[Nathanael Jones]

I've been getting loads of calls for carpet cleaning, and I'm getting a bit embarrassed about my old Alltec pro 40. The more I look at it the worse it seems!

So,.. I'm considering splashing out on new kit.

I haven't nearly enough work to warrant a TM yet,.. or even a Scorpion,.. I'm thinking a good, value for money, all rounder budget machine.
I'll prob replace my hose, wand, upholstery tool at the same time,. so a package deal might be tempting.

I've always liked the look of the 3 vac Speedster,.. and I've heard good things about the 3 vac Rhino too. Which is easier to drag up and down stairs??!!
Any recommendations would be appreciated!

[Fintan_Coll]

You should very seldom, if ever ,need to take a three vac machine upstairs in an average house.

[clinton]

Nathanael

Depends on how much you want to pay.

Try and get as much power as you can and extra hose and tools for the job then you wont have to take the machine up stairs,always found that you will grow out of the machine so go for the most powerfull you can afford

[richy27]

I bought the cfr 1350 powerflite from cleansmart. 500 psi adjustable pump 3 stage twin vac came with wand, tool and hoses. like clints says depends on your budget. remember cheap is not always cheap.

[spindle]

400psi ninja from ashbys
very reliable piece of kit................

http://www.carpet-cleaning-equipment.co.uk/ninja_intro.htm

[clinton]

Richard

Sounds like you went for new

A good piece of kit you bought .

Chris

Like the new dual heat from them and buy the vac booster for the extra vac and a really good machine with that extra heat.

[richy27]

yeah did buy new clinton to be honest i spent next to nothin on a van just a reasonable runner the machine was more important to me plus cant afford to have the worry of repairing a second hand machine especially in my first year. I was torn between the ninja and the powerflite but to be honest ash*** made it little complicated for a newbie they kept trying to convince me to have add on dry solvent capabilty doubt i would of used it much. All*** tryed telling me """ this time next year sunny youll be a millionaire"""" . I went down the route of simple option no frills no fuss just what i needed at time.

[spindle]

only dislike bout ninja.....lack of heat.........pump doesnt like temp above 55c........although could have inline heater......

[clinton]

Richard

Your right he does give you the hard seel and thats why you see so many complete set ups fpr sale as the newbie has been sold the full package :

Chris

Did you have a prob with there pump

[Ken Wainwright]

Nat

Don't be embarrassed about your Altec Pro 40.  Just a few short years ago, twin vac 100psi was the standard for all portys to meet, plus the Pro 40, with it's smaller capacity tank, had an edge on vac performance.

In recent years, reading the reports on this and other forums, there are question marks over the two budget triple vacs you've mentioned. The Speedster has given  most negative feedback with poor design for filling the rinse tank, generally poor reliability and awful back-up. One distributor, it has been said, withdrew the Speedster from sale because the terrible support was creating so much bad-will with his customers. However, when the Speedster is working as it should, it has a superb performance.

The Powerflite Perfect Heat with a Wonderwand is a machine I've only heard good things about. The machine has a reputation as a  good reliable unit, but it's the Wonderwand that elevates it the realms of a truly high performance portable. Short of mansion houses, you'll never need to take this machine upstairs, even the now popular three story houses.

Prochem and Alltec now supply high psi twin vac machines which may be worth considering if they're in your budget.

Perhaps if you were to supply a little more info about your budget and needs, any replies could be more focused. For example, if you clean mainly residential and have no powered agitation, something like an Envirodri could vastly improve the results from your Aqua 40 and would still be of value when you trade up to a high performance portable.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[richy27]

Ken

You so right about not having to take the powerflite upstairs when i have to i have 100 ft of hoses on the go you lose a bit of vac pressure but with the increased gravity if your up two story s it works just fine. I have the wonder wand great bit of kit for the newbie very little chance of overwetting.

[Nathanael Jones]

My Pro 40 is inherited from my father in law. He was very proud of the machine when he first showed it to me, " twin 2 stage vac an 100 psi" he told me smiling,.... when servicing it a few months later I was surprised to see it only had 1 vac motor! 

The wand that came with it is dismal,.. single jet, no glides,.. the combination of wand and single vac mean that most jobs I have to go over with the hand tool to suck up water the wand leaves behind.

I had considered adding another vac (Or 2!), a new wand and longer hoses,.. but I'm thinking that would be a false economy?
My work is mostly residential, and in the current economic climate I want to spend as little as possible, despite the flood of calls I've had in January,.. feb might not be the same!!

[spindle]

clinton

no when they upgraded they restricted the thermostat to stop at 55c...

as a precaution.......the pumps that they use dont like high temps

[clinton]

Chris

Didnt know that thanks

Wonder why

[spindle]

no idea clinton i was suprised too.....

but it was derek who told me that.......