Thanks Joe my husband loves the look of this machine, he's definetely going to look into it. Do you have one? Do you know how it heats the water up is it inline?
Yes I do have one Barbara, and it works very well. It does not have a onboard heater but you can get an in-line heater. If you run an onboard heater too high temperature you can damage the pump. An in-line can be placed nearer the wand so heat is not lost going down the solution line.
On smaller jobs I dont use my heater, just rely on moderately hot tap water in the tank.
Hot prespray is always useful.
Scorpion has many good features. Semi translucent tanks so you can see how much clean water you have left, and how much dirty water is in (for when it needs empyting). These levels can be seen at a distance - no need to get to machine and lift lids just to see. Also in the clean water tank the suction tube and return relief pressure tube are long enough to dangle outside the tank into a bucket. This means you can prespray with your chosen fluid, then put hoses back into tank to rinse with clean water. Again, on smaller jobs I just use the busket system with water in for rinsing - saves draining excess clean water when it comes to lifting machine into van.
Good quality Lamb Ametek vac motors (3) and a good quality 500psi pump (which I believe will go nearer to 600, but who needs that on carpet cleaning, I go to 400 max.
Peter is correct what he says about truck mounts, but the lowest priced tm, the Prowler, is twice the price of the Scorpion, and the machines Peter is talking about I suggest wiil be getting on to 4 times the cost - and you need a bigger van.
Yes I have a Prowler, and it does have performance better then the Scorpion, but I can get a very good clean from the Scorpion although it may take a little longer,
The issue of heat, high heat, has been debated on hers until there is no more to debate.
Just want to add though, if you use detergents hot watr cleaning is very desirable.
If you use eco friendly fluids its not that important to rinse with hot, hot prespray is the order of the day but you can, and many do (but not I0 rinse wit cold water and get excellent results.
Am I right in saying your business is much around domestic house cleaning and you are slowly expanding into carpet cleaning more?
Unless you going to go flat out for the carpet cleaning I would suggest a tm is way above your needs. But get a high performance good quality portable - life becomes easier.