Originally posted – March issue/2012
How to Keep Your IPSO Washer-Extractors Running Efficiently
Your car always seems to run better when it’s clean. The same holds true for your IPSO washer-extractors. A clean, well-maintained machine shows your customers that you care about your store. With a few hours set aside each week for preventative maintenance, your machines will continue to run at maximum efficiency.
Many preventative maintenance tasks can be easily accomplished with some practice. It is important to get to know your machines and understand how they work. Once you understand what they are supposed to look and sound like, it’s easy to keep them that way – all it takes is a small time commitment.
One of the most important preventative maintenance tasks an owner can complete daily is a thorough cleaning of the machines. This doesn’t just mean that you need to clean the inside – the outside is important, too. Make sure to wipe the cabinet with a stainless steel cleaner. If you don’t do this daily, stains will become embedded and be almost impossible to remove. And who wants to wash their clothes in a dirty machine?
Another area of the machine that needs to be cleaned daily is the soap dispenser. You will need to scrub the soap box. If this is not done on a regular basis, the soap can harden and will become extremely difficult to remove. Clean soap dispensers help add to the clean appearance of your store.
Not all preventative maintenance revolves around the cleanliness of your machines. On a weekly basis, you should be monitoring your washers’ fill and drain times. Keep a measure of how long it takes a normal load to fill and drain. This will vary between locations due to water pressure differences; however, a good rule of thumb is that if it takes more than 30 seconds to drain, you have a problem.
Examine the drain, but use caution since there may be something sharp clogging it. If nothing is stuck in the drain, it’s time to examine the inlet screens and valves. Check to see if the inlet hose or inlet valve screens are clogged, or if the valves are defective.
These simple checks can save you from receiving an outrageous water bill at the end of the month. And if that’s not enough motivation to check the drains, realize that almost 90 percent of motor failure is related to a draining issue. When the water is not properly drained, the motor works harder, burning it out quicker than normal.
Washer-extractors with frequency inverter drives, such as the IPSO IWF series, require monthly maintenance to ensure the drives are properly functioning. The cooling fans that support the drives need to be working effectively to keep the electronic components of the machine cool, preventing the components from failing. To do this, you must remove the top of the bulkhead and ensure the fan is turning. An important note: the machine will operate even if the fans are turned off, so it is important to check the fans on at least a monthly basis.
An easy preventative maintenance task that many owners seem to forget about is the rotation of the door glass and gasket. To do this, simply put one hand on each side of the door glass and rotate it. This will ensure that all areas of the gasket are receiving equal pressure and wearing evenly. It also gives the surfaces a chance to breathe and retain their natural shape.
The last monthly check you should do is on the machines’ hoses. Make sure there are no bubbles, abrasions or leaks, which will help you to avoid the inconvenience and cost of water leakage.
If these fairly simple maintenance tasks and checks are done, your machines will continue running properly. Of course, to learn even more about your machines, it is extremely beneficial to take part in the educational seminars and courses that are offered regularly by the industry’s leading distributors and manufacturers.
Tracy Mummert is IPSO’s regional service manager for the Southeast Region. He can be reached at [email protected] or (803) 627-5678.
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