Choosing a steam cleaner is not an easy task. There are a few manufacturers on the market, who offer various types of cleaners. These devices, which are used mainly in the service industry, differ among one another in terms of volume, power, fuel consumption, and available functions. What should you pay attention to in order to buy a cleaner which meets your expectations? Read on to find out more.
Buying a steam cleaner is an investment which allows to increase the number of services offered by your company, and work in new places (wherever, for various reasons, a pressure washer can’t be used or the number of cleaning workers has to be reduced to minimum). Steam cleaners also allow working in specific places such as: hospital rooms, back rooms of dining establishments or industrial facilities. In order for the steam cleaning to be effective, the cleaner must meet a number of requirements. Comfort of use and total cost of ownership depend on the technical specification of the equipment.
Why do technical parameters affect the quality of work?
We described technical parameters in detail in our article entitled What to look for when choosing a stem cleaner? We pointed out that a mobile steam cleaner consists of many elements which form a coherent whole and need to be compatible with one another. Power, efficiency, fuel consumption, weight, sound levels generated, and security mechanisms (for example frost protection) have a crucial influence on operating cost and the price of the service. This is why it is so important to choose an appliance which is economic, user friendly, mobile and reliable. So, what should you pay attention to?
Power
It is worth investing in a steam cleaner which has appropriate power. This is the feature that allows it to produce steam which effectively penetrates dirt and smoothly removes it. Fortador cleaners are available in 2 versions: the 16 bar Pro and Pro+, as well as the 12 bar Volt version. These are currently the most powerful mobile appliances on the market, which guarantee distribution of steam at the temperature of 120°C and humidity below 5%. To compare, rival companies such as Korean Steamer or Astra offer appliances which offer less power and have greater fuel consumption.
Fuel consumption
The amount of fuel required to operate a steam cleaner is crucial for the owner. In fact, fuel is often the greatest cost incurred by the business owner. Fortador cleaners consume only 0.6 l of fuel per hour which is by far the best result. To compare, Korean Steamer or Astra cleaners consume respectively 2 and 4 l per hour. During a working day of 8 – 10 hours, yearly savings can amount to somewhere between ten and twenty thousand zlotys. When deciding which cleaner to buy, keep in mind that its operation costs shouldn’t be too high.
Weight and materials
An advantage of steam cleaners is their mobility. An entrepreneur who has a suitable vehicle and a loading/unloading platform can quickly and efficiently reach his customers and perform services wherever they are needed. Therefore, it is important for the cleaner to be light, equipped with strong wheels and a push handle. Its weight is important as well. If mobility is you goal, avoid large dimensions. Another aspect is the material used for production. Appliances made from aluminum (housing) and carbon steel (boiler) function significantly better than those made from plastic.
Additional equipment and control
Accessories that you receive when purchasing a steam cleaner are also important. They increase the functionality of the appliance, but only if they’re made with high-quality materials, and can work for many hours in extreme conditions without failure. A steam cleaner should include such accessories as:
– a steam gun
– a steam hose and pressure hose
– a steam hose for washing and vacuuming
– vacuuming steam hose attachments (various)
In order to control the steam cleaner in a simple and quick fashion, it’s important for the appliance to be equipped with a simple control panel. Its main quality should be simplicity. The following features are worth considering:
– the size of the display
– presence of a pressure indicator
– the function allowing to monitor tank levels
– the function allowing to monitor water level in the boiler
– the function allowing to monitor the water pump and the fuel pump
