[Paul Clapham]

What is your company policy regarding your portable , do you try to keep it out side or bring it into the customers house when using it.

If i can, i try to leave mine outside , but obviously that's not always possible, what tips do you have if its raining or very windy.

Also , have you ever had a complaint from a anyone because of the noise. 

[The Carpet Cleaning Pro]

Portables are designed to be used inside however more and more carpet cleaners chose to operate them from outside thesedays as the vacs can handle longer hoses. Before I got a trucky, I myself did the same. I found it easier working with the machine outside and it was better as the noise was lost outside aswell. I did however when it was heavy rain bring the machine indoors making sure i put a mat down first to stand the machine on. 1 it looks better from a customers point of view and 2 it stops any marks being left on any carpet where it was set up. I made it a daily job to make sure there were no drips from the machine and took extra special care when filling and empying. I notice these days that covers can be purchased from places such as Ashbys for portable machines now so perhaps you can work with them outside in the rain but I would be very cautious as electricity and water do not mix very well. I also notice that some now even chose to mount the portable machine in the van so perhaps this is an option you could explore for when the weather turns.

[Simon@arenaclean]

Always leave it outside, mainly in the van. Commercials if it has to come in I vent the exhaust out a window, normally do these out of hours so noise not an issue. If you are cleaning domestics during the day I think it's fine between 8:30 - 5:00, but never had a complaint. If it's raining i've got one of those little pop up beach tents only had to use it once but with the exhaust fitted it worked a treat.

[M.Acorn]

E.O.T`s set up in kitchen,com jobs about 50 ft away from me,dom jobs,depends on weather,mostly outside though,have never needed more than 50ft of hose,and have done some pretty big ones

[Colin Day]

Always outside for me.....

[Kinver_Clean]

99% outside. Get all that foetid smelly air away. An opened out hosebag serves as a cover.

[terrymaloy]

Portables are designed to be used inside however more and more carpet cleaners chose to operate them from outside thesedays as the vacs can handle longer hoses. Before I got a trucky, I myself did the same. I found it easier working with the machine outside and it was better as the noise was lost outside aswell. I did however when it was heavy rain bring the machine indoors making sure i put a mat down first to stand the machine on. 1 it looks better from a customers point of view and 2 it stops any marks being left on any carpet where it was set up. I made it a daily job to make sure there were no drips from the machine and took extra special care when filling and empying. I notice these days that covers can be purchased from places such as Ashbys for portable machines now so perhaps you can work with them outside in the rain but I would be very cautious as electricity and water do not mix very well. I also notice that some now even chose to mount the portable machine in the van so perhaps this is an option you could explore for when the weather turns.

I quite like the idea of these rain covers. I rang Ashbys but they arent compatible with an Extracta machine.
Anyone know where else you could purchase one ?
It would have to cover the whole machine as I have a pick up truck and need protection from the elements when driving to and from jobs.

[Kinver_Clean]

Get a good quality tarpaulin. Fold it round your machine, mark it and get it sewn up. A backstreet shoe repairer will have a heavy sewing machine.
Or look for a boat cover maker.

[Paul H]

Terry

can you not use something like a small pop up gazebo or be creative with a large BBQ or trampoline cover??...a bit improvisation and sure you'll come up with something ( cost effective too)

[D Smith]

It would have to cover the whole machine as I have a pick up truck and need protection from the elements when driving to and from jobs.

Truckman 

[terrymaloy]

Some good ideas on the covers...give me some thing to do this weekend 
Thnx

[wayne zabel]

I use a large BBQ cover if it raining.The problem I find is keeping the door open when it minus 6 isnt always welcome at some houses,what do you do about this?

I always keep machine outside spring and summer but in the depths of winter the customer wants their house warm.

[Kinver_Clean]

I fold a drop sheet so it is a 6 ft sausage shape and hang over the edge of the door so it fills the gap. The door is then held against it with the 'box of tricks'.

[Jim_77]

Wayne, if you went to the dentist would you complain about having to open your mouth?   PArt and parcel of having the work done, I've never had any serious objections.  I try not to leave the door wide open when it's cold... Once inside and working I'll always push the door back against the hoses and stick something behind it to keep it there.

I quite often used to bring my porty into the hallway if enough space, and use the 2nd section of hose as an exhaust.  Often meant the difference between 25ft or adding the extra 25ft to reach.  With the limited power of 2 electric motors you need to squeeze every last drop of performance, and the difference between 25ft and 50ft is very noticeable.

Rain cover - I used to carry a stiff vinyl tarpaulin that I just stuck over the top of the machine - it kind of made a pitched roof due to the fold in the middle of it!  Worked well unless it was windy as well, in which case it would fall off and I would swear a lot

[mike roberts]

I leave it in the van, slide the door shut and power it using a generator ...













that way customers think I have a truck mount 

[john martin]

In through windows if possible ...  keep door shut , noise away , hallway clear for customer use .

[Jim_77]

Have you started up a carpet cleaning business John?!!

[Griffus]

Outside unless inside makes better sense. If inside it's always on a purpose made tarp and waterproof dust sheets all around.


I always use one of these when leaving the machine outside and there's any chance of rain: -

http://www.tarpaflex.co.uk/acatalog/glass-clear-pvc-tarpaulins.html

Cant fault it.

Best to get some large plast crocodile clips to hold it on to the machine. Something like these: -

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=silverline+250136

[Mr Dvae]

When i do a portable job i leave the machine outside,
so exhausting fumes outside while working on the inside,
but when it rains i take the machine inside which saves it getting wet on the outside.
when its wet outside the exhaust is on the indside, so it isnt as good for the home as when its on the outside.
when im working inside and the machines on the outside thers far less noise as there would be if the machine were on the inside,
so generally i leave the machine on the outside.
Now for those of you that are confused as to whether to leave the machine on the outside? let me tell you its far better than having it on the inside so i,d much rather leave it on the outside.
for those of you who are security conscious and leave their machine on the outside, let me tell you it would be far more secure on the inside.
for those that are unsure as to whether to leave your machines on the inside or outside, just toss acoin and i,m sure itl end up on the right side.

[Billy Russell]

When i do a portable job i leave the machine outside,
so exhausting fumes outside while working on the inside,
but when it rains i take the machine inside which saves it getting wet on the outside.
when its wet outside the exhaust is on the indside, so it isnt as good for the home as when its on the outside.
when im working inside and the machines on the outside thers far less noise as there would be if the machine were on the inside,
so generally i leave the machine on the outside.
Now for those of you that are confused as to whether to leave the machine on the outside? let me tell you its far better than having it on the inside so i,d much rather leave it on the outside.
for those of you who are security conscious and leave their machine on the outside, let me tell you it would be far more secure on the inside.
for those that are unsure as to whether to leave your machines on the inside or outside, just toss acoin and i,m sure itl end up on the right side.

So your on the fence then dave?