Preventative maintenance refers to regular, routine maintenance to help keep equipment up and running, preventing any unplanned downtime and expensive costs from unanticipated equipment failure. We’ve detailed common procedures on three common pieces of equipment used in our industry.

Automatic Scrubbers

Large buildings require the use of an Automatic Scrubber to keep floors looking their best, but these machines come with a big price tag. Preventative maintenance is essential to keep your equipment up and running, we’ve detailed a few steps that can be taken to avoid costly service calls.

• Recovery Tank: Always drain your recovery tank and rinse with clean water when finished. This will help with odor control and prevent buildup in the tank. Leave recovery lid off and allow to air dry.
• Solution Tank: Always drain solution tanks and rinse with clean water when finished. Leaving clean solution in your tank can cause filters to gum up, ultimately effecting performance. Clean water shut-off filters to free them from sediment buildup.
• Squeegee: Always rinse and clean the squeegee assembly before dirt and soil dries. Failure to keep the squeegee clean will result in your machine not picking up water. Also flip squeegee blades as needed to avoid streaking.
• Brushes/Pads: Scrubbing brushes should be rinsed thoroughly after use to avoid buildup. If you are using floor pads, rinse or dispose of used pads.
• Batteries: Batteries are the most likely part to fail on Automatic Scrubbers… they are also the costliest repair. Unsealed batteries (Wet) need to be filled with distilled water while charging. It’s crucial to maintain water levels to ensure that you get the full life from the battery. Charging methods can also shorten battery life. Run batteries until they get low before charging.

 

Carpet Extractors

Large buildings may also require the use of a Carpet Extractor to keep carpets looking their best, but these machines come with a big price tag as well. Preventative maintenance is essential to keep your equipment up and running, we’ve detailed a few steps that can be taken to avoid costly service calls.

• Spray Nozzles: To avoid clogged nozzles, unscrew the jets from the machine and rinse them in toilet bowl cleaner. Make sure they are free from buildup that will affect the fan pattern or completely restrict water flow, causing streaks in the floor.
• Tanks: Always drain tanks and rinse with clean water when finished. This prevents buildup from forming in the tanks. Dirty tanks can help aid the spread of dangerous bacteria.
• Hoses/Wands: Always clean and rinse hoses and wands when finished.
• Brushes: Always remove brushes and clean them thoroughly to avoid buildup. Store them so they aren’t flattened out on the floor.

 

Carpet Vacuums

One of the most heavily used pieces of equipment in the closet is the Carpet Vacuum. No matter your brand/make/model, below are some quick routine tips to keep your equipment operating at maximum capacity.

• Vacuum Bags: Replace vacuum bags on a regular basis. Even if you aren’t experiencing any issues, do not run your bags more than a month’s time.
• Brush: Clean out debris from the brush compartment after each use. Excess debris leads to low suction. Replace brushes/bearings as needed.
• Hoses: Check hoses periodically to make sure they are free from debris. Make sure to keep hoses stored neatly in their proper locations to avoid damage.
• Power Cord: Always check your power cord for damage. Flaws in the cord or the plug can lead to product failure and/or possible harm to operator. Keep power cord wrapped neatly in its proper location to avoid damage.