Hello everybody,

I stumbled upon this forum from another forum.  I am very, very new to carpet cleaning.  I don't even know what chemicals I need to purchase, but before I do that I need to buy an extractor.  What I intend to do is the carpets for my immediate family- mom, aunts, uncles, brothers, in-laws.  I have decided on buying the Century Ninja that the last guy to clean our carpet used.  Ironically, the Ninja is used where I get our vehicles detailed.  That sold it for me, but I don't know which one.

My research says forget the 100psi.  I need a minimum of 200psi, but what about the 500psi?  Should I be looking in that direction?  I can't imagine using the equipment more than 4 times a month.  This fact seemed to worry some people that I had anticipated buying the unit from.

They say that the internal heater is prone to 'crystallization'.  I think that is the term that they used?????  Given that I won't be using the unit everyday is there something that I can do to increase the life of the heater?  Someone mentioned running vinegar through the heater before storing.  Has anyone heard of that?

I hope I came to the right place. Thanks,
KeithGP

Welcome to the Board KeithGP,

If all you are going to do is clean your friends and neighbors carpets a 100 PSI would just be fine for you. Higher PSI generally allows you to clean faster not necessarily better. You do not need a heater but, your choice of a Ninja is a good one. Although you could save by purchasing an http://www.kleenkuip.com/portables/esteam_phenom.htm - Esteam E600 . Basically the same as a Ninja but smaller.

Good luck and feel free to lean on us anytime you have any further questions.

get a post heater if you want one

the heated porties tend to be crapola.

with the minimal cleaning you're talking about the 100psi would work fine just a little slower.

Ninja's are pretty good reliable machines.

Thanks Carpetologist and Steaminpile,

My motivation for the inline heater is to avoid waiting for heated water in our house.  I have read about the Tornado(??) 6000 and 9000 that offer a great amount of heat, but it is cost-prohibitive for me.

I've asked so many vendors that it is all running together.  When I read in forums, they mostly say that once you go heat you'll never go back.  And then they say that once you use more psi you'll never go back to the lower psi machines.  The clean time is much faster.  It seemed like the 200psi was the way to go.

KeithGP

Keith;

"If" you are "only going to clean" those few jobs, then 100 psi in the right configuration would be fine. What is more important is the type of Vacuum you chose in reference to a trough cleaning procedure.

   _________________HOWEVER__________________________

Knowing that good intentions were only made in heaven;

"If" you envision sometime going into this business full time doing bigger AND dirtier carpets, I would recommend a higher psi "high flow" pump that will penetrate and fluch out the fiber quicker and easier.

Those are my suggestions.

Good Fortune to this new venture;

Ed Valentine

http://www.cross-american.com - www.cross-american.com

I agree with Ed... this might develope into something more.. I would at least get a 250 psi machine...

a portable is a starting machine anyways.... higher psi is just kicking it up a notch 

Thanks all,

I figured that my boys 13 and 14 might be able to handle the unit in a year or 2.  Maybe they can do something with it with a pickup truck.

For now, I thought a 200psi heated Century 400 unit would be great- even if the heated portion are crapola.  It's gotta be better than no heat.  I think?

Thanks again,

KeithGP

I agree with Mr. Steamer. I have a 100 PSI Ninja right now and it has about 3 inches of dust on it as it never gets used. only in emergency situations!.

Spend the extra and buy the 500 psi machine from Ted. You wont regret it. Also get yourself a good wand to go with it! with a glide!!

have a look at Ed Valentines machines as well

I've heard some pretty rave reviews

Keith

It's amazing you have had so many responses as your questions and explanations as to what your intension's really are is to clean friends and relations for free or low cost. 

With that explained, you are actually taking the bread out of the mouths of the professional cleaners who are also giving you good advise.  Goes to show you what a nice group of guys and gals we have on our forum.

Carpetologist wrote:   With that explained, you are actually taking the bread out of the mouths of the professional cleaners who are also giving you good advise.  Goes to show you what a nice group of guys and gals we have on our forum.

I agree.  That's why I posted here after reading all of the informative posts.  My intention is not to take the money away, but to save our family in the long run.  We were offered a special for $39 to clean 5 rooms and a hallway about 6 months ago.  When the guy came out, he had a portable Ninja.  I wrote the model down and researched it.  I had no idea of how inexpensive the unit was.  The $39 visit turned into extra for pre-treating, extra for large rooms and extras for hallways- $175.  The tech cleaned the rooms pretty fast, but our heavy areas stayed dirty.  We ended up calling his supeervisor who instructed him to try his best which he did.  He spent a little more time and the carpets looked wonderful.

He did have to stop for the hot water.  I don't want to do that.  I just want to put in water, have it heated and go.  Our carpets were damp the next day too, so we are going to see how quick they can dry with proper chemicals and some regular box fans before we spend money on a proper, powerful fan. 

About a month ago, my wife took my car in to have it detailed for my birthday and she couldn't get home fast enough to tell me that she wanted the Ninja too.  The detail shop was using heated Ninjas as well.  She thought that this unit would be exactly what we needed too, so we waited until the tax refund to make a move.  We figured $175 plus $30 per vehicle detail times 12 times a year is over $2800.  We could just buy the unit for that.  After one year, it is saving us money for our family alone.  Now, here we are now asking as many questions as we can.  200psi vs 500psi.  Heated vs. Non-Heated.  Is a Rotovac worth the cost?  All of which have been answered.  It's looking like the 200psi heated unit with a detailer, carpet rake, and internal crevice tool and wait on the Rotovac or RX20??   All we need to do now is find a nice set of chemicals to accompany the portable.  There are a lot of threads talking about that here.

Again, I thank each and every person who responded to help us in this decision.  It's wonderful here.  Sorry to be so long-winded.

KeithGP

Keith you are going to be set up to start your own business. If you have any kids and there old enough to work part time, this could be a business that could bring them plenty of cash to put them through school. That is if there willing to work for what they want and not expect everything given to them without the effort.

I just gave you my standard lecture I give my kids, Keith.

Keith...  What ever you do ... do it right... it's the weekend warriors that kill this business....

Good Luck