Product overview
The Razorback Flood Mate Auto is a flood pumper. It is built for one job: lifting standing water out of a building fast and pumping it away continuously, without stopping to empty a tank.
It is a suction-only machine. There is no solution tank, no solution pump and no heater, so it does not spray, rinse or clean carpet. On a water damage job it works alongside your extractor and your sub-surface tools, not instead of them.
The machine carries a 78 litre recovery tank and an automatic submersible pump-out rated at 195 litres per minute, so on a large loss the tank acts as a buffer rather than a limit.
Important — what this machine does not do
The Flood Mate Auto has no solution tank, no solution pump and no heater. It cannot apply chemical, rinse carpet or perform hot water extraction. If you need a machine that cleans as well as recovers, look at the Razorback extractor range instead. If you want the same job done with more airflow, see the Razorback Floodmaxx Auto.
Who it suits
- Restoration contractors who already own an extractor and want a dedicated flood pumper for the water removal phase.
- Operators working losses where the volume of water, not the cleaning, is the problem.
- Anyone who is tired of stopping every few minutes to empty a waste tank.
Specifications
| Model | Flood Mate Auto (machine only) |
| Machine type | Flood pumper — suction only, no cleaning function |
| Vacuum motors | 2 x 5.7 inch two-stage tangential, 1100 W (current build) |
| Airflow | Approximately 185 CFM. Calculated from vacuum motor free airflow, not measured at the machine. |
| Recovery tank | 78 litres |
| Solution tank | None |
| Solution pump | None |
| Heater | None |
| Automatic pump-out | Stainless steel submersible, rated 195 litres per minute |
| Discharge hose | Layflat, or standard vacuum hose with extra fittings |
| Vacuum plumbing | 50 mm (2 inch) |
| Power | Single 10 amp cord |
| Dimensions | 56 cm W x 75 cm L x 110 cm H |
| Weight | 40 kg |
| Lid | Heavy-duty flip-top lid or clear perspex dome |
| Warranty — body | Lifetime |
| Warranty — defects and workmanship | 2 years |
| Warranty — labour | 2 years |
Power supply
The Flood Mate Auto runs from a single 10 amp outlet. That is a real advantage on residential losses, where power is often limited and half the house may be off at the switchboard. The larger Floodmaxx Auto needs two separate circuits, so if site power is the constraint, the Flood Mate is the machine that will run.
Vacuum motors and replacements
Machines built currently are fitted with the 5.7 inch two-stage tangential 1100 W motor. Earlier machines were fitted with the Ametek 119625-00 5.7 inch two-stage tangential 1200 W motor.
The two are a straight swap in either direction, so an older machine can take the current motor and a current machine can take the earlier one. Fit a new motor gasket whenever a motor is replaced, and check the mounting spring at the same time.
Key features
- 50 mm (2 inch) vacuum plumbing from the hose connection port through to the vacuum collection chamber, which reduces restriction and keeps airflow up where it matters.
- Lint catcher fitted as standard. The basket filter keeps lint and debris out of the vacuum system, protecting the motors and making the machine easier to clean out at the end of a job.
- Automatic pump-out using a stainless steel submersible pump rated at 195 litres per minute, so the machine discharges while it recovers instead of stopping to empty.
- Discharge through layflat or standard vacuum hose. Layflat rolls up small and suits long runs to a drain or kerb; standard vacuum hose needs extra fittings.
- Fibreglass body with a choice of heavy-duty flip-top lid or clear perspex dome.
Operating advice
- Plan the discharge before you start. The pump-out only earns its keep if there is somewhere legal and practical to send the water. Run the layflat out to the discharge point before the first pass, not after the tank fills.
- Keep the lint basket in the machine. Flood water carries carpet fibre, grit and building debris. The basket is what stands between that and the vacuum motors.
- Control foam. Detergent residue in the carpet will foam in the recovery tank. Foam suspends debris and can carry water past the float shut-off and into a motor. Use a defoamer as soon as foam appears.
- Do not keep running the vacuums once the float shut-off has closed. That is how water gets drawn into a motor, and it is not a warranty failure.
- Dispose of recovered water lawfully. Category 2 and 3 water carries obligations in most council areas. Sewer, not stormwater.
Maintenance
- Empty and rinse the recovery tank at the end of every job, and periodically clean it with an antimicrobial cleaner. Flood water is not clean water.
- Clear the lint basket daily and check the float shut-off moves freely.
- After cleaning the tank, run the vacuum motors for about five minutes to dry moisture from around the motor bearings. This makes a real difference to motor life.
- Inspect hoses, cuffs and gaskets for splits. A leaking cuff costs lift on every pass.
- Have the machine electrically tested and tagged every three to six months. It works on wet floors with the lead lying in water.
Vacuum motor damage — what is and is not covered
Water or foam ingress damage to the vacuum motors is not covered by warranty. It is the most common warranty argument in this industry, so here is how it happens and how to avoid it.
The shut-off float in the recovery tank is a level device. It stops water. It does not stop foam. Detergent residue lifted out of a carpet will foam in the tank, and foam carries plenty of moisture without having the density to lift the float. The float stays where it is, the foam goes through, and moisture reaches the motor.
On a flood pumper this matters more than on an extractor. An extractor meters its own work — it runs out of solution before the recovery tank fills. A flood pumper draws from the building, so there is no natural limit and the float is the only protection the motors have. Watch the tank, not the clock.
How to avoid it
- Use a defoamer at the first sign of foam, not once the tank is full of it. Powdered defoamer is the cheapest insurance on the machine.
- Expect foam on any loss where the carpet has been cleaned or shampooed before, and on grey water.
- Keep the lint basket in the machine and clear it regularly. Flood water carries fibre, grit and building debris.
- Stop the vacuums as soon as the float closes. Running on after shut-off draws water straight into a motor.
- After cleaning the tank, run the motors dry for about five minutes to clear moisture from around the bearings.
Warranty
- Fibreglass body: lifetime to the original purchaser against manufacturing defect.
- Assembly, components, parts and labour: 2 years.
- Pump, pump seals and vacuum motors: 2 years.
- Not covered: wear items including brushes, gaskets, hoses, jets and filters; and water or foam ingress damage to vacuum motors, as described above.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Flood Mate Auto clean carpet?
No. It has no solution tank, no pump and no heater, so it cannot apply or rinse. It recovers water only. Cleaning is done with an extractor.
What is the difference between the Flood Mate Auto and the Floodmaxx Auto?
Both are flood pumpers with a 78 litre tank and the same 195 litre per minute pump-out. The Floodmaxx runs larger 6.6 inch 1600 W motors for considerably more airflow, and needs two separate 10 amp circuits. The Flood Mate runs 5.7 inch motors on a single 10 amp cord.
Does 78 litres mean I have to stop at 78 litres?
No. The tank is a buffer, not the limit. With the automatic pump-out running and a discharge line laid out, the machine keeps recovering and discharging continuously. The pump is rated at 195 litres per minute.
What hose does the pump-out use?
Layflat discharge hose is the usual choice because it rolls up small and handles long runs. Standard vacuum hose can be used with extra fittings. Layflat ducting is available separately.
Can I still get vacuum motors for it?
Yes. Both the current 1100 W motor and the earlier 1200 W Ametek are stocked, and they interchange.
Why is the airflow figure described as calculated?
Because it is. The figure comes from the vacuum motor manufacturer's free airflow rating, doubled for two motors. Real airflow at the end of a hose is always lower, and we would rather publish the basis of the number than quote it as though it were measured at the cuff.
Related products
- Razorback Floodmaxx Auto — the higher-airflow machine in the same family
- Layflat ducting for the pump-out discharge
- Water Claw Large Deluxe flood extraction tool and the SOS Pro sub-surface extraction tool
- Clear perspex dome or heavy-duty flip-top lid
- Dri-Eaz HVE 3000 Flood Pumper — the imported alternative, with a narrow profile and large rear wheels for stairs
- Everything else in flood extraction
Not sure whether the Flood Mate Auto or the Floodmaxx Auto suits the work you do, or whether site power will run either of them? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before you order and we will work through it with you.
