Truck Mount vs Portable Carpet Cleaner

Is there a difference between a truck mount carpet cleaner vs. portable?

Today I wanted to talk about the difference between truck mounted carpet cleaning services versus a portable carpet cleaning machine. This debate has been going on for decades, but it truly depends upon the skill of the technician. In addition, the desire of the technician to get the carpet properly cleaned and looking professionally done with a even clean appearance.

Hot water is one of the most important components of carpet cleaning. It allows the soil to be broken down at a faster rate. Compared to cold water which will not break up greasy grime in carpets. In addition, hot water will dry faster than a cold water cleaning due to the steam evaporation. So, it is recommended to use hot water when cleaning carpets. Now, one can go too hot and ruin the carpet and the backing because it releases the glue so it should be hot to the touch but not burning ones skin.

Today's chemicals are much better then decades passed. They have enzymes and cleaning agents which helped to break down the grease, grime, and dirt at a much better rate then before. In addition, they are able to dry and crystallize and drop to the bottom of the carpet to be vacuumed up post cleaning. They are much safer to humans and animals as they have been developed to minimize irritation.

We will start with a portable carpet cleaning machine. These machines have improved quite a bit over the last several decades. I am not talking about the versions that are in stores, but the professional versions that you can rent from a professional cleaning renting business. These businesses are generally not available in smaller communities but in large cities they are abundant. Today's portable cleaner can have two vac motors and a water filtration system that rivals any water purification system for the home. The combination of the two vac motors provides ample suction to remove water and debris from any carpet. While the power spray can get as high as 100PSI with the right motor and a custom built job. Remember, the higher PSI the more water you go through and the more water you'll be exchanging slash adding throughout the cleaning process. So, it is best to find a good match for your needs. Using this type of machine will require generally more passes then a truck mount but can get the carpet just as clean. The drying process or time will be 4 to 8 hours depending upon the weather and the heat in the rooms. Air movement is also important for drying so it's best to use fans to speed the process.
Truck mount carpet cleaning machines are very expensive but provide robust power to get the job done generally in a faster time. These are generally motor driven and provide two to three times the power of a portable cleaning machine. In addition, they can heat water which helps tremendously in the cleaning process. This combination of power and heat can go through dirt a lot faster. The much improved suction allows dirt to be removed at a fast rate. With the much improved suction this removes much of the moisture in the carpet which significantly reduces the drying time. Again, weather is important in drying time a cold climate cold room versus a warm room with air moving. But, generally carpets cleaned with a truck mount can be dry within two to four hours. These machines can run in the 20,000 to $40,000 range so they are very expensive and require professional upkeep.

After the cleaning is done it is recommended that to turn up the heat in the house and to turn on all the fans. A warm house will reduce the drying time generally in half with air movement. Some companies will even leave a blower on the carpet to vastly increased the drying time. They will generally swing by the next day to pick up the blower. The use of such a device can lower the drying time substantially if moved on a regular basis and correctly.

The cost between the two are substantial generally a $5000 investment for a portable compared to an upwards of $40,000 for a truck mount. So, generally you'll see in small communities more of a portable professional fleet as the costs are much more in line for the amount of business they will generate. Whereas in larger cities one can justify the cost of a truck mount based on the larger amount of business opportunity.
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So, for the average consumer it is best to utilize a company with a solid reputation and stand behind their work. Reputable companies can be hard to find but once you find a good ethical company those are the ones that you want to stay with. These experience people will help you to maintain your carpets in a pleasing professional manner.