Has anyone here used or regularly use a restroom cleaning machine like a Kiavac unit? What are your experiences regarding ROI, quality of cleaning, and load planning & time saving when using these technologies?
I have used the Kiavac unit, personally I don't like it much due to all of the hoses, wands, cables, ect. It can be really cumbersome to use. With the very high price tag associated with it I would expect a better usability from it for the end user.
Does it work well in my opinion? Sure it does, but I also have used the Hilliyard machine and I prefer it to the Kiavac unit in almost every aspect.
The Hilliyard machine for cleaning restrooms is both easy to use an effective. I think that combination is the most important aspect when evaluating RR cleaning units. The cost is cheaper, and employees use it the correct way because there is a small learning curve. I think a Kiavac system can be too slow and not very cost effective. I have experienced in more than one occasion the Hilliyard unit saving time and money.
There are none electrically powered bathroom units available that clean with water pressure, chemical being foamed on. Much simpler, more relilable.
Jimbo
We use the Kaivac 1750. This is a great machine not only for cleaning, but also as a selling tool. Being able to provide a deep restroom or kitchen cleaning, in addition to our daily janitorial service, is what has separated us from our competition and help secured certain customers.
I do agree that the hoses are a pain, but with practice you learn to maneuver around and get the job done quickly.
The cleaning is great. I have some before and after pics if you would like to see them. I do this for every job and email to my customers so they can see the difference.
Thanks for the feedback. I agree Chris, regarding the wrestling match of set-up/tear-down, and I also agree with i-clean that the cleaning quality is great...and an additional opportunity for deep cleaning revenue. I'm checking a couple of other manufacturer's units soon...I'll look at the Hillyard if possible. And jwhite - I also agree that "old school" foam cleaner and a low pressure power wash gets it done.
Can you tell me about what is the cost of the Hilliyard unit. Thanks
I have both the Kaivac and the Hillyard C3 machines. They both have their purpose. For us the Hillyard machine works wonderfully. We have 6 that we use on a daily basis. It is a low pressure self contained battery powered unit that fits right on front of a custodial cart. It also has a spray bottle fill option built right in. You can purchase an optional AC vacuum that attaches but we choose to just squeege the floor off when done. The Kaivac is much more bulky and time consuming but will do a great job for deep cleaning a couple times a year. The fact that you could buy 4 of thr C# machines for the cost of 1 Kaivac makes it very attractive. And, no power cords! Very effective and effecient.
My supplier yesterday made me aware of a unit much like the Hilliyard machine that is made by Clarke. It is relatively new they said, but they sadly did not have on in stock to give me a demo. So I can not speak to its effectiveness. On paper it looks good though.
Differences are:
-corded and not battery; this is due to the fact it has a wet vac built in.
-400 PSI which I think is higher than than the Hillyard machine, I would need to check though.
-no bottle fill station built in. (sounds weird to have, but it is a GREAT feature of the Hillyard machine.)
-I think it comes with a longer hose as well, but I am not sure again on that one.
Has someone used this? I would interested to know how it measures up the the Hilliyard machine..
There is an alternative to the Hillyard machine, same advantages of the Hillyard unit; lbattery powered, low pressure, simple to use, no noise, no cumbersome hoses to wrestle with etc. but unlike the Hillyard unit (and the kaivac unit) it will work with any chemical manufactuters packaging. The system is called the ICS - you can check it out at www.hydro-ics.com
Hello,Seeing all these responses about no-touch and no-touch-type cleaning systems was actually quite gratifying. The system, which was developed by Kaivac more than a decade ago, has had a major impact on restroom cleaning. This is because, depending on the machine selected, it can be so much faster than conventional (old school) cleaning, is more thorough, and leaves restrooms more hygienically clean, compared to traditional restroom cleaning methods (mops, buckets, sprayers, etc.).However, I would like to clarify some issues discussed because I think they are important. I am also very familiar with the Kaivac system and how it compares with the Hillyard machine as well as other no-touch-type cleaning systems. For instance:Hoses. A couple of people said they have problems using the long (fifty-foot) hoses found on Kaivac systems. First, the machine has long hoses to give the operator the ability to store the machine outside while in use, giving him or her greater flexibility and freedom of movement and allowing for greater efficiency using the equipment. This is particularly useful in a large restroom. As to wrapping and unwrapping the hoses, this is typically corrected with a little training and practice. Wet/vac system. The Kaivac no-touch cleaning system comes complete with a wet/vac system. This is an option on the Hillyard and some other systems. Without the wet/vac system, the user must squeegee soiled water across the floor -- assuming there even is a drain. This can defeat the whole purpose of no-touch cleaning, which is to totally remove soils and contaminants from the restroom. Additionally, it can be time consuming. (It should also be noted that this same system, which is powered by a 3-stage vacuum motor on the Kaivac, enables the machine to be converted to a CRI-approved carpet extractor).Pressure. Some people did mention that the Hillyard unit is a “low pressure” system. I actually think this is what separates the men from the boys, the Kaivac system from the Hillyard system. The low pressure is fine for a surface-level washing of tiles, floors, and other areas in a restroom, especially in light soil conditions. However, some Kaivac systems have pressure ranging up to 500 psi with flow rates of as much as one gallon per minute. This added pressure allows the machine to reach deep into tile pores, grout, and restroom surfaces loosening and removing deeply embedded soils and contaminants. This results in much more through, hygienic cleaning, and there is a big difference between surface-level washing and hygienically cleaning restrooms. In fact, their 500 psi systems have been confirmed as sanitizing devices.Angelo Poneris
UPDATE: Well, I've seen a couple of units now - including the Hillyard & Kiavac, and I'm still not convinced that they're ROI-friendly. IMHO a simple foamer unit attached to a garden hose plus a wet/dry vac with moss squeegee produces same quality / quantity of result.
I actually use several different models of the Kaivac at work, including the compact "kaiWhiz." I really like the regular models of the Kaivac, and if the units are maintained, they are hard workers. I really do not care for the "KaiWhiz" because the design could be improved. It has a plexiglass screw off door on the SIDE of its water tank, which has long since cracked and been permanently glued in, it constantly loses its prime which requires hooking the vacuum up to this little hollow nub, turning the vacuum on, then hitting a prime switch while depressing the spray trigger. Too much to do every 20 minutes or every time you unplug it to move to another restroom.
The original Kaivacs are great. I prefer the tall model to the shorter model (think stand up freezer versus trunk style freezer), because it is balanced better and is less like trying to push a drunk baby elephant in a shopping cart. At the company I work for, we have all models of the Kaivac, and my only complaints are those listed - with one exception. The Kaivac rubber blades on the vacuum wand will be torn apart if you have to regularily clean a floor that is purposely textured rough to prevent slips and falls. This style of floor is difficult to keep clean with the kaivac unless you scrub in between spraying with a deck brush.
However, we use the Kaiblooey in all our machines, and I am curious to know if the KaiPOW would be a better choice.
Best Wishes!
Check out Hillyard's No touch machines - I was looking at those, and I am tempted to suggest to my company to look into those when the kaivacs are at the age of retirement. :)
RE: Still not convinced - we do not use the Kaivacs for all of our restroom cleaning - partially because the chemical eats the glues and paints on walls. It is really great for tile floors, walls, stalls, toilets, urinals, etc., because you can adjust the level of pressure and the width of the spray stream. It also really depends on lazy your crew is - if they do a quick spray and suck, it's not going to do much. If they actually follow the instructions and training, the floors and fixtures can be amazing. I know kaiblooey on a mirror and faucet dry completely clear, and I have managed to "spray off" a bizarre combination of bodily expulsions from tile walls, urinals, floors, etc., with the Kaivac. On the highest, thinnest stream, I have also been able to completely clean floor tile grout to look almost new if not new at accounts with really grimy tile.
We have experimented with all 3 machines and agree that ICS is the best choice for every day maintenance work. The high pressure Kaivac machine is best suited for restorative cleaning - but it is cumbersome to set up and maneuver. ICS also has the best ROI based on its lower initial price and the fact that the user is not locked into a particular source for cleaning chemicals.
HYDRO (the company that makes dilution systems) makes a battery operated low pressure cart that is really worth seeing. Go to their website and see the video.
http://www.hydro-ics.com/en/video/ics8900_320x240.wmv