[Timmy Boy]

Good Morning all
When I clean stairs I am finding that they are not left as dry as I would like. I completed a job the other day on a terrace house set of stairs in the morning and they were still damp in the evening. I am using a truckmount machine on about 400psi is that too high using a dual jet stair wand? Also people with truckmounts what PSI and CFM do you typically run at when cleaning carpets and do you get on better with dual or 4 jet wands? I find that I was leaving carpets drier with my portable. Where am I going wrong?

Thanks in advance
Tim

[Paul Redden Countryfresh]

Don't know if you remember the old stimvak aluminium wands? Ashby's did a cut down version with four jets for stairs. I use this on a ninja, I don't know why, but it leaves the carpet really dry.

have you tried dry passes?

cheers paul

[Timmy Boy]

This is what I dont undersatnd, I go over each stair2-3 times on a dry passes. I use a hydroforce pre sprayer, do you think this is putting down too much moisture?

[Gerry Styles]

I have a tm and use the hydramaster heavy duty stair tool. I set the psi to 400 and use dry passes, normally run at 300 for carpets. I have hydraforce sprayer but find it does put down a lot, Think the gloria sprayer is better for stairs

[Joe H]

What pressure are you prespraying with the hydraforce?

I would be going down to about 150 and not much more on my single jet stair tool (4").
Using the hand pump up spray you only going to get about 60psi.

for carpets I would prespray and rinse 300 max, even 250 (though on really bad would go up to 400ish)

Sounds like laying too much water down to me.

[tony harrison]

Tim,

What I do is towel the stairs down as / after cleaning them.

regards Tony

[Timmy Boy]

Thanks guys. Joe, it sounds like I might be going wrong at prespray stage, because I have not been adjusting my PSI when I change from extraction to prespray.
This is what really gets me, you spend big bucks with these truckmount manufacturers and all they are interested in is kicking you out the door when they've got your cash. I was given a 10 minutes run through of the machine when I bought it, not given any instruction on the hydroforce sprayer, what PSI's and CFM's to run at or anything!!
Regards
Tim

[Joe H]

I forgot you asked about wands.
I use a 2 jet Westpak with a Green glide on the end.
Would use a 4 jet but the Green glide grips the lips too much and closes them a bit.

Do you have a glide?

[CATMAN]

On a truckmount, 400psi is toooo high. I clean at 100psi or even less.

 The reason being is I turn the temp to 100c or 230f. The water then comes out at 100psi steam. With pre-spray they come up great and you are not doing loads of dry passes to remove the extra moisture.

regards

Graham

[John Kelly]

400psi is too high using the stair tool. You are putting a lot of water down over a small space, 6-7 inches wide I take it. 4-500s ok with a floor wand but I would drop down to 150-200 with the stair wand.

[Ken Wainwright]

Even when using a twin vac porty, drying has never been an issue for me on stairs, so obviously something is amiss.

As others have said already, your pressure, or just as importantly your flow rate, is too high.  Your technique with a larger stair tool may also need refining. Try something like Joe's, a single jet 4" or 6" tool and see if the performance is superior, then you'll know if you need to work on your technique.

In line sprayers, IMO, generally deliver more fluid than is usually required, so again technique is important.  You probably have an 06 jet. If you wanted to go smaller, try an 04 or an 03.  You can't go below an 03 with an in-line sprayer as you loose the lift for the stock solution.

Good luck

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[richie]

Hi Tim,

As others have said,  try lowering the pressure (250-300psi).  I have been using truckmounts for about 15 years & have 99% of the time found that thye stair carpets dry quicker.  You could try using your upholstery tool on the stairs.   What truckmount have you bought?

Richie.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I gave over with the Hydroforce years ago I now use a 9L pump up and I get most carpets dry before I walk.

Shaun

[murky]

I bought a Hydraforce sprayer on here the other week after being told they are the biz.

It came without instructions so I am guessing at the moment on how to use it. I understand there are 2 types. 1 that you can use without dropping the pressure and the other where you have to go back to the TM and drop the revs. I think I have the first of the 2.

Also mine goes through chems like mad, although it says mix at 1-10, I have had to stop that I am doing 5 litres a week at the mo and no I'm not that busy. I was thinking the other day of going back to Ultimate master, 2 scoops to a tankfull, those were the days.

I did a conference centre at the week end where the TM really comes into its own, but with the Hydraforce it was hassle, in and out, sprayer on, sprayer off, up and down with the revs, and the stairs. I realised afterwards that I should have just used a premix in the tank and cracked it off that way.

Murky

[Timmy Boy]

Thanks for all your comments, it really is appreciated. I have a prochem apex diesel (yes, I know, its bloomin noisy!) and it was a conversation with someone who has a blazer and dual jet wand that has made me ask the question. Does anyone find that they can work with the 4 jet wands or should I ditch them in favour of a dual jet?
Also I have never tried the green glides, do they make a big difference on all carpets? (I do a lot of commercial work and it has always been a thought of mine that the airflow isn't right.
Thanks (You might be seeing 2 x hydroforce sprayers & 2 quad jet wands on ebay by the lights out!!)
Regards
Tim

[Shaun_Ashmore]

It's not the quad jets wands that's the problem it's the application of prespray also if need be you could change the jet sizes to smaller ones which I think are about £5-6 each, IMO I'd have 1 wand with finer jets on and the other with the ones you have already so you can swap to suit you, more flow = quicker cleaning.

Shaun