Questions to Ask a Floor Scrubber Dealer Before You Sign
The questions to ask a floor scrubber dealer about fit, runtime, warranty, service, parts, training, and price, with what good and evasive answers sound like.
Key takeaways
- Ask about real runtime, overall width, and productivity on your floor, not brochure figures.
- Service response time, local parts stock, and loaner availability matter as much as the machine.
- Get warranty terms in writing, separately for the machine, motors, and batteries.
- Ask for an itemized quote and an annual wear parts estimate so you can compare dealers fairly.
The most important questions to ask a floor scrubber dealer are: what runtime and productivity will this machine deliver on my floor at my settings, what is its overall width with the squeegee, what exactly does the warranty cover for motors and batteries, how fast can a technician get here, and what will wear parts cost per year.
A good dealer welcomes these questions because they prevent a bad fit. An evasive answer is information too. Print this page, bring your floor measurements and cleaning window (see floor scrubber size by square footage), and write down every answer. Comparing dealers later is much easier when the answers are on paper.
Before the meeting: what to bring
- Cleanable square footage per shift and your productive cleaning window
- Floor types and the worst soil you deal with
- Narrowest door, narrowest aisle, elevator size, steepest ramp
- Where the machine will be stored, charged, filled, and emptied
- Number of operators and how often they change
- Your budget range and whether you prefer to buy, lease, or rent (see rent, lease, or buy)
Fit and performance
1. What practical productivity should I expect on my floor, and what efficiency factor are you using? Good answer: a number well below the brochure figure, with the assumption explained. Evasive: repeating the theoretical sq ft per hour.
2. What is the overall width with the squeegee mounted, and the minimum aisle for a 180 degree turn? Good answer: exact figures, plus an offer to measure on site. This decides fit more than path width.
3. What runtime will I get at medium down pressure with the brush or pad I will actually use? Good answer: a range under realistic conditions. Evasive: "up to" figures only. Check against the battery runtime calculator.
4. Will you demo on my worst floor, with my operator, for at least one full tank? Good answer: yes, and they ask about your floor before choosing pads. A dealer who only wants to demo on a clean showroom floor is hiding something.
5. Which deck type do you recommend for my floor, and why? Good answer: a reason tied to your floor and soil, such as cylindrical for grout, disc for finished VCT. See disc vs cylindrical.
6. What pads or brushes will you start me with, and which would you avoid on my floor? Good answer: specific recommendations and cautions, especially for finished, polished, or coated floors.
7. Can it scrub (not just climb) my steepest ramp? Scrubbing gradeability is often lower than transport gradeability.
Batteries and charging
8. Which battery chemistry is included, at what voltage and amp-hours, and at what discharge rate is capacity rated?
9. Is the charger included and matched to that chemistry? A mismatched charger is one of the fastest ways to shorten battery life.
10. Can I opportunity charge this battery during breaks without harming it? Generally fine for lithium, generally not recommended for lead-acid.
11. If flooded lead-acid, is a single-point or automatic watering system available? Watering is the most skipped maintenance task. Automation pays for itself if crews change often.
12. What does it cost to replace the batteries, and how long should they last at my usage? Good answer: a range in cycles or years for your shift pattern.
Warranty
13. What are the warranty terms for the machine, the major motors, and the batteries, separately? Machine, motor, and battery warranties are often different lengths, and batteries may be prorated.
14. What voids the warranty? Common exclusions: wrong charger, unwatered batteries, wrong chemicals, operator damage. Ask for them in writing.
15. Who performs warranty work, and is labor and travel covered? Some warranties cover parts only, and travel charges for on-site service add up.
Service and parts
16. Where is your nearest service technician, and what is your typical response time? Good answer: a specific location and a realistic time, such as next business day.
17. Do you stock common parts locally (blades, brushes, pads, filters, vacuum motors)? If parts ship from a distant warehouse, a torn squeegee becomes a lost night.
18. Do you provide a loaner when the machine is in the shop? Good answer: yes, or a rental at a reduced rate. This is worth more than a small price discount.
19. What does a planned maintenance contract include, how often, and at what cost? Compare against the preventive maintenance schedule.
20. Can you give me an annual estimate for wear parts at my hours? Pads, brushes, squeegee blades, and filters. This feeds your total cost of ownership.
21. How long will parts be available for this model? Matters especially for older stock or demo units.
Training and operation
22. What operator training is included, for how many people, and can you return for new hires? High-turnover sites should ask for repeat training. See operator training.
23. Can settings be locked so operators cannot run maximum pressure and flow all night? Locked presets protect floors, extend runtime, and reduce chemical waste.
24. What chemicals do you recommend, and are they compatible with the machine and my floor? Ask whether products are certified to standards like Green Seal or UL ECOLOGO if your facility requires it. Wrong chemicals can foam, damage seals, or leave residue.
25. What does the daily maintenance routine look like, and how long does it take? Good answer: a short, tool-free routine. See the daily maintenance checklist.
Price and paperwork
26. Is this quote itemized, including batteries, charger, first pads or brushes, delivery, setup, and training?
27. Are there recurring fees for telematics, software, or connectivity?
28. What are the payment, lease, and trade-in options?
29. Is there a demo or ex-rental unit with warranty available at a lower price? See used and refurbished floor scrubbers.
30. If the machine does not perform as promised in the first 30 days, what happens? Good answer: a clear remedy, such as adjustment, swap to a different model, or return terms in writing.
Dealer comparison scorecard
After meeting two or three dealers, score each one from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). This Scrubber Guide scorecard weights the factors that most often cause regret in the first year.
| Factor | Weight | Dealer A | Dealer B | Dealer C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honest, specific answers on runtime and productivity | 20 | |||
| On-site demo quality | 15 | |||
| Service response time and local technician | 20 | |||
| Local parts stock and loaner policy | 15 | |||
| Warranty clarity and coverage | 10 | |||
| Training, including repeat training | 10 | |||
| Itemized, comparable pricing | 10 |
Weighted score = sum of (weight x rating) / 5, out of 100. A dealer scoring below 3 on service response is a risk even with the lowest price, because a machine that waits two weeks for a part costs those nights in mop labor.
What the answers usually reveal
- Dealers who quote theoretical productivity and "up to" runtime are often selling a class larger than you need, or a battery smaller than you need.
- Dealers who avoid the demo on your floor may know their machine struggles with grout, ramps, or tight aisles.
- Dealers with no loaner policy and remote parts can turn a cheap machine into an expensive one.
- Dealers who ask you questions about floors, operators, and charging access are usually the ones who will still be helpful after the sale.
Once you have answers, bring them into the scoring rubric in how to choose a floor scrubber.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask before buying a floor scrubber?
Ask about practical productivity on your floor, overall width with squeegee, runtime at realistic settings, warranty terms for motors and batteries, technician response time, local parts stock, and annual wear parts costs. Also ask for an on-site demo with your own operator.
How long should a floor scrubber warranty be?
Warranty length varies by manufacturer and component, with batteries and motors often covered differently from the frame. Compare terms in writing, including what voids coverage and whether labor and travel are included.
Should I buy from a dealer or online?
A local dealer usually provides demos, training, service, and loaners, which matter a lot for a machine used nightly. Online purchases can save money on simple micro units but leave you responsible for setup, service, and parts.
Is a service contract worth it for a floor scrubber?
For machines used most nights, a planned maintenance contract usually prevents more expensive failures and downtime. It is less important if you have a trained in-house technician and a reliable parts source.
Can I negotiate the price of a floor scrubber?
Often yes, especially on demo units, end-of-quarter sales, or when bundling pads, training, or a maintenance plan. Negotiating for a loaner policy or extended battery coverage can be worth more than a small discount.