[AquaMagic]

Hello there, im fairly new to carpet cleaning, i have a SPitfire TM and have done a few jobs all satisfied customers.  I have a thought thats been bugigng me for a while?, should i have steam when cleaning carpet, i get the water quite hot but probably not boiling and when i see photo's of other cc's cleaning im sure i can see steam rather the just spray?

I have my temp up full at the moment, if need be is there anyway to increase the water temp further?

[John Kelly]

You don't need steam. Stick with what you are doing. It is strange when you see a truck mount working as it appears that steam is being given off. This is so because the water is pressurised and evaporates at a lower temperature, it is not boiling.
A lot of it is also a fine mist.

[Jeremy]

Be careful. You can make your TM look very impressive if you turn up the Temp and Turn up the pressure to over 500PSI. You'll see lots of mist (not steam). Garaunteed they are over wetting.

[benny d]

Garaunteed they are over wetting.

Hi,
I use a Steamway 9100 TM, and I must say that you are completley wrong when you say TM's are  overwetting the carpets.
I also use blowers to dry the carpets, but to be honest they are not REALLY needed as with the suction of the wand, the carpets are virtually dry the instant I have cleaned an area.
Go out with a TM user and this is what you will see. GUARANTEED!!!!Prepare to be amazed. 

By the way , Paul Pearce recommends if you can afford it, a TM is the way to go. As they are far superior.

BTW I also have an Alltec Advantage portable, and believe me there is NO comparison! 
If I have to use it, I think its not working correctly as it's heat is negligable, and the suction is almost non existant !!

powdrell, what equipment do you use?
Benny by the Sea.

[Spot On cleaning]

Powdrell

I agree with Benny on tm's. Sometimes i have to use an Extracta Excel and there isn't no comparison. I could suck more through a straw. My tm's minimum is set at 350 psi and vary rarely do i need to go above this setting so no over wetting.

It's all about who is using the machine.

Dave

[craigp]

aqua magic,

i think you'll find that most of these pictures have purposely turned the heat and psi up, to create steam/mist to look good in picture,

and it does look good!

i would say 40c to 80c depending on soiling.

you say your near boiling (100c)  to much.

 
craig

[Liahona]

Glad to see someone else using a Steamway machine, as of course I am biased to them. The 9100 is an awesome machine, second to none in its own bracket so to speak and will out perform most of a so say higher spec. Second to mine though he says with a smile. Best, Dave.

[benny d]

Hi Dave,

One down side is they are bloody loud...

...I SAID LOUD.. 

[Len Gribble]

Pictures tell a thousand stories, what dose one standing next to a machine posing do?

Got a blazer ok 5 years old cant turn up/down the heat, it ant got a dial to do it! But nether has my Ninja; got 15 blowers only use 2 last year on one job (pub time restraints 24 hour opening) never been accused of over wetting a carpet with what ever equipment.

Mine is set between 250 and 300 Ninja135 both blinding bit of kit, but as Dave points out It's all about who is using the machine.

Benny

All TM’s are loud some more than others (attention seekers methinks need to have a word with TVR about the exhaust system more sexy )

Len

[Liahona]

Yes they are loud, but you should listen to mine, it makes the 9100 sound like a portable. Mine has a fuel burner too so has an extra noise to contribute to the problem, still, there isnt a better machine out there, , Best, Dave

[john rees]

I like loud! really gets those curtains twitching! lost count of the times you see someone heading towards you when your at your van to get something and just as you expect a mouthful for the noise........ you get...... "will you give me a price on cleaning my lounge when you've finished"

[Jeremy]

I use a Prochem Everest HP. If I want to impress, I can create clouds of smoke. If I am cleaning industrial Olefin/ Polyprop, then I turn the heat up full and the pressure to about 500psi. However, I tend to be cautious when doing domestic work, as I try to leave the carpet as dry as possible. Also normally work with a pressure setting of between 250 and 300 PSI with the Temp at about 60C to 80C. Don't see too much smoke.

It also depends on how cold the room is. In South Africa the ambient temp is often above 25C in a room with little humidy. In winter, I find that even at my low settings there seems to be lots of steam.

I think the point that I am making is that clouds of steam does not mean a good clean.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave what machine have you got? and what extras or modifications have you done to it?

Shaun

[Liahona]

Shaun, I use a Steamway Powermatic Legacy 2100. It doesnt need any extras as it has more than most machines as standard. However as I added a petrol tank to the van for the fuel supply then I put a fuel gage in the gage cluster. I also added an electric automatic waste water pump in the waste tank. Only other thing I have done to it is in the framework I put a brass q/d for the outside water supply to fill the internal water tanks that are in the van. Next to that another q/d to supply the water softener from an outside tap........although I suppose these are modifications I said no as theses arent really related to the performance of the machine it just makes it easier for me. Best, Dave.....P.S. powdrell of all carpets to not clean at very high temp is Olefin. If you dont damage the carpet with the water and wand, you will with your hoses and specially the q/d's. Also and hopefully  helpful advice, with the machine you are using if you are only cleaning at 250 or 300 psi then you wount be getting the results you could be if you use close to 400 or 450 as is recommended. The recovery would be to great for 250 and so therefore you wouldnt get the agitation or rinsing effect that the whole idea of having a truck mount is for............

[Bernard Hibbs]

I always clean with my Ninja steam mate on 110 celsius.  Works great and have never damaged a carpet yet!  I use a tiny amount of MS prespray, and let the steam do the rest.  Its not 110 when it comes out, but it very hot (I sprayed my foot the other day!!!)

For all those who are now going to say that wool carpets etc shouldn't be cleaned this hot, explain how have boiling water on them for about 1 second will take then over about 40 degrees.

[nevil]

I think you will find that pressurized water has a higher boiling temp than water at atmospheric pressure. According to boils law it does anyway.