Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Don’t Let Old Man Winter Destroy Your Carpet Cleaning Equipment!

Prepare for freezing WINTER weather. That’s when we often receive calls from customers who forget that water expands when it freezes resulting in damaged water pumps and cleaning tools!

When the unit is subjected to freezing conditions, it will be necesary to winterize the system to prevent damage to the components.

NOTE: The water pump uses 8 # 20530 aluminum screws specially designed to break if the pump freezes, hopefully preventing the water pump from being destroyed!
The pump screws are specifically designed for our pump and if damaged or need replacing should not be bought over the counter.

When not in use, all cleaning tools, water-based carpet protector (Teflon® and Bane-Guard™) and any other water-based chemicals that would be ruined when frozen should be brought inside if your cleaning van is kept outside in freezing weather.


Winterizing the portable Base Unit on all Bane-Clene Units:

  1. Take the strainer cap off (on the back of the 20 gallon fresh water tank) and drain out all water.
  2. Put cap back on and add back to the 20 gallon fresh water tank 2-3 gallons of automotive windshield washer solvent (winter-grade good to 20 degrees below zero.
  3. Turn on the solution pump and let it run for approximately 5 minutes. This should keep your water pump and brass fittings from freezing.
  4. WARNING: Do not operate the heater when the unit is winterized.
  5. Take the cleaning heads and solution lines to an inside heated area to prevent freezing.
  6. Restarting:
    1. Drain the solution tank of washer solvent and fill with cleaning solution.
    2. Turn on the solution pump for 5 minutes.
    3. The solvent in the pump and lines will be diluted in the tank and will not affect carpet cleaning.
    4. Flush the solution system for 5 minutes with water before turning on the heater.

Aqua-Pump® 120 Water Pump Winterizing Instructions (for Putting the Unit Away for the Winter)

Winterizing the Aqua Pump:

Storing the Aqua Pump in below freezing temperatures will require winterizing of the unit. A winterizing kit is available to simplify this procedure.

  1. Disconnect the solution feed line swivel (7/8 wrench) at the connection to the strainer (part # 26071). Attach the suction line (“A” - see below) swivel to the strainer and place the other open end of the line into a container with 50/50 mix of automotive windshield washer solvent, winter-grade good to 20 degrees below zero.
  2. Attach the outflow line (“B” - see below) to the female coupling below the pressure gauge. Place the open end of this line into the same container of antifreeze.
  3. Turn on the pump only and run the unit until the anti-freeze mixture fills the entire system. Approximately 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the suction and outflow lines and reattach the solution feed line.

Image hook-up to engine

Flushing anti-freeze from the unit:

  • To remove anti-freeze mixture from a new unit, place the garden hose adapter (#20632) into the female coupling located below the pressure gauge. Screw on a section of garden hose to the adaptor. Turn on the pump only and run unit until clear solution flow from the hose.
  • To remove anti-freeze mixture from a winterized unit, attach the outflow line to the female coupling located below the pressure gauge. Place the open end of the outflow line into a container to save anti-freeze mixture for future use. Turn on the pump and run unit until clear solution flows from outlfow line.

Winterizing Kit:

  1. 10’ # 21080 solution hose.
  2. 1 # 21100 male coupler.
  3. 1# 21150 Brass Insert Fitting.
  4. 2 # 21160 Solution Hose Clamps.
  5. 1 # 20800 Brass Swivel.

The two options are for those professional carpet cleaning companies putting their equipment away for the winter.

If you plan on cleaning during freezing winter weather, it is best to keep the cleaning van in a heated garage. If your garage is not heated, put a ceramic heater in the van to keep it from freezing.

NOTE: The water pump uses 8 # 20530 aluminum screws specially designed to break if the pump freezes, hopefully preventing the water pump from being destroyed!
The pump screws are specifically designed for our pump and if damaged or need replacing should not be bought over the counter.

If you happen to freeze up your water pump, your aluminum screw heads will pop off and you will need to call Bane-Clene to order new ones (sold as a set of 8). If any other type of screw is used, the water pump will be destroyed (as shown below). A spare set of the special Bane-Clene aluminum screws should always be kept in your store room with your other repair parts - don’t wait for a problem resulting in downtime waiting for replacment screws to arrive!

Image hook-up to engine


Related Truckmount Carpet Cleaning Equipment Articles and Information:

Related YouTube Bane-Clene Equipment Maintenance Videos:

  • Video: How to Install Bane-Clene Truckmount Carpet Extractor into van
  • Video: How to lubricate, change oil, grease the blower, back flush, maintain the Bane-Clene Truckmounted Carpet Cleaning machines

Related Carpet Cleaning Machines and Products:


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Bane-Clene Paper CatalogFree packet of information about Bane-Clene can be obtained by calling toll-free 1-800-428-9512 (U.S. ONLY!). Your information packet will include a full color catalog and price addendum. Packets will arrive in approximately 2 weeks through standard United States Mail.

You can also order the packet at the Catalog Request Form.


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