Powr-Flite® Pulsar Carpet Extractor

Clean carpet that stays damp until noon is a vacuum problem, not a soap problem. The Powr-Flite Pulsar is a portable box extractor built around a vacuum motor made for wet pickup, with 133 CFM of airflow on every model and up to 215 in of waterlift on the dual vacuum Delta. More water comes back out of the carpet, so offices, hallways and classrooms dry sooner and the crew can lock up on time.

The family comes in five versions. Pick the pump first: 100 PSI cold (Pulsar+), 220 PSI heated (Gamma) or adjustable 50 to 500 PSI heated (Delta). Then pick the tank: 15 gallon or 10 gallon. Every Pulsar ships with a 20 ft hose and its power cord. The wand is sold separately, more on that below.

Pulsar+ (100 PSI, cold). For in-house crews doing regular maintenance extraction on office and school carpet. It runs on one ordinary 15 amp outlet and costs the least. There's no heater, so the water is only as warm as what you put in the tank, and it cools as you work.

Gamma and Gamma+ (220 PSI, heated). The middle ground for most commercial carpet. The heater keeps the solution warm through the job, which helps on greasy traffic lanes and entrance mats. It needs two 15 amp outlets on separate circuits, which most buildings have.

Delta and Delta+ (50 to 500 PSI, heated, dual vacuum). For carpet cleaning businesses and heavy soil: restaurants, lobbies, deep restorative cleans. You turn the pressure down for upholstery and up for high pressure wands, and the second vacuum motor pulls noticeably more water back out. The catch is power: it needs two separate 20 amp circuits, and its 20 amp plugs only fit 20 amp outlets. Check the building before you buy.

15 gallon or 10 gallon? Take the 15 gallon unless the 4 in of extra height or a few extra pounds really matter, say for a low van shelf or a tight closet. The bigger tank means fewer trips to the sink. And today it's also the cheaper one: the 10 gallon Gamma costs $181 more than the Gamma+, and the 10 gallon Delta costs $181 more than the Delta+. Yes, really.

Not sure which one fits your work? Send us your square footage, carpet type and how often you clean, or call (855) 601-5678, and we'll tell you which Pulsar fits, including when the answer is a different machine.

Every Pulsar includes the machine, a 20 ft x 1-1/2 in vacuum and solution hose and a 25 ft power cord setup (two cords on the dual circuit Gamma and Delta). Powr-Flite does not include a wand, because most carpet cleaners already own the one they like.

If you need one, the rule is simple: the wand or tool has to be rated at or above the pressure you'll run. A 200 PSI wand is fine on the 100 PSI Pulsar+, but not on a Gamma running 220 PSI or a Delta turned up to 500. We stock the four Powr-Flite lists for the Pulsar on our Powr-Flite Pulsar carpet wand page:

• 1 Jet, 200 PSI (PFX-KIT1): for the Pulsar+ only, $398.92.

• 1 Jet, 500 PSI (PFX-KIT2): rated for every Pulsar, $454.65.

• 2 Jet, 500 PSI (PFX-KIT3): for the Gamma and Delta, $518.

• Wonder Wand (WW1000-2): 2 jet, 1,000 PSI, rolls on glide rollers, $1,097.79.

Need a stair tool (AA192, 6 in head), a detailer tool (AA161, 3-1/2 in head) or a 4 in upholstery tool (AA144DC or AA176)? Message us or call (855) 601-5678 and we'll ship it with your extractor.

If you clean carpet in your own building, I'd start with the Gamma+. It's heated, it runs on regular 15 amp outlets, the 15 gallon tank covers a good stretch of carpet between refills, and it costs less than the 10 gallon Gamma.

The Delta+ is the one I'd pick for a carpet cleaning business. Dry time is what clients notice, and its dual vacuum is the biggest upgrade in the lineup. Just be honest about where you work. In older buildings and many client sites, finding two separate 20 amp circuits near the job can be a hunt. If that's your week, the Gamma+ will cause you fewer headaches.

Two more things before you order. Budget for a wand if you don't have one. And these are 136 to 170 lb machines. The big 12 in rear wheels and the stair-assist design help on steps, and the loading wheels on the handle help into a van, but plan on two people or a ramp.

• A vacuum motor made for wet pickup. Powr-Flite uses sealed bearings, relocated cooling fan protection and a secondary bypass to keep moisture out of the motor.

• Longer motor brush life. Powr-Flite rates its curved "Eternity" brushes at 1,500+ hours, about three times a standard brush.

• 133 CFM on every model. Up to 215 in of waterlift on the dual vacuum Delta for faster dry times.

• Heated or cold. Single element heater on the Gamma, dual element on the Delta, none on the Pulsar+.

• Controls on top. Pump, vacuum and heater switches within reach, no bending down to the floor.

• Clamshell body and rear service panel. Open it up and reach the pump and internal parts quickly.

• Moves where you need it. 12 in rear wheels, a stair-assist design and loading wheels on the handle.

• Everything rides on board. Storage for the wand, hose and power cords.

A good fit: carpet cleaning contractors, janitorial companies and in-house crews in offices, schools, churches, hotels, clinics and restaurants who need a portable extractor that rolls between rooms, goes up stairs and fits in a van or closet.

Not the best fit: spot cleaning only (a small spotter is quicker to grab and costs much less), or large open carpet cleaned on a tight schedule, where a self-contained walk-behind extractor that scrubs and picks up in one pass covers more ground per hour.

Mostly spots, stairs and small rooms? The Powr-Flite Photon spotter is a 3.5 gallon portable unit for $850.

Want a simpler 10 gallon box extractor? The Powr-Flite PFX1080 is a non-heated 100 PSI extractor for $2,285.

Large open carpet, one operator? The Powr-Flite Prowler is a 9 gallon self-contained extractor for $2,479.

Two vacuum motors in a smaller machine? Every Sandia Sniper 12-gallon runs two vacuum motors (up to 205 in of waterlift, per Sandia), with heat as an option, in a 12-gallon body. The 200 PSI Sniper starts at $3,192, the 300 PSI Sniper at $3,298 and the adjustable 500 PSI Sniper at $3,658. Each cord needs its own 20 amp circuit, and like the Pulsar it ships without a wand.

Compare every option in our carpet extractors collection, or read Should You Rent or Buy a Commercial Carpet Extractor?

Filling. Powr-Flite recommends tap water at 120 to 135°F with a carpet chemical mixed to its label. Never run water hotter than 140°F through the pump, since it can damage the seals, and don't use citrus (d-limonene) cleaners or chemicals with abrasives.

Power. Twist each cord into the back of the machine to lock it, then plug each one into its own grounded circuit: one 15 amp on the Pulsar+, two separate 15 amp on the Gamma, two separate 20 amp on the Delta.

Starting up. Connect the hose and wand, switch on the vacuum, then the heater (heated models), then the pump. Squeeze the wand trigger until water flows with no air. On heated models, give the heater 3 to 5 minutes to warm up. On the Delta, set the pressure with the adjustment knob for the job.

Foam. If foam or water comes out of the exhaust, switch off right away, empty and rinse the recovery tank and add defoamer before you continue.

End of the day. Empty and rinse both tanks (use a different pail for filling than for dumping), clean the solution tank strainer, flush the solution system with clear water (a white vinegar rinse helps with hard water), then run the vacuum for 3 minutes with the lid open. Store it indoors, tanks empty and lids open, never in freezing temperatures.

New to extraction? Our step-by-step guide on how to use a carpet extractor covers pre-spray, passes and dry time.

Powr-Flite is part of Tacony Corporation, so parts are easy to get and warranty service runs through Tacony's technical service team. Powr-Flite backs every Pulsar with 2 years parts, 1 year labor and 10 years on the housing (the rotationally molded parts), with labor done by an authorized Powr-Flite service center. Register it within 30 days of purchase on Powr-Flite's warranty page to activate the coverage.

We're an authorized Powr-Flite retailer, so that warranty comes with every machine. Found a lower price? Call or message us and we'll beat it.