Using a Pump to Supply A Pressure Washer - Cleaning Equipments

For mobile cleaning applications, pressure washers may be directly fed from a tank without using a pump to push the water from the vessel to the machine.  However, direct drive pressure washers must be kept close to the tank and will be less likely to cavitate if the machine is below the tank level.  Belt drive and gear drive machines are capable of pulling from a tank even more effectively and can be located slightly higher than the water source.  Its always best to locate the pressure washer as close to the water source as possible and lengthen the high pressure hose to reach the cleaning location.

While we have seen a few customers have success using a pump to supply their pressure washer from a tank, it doesn’t happen often and we do not recommend using that type of system.  In many cases, supply pumps have a fluctuation in their flow rate and this makes them prone to cavitating the high pressure pump.  Turbulence in the inlet flow on the pressure washer causes cavitation just like starving the pump or introducing air into the inlet stream.  As a result of this, we neither recommend nor sell equipment for pumping water from a tank to a pressure washer without having an additional reservoir or tank for water right at the machine.

Pressure Washer Do's and Don'ts - Cleaning Equipments

Do’s

1. Always verify the GPM output of the supply hose is adequate for machine.  Check supply filter.
2. Always check engine and pump for proper level and color of oil before every use.
3. Always shut unit down when letting go of the gun jet more than 30 – 45 seconds.
4. Always change oils regularly every 250-300 hours of use (pump and engine).
5. Always shut down burner first, run for 1-2 minutes or until cold, and then shut the engine down. (Applicable only to hot water units).  Always run at full throttle while burner is on.
6. Always make sure supply valve (house or jobsite) is open all the way.
7. Always get valves adjusted every 300 hours or warranty is void.
8. Always run antifreeze through unit during the winter months, and if more than two months will elapse between uses.  If using during freezing temperatures, run antifreeze immediately after each use.

Don’ts

1. Never walk away from a unit while running in by-pass for more than 45 seconds.
2. Never kink supply or high pressure hose, or run over with a car or forklift.
3. Never run a unit with water leaks anywhere on the machine (gun jet, hose, fittings, etc.).
4. Never continue to run a unit with milky or metallic oil.  Running a unit until it quits just to finish a job is costly.
5. Never throttle down an engine while the burner is running, or shut down a unit while the burner is on.
6. Never tip a machine over or run it at an angle: the oil will not properly lubricate the internal parts.
7. Never allow the unit to freeze.  Just blowing out water will still leave enough water in the unit to cause major damage when the unit freezes.

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Consumer Pressure Washers - Cleaning Equipments, Cleaning Services

Pressure washers designed with the casual user in mind; someone who will be using the machine less than 100 hours per year.  We sell units that have brass pump heads and are economically repairable.   These are a cut above the units sold in the big box stores.   Most have commercial style couplers and can take advantage of a wide variety of accessories to handle your diverse cleaning jobs.

 

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