[JandS]

Looking for a small cc machine.
Capacity about 15 to 20 galls.
About as big as a Stimvac Toto or slightly bigger.
But want it with heater, decent pump and vacuum. Built in heater if posible but inline will suffice.
Or could I fit an heater in my Toto.
Fed up of lugging the big boy in to clean 1 carpet or 1 3 piece.

John

[derek west]

15 to 20 gallons??
isn't that quite big for a porty.
or am i being naive.
derek

[markpowell]

Small machine with an 80 litre tank, good luck with your searching
Mark

[Joe H]

John - do you mean litres and not gallons?

For portability the small machines you are talking about are really for spotting jobs, or you just packed up your gear and customer finds you missed a patch.

For a whole capet or a 3 piece (which takes a lot of water anyway) I think you are looking at your normal machine.

Solutions UK do a small machine ie 100psi, single 3 stage vac (100cfm), 3.5 gall clean and same size dirty tank. No heater - which is not unusual for spotting machines - and with that size tank you can fill with hot water no problem.

[Steve Chapman]

we use a sabrina maxi for small or awkward jobs, or even the smaller sabrina if doing just a chair etc, saves a lot of time if not want to set up a the t/m or is top of flats etc

regards
steve

[JandS]

Your right derek I meant about 20L.

John

[clinton]

I have had an altc aqua in the past and it a nice little back up machine

[JandS]

The Toto I have has a 14L tank which just about does an average size living room with maybe a top up if it's dirty.
Trouble is I get jobs from estate agent in flats wanting one room doing but the hot water is turned off.
The carpets aren't very clean either as most of them are rented properties but hey they pay well.
Some of these flats though are the 4 storey type with no lift and it's nailed on it won't be a ground floor one they want doing.
Just thought there might be something out there with a decent heater and packing some oomph.
Does the altec aqua fit that bill? Think I'll take a look.

John

[Joe H]

How about using a Baby Burco to make hot water?
Then you can keep the machine you have.

[JandS]

And a baby burco is??

John

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

what about that new rotovac machine that doesn't have any tanks! It also looks a good backup for truckmounters incase of a breakdown nice and small to keep on the van.

Cheers Goron

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

bugger lugging any porty in a house to clean anything i just like pulling the pipes in and off we go ....take it from me truckmounts are the way forward and after useing ports for more years then i want to remeber i wish i bought a t.m. ten years ago

[Joe H]

Burco water heaters

http://www.cnmonline.co.uk/Burco-Catering-Urns-c-1882.html

[Fraser Thom]

Don't the manufacturers of most porty machines tell you hot water is a no-no and they should be filled with cold water only, then the water is heated through the heater?

I was under the impression that hot water can damage the machines pump.

[Joe H]

Think you are correct Fraser.
There is a point where hot water can be too hot for the good of a pump.
Not sure what the level of heat is though.

External heaters are expensive though.
With a Burco at least you can have a cup of tea as well 

[Fraser Thom]

Yeah, don't go putting very hot water in any porty John or you are asking for trouble!

Good luck.

[russell james]

worth it just for the tea, my ninja runs at about 80 degrees, seems hotter when it comes out though

[AJB]

Most pumps are rated at max' 60 C, which is usual hot water
tap temp.
I don't use a spotting machine as i don't do spots, i clean the whole
thing or nothing.

[JandS]

My big porty has a built in heater in the tank itself and it gets very hot so it must be alright as they wouldn't make them otherwise.

John

[JandS]

Tempted by TM but have resevations.

1) Access - have worked someplaces where you would not have got your pipes in - totally secure, no doors or windows to be left open, usually at nighttime.

2) Security - your cleaning away merrily say 200 feet from your van on 1st floor when suddenly you loose power.
Look out the window and there goes your van.

3) Weather - Don't know about water cooled but assume with air cooled engines you need to leave the door open for circulation, exposing the engine to rain, sleet etc. And that also comes under security as some numptyhead is always going to want to tamper with it while walking past.

Just some thoughts of mine when I was considering one a couple of months back.

Think I might buy a top end spec porty instead, any ideas??

John