ProTeam Vacuums

Wet/Dry World: Power and Function

Essentially, suction comes down to the power of the motor. Dry-only vacuums operate with thru-flow motors, but wet/dry vacuums, as well as extractors and scrubbers, require a bypass motor for wet recovery. A single-stage blower motor is typical for dry vacuums, but larger wet/drys should have a two-stage motor to increase lift and suction. Three-stage motors are common for scrubbers and extractors for maximum lift.

Wet/dry vacuums sold in retail often come with only a one-stage motor, so look for commercial wet/drys with more power, and a two-stage bypass motor. The motor is one of the most expensive components to replace, so also look for a long-term warranty and a top-notch brand track record.

For foamy wet/dry situations, a recent technology advancement saves both time and the hassles of constant foam and water dump-outs. Most wet/drys feature an automatic shut off function when water reaches a certain level that might damage the motor. Foam often triggers this shut off well before the actual water reaches a high level, which can cause constant interruptions. However, a recent innovation tackles the foam problem head-on. This new innovation looks like a metal mesh cage around the filtration system, and serves to break down foam while protecting the motor from damage.

For medium-sized tasks and spaces, a 10-gallon capacity is often ideal. A 10-gallon is versatile enough for big spills, yet compact for easy maneuvering. This size also works well for all the tasks a smaller wet/dry is capable of, plus jobsite cleanup, carpet vacuuming as a canister vacuum, and carpet care.

A 10-gallon vacuum with a convenient tank drain cap allows for fast liquid debris removal. HEPA filtration models are available in this size. This size and functionality works well as a go-to tool for a wide range of spaces and uses, including education, healthcare, hospitality, foodservice, retail, emergency/flood cleanup, hard floor refinishing, construction and lead paint repair and renovation. These vacuums often come with mid- to heavy-grade tools. 

Wet/Dry World: The Toughest Jobs

For large-sized spaces and situations, a powerful, functional and big-sized wet/dry is a must. A 15- or 20-gallon wet/dry is often ideal, allowing for advanced maneuverability and productivity. A bigger unit can sometimes hamper mobility, so look for a wet/dry with swivel caster wheels, a cart system, and variable wheel pattern options. This size is ideal for job-site cleanup, flooding, hard floor refinishing, carpet care and engineering services, as well as in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, hospitality, professional carpet cleaning and hard floor repair.

When considering a unit of this size, look for an optional front mount squeegee to increase productivity and aid in faster floor stripper recovery and flood restoration applications. This size often offers an ergonomic cart system that allows for ease of transportation and mobility. A convenient pour spout and rear tank drain also improve efficiency in liquid disposal. These vacuums often come with mid- to heavy-grade tools, carts with push handles, front-mount squeegee options, and upgraded filtration and noise reduction.

So think about the space you need to maintain, and make a list of the wet/dry size, features, functionality and innovations that would make your job easier. Don't settle for an unwieldy model, but look for vacuums that are thoughtfully designed with the user in mind. Wet/drys that are built to last will generally have multi-year warranties, fine dust filtration, and powerful two-stage motors.

Wet/Dry World: Portability

Wet/dry vacuums have a reputation for being unwieldy and hard to use. Fortunately, some brands have begun to rethink that design, and are making wet/drys that work well on the move, no matter what direction they need to go.

For small tasks or small spaces, a three or four gallon wet/dry vacuum makes a great emergency cleanup tool. Perfect for quick, intermittent use, these work well for snow and rain, small spills and flooding, elevators, walk-off mats, day porter use, spot cleaning and in workshops.

One battery-powered, cord-free, three-gallon option allows the user to carry the entire machine with one ergonomic handle, while cleaning with a locking stretch hose that extends to seven feet for extended reach in confined spaces. Another four-gallon model offers a blower port to reverse the airflow direction to clean hard to reach areas. This model can either be carried or used like a canister vacuum, with a 10-foot hose and several accessory tools. HEPA-filtered models are also available.

The wheels of larger models determine ease of movement. Soft-ride, swivel caster wheels make turns and traversing with a wet/dry much easier. There are 15- and 20-gallon wet/drys available with built-in variable swivel caster wheel patterns that allow for better maneuverability. One figuration allows for the swivel caster wheels to easily rotate the vacuum 360 degrees. The other figuration is more traditional, and allows for ease of transportation and mobility over stairs and curbs. A maintenance professional could switch out one variation for the other with just a few simple tools and a few minutes.

Battery-powered wet/drys are also appearing on the scene. Lithium Ion batteries power everything from laptops to cordless drills, and now the same lightweight, portable functionality has come to wet/drys. The Lithium Ion battery can handle hundreds of charge and discharge cycles. Lithium Ions batteries typically have a shelf life of two to three years, whether they’re used or not.

Wet/Dry World: Filtration for IAQ

When most people think of wet/dry vacuums, they consider water pickup, not dust capture. But filtration is advancing in the wet/dry world, as is the public's understanding of the importance of good indoor air quality. In the quest to maintain healthy environments, a wet/dry vacuum should have the latest in filtration technology.

A new three-layer fine dust cartridge filter not only provides excellent dry filtration, but is washable, reusable and clogs less than standard foam filters. Ease of cleaning and filter maintenance lowers the cost of ownership and allows for longer durability. Optional internal paper filters allow for easy disposal and added collection of dry debris.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration wet/dry models are now available as well, appropriate for lead paint renovations. HEPA wet/drys can tackle repair and renovation, construction, hard-floor refinishing and other heavy-duty tasks. A multi-stage, certified HEPA filtration system is 99.97 percent efficient at containing and filtering particulates as small as 0.3 microns in size.

Wet/Dry World: How to Spot and Select New Innovations in Wet/Dry Vacuums

Maintenance is not always a dry world. Natural and human disasters can cause flooding and spills.  Intensive carpet and hard floor cleanup or restoration projects often require water. Snow gets tracked much further into a building than rain or dirt and then it melts, seeping into the flooring. Whatever the source of the moisture, it causes damage and can hurt the value of the facility.

Particularly in regions of heavy snowfall, the need for a wet/dry vacuum inevitably arises, and when it does, having a high-performance machine on hand might mean the difference between disaster and recovery. New high-performance wet/dry vacuums are now available in Canada with innovative features to match any set of needs.

ProTeam Triple Threat

For cleaning professionals looking for a transformative solution to the floorcare routine, ProTeam now offers the “triple threat,” a complete package that unites the forces of a Super CoachVac HEPA or Super QuarterVac HEPA with a telescoping wand and multi-purpose Xover Floor Tool. The superior combination allows for maximum dust capture and productivity across multiple floorcare situations.

With the “triple threat” solution, expect the atmosphere of your building to change. Building occupants with an eye for details will notice that dirt and dust don’t settle in the corners anymore. Occupants and staff with asthma or allergies will notice that they are feeling better. This three-fold cleaning revolution will prove that you don’t need a superpower to be the hero that saves building occupants from indoor pollutants and irritants.

Good Things Come in Threes

If you take a Super CoachVac HEPA or a Super QuarterVac HEPA, add a 42 to 59-inch telescoping wand and a Xover floor tool, expect the atmosphere of your building to change. Building occupants with an eye for details will notice that dirt and dust don’t settle in the corners anymore. Building occupants with asthma or allergies will notice that they are feeling better. This three-fold cleaning revolution will prove that you don’t need a superpower to be the hero that saves building occupants from indoor pollutants and irritants.

 

Xover Floor Tool

What could complete this trifecta of cleaning perfection? The Xover floor tool is designed so that the powerful suction of the Super CoachVac HEPA or Super QuarterVac HEPA is distributed across the 14-inch wide tool.

Many other floor tools fail to clean effectively because the suction is strongest in the center where the vacuum wand attaches, but is weak at the sides of the tool. Without the suction spread evenly across the width of the brush, floor coverage may be patchy, especially along edges and in corners. But custodial workers using the Xover tool enjoy 44-percent more effectiveness with every swipe.

ProTeam’s innovative tool transitions effortlessly from hard floors to carpets, gliding into corners and under furniture with ease. The larger mouth opening picks up large debris, and the shoe brush allows for carpet agitation for enhanced soil removal. This tool was designed for the everyday user, and, paired with a powerful vacuum and a telescoping wand, it should be the secret weapon in every custodial closet.

Secret Weapon of ProTeam Backpack Vacuums

The Super CoachVac and Super QuarterVac are formidable foes of dirt and dust alone, but the savvy buyer will see the benefit of height adjustment for the cleaning professional with the telescoping wand. From 42 to 59 inches the lightweight aluminum wand allows for maximum reach into corners, on ceilings, under furniture and around fixtures, but comfortable for any worker to use. This twofold advantage can clean up to 10,000 sq. ft. per hour - compared to under 3,000 with a single-motor upright.

The secret weapon of the Super CoachVac and Super QuarterVac with telescoping wand is the sweeping side-to-side vacuuming movement that covers maximum square footage while reducing strain to the back. With the added ergonomic benefit of the backpack vacuum that distributes the weight on the hips, this vacuum/wand combination is the go-to choice for custodial workers with physical limitations, because it is easy on the body, but flexible and powerful enough for any size person or job.

Backpack Vacuum as the Hero of Your Cleaning System

There is no building that the 10-quart Super CoachVac HEPA can’t tackle. High-traffic areas, large rooms, and high soil levels won’t deter the awesome suction power of the Super CoachVac’s high-efficiency motor.

If the Super CoachVac HEPA were Batman, the Super QuarterVac HEPA would be Robin. This 10-pound powerhouse has the same superior suction as its more sizeable partner, plus the added flexibility, maneuverability and convenience of a 6-quart vacuum. Cleaning professionals of any size can easily use the ergonomic Super QuarterVac without the risk of strain or injury.

HEPA and Four Level Filtration capture 99.97 percent of all indoor pollutants and irritants 0.3 microns and larger. Four filters (the intercept micro filter, the micro cloth filter, the dome filter, and the exhaust filter) sift particles down to the smallest skin flakes, dust mites or pollen, and prevent them from blowing back into the breathing space.

The Super CoachVac HEPA and Super QuarterVac HEPA received a Gold Seal of Approval/Green Label from the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) for high standards of carpet cleaning effectiveness and indoor air quality. It also meets the requirements for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification for green cleaning, which takes into account indoor air quality and energy efficiency to determine whether a cleaning system is truly sustainable.

The Super CoachVac HEPA and the Super QuarterVac HEPA include a 50-foot extension cord, integrated tool belt and three-year warranty on parts, labor and motor, with lifetime on body.