How to Choose a Portable Carpet Extractor
Seven box extractors live here and differ on five things. The eighth machine, the EDIC Floodbuster, shares the box layout but is a 50 GPM flood pump, not a carpet cleaning extractor.
Start with pressure. You get 100 PSI on the Powr-Flite PFX1080, the Pulsar+ and the Clarke EX20, 220 on the EDIC Galaxy IX models and the Pulsar Gamma, and adjustable 500 on the Galaxy CX models and the Pulsar Delta. The Endeavor reaches 1,100 PSI because it also cleans tile. If you pre-spray, 100 PSI handles traffic lanes and upholstery; if one machine covers every account, the adjustable pump lets you turn it down for fabric and up for restoration.
Then look at recovery. Water lift decides how dry the carpet is when you leave, and it matters more than pressure for dry time. It runs from 125 inches on the Pulsar+ and Gamma to 215 on the Pulsar Delta, with the Galaxy machines at 150 to 210 on dual 3-stage vacuum motors that hold suction at the end of a long hose.
Size the tank to your rooms. Solution tanks run from 10 gallons on the PFX1080 and the smaller Pulsar to 17 on the Galaxy Pro 2700. A bigger tank means fewer trips to the sink on a full floor of offices, and a heavier box for you to roll. Hoses ship at 15, 20 or 25 feet depending on the kit.
Decide on heat now or later. Heat is built in on the Clarke EX20 100SC and 100H, the Pulsar Gamma and Delta and the PFX1080CW. The EDIC Galaxy 2000 and Galaxy Pro 2700 ship heat-ready, so you can run cold today and add the 2,000 W Heat N Run external heater later. Our heated carpet extractors page compares those options and the circuits you need.
Weigh who moves it. Empty weights run from 80 pounds on the Galaxy 2000 SX to 111 on the Galaxy Pro 2700 FX, with the Endeavor at 167 to 174. The PFX1080 units ride on 10-inch stair-climbing wheels, and the Clarke EX20 tips onto front roller wheels so you roll it into the van.
Not sure which commercial portable carpet extractor fits your accounts? Tell us your square footage, carpet type and how often you clean, and we will suggest a machine, backed by our 30-day return policy and free shipping on orders over $400. Reach us through our contact page or at (855) 601-5678.
| Model | PSI | Solution tank | Water lift | Heat | Weight | Starting price |
|---|
| EDIC Galaxy 2000 (SX, IX, CX) | 100, 220 or adjustable 500 | 12 gal | 150 to 190 in | Heat-ready, external heater optional | 80 to 96 lb | From $2,191 |
| Powr-Flite PFX1080 | 100 | 10 gal | 150 in | None | 85 lb | From $2,285 |
| Powr-Flite Pulsar (Pulsar+, Gamma, Delta) | 100, 220 or 50 to 500 | 10 or 15 gal | 125 to 215 in | Built in on Gamma and Delta | See product page | From $2,299 |
| Clarke EX20 (100C, 100SC, 100H) | 100 | 12.5 gal | 140 in | None, 1,100 W or 1,750 W | 87 lb | From $2,694 |
| Powr-Flite PFX1080CW (heated) | 100 | 10 gal | See product page | 1,200 W built in | See product page | From $2,815 |
| EDIC Galaxy Pro 2700 (IX, CX, FX) | 220, adjustable 500 or fixed 500 | 17 gal | 190 to 210 in | Heat-ready, external heater optional | 95 to 111 lb | From $2,849 |
| EDIC Endeavor (carpet, tile, restroom) | Adjustable 75 to 1,100 | 13 gal | 147 in | 2,000 W on heated models | 167 to 174 lb | From $6,899 |
Wands and hand tools live in our carpet cleaning wands and upholstery cleaning tools collections.
Portable or Self-Contained?
A box extractor is the slower tool on open floor. If most of your carpet is corridors, classrooms or open offices, a self-contained carpet extractor cleans in one pass with no hose to drag, and many facilities keep one of each. If your work is mostly vehicle interiors, our auto detailing extractors fit better than a 17-gallon box. Our carpet extractors hub walks you through the whole format choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Portable Carpet Extractors
Which portable carpet extractor is best for a commercial cleaning company?
An adjustable-pressure machine, if one unit has to cover carpet, upholstery and the occasional restoration job: the EDIC Galaxy 2000 CX or Galaxy Pro 2700 CX, or the Powr-Flite Pulsar Delta with the highest water lift here. If your crew mostly cleans pre-sprayed traffic lanes and spots, a 100 PSI PFX1080 or Clarke EX20 gives you the same carpet for less.
How much PSI does a portable carpet extractor need?
100 PSI covers routine carpet and upholstery work when you pre-spray and let the chemistry do its part. Step up to 220 or adjustable 500 PSI for heavy soil, restoration and accounts where you want to dial pressure down for fabric and up for traffic lanes. Most cleaners who run one machine all day buy the adjustable pump.
Water lift or CFM, which matters more on an extractor?
Water lift. CFM measures airflow volume, which matters for dry vacuuming. Water lift measures how hard the motor pulls against a column of water, which is what lifts solution out of the carpet backing. More lift means drier carpet and a quicker return to service. Here it runs from 125 to 215 inches.
Can one person move a portable extractor up stairs?
Yes, with the right wheels, but you will feel it. Empty weights run from 80 pounds on the Galaxy 2000 SX to 111 on the Galaxy Pro 2700 FX, and water adds a little over 8 pounds per gallon, so empty both tanks before a staircase. The PFX1080 units ride on 10-inch stair-climbing wheels for exactly this job.
How long a hose can I run from a box extractor?
Our kits ship with 15, 20 or 25-foot hoses. Every extra foot costs you suction and pressure at the wand, so the longer you run, the more vacuum motor you want: the dual 3-stage Galaxy machines hold up better than single-motor units. If you keep adding hose to cover an open floor, a self-contained walk-behind is usually the better buy.
