1. The Basics Equipment Maintenance and Safety
Welcome and introductions.
Give welcome and introductions
Engage participants in a warn up: individual introductions, pair interviews, or any other ideas you have found successful
Overview the course
Vacuums
Extractors
Polishers
Sweepers
Battery powered equipment
Riders (if appropriate)
Propane
Electrical safety
Battery maintenance
Cover course objective:
Properly maintained equipment will:
Operate longer
Operate more effectively
Improve employee morale
We will cover over the next two hours the basics on how to maintain machines.
If you….

2. Take Care of Your Equipment and It Will Take Care of You!
Makes the job easier for the operator
Cleaner facility in less time
Many of facilities have increased in size without an increase in staff
How many of the seminar participants have had the size of facilities increase?
How many have had a corresponding increase in personnel?
Mechanized cleaning is becoming more important to increase worker productivity
To keep good workers, the work environment must improve
For example, use of an autoscrubber is much faster and less physically demanding than swinging a mop.
A machine maintenance program keeps the scrubber and worker productive
A thoughtful PM program encourages the operators to treat the machines with more care; machines will get less abuse.

3. Protect Your Investment
Routine maintenance decreases downtime
Increases safety for employees and customers
Clean floors = Cleaner environment
Motivates employees
Read from slide.
Taking care of equipment can make your job easier.
A cleaner and safer work environment is created for everyone.
Preventative maintenance protects the investment in equipment.
Goal is to maximize uptime
Overall, when equipment works properly, life is good!

4. Equipment Maintenance Profitability Single motor upright vacuum (example)
Life Expectancy =1-2 Years
Broken Belts 1 per week $ Broken Vac Fans 3 per year $37.50
Beater Bars 2 per year $ External Bag 1 per year $28.00
Total $ Data obtained from end user interviews
This example is from the hotel industry; daily use between 2-4 hours per day
Improper equipment maintenance can lead to a poor attitude about equipment in general. If management does not care about machines, employees won’t either. They will ram the machine into walls, pick up boulders, pull the cord from the wall, etc.

5. Equipment Maintenance Profitability Single motor upright vacuum (example)
With 50% better use and care
Life Expectance = 2-4 Years
Broken Belts 2 per month $ Broken Vac Fans 1.5 per year $ Beater Bars 2 per year $ External Bag 1 per year $ Total $ Life Expectancy increases 1 year Machine maintenance cost go down 32%
Regular maintenance will keep the brush clean, the brush chamber clear, bearings clean, and will encourage the operator to pick up large debris rather than try to run the vacuum over it.

6. Vacuuming is the foundation of a good carpet care program.
A properly maintained vacuum results
in better looking carpet, less dusting,
and happy customers.
Read from slide.
85% of all soil in a building is dry and can be vacuumed
It takes 3 times longer to dust a room than to vacuum it
A clean bag and filters increase airflow and helps performance
Adjust brush to the correct level and bristle length

7. Maintenance Tips: Vacuums
Daily
Check bag/clean tank
Check for clogs and blockages
Check brush for wear-no lint
or strings attached
Inspect cord for cuts and frays
Check ground wire
Wipe down with damp cloth
Check bag
Explain that over 75% of problems with vacuums are due to vacuum bags being full and clogs.
Keeping a clean bag improves performance
Demo cleaning a cloth bag on a single motor versus Versamatic bag
Clogs and blockages
Reverse hose
Remove by a broomstick
Check brush
Show brush strips of Versamatic
Show how to check bristle length with straight edge across base
Vacuums with no brush or worn brush do not lift carpet pile or clean as well
Cord damage
Tell story of OSHA fines of Sheraton Hotel in D.C.
Now that OSHA is self funding, they are more aggressive about issuing fines to companies. The Sheraton Hotel in D.C. was fined $50 per vacuum for machines with cords wrapped with duct or electrical tape.
Ground Plug
Explain the proper use of grounding plug
Don’t pull cord from the wall
Cleaning the machine regularly develops a sense of caring for the machine within the employee

8. Vacuums Weekly/Monthly Check and clean/replace filters
Check hoses for cracks and holes
Check cords and handles for damage
Inspect and clean vacuum shoe
Check belts and bearings
Check all gaskets for wear and leakage
Emphasis the importance of a routine maintenance schedule.
Suggestion: one person should be in charge of facilities equipment
Develop an Equipment Manger position
Give him responsibility and authority
Use an illustration on use of duct tape noting that the tape does not seal firmly against the wire ribs on the hose.

9. Don’t keep your customers waiting!
Make quick work of carpet cleaning by regularly
maintaining your extractor.
Read from slide.

10. Maintenance Tips: Extractors
Daily
Inspect cord for cuts and frays
Check recovery dome and tank for
proper seal
Check brush for wear-no lint or strings
attached
Check vacuum shoe for blockages
Check hoses for wear, damage, blockages
Wipe down with a damp cloth
Check cords for damage:
Important if touching a wet carpet!
Check seal:
A proper seal can produce a drier carpet.
Check brush:
Pull extractor brushes out and demonstrate hair and lint removal.
(Opportunity to plug Windsor removable brushes)
Check vacuum shoe:
Look for clogs
Clean with straight edge
Check hoses:
Inspect for wear, damage and blockages for optimum performance.
Extractors with fewer hoses perform better
Extractors with few hoses are easier to maintain

11. Extractors After every use Run one gallon of water through the system
Run vacuum motor at least one minute
Clean solution and recovery tanks
Place brush in storage position
Store with dome off
Read from slide.
Flush system:
Run water ( preferably water with neutralizer-like vinegar) through system
Run vac:
Run at least one minute to dry fans
Clean tanks:
Futuristic creatures grow in extractor tanks that aren’t cleaned
Store brush:
Place in storage position to prevent brush taking a set.
Store with dome off:
A clean and dry tank system

12. Extractors Weekly/Monthly Clean bearings and belt Check gaskets
Check and clean spray jets for
proper spray pattern
Inspect vacuum shoe for damage and clean
Check overall machine
Read from slide.
Cleaning bearings, belts and gaskets:
Enhances performance of extractor
Check internal hoses
Check and clean spray jets:
Soak in water and vinegar
Do not use pins, paper clips, etc.

13. A Little Goes a Long Way….
Spending a few minutes to properly maintain floor
machines and burnishers saves you money and time.
Read from slide.

14. Maintenance Tips: Electric Powered Floor Machines & Burnishers
Daily
Inspect cord for cuts and frays
Check pad, pad driver, and/or brush
Wipe down machine with damp cloth,
remember the wheels!
Store with pad off
Read from slide.
Inspecting cords:
Show Larson lasso
Store with pad removed
Put pad driver on handle

15. Electric Powered Floor Machines & Burnishers
Weekly/Monthly
Check overall performance
Listen for unusual sounds
Check air vents for lint or chemical build up

16. Keep it Simple Get your floors swept clean and safe in record time
by maintaining your sweepers.
Read from slide.

17. Maintenance Tips: Sweepers
Daily
Check for empty debris bin
Check filters-shake often
Check for clogs and blockages at the
large debris door
Check brush for wear-no lint or strings
attached
Inspect and clean brushes
Inspect cable and handle
Clean with damp cloth after each use
Sweepers are a tremendous time saver but they are not meant to pick up brief cases and small children.
Read from slide.

18. Sweepers Weekly/Monthly Check batteries, add water if
necessary after full charge
Check battery connectors
Clean battery compartment
Check belt wear and tension
Check and clean wheels
Inspect and clean filters
Read from slide

19. Battery Powered Equipment
Autoscrubbers
Burnishers
Sweepers
Rider Equipment
As you get into battery operated equipment, emphasis the importance of an Equipment Manager.

20. Maintenance Tips: Battery-Powered Equipment
Daily
Check battery connection and check for full charge
Check pads, pad drivers, and/or brushes
Check squeegee for proper installation and cleanliness
Check for clean wheels
Check battery:
Explain that we will be covering battery maintenance in detail in another section
Check squeegee
Look for proper installation and check for wear
A properly maintained squeegee gives you a cleaner, safer floor.

21. Battery-Powered Equipment
After every use
Run one gallon of water through the system
Run vacuum motor at least one minute
Clean solution and recovery tanks
Thoroughly clean scrub deck and wipe off machine
Remove squeegee and clean
Read from slide.
Like the extractors we went over, these maintenance tips protect your investment and make your job easier.
Run vacuum:
Dries vac fans
Clean tanks:
Use hose to clean both recovery and solution tanks
Remove squeegee:
The part of the machine that eliminates using a mop.

22. Battery-Powered Equipment
Weekly/Monthly
Check batteries for corrosion, leakage, and evidence of overheating
Check battery water level and add water after full charge (If plates are exposed add enough water to cover plates and then charge)
Clean and lube all grease points and chain
Check gaskets
Check squeegee assembly and scrub splash skirt
Inspect and clean grounding chain
Check overall performance
10 minutes a week of simple maintenance of your battery- powered equipment will extend the life and the performance two fold.
Machines with transaxles instead of chains make maintenance easier
Go over bullets on slide

23. Propane Equipment After every use ( before storing)
Disconnect LPG (check with local fire marshal first)
Clean with damp cloth
Read from slide.
Make sure that the gas valve is turned off before the key is turned off the machine. Doing so allows the gas to be used up in the fuel system.

24. Maintenance Tips: Propane Equipment
Daily
Check oil level
Check all filters (air, cooling, and oil)
Check LPG hose and connection
Emphasize the importance of trained mechanics servicing any propane power equipment.
Only show these simple maintenance procedures.
Read from slide.

25. Propane Equipment Weekly/Monthly Check belt tension
Check for loose nuts and bolts
After first 5 hours of operation, change oil and filters; thereafter, every 25 hours
Read from slide.
These operations must be done by a trained service person.

26. Professional Tips: Electrical Safety
Ground plugs
Extension cords
Color, safety yellow for high visibility
Never tape a damaged cord. REPLACE IT
Use separate circuits
Use dry vacuums for dry vacuuming only
Read from slide.
Reemphasize these every important electrical safety procedures.
Rule of thumb for cords: extension cords should be at least the next larger gauge
e.g., 14 gauge extractor cords requires a 12 gauge extension cord

27. Professional Tips: Wet Floors
Reduce slip and fall accidents by
barricading areas with wet floors
Use safe cords
Use blowers
Slips and falls are the number one law suites filed against retailers.
Use all precautions that you are provided to guard against slip and fall injuries.
Read bullets from slide

28. Professional Tips: Battery Maintenance
Wear safety glasses and gloves
Store batteries in a well ventilated room
Only add water after full charge (If plates are exposed add enough water to cover plates and then charge)
Store chargers on shelves off of the floor
Contact dealer for proper battery disposal
Use the battery props to show proper maintenance of batteries
Proper water level
Do not store on concrete
Will discharge battery
Proper charging.
Be sure to use the correct charger for the batteries. To small a charger will take more time

29. Professional Tips: Rider Equipment
Daily
Check brakes
Check steering assembly
Weekly/Monthly
Grease wheels/casters
Check belts and chains
Quarterly
Have an authorized service center perform inspections
Survey the audience on who owns rider equipment and proceed if a majority has interest.

30. Professional Tips: Propane Equipment
Never overfill LPG tank
Always use professional LPG tank fillers
Store LPG tank safely and check local fire ordinance requirements
Read from slide.
Safety first. Stress the importance of knowing the city codes for propane use and storage.

31. Properly maintained equipment...
Increases safety
Protects your investment
Keeps employees and customers happy
Read from slide.
End your seminar with going over the importance of proper and timely equipment maintenance.

32. The Basics Equipment Maintenance and Safety
Questions and Answers and closing.