How to Charge Floor Scrubber (and What to Do if About Floor Scrubber Not Charging)

Your floor scrubber was quite the investment, and it’s worth doing the little things right - such as charging - to keep it performing its best for as long as possible. The last thing you want is costly downtime keeping you from maintaining peak productivity.

It sounds so simple, but understanding how to charge floor scrubber machines can make a dramatic difference in prolonging the battery life of your machine. It also influences how long you’ll be able to go between charges.

Really it’s as simple as following the manufacturer's directions, or the best practices for your specific battery type - be it lead acid, AGM, or gel. Use the correct charger, let the machine charge until it's full, and then stop charging it. Avoid letting it die completely.

If you follow all these steps and are still dealing with a floor scrubber not charging, don’t sweat it too much. It’s likely the battery’s useful life has come to an end and it simply needs to be replaced.

As the #1 provider of commercial floor scrubbers for sale, you can also count on SweepScrub for a long-lasting replacement battery! We have spare parts for all the most popular machines. Get in touch today and we’ll help you navigate the next steps. 

How Often Should Floor Scrubbers Be Recharged?

You might be wondering, how long does a floor scrubber last between charges? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, just as with how long floor sweeper batteries last. It depends on how you use the machine, the type of battery in question, and its age.

It’s not uncommon to need to charge your floor scrubber after every use if you’re using it to clean an entire facility. However, you might be able to get a few sessions of use out of the battery if you’re only cleaning small sections of a facility every so often.

A good rule of thumb is to expect 3-6 hours of operation per charge. We’ll talk more about this below, but we do not recommend letting your battery drain completely before recharging it. 

Partial discharges are fine with modern batteries as long as it’s not a routine occurrence. Regular deep discharges can shorten a battery’s lifespan. That being said, let’s get into how to charge floor scrubber below. 

How to Charge Floor Scrubber: Best Practices for Protecting Battery Performance

Sure, it’s just a matter of plugging it in and letting the charger do the rest. But there’s a lot more that goes into charging a floor scrubber if you want to maximize the duration between charges along with the actual lifespan of your battery. Here’s an overview of the best practices:

• Use the Correct Charger: Using an incompatible charger can damage the battery or result in incomplete charging. Even if a different charger “fits,” it might not be compatible. Always use the charger provided by the manufacturer or one that matches your floor scrubber battery’s specific requirements. 
• Charge in a Cool, Ventilated Area: Charging generates heat, and this can slowly but surely reduce battery efficiency. You should charge the scrubber in a cool, well-ventilated area to prevent overheating.
• Monitor Charging Times: Overcharging is one of the most common mistakes we see people make, leaving their scrubber plugged in over night. Many modern chargers have built-in timers or automatic shut-off features to prevent this. But batteries without these features need careful monitoring of the charging process.
• Avoid Complete Discharge: As we touched on earlier, regularly draining the battery completely before recharging can reduce its capacity over time. Try to recharge the floor scrubber when the battery level drops below 20%, but before it reaches zero. Trust us - it’s worth working in smaller sections and stopping for a charge rather than trying to push through and risking the battery dying.
• Perform Regular Maintenance: Lead-acid batteries need their electrolyte levels checked regularly and they should be topped up with distilled water as needed. This prevents overheating and keeps the battery functioning properly. AGM and gel batteries don’t need the same level of care but should still be inspected for signs of wear and tear.
• Follow a Regular Charging Schedule: Make sure your machine is always ready for use by coming up with a consistent charging routine that aligns with your cleaning schedule. Charging your floor scrubber after each use is a common best practice in high-usage environments.

When in doubt, consult the manufacturer for your machine or the specific battery brand in question. These components can be very nuanced and even more fickle, do you don’t want to play the guessing game about how best to care for your battery.

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Floor Scrubber?

We’re willing to bet that part of what drew you towards investing in the best floor scrubber was to save time and push productivity in your operation. But you obviously can’t keep cleaning while the machine charges!So, how long does it take to charge a floor scrubber?

Just as with how often floor scrubbers should be recharged, it will all depend on the specific battery itself. How drained the battery is plays a part here as well as the age of the battery, the quality of your charger, and other factors.

That being said, most lead-acid batteries take approximately 6 to 8 hours to fully charge, while advanced lithium-ion batteries can charge in 4 to 6 hours.

As we’ve touched on a few times throughout this guide on how to charge floor scrubber machines, we want to caution you against getting a short partial charge in just so you can get back to using the machine. Ideally, you’d let the battery charge to 100% before unplugging it.

Why is My Floor Scrubber Not Charging?

Now, let’s get into a little floor scrubber troubleshooting. Why is my floor scrubber not charging?There could be a few different culprits, and we’ll help you nail down which it is:

• Faulty Charger: Inspect the charger for any visible signs of damage, such as frayed wires or loose connections. Try using another compatible charger to rule out whether the issue lies with the charger. These are a cheaper replacement than the battery itself, so this is a good starting point.
• Battery Issues: All good things come to an end, and your floor scrubber’s battery is no exception. If you’ve ruled out the charger, it’s likely the battery. Improper maintenance or even just age can cause the battery to no longer hold a charge. Look for visible damage, such as corrosion on terminals or fluid leaks. You can also use a bit of logic here. If you’ve had the battery for a decade and its lifespan is just 6-8 years, it’s time to upgrade.
• Loose Connections: Poorly secured or corroded connectors can prevent proper charging. Clean the terminals if necessary and reconnect them firmly. If you’re still not getting a good charge, again - the battery might be past its prime.
• Power Supply Problems: It sounds simple, but double-check that the power outlet you’re using is functioning correctly. Try plugging the charger into another outlet to rule out an issue with the power source.
• Internal Machine Fault: Sometimes, an internal issue with the floor scrubber’s electrical system can prevent charging. If the charger and battery seem fine, it may be worth contacting a technician to inspect the machine for internal faults.

If you discover your battery needs to be replaced, or you decide to upgrade your floor scrubber altogether, SweepScrub is here to help. 

We carry the top models from the most respected manufacturers like Tennant, Advance, Clarke, and more. But, we also have spare parts to get your machine back up and running, including new batteries and replacement chargers. 

You can browse our catalog or better yet, reach out for a personalized recommendation. There’s no need to place the guessing game with world-class customer service on standby ready to help!

Whether you need a new battery for a commercial walk-behind floor scrubber or industrial ride-on floor scrubber, a commercial floor sweeper, or even an industrial sweeper scrubber machine, we’ve got you covered. 

Reach out today and keep your cleaning process productive! 

Final Thoughts on How to Charge Floor Scrubber

That does it for our guide on how to charge floor scrubber machines. It sounds so simple - you just plug it in. Yet, proper charging protocols can make a world of difference in your machine’s performance and longevity. Here are the key takeaways:

1. Always use a compatible charger
2. Avoid draining the battery completely
3. Don’t overcharge the battery
4. Perform regular battery maintenance 

If you’re dealing with a floor scrubber not charging, follow our troubleshooting steps above and see if you can trace it back to a single issue. From there, you can reach out to us about the new part or component you need.

Our blog has more resources on how to use a commercial floor scrubber, how to change pads on floor scrubber, what is a walk behind scrubber, can you use a floor scrubber on a gym floor, scrubbing the floor vs mopping, what are sweepers and scrubbers used for, how much floor scrubbers cost, and more. 

Otherwise, keep your scrubber in tip-top shape by rethinking your charging process. Put this advice into practice and preserve the longevity of your investment. When the time comes for a new machine or even just a replacement part, remember SweepScrub is a click or call away!