Power Washer

[JayRay]

Have been looking into buying one of the portable power washers but there seems to be quiet abit of variation in the machine. Probably won't be using the washer more than a hundred hours a year. Besides the amount of pressure are there any special things to look for on the engines that power these washers? Looking for some guidelines to use when comparing the various machines. Thanks for any replies.

[denrep]

Me again? Okay

Volume, is as important as pressure, takes 5 gpm to start getting real serious with a hand held wand.

Belt drive absorbs pump-wrecking shocks and spikes better than direct coupled drives.
Honda engines are preapproved!

I cant keep up with the pump names, so I'll try to describe by design:

The Italian job, the square grey brick with an oil dipstick in the top, and a gold head, it's one heck of a pump and will pump HOT water. In my opinion its build is ten times any other pump. I mean it, ten times.

The blue pump, bottle shaped, with the head that bolts on with exposed studs, ***** cat or whatever it's called, carries ridiculously over-priced repair parts and can't stand heat.

Just look, this site doesn't even want the name written!

Good Luck

[lotechman]

I notice some of the later models designed for long life have gone to lower speeds and belt drives. I have had bad experiences with the smaller swash plate pumps myself.

[JC'sWelding]

Right... Ok, here goes... I was a former professional pressure washer, so I will try to impart some wisdom.

The "Italian job" is an AR pump. VERY nice pump. Work horses. The blue pump is a Cat pump, probably lower end of the NICE pumps. General is a pump I would place right under the AR.

He's right, volume has a lot to do with it. The minimum pump I would ever use would be a 4 gpm, 4000 PSI AR pump. For commercial concrete cleaning, 8 gpm and hot water is the minimum.

Think about this before you get a Home Depot model: ECU is Effective Cleaning Units. It is calculated by multiplying the GPM x PSI. Example: Most Lowes/Home Depot models are 2.3 GPM at around 2500 PSI, or 5750 ECU. A better machine at 4 GPM and 4000 PSI is 16,000 ECU. Keeping PSI even, compare a 3000 PSI 2.5 GPM to a 3000 PSI 8 GPM: 7500 ECU or 24,000 ECU. Which would you rather clean with?

The three main types of connections to the motor are: Direct Connect, Gear drive, and belt drive. Direct connect makes a smaller package, and is fine for up to 4000 psi and 4 gpm. The gear drive reduces the pump speed, but is additional cost for gear oil and added maintenance. The belt drive reduces the pump speed, but you have to keep your eye on the belts. You cannot use a belt or gear drive pump for a direct connect or vice-versa.

For just general around the house/shop work, Lowes has a model with a 13HP pump and a 4gpm/4000psi for around $1000. It's just about the minimum I would use.

By the way, the formula for matching a pump to an engine size is hp=(gpm x psi) / 1100 if you ever need to know that.

Then there are the nozzle tips. The various tips that come with a store bought machine only adjust the spray pattern, not the pressure. The only way to effect the pressure is to use tips with a larger orifice.

All of this and more is explained in DVD #1 of my 3 part DVD series "Residential Power Washing Training Series". Volume #1 is called "Basic Equipment Knowledge". It is for sale for only $20 and is very educational. Topic covered on this DVD are Engines, Pumps, Pump Add-Ons, Whip Lines, Hose Reels, Hoses, Swivels, Ball Valves, Guns, Lances, Nozzles, Surface Cleaners and more. Since January, it has helped over 6 dozen people get started in Professional Power Washing.

Sorry, this is the end of the commercial...

[wesdavidson]

Just for size and type.

We have an old coleman, 3.5 hp vertical shaft. Works ok for small stuff, cars, trucks airplanes. came from lowes or home depot probably, can't remember, probably 1995-97. Probably 2000 hrs on it. Used it at the hangar for a flight school, couple hrs a night for years.. works fine. Coleman went out of buisiness, don't know who took over for them.

[JayRay]

Thanks for the replies: I figure asking something like what pressure washer do I need is like asking what welder do you recommend for me....not to down-grade the box stores but usually I am leary of any machinery of any sort that is sold there...40 years ago (or more) it would not have mattered...but over the years...you usually get what you pay for...do alittle more research..ask someone that uses that particular type of equipment be it a pressure washer, lawn mower, or welder. Response most of the time is well worth the information given. I do appreciate your feedback. I kinda put the stuff into the catergory of handyman/consumer, then industrial grade and finally the professional. In my case I don't think I could afford the type of equipment a pro would use but the money spent on the consumer vs industrial is such that I will more than likely go with an "industrial" type. Will continue to do some more research on this with the input from you guys as my guidelines. thanks again. jr

[tigmusky]

good info!!! thanks

Daye