thx for your responses!
I have two 8gpm machines and would never have anything else…I believe it would take 3-4 4gpm machines to keep up one 8. The 8 gpm machine will shoot much higher…
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You can get by with a 4gpm, but if you can afford more, get a 5.5 or 6gpm machine. Once you go to 8gpm you need a dedicated tank of water for most jobs. You can downstream which means add chemical after the pump, thus bypassing the pump with chemicals. You can use 12.5% diluted SH with that setup, or use a delavan or similar pump and make your own wash with regular 6% and apply prior to rinsing.
If you are cleaning concrete you need a pressure washer, not a soft washing setup. 4gpm will get you by, but you will be slow. Get a 5.5 or 6gpm 3500psi and a surface cleaner for driveways and such.
would you suggest a portable or truckmount model? how much does a portable unit like that even weigh? will i be able to lift in the truckbed?
I check my supply each time I pull the washer out and average about 5gpm from the spigot (fill a 5 gallon bucket in 1 minute). I have a 4gpm mostly used for soft wash and a few sidewalks here and there. How big of a tank do you need to keep up with the 8gpm. I’ve seen some setups with the water from the spigot filling the tank and then the tank supplying the washer but how big of a tank. Is there an average on trigger time to use to calculate the tank size?
I use a portable unit that way i can remove it if I want. I personally like the Landa 6gpm / 3200psi over the 5gpm / 3500psi, I like the extra volume. I went from a 4gpm unit to that and the difference was incredible. Landa units are spendy, but I do like them. Hot water is good if you are going to be dealing with grease. I normally just do driveways, house washing, building washing type stuff so cold is great for me.
Hey Dude: Don’t get all stressed about house washing. It is a fairly simple gig. I have a 4gpm unit and usually complete an average home around 2500Sq ft in about 2 hrs. I also work solo. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send a message or give me a shout.
Thx guys, could you also tell me what else i would need besides the pressure washer? im thinking about getting the 4gpm@4000psi at PressureTek, how many hose do you guys use, do you all use xjets?
A system to capture the run-off
I have the 4 gpm 4000 psi machine from Pressure Tek. Talk to Bob he will set you up with the tips that you need for soft washing. I have never found a need for an xjet. I carry 3 50’ lengths of pressure hose I should get another length so I won’t need to move the machine. Hopefully next year I’ll have it mounted with hose reels.
Totally agree. I would suggest at first just getting a 4gpm 4000 PSI unit. Don’t worry about any reels at first either. You need money for marketing. Just get 2 50 foot sections of hose and put them together if needed. Keep your unit portable so you can take it to the back of the house if needed. Once you start doing PW jobs on a daily basis, you can purchase a trailer and mount the unit with a Cox Reel or two. I just mounted mine last week and it works great. I’m also completing average houses in about 2 hours with my 4gpm unit. You also asked about soft washing, I think when a lot of people are speaking of soft washing, they are talking about downstreaming with a pressure washer, not a fat boy.
Get 200’ of hose so you don’t have to pull your pressure washer everywhere you go. You will thank me later. If your just starting out and just want to do house washing then go with a 4gpm from bob. Get a belt drive.
How does it take you 2 hours to do a 2500sq’ house? Not trying to give you a hard time but it take me 1 hour even with set up break down and getting paid. Does that time include scrubing the gutters?
