[GEMclean services]

Hi guys does anyone have a crf eco 500 and how would you rate this machine,
 thinking of getting one ,it boasts truck mount performance however i doubt it will have the uplift or heat delivered from a truck but is it a good machine (best portable on the market)

Any wise words greatly appreciated.

Thanks Ant.

[Jamie Pearson]

Its a great machine if most of your work is repeat business doing lightly soiled whole houses of carpet imo.

If you do end of tenancy mingers it may not be ideal.

You need to be a diligent per-vaccer too so as not to block the filters up quickly and reduce performance.

Gives great performance and run times but does need a little tlc cleaning filters etc etc.
Look after it and it will serve you well.

If you are doing mingers a traditional 2 tank PFX1085 or 1350 may suit you better.

[GEMclean services]

i looked at them and the black max pf but was drawn in by the 7 times less water use iv got a sebo for pre vac but as you said dirty bstd students god id be brewing a beer semen p*ss mix in the tank haha
 

[Kinver_Clean]

There are much better options for the price.

[GEMclean services]

well its got the perfect heat built in so no clip on heater its got the filter system so you use less water what do you guys use ?

[Jamie Pearson]

I personally have 2 PFX1350s.

[Adam Fearnley]

I have one.  Whereas you gain by not having to refill all the time, I find that the main filter gets blocked quite easily and so pressure can drop, and also you have to clean the basket filter quite regularly on the job.  Recently I've had problems with bits of hard dirt clogging the hand tool nozzle.  I thought it could be from the heater so I took the heater out ( don't really use it anyway) and bypassed it, seems to have reduced it, but because there is no inline filter before the hand tool nozzle, any bits are a problem.  So to conclude you win and lose some

[GEMclean services]

so i guess clogging is quite regular filters are good in theory but filters get full so instead of changing the water your cleaning the filters would you have bought it had you known this ?

[Jamie Pearson]

I have one.  Whereas you gain by not having to refill all the time, I find that the main filter gets blocked quite easily and so pressure can drop, and also you have to clean the basket filter quite regularly on the job.  Recently I've had problems with bits of hard dirt clogging the hand tool nozzle.  I thought it could be from the heater so I took the heater out ( don't really use it anyway) and bypassed it, seems to have reduced it, but because there is no inline filter before the hand tool nozzle, any bits are a problem.  So to conclude you win and lose some

Are you using the paper filter? Might be worth trying the mesh one.

[Adam Fearnley]

Do you mean the main filter in the tank? I use the paper one, the mesh one clogs way faster and I was told its best to use the paper one.

[john martin]

i don't get the whole point of this machine ... i can't think of anything worse than have'n to clean a series of waste tank filters between jobs ...
Is its claimed Eco credentials based on saving a few litres of water ?  might be usefull if you live in a desert .. but in a part of the world that rains half the time its only drop in the ocean 

[GEMclean services]

yeah but if you have a big job this machine will save you filling and emptying if your cleaning a living room then yes no problem fill and empty away this will prob do a full house on a tank of water

[john martin]

In the context of a domestic job ,  filling / emptying is no great chore to me ...  and remember u have to spend time cleaning those filters ...
I think this machine design is good on paper , but will break your heart in day to day use . 

[Adam Fearnley]

I must admit I rarely prevac so this could contribute to the clogging.  John, the CFR is not sold on the fact you use less water and so is more eco friendly, to be honest noone cares about water usage, it is the fact that you have to refill far less often and so can use a good 400-500 psi non stop for a few hours.  I've only ever used a CFR but I hear that it is quite a big issue having to dump and refill on a conventional machine.  It's only the basket filter that usually needs cleaning whilst on the job but you simply pull the inlet hose top off, scoop out the debris, and put the top back on, whilst the machines still running. 

    The wonder wand is a great tool also, when used with a cfr you can hold it over a stain and continuously flush it without over wetting.  Again, I haven't used a conventional wand but if the wonder wand can do for cleaning what the wonder bra has done for women, then its a good tool.

[Jamie Pearson]

Cleaning the filter baskets is probably in line with the use of any lint trap.

The machine filter baskets don't hold as much as the remote types available but are built in and closer to hand to clear.

The paper filter only needs rinsing when filling and emptying the machine and is just a quick run under the tap.

I was sure the mesh filter I had was a lower grade filter than the paper. Need to ask Barry on Monday.

[Robin Ray]

You got there just before me. 

Would not an inline filter before the machine like a linthog dramatically reduce the filter cleaning times?

Rob

[john martin]

christ ... not more filters to clean   :

To give a practical example ...  i get called to hotel room that some one has pucked over  (or worse !!) 
I dont want that stuff seperated and held in three filters according to chunk size ... i want to wheel the machine to the hotel carpark and dump into the grate without going near the tank ....
 
as for the wand ... the roller looks interesting , pros and cons to internal spray ... i'd have to see how it feels ... bit like the bra   

[Adam Fearnley]

How long you think a linthog would last before needed cleaning?  trouble is, the mor filtering you have, the sooner you start to lose vacuum.