|
Home steam cleaner facts, features, benefits, options and warranty information Business Solutions Unlimited Inc. has been selling steam vapor cleaners since 1997, Since then we have seen sales of home steam cleaners skyrocket. We are unusual in the fact that we entered the market actually USING steam cleaners through Maid-in-USA Inc. a commercial cleaning and building maintenance company operating in South Florida for over 20 years, also owned by Business Solutions Unlimited Inc. Though in recent years we feel it has become more and more confusing for home consumers to understand the applications, features, benefits and limitations of these machines. So in an effort to try to simplify the process for the homeowner who would like the benefit of chemical free cleaning without the confusion we put together the following points. 1. Home and commercial steam cleaners are very different machines. The components, workmanship, and durability are very different, as reflected in the price. In the past year or two, home units were equipped with features that were only present on more expensive commercial and Industrial models. Though intentions were good some of the results were not. The points listed below are things that we have found in the 7 years of importing and selling various lines of both home and commercial units. 2. Detachable Hoses [monoblocks]. This is a wonderful feature that allows a commercial operator to pull the hose out of the machine and attach other accessories such as steam irons and lances. The materials used in commercial and Industrial units are very durable and can last a long time. But in the last few years home units in the 200.00 to 400.00 range were built using this feature, which in theory is great but the results were not very impressive. The materials and workmanship were not nearly the same quality of the commercial units and after several months of pushing and pulling the hose the sockets would start to wear which would cause the machine to loose contact. The real problem was not replacing the hose but the socket, This often times would happen just after the manufacturers warranty would expire. The cost of the hose, socket, labor, and shipping to and from the service center can be close to the original purchase price. We have found over the years that a fixed unit where the hose was attached to the unit when built seems to last far longer and maintain a better contact. We attribute this to the fact that far less stress is put on the hose during setup and take down of the unit. It should also be noted that the cost of a fixed hose on a home unit is in the 25.00 range and labor is less than an hour. The entire cost would run around the 50.00 to 60.00 range. Though many fixed hose units have gone for years without ever needing hose repairs. The one point we do stress on all steam cleaners is that you should NEVER pull the machine by the hose. 3. Single tank vs. continuous fill units. A feature usually seen on commercial and industrial units, Though in the past few years low priced continuous flow units in the 500.00 to 700.00 range were introduced for the home market. Once again the workmanship was not that of the commercial units and the added relays and other internal parts were very problematic. Single tank units with a 2-4 liter boiler will run form 1.5 to 3.5 hours with a 12 to 15 minute recovery time. The average homeowner uses the machine for less than an hour at a time. Our advise on the matter is the average homeowner should avoid this feature unless you also have commercial applications that would require 5 plus hours of run time. It also should be pointed out that it becomes very tiresome to operate the equipment for this period of time. But if you feel that this is an option that you need make sure you are buying a commercial unit and not a beefed up home unit. 4. Plastic vs. stainless steel vs. treated steel covers. They are all very good materials, but one is no better than another when it comes to performance, durability or reliability. If you want stainless in a home unit understand it's purely cosmetic, and be prepared to pay for it. 5. Boilers. All boilers are made of either stainless steel or Industrial quality aluminum, Once again they are both very good materials. All of our boilers carry a five year warranty. 6. Gauges. On most home units gauges are a waste of money. On home units customers can feel both pressure and heat simply by turning the unit on. Gauges tend to break and are unnecessary because the unit has a ready light telling you when its hot enough and a low water light telling you when to refill. Often gauges are added to give a home unit an Industrial look while compromising on switches, wiring, relays and other important components. Summary:
REMEMBER - Business Solutions Unlimited Inc. carries a one year parts and labor , Three years on parts , Five years on boilers. We also cover shipping to and from our service center in the event of a repair for a period of one year.
|