[shine services]

Hi all, learnt my lesson this time. I was only using de-foamer now and again, now one of my vac motors has suffered the consequences!! A hefty replacement bill and a word of warning-always use de-faomer in the tank!!

[John Kelly]

Most chemicals these days are designed to be low foaming. However any slight air leaks in the waste tank or lid can whip things up. If you get foam through the vacs open up the waste tank lid and run the vac for a good period of 3-5 minutes and this should dry any moisture off. They also have moist air going through them at all times so its a good idea to dry them off after each job. And they don't last for ever. If you get 12-18 months out of a vac and a pump thats good going. They aren't that much of an expence to a well run business. There are some operators who change them anyway on a regular basis.

[shine services]

I got 7 months out of that motor

[Colin Day]

A lot of motor damage is caused by the operator. John's absolutely right in what he says and if you look after your kit, it will last.

Keep filters clean, dry the motors out after every job and keep the waste tank lid open/off to avoid condensation in the motors.

[from edge2edge]

I used to leave a bar of soap in my porty all the time.Regards Alan(swindon)

[shine services]

 Will take it all onboard lads, cheers
Why soap dnt get it???

[Jim_77]

Soap de-foams, albeit not as effectively as the £20 a gallon stuff you get in liquid form, but much cheaper!

[Mark Lane-Matthews]

If you spray the inside of your vacuum cuff with silicone,it will kill most of the foam before it reaches your tank.

[Colin Day]

If you spray the inside of your vacuum cuff with silicone,it will kill most of the foam before it reaches your tank.

I'll try that, will food grade silicone spray do the trick?

[Paul Heath]

with the liquid if you put a bit on a saucer or something, then suck it up through the wand it coats the inside of everything.

[Carpet Dawg]

A squirt of solvex in the waste tank works great too. Bloody expensive defoamer though.

Going to try the bar of soap idea

[Jamie Pearson]

You 1/4 moisturiser Dove wont work Tony.
You need some good old carbolic bars that you cut to size.

mmmm smells like school toilets.

I have always been of the opinion that if you are getting foam from your pre-spray/rinse agent (and not w.u.l. or vanish in there) that you are using too strong a product for the task in hand.

[Russ Chadd]

We have all been there at some point!
Always remember... even if your chemical doesnt produce lots of foam, the crappy carpet stain removers which customers like to use do!
Your heart sinks when you lose all suction and the machine sounds different from in side the house!!!

I have made a simple auto de-foamer for my machine... cost me £5.00 and works a treat!

[John Milnes]

I have made a simple auto de-foamer for my machine... cost me £5.00 and works a treat!

Prey tell.

I was thinking of making a drip feed device. I think they sell them in the US where they attach to the machine on the air inlet.