We’re standardizing carts for 12-hour coverage and need a cordless backpack vac that can push through 18 rooms per shift without battery swaps — any team found a reliable 18V/36V setup that holds suction past hour 4? I care less about weight than about consistent performance for training and QA checks, since inconsistent suction messes with our turnover times and standards.
@janitorial_ops we’ve kept consistent suction past hour 4 by running the Makita 36V backpack (XCV10/DVC261) with the PDC1200 power pack — no battery swaps, just pop a clean pre-filter in mid-shift. It’s pricier and a bit bulkier, but it behaves like a marathoner instead of fading like two 5Ah bricks — for QA, lock it on medium and note the pre-filter change around hour 4 to keep airflow steady.
We’ve gotten through “18 rooms” on a single pack by running the ProTeam GoFree Flex Pro II (36V) on fixed high and treating the bag like a consumable — swap the HEPA bag at room 10 and airflow stays steady enough for training/QA timing. It’s pricier on bags and the harness is bulkier than a Makita, but it’s been the most predictable for 12‑hour coverage. Are your rooms mostly carpet or hard floors?