Clean It Up
UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on January 30, 2006, 12:56:09 pm
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hi all. i know i keep asking for your help with loads of questions but i am new and trying to gain as much knowledge as poss.....i was under the impression that i could buy or hire a good pressure washer and rotary cleaner for patios/driveway etc.... now i am a little worried as i have been told i would need to carry my own water... and if i could plug straight into the customers tap... then i would need a tank!!, as the tap flow would not be powerful enough...what does this mean? i thought a good pressure washer would take care of the water flow........ any advice please on this would be great..
cheers.
gazza
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Gazza
Most industrial spec pressure washers use at least 16 litres per minute which is sometimes more than the supply from the mains . therfore you fill up a tank which in my case is a wheelie bin and suck the water from that. this protects the machine from running dry and ensures you have enopugh water. it also protects you from fluctuations in water pressure say when some one in the house flushes the bog. whith a bit of thinking you can install a float valve (Large size) in the tank to prevent overflow and a float so you can see the water level from a distance.
Hope that helps
Ged
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chees ged
thanks for that, yes that does help thanks,,,,,bang goes my idea of starting up around my present job using a car lol.
gazza.
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Gazza
Don't despair, you can still do it. Use a 25 litre drum and run the hose into this. Just means you may have to stop sometimes to let it fill up. Also most of the time the water pressure will be adequate to run directly from a hose.
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Ged
Thanks, feel better now, how do customers feel about using their tap etc,.. also i am gathering lots of info on pricing..everyone differs widely..coming down in price the more square metres they do, then also a seperate quote on some for brushing in, i think i will forget sealing tho.
gazza.
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sorry john,
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I use domestic water supply all the time and never had a problem, if you get to an area with poor water pressure then use inch hose this will rectify the problem.
I have a water bowser on board but I only use it these days for window cleaning with purified water.
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thanks preston
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Hi, If you are using a profesional machine as oposed to an electric Diy one you will not be able to rely on tap pressure alone. If your machine is half decent 25 litre drums will be too small.
I use an old 200 litre plastic drum with a ball valve fitted, the suction hose drops into this. On many jobs even starting off with the drum full and the hose replenishing this runs out after about 30 mins. Whilst I have a 400 litre tank in the van this is only used for hand washing and filling up sprayers. Ocasionly when I get a drain job I will run the pressure washer as a van mount however even then the tank is filled from the customers suply.
Asuming your machine uses 15 litres per min this equates to 900 litres per hour. Even carrying a full IBC this will be far less than thea averadge job. If water pressure seems particularly low I will often get the customer to check that the stop tap (usualy under kitchen sink) is fully open.
If you want to use a car I would get a trailer as the machine and hoses will drip everywere and quickly make the carpets stink, also less lifting.
paul
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I have 2 decent industrial machines and both work fine on domestic tap.
If you are going to be using a very high powered truck mount or similar sort of power washer then I would have to agree with Paul about the bowser.
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Gary, what rate in lpm do yours use?. Mine use 15lpm I have never fed diresctly from the tank as the manufacturer specificly forbids this.
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My Karcher is 600lph, my other with the cat pump is a little more.
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thanks all you guys for your help,takes a bit of sinking in, i presume the trailer is a must for the size of power wash...and jobs that hopefully will arise.
cheers guys
appreciate your help.
gazza.