Equipment Washer Buyers’ Guide

1. Does the manufacturer of the washer you are considering make other related commercial products for other industrial applications? How much experience do they have in making this type of equipment?
   
2. Does the company make more than one model? Why do some companies make more than one model?
   
3. Is technical information about the commercial equipment printed and ready for your review? How much information can you get about the product on the Internet? Why does one company have so much information and others so little?
   
4. What material is the wash chamber made of - stainless steel, plastic, or aluminum? It would be quite rare to see or purchase a commercial dishwasher or laundry unit that was not stainless steel.
   
5. Do the spray arms rotate or are they fixed? When was the last time you saw or purchased commercial washing equipment that had the majority of the spray arms fixed in one location, not oscillating?
   
6. What material are the spray arms made of - stainless steel or plastic? At any time have you seen or purchased commercial washing equipment that used plastic or hose for the spray arms?
   
7. What material is used to hold the spray nozzles - stainless steel or plastic? Have you ever seen or purchased commercial washing equipment that used plastic pipe or hoses to support and hold the spray nozzles?
   
8. Does the stated usage rate of cleaning solutions make sense? Would you base your purchase of a commercial washer on the stated number of washes per gallon of cleaner as compared to the actual effectiveness of the washer?
   
9. How many wheelchairs or other items does the manufacturer claim you can wash at one time? Do items stacked on top of each other or squeezed together actually get cleaned? Would you stack two bowls, one directly on top of the other, in your dishwasher and expect them to be cleaned?
   
10. Is the washer available on a free trial basis? If it is, why? There must be reasons why any company would have extra units costing over $7,500.00 sitting in inventory available for free.

Your primary concern should be cleaning efficiency. Weight of the machine has little to do with cleaning ability. The lightest machines on the market are made of aluminum. Aluminum can not withstand the pH needed to properly clean equipment. What is important, related to weight, may be your need to relocate the equipment. The facts are simple: the bigger the wheels, the easier the washer will move. On smooth flooring, with 10 lbs. of force, Aqua Phase models can easily be moved and relocated. Because Aqua Phase washers move so easily, the rear caster wheels are equipped with brakes.

A good cleaner is essential for removing body oils, proteins, and carbohydrates on medical equipment. The proper pH of the water is a key element for doing this. Some units on the market are sold with claims of 300 washes per gallon of cleaner. This could be done with Aqua Phase as well; however, at this high level of dilution (1 part to 1650) an effective pH level for cleaning will not be achieved. In more practical terms, this dilution rate is equal to putting less than one teaspoon of soap in a typical kitchen sink to do your dishes. Washing an item two or three times, or hand wiping the item after a wash cycle, in order to get it clean is not efficient. When washers are set up at laundry facilities, the water is usually tested using a titrate test. This testing ensures that the proper amount of detergent is being injected. This test serves two purposes: 1) it prevents you from using too much detergent and 2) it ensures that you are using enough detergent so you don’t have to wash the item again. At Aqua Phase we have calculated the proper amount of cleaner needed to achieve the proper pH that will clean your equipment during a wash cycle.

Folded wheelchairs are very similar to dishes that have been stacked, one on top of the other, in a dishwasher. When you collapse a wheelchair you have vinyl against vinyl. On a wheelchair, the seat, the back ,and the arms have the highest level of contamination. The middle of the chair is not going to get cleaned if it is collapsed. If you are not sure, try a "peanut butter test". Put peanut butter on the collapsed chair(s) and see how much will remain untouched after washing. If you need to wash several chairs, in a fixed time frame, the Aqua Phase 4000 Models can wash three chairs, un-collapsed, during one cycle. These models were designed for your larger washing requirements.

Consider this statement, "Buyer Beware!" when you read or hear the offer of a "free trial". You should not feel obligated to purchase. If an item is free and it does not work, it is not free in the short or long term. Trials should only be used to evaluate the equipment. Some may be "free", some may be rented. At Aqua Phase we are certain our units will out clean any other product on the market. If you have a trial unit now from some other company, please take the AQUA PHASE challenge.