Rotovac
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Rotovac
Forum Description: Discussion about Rotovac machines.
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3031
Printed Date: 28/April/2024 at 7:39pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Rotovac
Posted By: oldfart
Subject: Rotovac
Date Posted: 28/October/2006 at 3:13pm
What do you guys think of the Rotovac any pro and cons? Is it a good system,worth the money?If not what is better and why?
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Replies:
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 28/October/2006 at 8:39pm
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RV 360 is one of the nicest new tools on the market. Light, versatile and very effective. Lots of used RX20 CX20's around but I would hold out for the new RV360. No tool is perfect. If you are looking for a lower priced versitile tool you might want to consider a low RM floor machine. It doesn't extract or rinse but it is good for many uses such as Tile, agitation of pre-spray, buffing, finishing etc. and it will only cost you with a good range of pads and brushes about $1000 Canadian.
------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: oldfart
Date Posted: 28/October/2006 at 10:24pm
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Thanks for the input. What I am looking at is something fast and does the job.I am going for a truck mount setup.Where I live if you have a portable machine you will lose about 35% of the work. I am going strickly commerical. They ask what type ofr setup you have. I don't want to try and mach prices with these house jokeys that will do a room for $9.95 or a house for $55.00. I know if a person has a good product, good service you will get the work.I am not trying to sound out of line,or like a ass but we are talking about business. thanks again for your help and time. |
Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 28/October/2006 at 10:31pm
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I have said this before on many posts. For a newbie with no cleaning experience who chooses to use an average hot water extraction, say 100 to 200 psi with 2 vac motors, 150" water lift and marries it up to either a Rotovac or Rotovac 360 will be doing better consistent cleaning than many truckmount operators who still use a wand. But, keep in mind that the guy who gets it the cleanest is not always the big winner financially.
There is always more to the pie than how clean you can get it. Cleaning with the Rotovac is the simple and easy part. Getting the business and keeping it is another part of the pie.
Be prepared for bumps in the road. The grass is always greener on the other side until you get there and you will find that it takes a lot of fertilizing.
 ------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: dennis_is_ok
Date Posted: 28/October/2006 at 10:41pm
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CIMEX
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oldfart wrote:Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 12:39am
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Oldfart, you are getting excellent advice especially from Carpetologist. He is a very wise and respected person in this industry.
The Cimex machine is a top quality machine that is used almost exclusively for commercial work. The Cimex is used for encapsulation cleaning which is a technique that is different than HWE (hot water extraction or steam cleaning). A Cimex will make you money and also differentiate you from many other companies depending on what your marketplace is like. I would research your market very carefully before you consider this machine. If you start with a truckmount you are starting off with a superior machine than many new companies start with and a real good idea. The best advice most anyone on this board would give you is to take some IICRC courses as soon as you possibly can. The two most important courses are the IICRC Carpet Cleaning course and the Upholstery course. Attitude and training combined with a portable unit will get more business than a person without formal training and a truckmount unit. It is very much to your advantage to latch on to a reputable supplier and seek out their advice on almost every aspect of your business covering both business and cleaning systems and technique. The Carpetologist is one such person who is worthy of being that person. His products are top quality industry standard names or better and his prices are competitive. In exchange for his true interest in helping you support him as much as you possibly can as a customer. He will keep you out of the trouble that the inexperienced, no matter how disciplined and smart invariably gets into. It seems to me you have the other ingredients of initiative and attitude needed to succeed. This board is an excellent source of information. I suggest you take the opportunity to use the search function and it won't take you long to figure which contributors to this board have credibility for their knowledge and worthiness of your business. I wouldn't want to say the Carpetologist is the only good vendor around but he is definitely one of the best. There is no such thing as a dumb question and most of us want to help. Good luck on what is a rewarding profession to those of us who are truly professional. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: Rampage
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 6:49am
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Now this is the kind of thread I like ...informative and cordial!!! Oldfart, you seem to be on the same page as me. Ted, has me convinced the 360 is what I need. I think the 360 has a lot of marketing potential even it only works as good as a wand. What Piledriver suggested is the course I'm going to follow. I figure that after a couple IIRC classes if I decide to continue in this I'll purchase some marketing info related specificly to carpet cleaning. Then I'll purchase the big toys! |
Posted By: dennis_is_ok
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 7:29am
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if you own a TM, make sure you know how to fix it, maintain it and work on it yourself. when you look at some TM owners they look more like auto mechanics than carpet cleaning professionals :)
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Posted By: Superglide Ken
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 8:24am
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Your not talking about guys like Steamer are you? ------------- Inventor of the Teflon Wand Glide and the Turboteck Rotary Air Duct Cleaners for TMs. |
Posted By: Rampage
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 9:37am
I think I'm gonna start out with a Recoil 3 because you can use it from the truck like a truckmount. If it seems that I can make enough money doing this, I'll get a truckmount. I think the R3 would be a good back up to have around or to get a second truck started.
It's funny that you brought up fixing truckmounts because I had my carpets cleaned in a house I'm trying to sell this week and the guy had to stop and fix it in the middle of the job.
I dont know if its a Florida thing or not but the cleaners here are in and out in 30 mins. I'm convinced most of you guys are awesome techs because you talk about doing a lot of stuff I've never seen done. Now, if I can just steal all of your techniques.
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Posted By: jtuseo
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 10:14am
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I would buy a good used truck mount. I got my Prochem Blazer used with the van and all of the hoses reels and checmicals for $6800. The only thing I had to do was give it a tune up and change the starter on the truckmount. As for the rotovac get the regular rotovac that is much better for residentail carpet. The 360 was designed for Commercial carpet. That is straight from the people at rotovac. ------------- WWW.PREFERREDCARPETCLEANING.COM |
Posted By: dennis_is_ok
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 10:24am
| what lift does the recoil have? |
Posted By: thermedix
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 11:52am
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I saw a demo on a Cimex, it really does have awesome reults, however you have to be convinced on the whole encap theory, I went with the Activator (op), similiar concept, not as fast, but when your done, you can show the customer the dirty pads, they really love to see that dirt gone.. ------------- It`s not how far you fall...it`s how high you bounce back up... |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 4:28pm
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 4:33pm
Unfortunately things only break when they are working. One reason you should know your machine? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 5:21pm
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Posted By: Rampage
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 5:58pm
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I feel dirty for laughing at that!
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 6:27pm
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Nightrider you need velcro to hold you shoes on, teeshirts and sweat pants if you own a Clean Cold as you wouldn't want to wear anything good, as it would get wrecked while you work on the unit to keep it running?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 8:23pm
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Posted By: Superglide Ken
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 8:48pm
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" Meanwhile there were always 7 or 8 other Cleanco waiting for repairs outside.
I'm sure that was just a coincidence Jack. lol ------------- Inventor of the Teflon Wand Glide and the Turboteck Rotary Air Duct Cleaners for TMs. |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 8:55pm
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Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 8:57pm
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 10:18pm
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Just what is the unexpected?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 29/October/2006 at 10:51pm
| Some used TM's here for you to check out >>> http://www.dcs1.com/dcs1boards/messages/front.cfm?board_id=5 - http://www.dcs1.com/dcs1boards/messages/front.cfm?board_id=5 |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 12:29am
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Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 1:13am
NR, you have been a little unexpected yourself the past few days
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Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 1:32am
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Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 7:12am
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the man is sexually frustrated....lol ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 10:08am
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What, no women in Montreal?
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Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 2:03pm
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It's hard to tell their they all keep their faces covered??? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 2:26pm
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Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 4:26pm
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Oldfart,
If you are going to clean commercial carpet only you would be wise to look at Cymex and OP Equipment. Less truckmounts show up at commercial jobs these days. Today you need to keep your pricing in line and it's getting harder to do with truckmounts.
If ineed you are an oldfart make sure you purchase a Roto type system as the wand can be deadly on the body.
------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: Superglide Ken
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 4:34pm
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the wand can be deadly on the body.
Especially is you do not have a glide on it. Also, it wont fit into a sock either. ------------- Inventor of the Teflon Wand Glide and the Turboteck Rotary Air Duct Cleaners for TMs. |
Posted By: oldfart
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 5:54pm
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Thanks, pilediver where is a good plkace to find out about he IICRC Carpet Cleaning course and the Upholstery course? I live in southern California,are they any in my area or home study type? Thanks Lou |
Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 6:26pm
http://www.iicrc.org/ - http://www.iicrc.org/
------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: oldfart
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 6:30pm
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Carpetologist, thanks for the information. Lou  |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 9:28pm
I would like to see a wand that fits into a sock
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Posted By: Ninja-wand
Date Posted: 30/October/2006 at 9:46pm
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Hey Lou! You just missed the IICRC class over at Cerritos. Jim Smith was teaching it. It was a GREAT class!!
------------- I'll make you TAP OUT!!! |
Posted By: oldfart
Date Posted: 31/October/2006 at 5:32am
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Ninja-wand I see one in FULLERTON next month I will see if I can get in to that one. how much are these IICRC classes? I see 3 different ones I would like to take. I would like to take the carpet cleaning class,Commerical CPT Maintenance Odor Control Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning.what other are good ones that I would need? |
Posted By: Ninja-wand
Date Posted: 31/October/2006 at 7:04pm
Usually the classes are around $299 (more or less) per subject for 8 hours a day for 2 whole days. The cost for the test is $50 extra. But that day Cerritos had a special for $99 for the 2 days!!!! I just couldnt let up on the oppertunity
Anyways, If I were you I would take the CCT class first, then UPT cleaning and oder control. I dont really think you need the Comm. CPT maintenace unless you do alot of commercial work.
------------- I'll make you TAP OUT!!! |
Posted By: oldfart
Date Posted: 31/October/2006 at 9:50pm
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Ninja Wand thanks for your help I will do that. Lou |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 1:10am
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You are right IMHO. Rotovac is a superior tool. And I do pull it out of my bag of tricks when the customer is willing to pay for it (especially for those traffic areas). The point you made which is most important in my mind is to keep the Rotovac or any other oooh-ahhhh tool in perspective to the overall goal. Joe Polish made sense when he said you are not in the business of cleaning carpets. You are in the business of marketing a carpet cleaning service. Getting customers, keeping customers. Focusing on what is important is #1. My job is to get the phone to ring. My techs know that they have the job of making sure the customer buys what they need which is rarely what the customer had originally thought was their need. I would say more, but sometimes your survival depends on making mistakes and learning what really gets you the results. Knowledge gained from personal experience is priceless. Just think about what business you are in and be honest enough to determine if you are working for your business or ON your business. I do a lot less working for and a lot more working on these days and I don't feel guilty for even a single second that I traded craftsmanship for entrepeneurship. I employ people who in turn spend their earned money in the local economy which goes back throughout this process to my customers who can afford to enjoy my services once again. That would not be the case if I spend 100% of my time working in my business, treating it as a self-employment job. Skill and consistency are great attributes to attain but let your employees be the top guns at carpet cleaning. Focus on giving them the opportunity to excel with tons of customers on whom to practice. I think nightrider and others here can agree with Carpetologist when he says "There is always more to the pie than how clean you can get it." When the bug bit me it changed my purpose and direction. Not saying the grass is greener. I just simply appreciate it more. |