[Bigjas99]

Hi all, we run a deep cleaning business and are considering getting into carpet cleaning also. There's a used machine for sale near us, any opinions on the machine and the price?

Thanks
Jason

[john martin]

Its up to you  , but i wouldn't buy a used machine  ... unless you can work on it yourself . 
There is a good chance the seller replaced it with the newer looking  airflex  in the van  ... because the alltec is a few years old and he didnt want the hassle of fixing anything likely to go wrong .
It would be like buying a van with 150k on the clock for you business  , could run fine for a while but most likely will cost you in repairs and downtime .

[Bigjas99]

Thanks John

What would be a good starter set up? We're not looking to spend a fortune at this point, really just testing the market to see if there's enough business to warrenty a bigger spend

Thanks in advance
Jason

[Steven Butler]

My spare Airflex mini set up.
Twin vac.
Perfect for starting out.

[maxcampbell]

I wouldn't worry buying secondhand - all the components are replaceable. Alltec are a good make, and the glass fibre body should last almost forever. The price doesn't look bad, as long as you can see everything working. It's a good twin-vac machine.

[john martin]

Thanks John

What would be a good starter set up? We're not looking to spend a fortune at this point, really just testing the market to see if there's enough business to warrenty a bigger spend

Thanks in advance
Jason

There are plenty options  ...
if you want new  from alltec ( you'll be forced to go through hitec willie in enniskillen btw )    starting off you might want a machine you could occasionally carry upstairs  , the express mentioned by stephen is ok  , its lightweight , get one with the immersion heater in it as chances are you dont have an external heater . Downside of that little machine might be the small tanks and its an American sourced body , its not generally as high quality as some of the uk designed machines .
Also from Alltec consider the Aqua40 plus  ... its fiberglass  , not quite as sexxy as the one in your post but the upside is its light enough to be hauled easely up stairs on occasion  , and its still got great capacity and a 3kw immersion .

If you spend a couple of hundred more  ... this is good value and will always be usefull if you go for a heavy full size machine in future . Its in two parts so as its easy to bring upstairs ..or load to van .
https://hiliteservices.co.uk/product/the-tempest-twin-unit-carpet-cleaning-machine/

Others to consider  .. airflex miniflex / airflex pro  ..  all depend on price spec  , airflex dont do immersion heaters though , only the heavier metal heat exchangers , so a heated airflex will be heavy ...compared to similar sized machine with an immersion heat source .