[Tom Mac]

I would have thought that if you spec a machine with a 500psi pump, that it would run at 500psi when the trigger is pulled and flowing and not drop to 200psi. Am i right?

[Simon@arenaclean]

When you use the trigger there will be a little drop off (as you are releasing the pressure). Loosing 300psi is not normal, make sure there is no air in the pipes. Back the pressure right off on the regulator and use an open ended solution hose about a meter long back into the solution tank and turn on the pump. After about 15-30 seconds it should pump in a steady stream. The other alternatives are what pressure do you have the regulator set at? The regulator might be siezed or need a little grease, how old is the pump (might need a service)

[Tom Mac]

Machine is new so i doubt pump problem. Will pump through for air and see

[Simon@arenaclean]

Make sure hose is short and open ended as I said, if it's new you should have a priming hose with the machine. Alternate is ring your supplier so they can talk you through the specifics of your machine, most are really helpful

[Gary Longley]

Why would you want to 'clean' a carpet using 500psi? You want to clean the fibre with as little moisture as possible not powerwash the damn thing 

[Tom Mac]

I know you dont want 500psi on carpet clean. My point is the pump wont go over 200 and it was sold as a 500. I do want more than 200 on occasions

[The Carpet Cleaning Pro]

look at the jet sizes. Try putting smaller jets on the want and see if there is a smaller drop in pressure.

[Kinver_Clean]

Jets pass a certain amount of fluid in direct proportion to the pressure available.
Pumps will pump a certain amount per minute irrespective of the pressure.
If the jet passes an amount less than the pump supplies at max pressure then the gauge will show full pressure.
If bigger jets are fitted then the pressure will fall until there is a balance between flow and pressure and the pump can keep up with the jets.
Your pump rated at 500 psi will show that at nil flow. When you put your jets on it, it shows 200 psi, this means that the pump will supply the amount of fluid that the jets will spray at 200 psi.
My pump will show 1500 psi at nil flow but 275 with the jets spraying.
You should reduce the pressure on the gauge to just above 200psi when the jets are not spraying, this will reduce wear on the pump as it is not straining to produce 500 psi which is then dumped.
I hope you can make sense of my ramble- it is difficult to explain without demonstrating it on a machine.

[John Kelly]

Why would you want to 'clean' a carpet using 500psi? You want to clean the fibre with as little moisture as possible not powerwash the damn thing 

Cleaning the carpet at 500 psi gives a much quicker and better clean. Doesn't make the carpet any wetter as strangely the more water you put down the more you can vac up.
Most truckmounters operate between 300 & 600.

[Gary Longley]

Why would you want to 'clean' a carpet using 500psi? You want to clean the fibre with as little moisture as possible not powerwash the damn thing  

Cleaning the carpet at 500 psi gives a much quicker and better clean. Doesn't make the carpet any wetter as strangely the more water you put down the more you can vac up.
Most truckmounters operate between 300 & 600.

Sorry, but I disagree. I've seen time and time again the amount of damage that is done by using high PSI. Take a look at a hessian backing, underlay & sub-floor once you've 'power washed' it with that sort of pressure. You're there to clean the fibre not the backing.

You say it doesn't make the carpet any weter? Arh? There is a big difference blasting 500psi of water down to say 70 or 100 psi??

The amount of damage I've seen with these truck mounts and high psi machines    

Before commenting, go and clean a carpet with that pressure, lift it back and just take a look....... you'll have a shock!!!!  

 

[AJB]

People are mixing up pressure with flow.
My first machine had a 60 Psi pump, delivering
6 lpm, with 2 x 2 stage 1000w motors.
My current powrflite delivers 7.64 lpm at 500 Psi,
with 2 x 3 stage 1500w motors. The pump motor
is a 1/2 hp and can easily maintain pressure. There
is a smaller motor for the Pumptecs which is not
powerful enough to maintain pressure whilst flowing.
The 800 Psi machines around at the moment simply
have a different cam fitted, (which cannot maintain
pressure at full flow)

60 Psi @ 20 lpm will drench a carpet.
60000 Psi @ 6 lpm will NOT.
It's all about flow rates of jets.

[Gary Longley]

Hey AJB,

Just seen your monthly special, how's this working for? Are people being fair or taking the p@ss with it?

I was looking into doing something like this too.

http://www.ajbcarpetcleaning.co.uk/offers

They set the price but what is your min price it doesn't say on the offers page (although you write our min price is below)

[AJB]

Not one call yet, so wouldn't know.
If i list my minimum price this will give
them a guide. Should i have anyone ring
i want to hear their idea of a good price
first. If it's over the min' then great, if not
then i shall have to educate them.

[Gary Longley]

Not one call yet, so wouldn't know.
If i list my minimum price this will give
them a guide. Should i have anyone ring
i want to hear their idea of a good price
first. If it's over the min' then great, if not
then i shall have to educate them.

Wouldn't mind knowing more when you do   

[AJB]

If anything comes of it i'll post.

[Gary Longley]

If anything comes of it i'll post.

I haven't got a website at the moment and was reluctant to pay the crazy money some were wanting to set one up. I notice you've got a Google website, can I ask how much did this cost (if anything) and/or did you just have to pay for the domain name? Is it easy to do?

Seeing all you carpet cleaner's with webbys has made me jealous 

[AJB]

Never cost a penny for the site the domain
name was £7.99.
A bit limited as to design, but ok.

[Gary Longley]

Never cost a penny for the site the domain
name was £7.99.
A bit limited as to design, but ok.

Thanks. It looks fine to me, does the job and that's all you need. I was quoted £3.5k to set one up so £7.99 is a bargain  

I'll take a look now, thank you  

[AshWhite]

I went on peopleperhour.com and found a local guy to do it, cost me £250 if I remember correctly.

[Peter Sweeney]

Why would you want to 'clean' a carpet using 500psi? You want to clean the fibre with as little moisture as possible not powerwash the damn thing  

Cleaning the carpet at 500 psi gives a much quicker and better clean. Doesn't make the carpet any wetter as strangely the more water you put down the more you can vac up.
Most truckmounters operate between 300 & 600.

Sorry, but I disagree. I've seen time and time again the amount of damage that is done by using high PSI. Take a look at a hessian backing, underlay & sub-floor once you've 'power washed' it with that sort of pressure. You're there to clean the fibre not the backing.

You say it doesn't make the carpet any weter? Arh? There is a big difference blasting 500psi of water down to say 70 or 100 psi??

The amount of damage I've seen with these truck mounts and high psi machines    

Before commenting, go and clean a carpet with that pressure, lift it back and just take a look....... you'll have a shock!!!!  

 

Gary, you are talking about one of the most knowledgeable minds in our industry and you don't even have a website. I see some funny things get said on here by lots of people (some of whom have been around along time) but yours made me shake my head in bemusement and I am rarley shocked by some of what I read on here.  :