Choosing a Powered Floor Sweeper

Floor cleaning is one of those tasks that needs to be done, and usually everyone wants to get through as quickly and easily as possible. Over the years various machines have been invented to reduce the manual labour required for floor cleaning and one of these is a powered sweeper, which has evolved into a sophisticated machine saving time and manpower The powered sweeper imitates the action of manual sweeping, but mechanically using a system of brushes. There is usually one disc brush (two on larger machines) mounted at the front corner(s) of the machine, which sweeps the dirt back. The debris is then swept by the main cylindrical brush at the rear of the sweeper back into a collection vessel, for later disposal. Floor sweepers are sophisticated machines and there are different styles and variations, with a variety of sizes depending on the floor area to be cleaned. A small industrial unit for example would only require a small pedestrian operated machine, whereas a large warehouse may need a large ride on sweeper. The power source may be rechargeable battery or engine and there are benefits to both types. A diesel or petrol engine will work as long as there is fuel in the tank, however, there are issues regarding ventilation inside a building due to the exhaust gasses; the battery does need regular recharging and its work cycle is dependent on the conditions and work it does. The type of brush is also variable, with stiffer, rougher bristles most suited to deal with heavy adherent debris and softer bristles used for lighter dirt or dust. There are other issues such as self levelling brushes to ensure good contact with the floor and efficient filtration to reduce dust being returned to the workspace.

Powered floor sweepers – walk behind or ride-on?

There are two broad categories of sweeper, the pedestrian or walk behind version and the ride-on. They both use a similar system of brushes to clean the floor by using one (sometimes two on larger sweepers) at the front to sweep the dirt back into the machine where it is removed by the main brush, mounted horizontally, into a collection vessel, for later disposal. The ride-on sweeper has a larger sweep area and is ideally used to clean large floor areas and with different options of motive power and controls it offers a sophisticated answer to floor cleaning problems

Things to consider about powered floor sweepers

Power Sweepers are available in rechargeable battery or diesel/petrol powered forms. They each have their advantages. An engine powered sweeper will operate as long as there is fuel in the tank but, there are issues concerning noise and the exhaust gasses created. A battery driven model is quieter but does require regular recharging and its performance is restricted to the charge in the battery. Brushes The type of brush is determined by the type of work the sweeper is asked to do. Heavier, more adherent dirt requires stiffer bristles than lighter dust where thinner, more flexible bristles are required. Build Quality A ride-on sweeper often works in an industrial environment and should therefore be robustly constructed, ideally with a steel frame to make it shock-proof. Ergonomics The design of the sweeper is important to ensure that it reduces the possibility of operator fatigue. Options There are many extras available which can make the cleaning process better, such as self levelling brushes, filtration systems, programmable settings etc. Please view our powered sweepers here then if you need help to work out what you need, the experts at B&G have over 30 years experience in this field and we’re happy to offer advice. Just give us a call.

You can also hire a powered floor sweeper from B&G. Click the link for details and prices.