09:26:11 pm
Caught you out  ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: paul moss on January 07, 2010, 09:34:29 pm
Joe, manufacturers standard wand jets are a total of 6 so it will be 2 x 03 on your wand. ( bet you go out to look now  :D)

Some truckmounters with 45 blowers and above will jet up to 9 escpecially if they are wanding with 4 or 6 jets as this will give more flow/flush which will aid suction therefore leaving the carpet drier. ;)
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Stu.Clem on January 07, 2010, 09:37:47 pm
nice1 cyril   ;)

think standard jk wand  has 2 x 015 jets

Stu

pps Proper minging EOT  student house for me in morning just had more heavy snow got about 8 - 10" of the white stuff  standing on table top in back garden - luckily job is in town centre only 3 or 4 miles of main roads....
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: paul moss on January 07, 2010, 09:43:29 pm
If you guys are extracting with 2x 015 jets, then i hope your pre rince work is good.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 09:53:43 pm
My Ti wand has 6 x 015 = 0.9 but I think my single jet wand flushes better which has 1 x 06 but that's to do with flow but the drying time isn't as good.

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: paul moss on January 07, 2010, 09:55:56 pm
Shaun that because your single jet wand is 1 1/2 tube and the ti is 2 inch  ::)
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 10:09:19 pm
True but the steam from the jet bellows out.

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: paul moss on January 07, 2010, 10:14:13 pm
What !! they haven't converted you to cold water cleaning yet? :D
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Stu.Clem on January 07, 2010, 10:27:56 pm
Theres no need for you to have to hope my pre rinse work is good mate as I ALWAYS ensure that it is...  ;)

Also when extracting at above 400 ish psi there is usually a good surplus of rinse solution dotting about so no worries there either...

Reassuringly confident

Stella Stu

I love prowlers me!!!!!  ;D
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 10:29:30 pm
This time of year I think every one is cleaning with the stuff!

Do you ever regret not keeping up with the fast track pricing and quoting? last time we spoke about it you found that you had reduced some of your prices but with out knowing??

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 10:31:17 pm
Prowlers usually get shot.

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: paul moss on January 07, 2010, 10:33:02 pm
Stu change the jets to 03 and drop the psi to 250 and you will get a better clean. ;)

Shaun, ive upt the evo to 10, put 02s on the ends with a wider angle for the edges , it gives it extra hit.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 07, 2010, 10:37:18 pm
Good for the skirting boards and black edges.

Shaun
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: paul moss on January 07, 2010, 10:45:37 pm
No the Evo has a 16 inch head so it needs them. Your lucky as the Ti has a much snugger 14.

Price wise , my ave is about same as yours.

Have you got Kev's Cleaners mate? it works the ave job ticket out for you. Great bit of kit.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Stu.Clem on January 07, 2010, 11:01:22 pm
Interesting - will give it a try tho I like the atomised"? effect on the water droplets at higher psi - cfr reckon a finer mist cleans better....!?

Got some glides en route hope they as good as some reckon.  Starting to look like a mini garth some days with wand resistance training!!!  lol

Nite nite

Stu
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: richie on January 08, 2010, 01:10:25 am
I BET SHAUN HAS TOLD YOU THAT HE WAS THE FIRST IN THE UK TO HAVE GLIDES  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Richie.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Joe H on January 08, 2010, 08:50:32 am
If you guys are extracting with 2x 015 jets, then i hope your pre rince work is good.

Of course  ;)
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: clive ware on January 09, 2010, 05:29:53 pm
Shaun,
Can`t you just run on idle?
Thats what I used to do with the max 450d.
Title: Re: PSI
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on January 09, 2010, 05:38:06 pm
Sometimes I did dependant on how much hose I was using.

Have you got your new TM Clive? what do you think upto now?

Shaun