Nobody should ever recommend a porty. Go buy a clapped out van and truckmount.
I Used a Portable Last Night...
- Thread starter Jim Pemberton
- Start date
Sierra Clean Care
Member
We offer TM HWE, portable cleaning, and low moisture.
The machine we use to do portable extraction is the Rotovac Monsoon.
The water pump is kinda pathetic. It only produces 220 psi…
BUT, the vacuum is great. Even at 100’, (2” hose from machine to wand).It just means that you have to SLOW DOWN, and take the time to do the job properly…
We've got to get that monsoon REALLY sucking with a manifold to get the vacs in parallel, and then a cat pump. Then you'll have a good porty.
Sierra Clean Care
Member
I’ve got a second set of vac motors just waiting for a custom booster box…
Cleanworks
Moderator
Take a look at the PEX line of portables. They seem to go up and down stairs more easily than others and are available in basic to high performance configurations.
I looked at your machine. It just needs a tee at the vacuum barb by the waste tank to get big time performance.
Bryce C
Member
Excellent I'll adjust that for my portable. Thanks!
That sounds fun.
Sierra Clean Care
Member
I HATE porty work myself. But sometimes, it’s a necessary evil…
Kenny Hayes
Member
I hate all work! Tomorrow it’s the truckmount You know what that means. A House
Sierra Clean Care
Member
It’s good for you Kenny.I hate all work! Tomorrow it’s the truckmount You know what that means. A House
It helps keep you grounded.
If I have a job where I need to pull out the porty, I'll just encap it and be happy.
Kenny Hayes
Member
Says you!It’s good for you Kenny.
It helps keep you grounded.
Bryce C
Member
I'm cleaning 3400² of tile and grout in a church tomorrow with my portable 
OMG!I'm cleaning 3400² of tile and grout in a church tomorrow with my portable
Kenny Hayes
Member
Did your Uncle Larry give you a brush to go on the 175? I hope so. If so, use that on that tile. Can you run(operate) it? It will help you.
What chemical are you using on the tile job. Hopefully you have something over 10pH.I'm cleaning 3400² of tile and grout in a church tomorrow with my portable
Prochem Ultra Pac Extreme (I call it Nano) works well.
Kenny Hayes
Member
Or a good stripper, or both. Stripper will foam though.
Bryce C
Member
Yea he did give me a brush for it. It took me a minute playing around with it but can operate it no problemo now. Interesting, there's a lot of wooden pews and trim in the room, would the 175 be slinging prespray around? Does it get into grout lines with the brush or should I still use a crb for that?
Bryce C
Member
I have high pH stuff, Flex would be my go to that I have on hand. I have some stripper too. Why the stripper? I tested it and didn't detect any coatings or sealers..
Yes, the Wall-Banger (175) will make a mess. Go to a garden store and get some plastic ground barrier-trim stuff. Get enough to make a circle around the head of the Wall-banger and tie the ends together with zip ties or string. This will act as a splash barrier.
Bryce C
Member
Brilliant. I'll do that. So how does the wall banger with a brush do scrubbing grout lines?
You'll be fine. you're already ahead of the hacks because most don't bother scrubbing. Something to think about though, the 175 brushes sideways across the grout. A CRB would do a better job because the bristles grind down into the grout and pull out contamination. But that is just something to think about later as you add to your arsenal of tools.
Overlap at least 50% on your swings and work in a grid pattern. Bring a flathead screwdriver for those nasty parts that refuse to budge under mechanical agitation. You can also buy the little brass or metal brushes at Home Depot.
3400 sqft is a lot. I feel for you. I hope you're getting at least .50 per sqft and have some help.
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Sierra Clean Care
Member
Being LOTS of hand towels. Use them (dampened with fresh water), wipe off any surface that you’ve flung cleaner on.
Save the dreaded 2 day after call…
Oh, and USE THE CRB TO AGITATE…
Work in smaller sections, say 100-200 sqft @ a time.
Bryce C
Member
All great tips Damon thank you. I have a little crb, it's what we've used on the tile and grout jobs we've done so far with good results. So far the tile and grout both clean up easily using a crb on the jobs we've done, but have only done them in decent residential environments, never commercial areas. I guess I'll bring both the 175 and crb to play around with tomorrow. Nothing else scheduled and no time limit at the church which is nice. I've got the best helper, my wife. I hope she still loves me after another day of commercial work
Bryce C
Member
Man I've been worried about just that, splashing cleaner on the beautiful pews and wood trim everywhere. Lots of damp hand towels sounds like the ticket!
Sierra Clean Care
Member
Bring a gallon or 2 of defoamer…All great tips Damon thank you. I have a little crb, it's what we've used on the tile and grout jobs we've done so far with good results. So far the tile and grout both clean up easily using a crb on the jobs we've done, but have only done them in decent residential environments, never commercial areas. I guess I'll bring both the 175 and crb to play around with tomorrow. Nothing else scheduled and no time limit at the church which is nice. I've got the best helper, my wife. I hope she still loves me after another day of commercial work
When you start to lose suction, take the hose off the tool, and dump an oz or 2 in the vac line.
Bryce C
Member
Oh shnizz. Is it common to suck up years of detergent residue from mopping?
Just pray they didn't use wax.
Bryce C
Member
I scratched it and didn't detect any.
