[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

How important is it to Prime the pump before using machine and why is it ?

Thanks Phil.

[M.Acorn]

I always run mine with an open ended hose, just to bleed out any air,not sure how important it is,but you will have trouble cleaning anything if there is no solution !!

[Simon@arenaclean]

It is very important, pumps are meant to run with solution going through them and not to run dry and you will soon damage the seals or pump head. As Mark said use an open ended solution hose and run the pump until solution is free flowing. I rinse my pumptec pump daily with clean water use to get away with longer intervals on the shurflo but daily would not hurt. Empty solution tank and wipe put in a bucket of clean water and attach priming hose and pump water into a bucket.

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

Cheers i only asked cause i didn't have a male on the hose to prime and done a carpet without priming all sorted now and i will prime all the time and clean machine daily when i get some work that is i also leave lid off and run vacs for 10 mins after use is that ok?

Phil.

[John Kelly]

As Simon says it is worthwhile rinsing through at the end of the day with plain water to flush any chemical. If not every day then at least before the weekend and definately before going on holiday.

[Mike Halliday]

most machines on portables are gravity fed into the pump (the solution tank is above the pump) so priming is not an issue.

I think the issue of priming comes from situations where the pump has to 'pull' the water into the pump head through an empty supply hose,

on my orbit machines it takes ages for the pump to prime as it has to pull the solution up out off the container, this is why i try and not to let it ever run dry as I have to start priming again

[Simon@arenaclean]

Cheers i only asked cause i didn't have a male on the hose to prime and done a carpet without priming all sorted now and i will prime all the time and clean machine daily when i get some work that is i also leave lid off and run vacs for 10 mins after use is that ok?

Yes, run vacs for 5-10mins to dry any moisture out  (5 should be enough but longer won't hurt) and yes leave the lid off and also when not in use for ventilation. I normally let them run whilst packing away. You can flush the recovery tank with your priming hose if you have any solution left in the tank, avoid sucking hot water through the vac hose as the heat will create condensation in the recovery tank. If you do suck out the solution tank dump some cold water in to cool it if you're using hot water and suck it through slowly. Keep debris traps/ball and cage and any auto shut off clear of crud (check as you empty and give them a wipe, takes seconds) and give them a good rinse when needed. Oh and use defoamer too! All sound like hard work but literally just a couple of minutes regular care will keep you on the road.

Being over cautious if it's cold out and for some reason the machine has to go inside I run the vacs before I start just to be on the safe side, probably not needed but there you go.

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

Cheers i'l do as suggested i also empty my van every night anyway and put all my machines in the house only takes 10 mins.

Cheers Phil.

[JandS]

Priming a portable??

[Simon@arenaclean]

Priming a portable??

Certainly pumptecs require it, I always used to with Shurflo too especially if you completely empty the tank.

[Robert Watson]

Whats the biggest pump that will fit in a Steempro?

[M.Acorn]

Well the flojo is about twice the size of a sureflo and that fits with ease

[Robert Watson]

I was meaning PSI wise Marc.

[M.Acorn]

Ah ok,well the flojo is a claimed 160 psimbut that takes the bypass valve to the limit of it's adjustment,they must do a higher psi bypass valve though,so would have to change that at the same time

[JandS]

Priming a portable??

Certainly pumptecs require it, I always used to with Shurflo too especially if you completely empty the tank.

Mine's a pumptec and has never needed to be primed.
Switch on, up the revs and squeeze the trigger.

[Simon@arenaclean]

Well there you go, pays your money takes you choice. It's recommended by my machine manufactuer and supplied by them with a priming hose for the job. Easiest 30 second job I do.

[Mike Halliday]

You could say Another benefit of 'priming' a pump is it puts hot, fresh water down the solution line and into the tools  and allows the pump to start without any load.

[JandS]

What's the difference between putting an open end
on to start with to prime it and running your hoses
out putting the wand on and squeezing the trigger
when your ready to start?
I was given 2 open ended lengths of hose with the
machine.
I was told they were for emptying tank after use and
that they could be used to swill out the waste tank
from the fresh water tank.