Extractor Buildup! Help!

jimmybuffit

jimmybuffit

That'll buff right out!
I have a Century 400 Sensei extractor. It is a workhorse, to say the least. We do at least 15 carpet/upholstery units per week.



We only put two things thru the unit: filtered (1 micron?) water, and ValuGard's Odor Terminator.



Weekly, per mfg instructions, we run a gallon of vinegar thru the machine. Actually, we run the same, filtered, vinegar thru about 5 times. Even on the fifth run, we get sand! Lots of sand!



Our simple logic doesn't explain where the sand (both black and white granules) comes from!



Next week, I'm going to use only distilled water! Might cost $25 bucks, but I'm determined to find the source of this problem!



Boy, we need help!



Jim
 
BlackRegal:



Thanks for the link, but it did not address cleaning, at least in any procedural manner.



Today, I ran a 8:1 solution of Lime Away thru the machine. Even more sand and grit. It is certainly stuff that has built up over some (brief) time. I'm amazed. This machine has had reasonably good care (per the manual), but still.. I'm amazed at the crud that is spit out!!!



I've mailed Century 400 for an "OEM Response". I'll be sure to followup...



Jim
 
I emailed them on the 23rd, and the mail bounced... ?



Went to my local Commercial Carpet cleaning supplier, they suggested a "truck mount descaler"... Well, hell, I shoulda known that!



I'll try it over this long weekend.



Jim
 
I'm thinking that is scale and mineral buildup that you are flushing out. Just imagine if you didn't do the preventative maintenance? Try taking some of the sand and try dissolving it in hot water. If it goes into suspension, it ain't sand.
 
I found time today to run the descaler thru the Sensei. Well, it sure cleaned something! The label lists the active ingredient as an anticorrosive.



Methinks two things are occurring:



1. Tap water 'dissolved solids' are forming when passing the heat exchanger the the heat .



2. Bits of metal are leaving the heat exchanger via rust/oxidation.



Anyway, I used the primer hose to recirculate this cleaner for about 15 minutes, and them pumped it in a bucket.very dirty and lots of solids.



Then I ran a gallon of straight white vinegar thru the same process. Not as dity, but...



Then I ran a gallon of 10:1 APC for 15 minutes...



Then I flushed with water, no heat.



Runs clear now. I'm posting a list/chart of how many fills we do b/4 the clogging starts again, so I can get a better feel for when we need to 'descale' this thing.



I think I've found the answer...
 
I'm following this thread with great interest as I have all sorts of water-quality issues (which I *think* I now have a handle on). It occurs to me that even with the 1 micron filter, you're possibly gonna get mineral/etc. buildup anyway (we did). Maybe try softened water if it's feasible and you still have problems, that, along with two filters before the softener, finally worked here.



Keep us informed how things go. The descaling procedure sounds like a bit of a hassle (though certainly much better than having problems with the machine).



Oh, what was the descaler you used and where did you get it?
 
"PROCHEM Truck Mount Descaler"



Mfg by Professional Chemicals Corp

325 S Price Road

Chandler, AZ 85224



"Contains Sulfamic acid, corrosion inhibitor. pH: 1 ready to use."



Jim
 
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