What kind of pressure washer?

[JeffG]

I'm looking to get a cold water pressure washer to add to my services offered. I want one that will last, so a heavy duty one I guess, especially as the tasks may be varied in the commercial field.

Can anyone give advice on this please?

[DBLC]

Get a hot and cold. I really dont know any specific brands, but I DO know that the "cheap" ones are JUST THAT!! Ball park 1500.00-2500.00 starting out. Good Luck!

[Country_Joe]

Check out a Dirtkiller. Website of same name. Bought one after alot of research a couple of years ago. Expensive but well built. Can't go wrong with this brand. Best motors and pumps out there. Go with the Kranzle pump.

[yardman1]

Get comething with a honda motor and cat pumps, cat pumps are in about 95% of the car washes around the US. Get at least 2400psi or more.

[rkbrown]

I have heard that TUFF is a good brand. Do a google search on "Pressure Washing Forum". There are a few professional ones.

[JeffG]

Thanks Country_Joe, the Dirtkiller website has helped.

One thing, you say get one with a kranzle pump, but the Econo Max range look the best suited for me, yet none of them have that pump. The only pressure washer I can see with that pump looks more household than commercial?

What one did you get and for what kind of use?

Jeff
:D

[Country_Joe]

I have the H357...Dirtkiller industrial grade. Honda motor and kranzle pump. 3000psi at 2.5 gals/minute. I use it for general cleaning, boat and equipment cleaning, stripping of my decks for stain prep etc. I chose this model because of high psi at a low gal/min. It is important to make sure your water supply produces enough gal/min to feed the unit. I could have gone to a larger unit with my water supply but I loan this unit out alot and wanted to make sure that my loanees would not underfeed the machine due to lower gal/min with their supply. ( from home well pumps) This little dude carries alot of punch. Have had no problems. The pump can stand some abuse from running without any release but I try never to let that happen. Always make sure you are spraying when the unit is running. (as much as possible) I ordered direct from the factory and found the Dirtkiller people very pleasant and helpful. (no dealers in my area) Good luck....Dennis

[Darb]

Stay away from Home Depot and those type of stores. I also recommend belt driven. You do get what you pay for. DBLC mentioned hot and cold... these are more expensive but hot is really effective and time is money. You should also look into chemicals. These chemicals can really save you lots of time.

I did this work for a while and I was so glad when I dropped it. I tend to be a perfectionist and it didn't pay nearly as much as the other type of work I was doing (window cleaning).
Darb

[Gravely_Man]

Hot or Cold pressure washers are a nice feature but so is ability to spray chemicals. What are you going to be using this for? Cleaning equipment, siding or decks?

Gravely_Man

[JeffG]

My idea is to offer pressure cleaning for decks, path and driveways, gutters etc. etc.

I like the website for Dirt Killer as previously mentioned by Dennis. It was really helpful.

[Land Design]

One of the top companys on the market is Landa, they make hot and cold machines, their web site is Landa-inc.com. I have a PG4-3500 cold machine ( 4 gallons per minute, 3500psi). Used now for two years every day with no problems. searched other companys, just found this to be the most well built. pricing is between 1500-3000 for a good cold water machine. Also depends on application, what are you using it for?


Land Design

[The Lawn Choupique]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JeffG
[B]My idea is to offer pressure cleaning for decks, path and driveways, gutters etc. etc.

I have a 3000 psi 9 hp with a honda engine. Works great. I found out real quick though that the best use for a pressure washer was is resurfacing swimming pools. Last pool I did they paid me $2,700 and was happy I would take the job as I was the low bidder with the next highest bidder at $4,500. I got three other refferals off that job.

[gogetter]

Originally posted by The Lawn Choupique
[BLast pool I did they paid me $2,700 and was happy I would take the job as I was the low bidder with the next highest bidder at $4,500.[/B]

Ahh, I see Chopique is the scrub of the pool resurfacing industry also! :laugh:

[The Lawn Choupique]

Hey, Gotgetter. You know the man was wanting to get a pressure washer to increase his income. All I did and all I wanted to do was to convey that if you are going to put out a couple of dimes to purchase a power washer, there are a lot better ways to put it to work for you than cleaning decks or driveways. I went though that. That is how I figured it out. $50 per hour cleaning decks or $100 per hour putting the same pressure washer to work on pools. And you are only using the pressure washer a few hours on the pools. The rest of the time your are repairing cracks, doing the acid wash and painting. How would you like to make $100 per hour to paint or apply caulking? Not much equipment expense there.

[gogetter]

Come on now, I was just busting on ya. A little light hearted ribbing.
:D

[jeffex]

I have been pressure washing for 13 yrs. We have a business we call DECK DOCTOR PRESSURE WASHING. The pressure washers you can get at home depot are fine. 3500 psi 13 hp honda 4 gal. per minute AR pump $996 AT MY HOME DEPOT. Lowes sells a 13 hp honda 3500 psi cat pump for $1245. The cat pump is longer life . I just replaced a 6yr old general pump for $350 delivered . The honda motors will run forever. I will rebuild the old pump for $70 and keep it as a backup. It realy only needs a new pressure relief valve . Kranze pumps and cat are top of the line. AR and Genral are good pumps and any one will do. Just be careful you don't destroy the deck as these pump are powerful enough to cut the wood. Keep the spray moving.

[eslawns]

I got a PW from Lowe's. I don't want to do that full time, but I don't want to be all day using it when I don't need to, either.

One of my neighbors does this as a side business, and he has a 13 hp Honda powered unit from Lowe's that was about $1100. That would be a bit much, but the 8 hp Honda with the 3000 psi pump would be good for a part time application.

[JeffG]

:waving: Thanks for the advice guys, it's all welcomed!

There was me thinking that I would go buy a Craftsman!!