H2O tank

[Dunlap]

I thought that my tank would gravity feed to my PW. Great flow thru it but it don't seem to want to work that way. I believe I am going to need a pump, any suggestions?

 

[north coast]

Is your pump belt drive or direct drive.

 

[Dunlap]

It is a belt driven pump.

 

[MR ALAN]

Belt drives will suck water pretty well. Describe the problems that you are having so we can better understand.

How far is the tank from the washer?
What size line are you using?
Is the tank vented?
If your unit has a small float tank, do you have the bigger tank bypassing that?

 

[Dunlap]

I run a 50 ft. hose that is 3/4" from the tank to the PW. I could open the top of the tank if that would help. And I don't believe it has a small float tank the manual says nothing of this.

 

[grasshawg]

You should probably use the shortest hose possible. 50 ft seems a bit much. My tank has a 1 1/4" opening, reduced down to 5/8". I think 3/4 may be a little too big also.
50 ft of 3/4 in. hose holds a lot of air to be purged from the system. Your pump is probably having trouble replacing all that air with water.
Randy

 

[Mark]

50' run gravity flow through 3/4" TOO MUCH HOSE!

 

[Mathew Johnson]

Use braided non-collaspable hose... My belt driven and my gear driven pull water from 5-7 feet away with no problem

 

[Mark]

Five to seven feet is one thing, but gravity flow on a 3/4"
hose from FIFTY FEET away??

 

[Dunlap]

I know that 50' is probably alittle extreme. But I worked for years with a belt driven pump used a 25' hose and placed the hose in a water drum the pump had no problem pulling the water itself, never had problems with the pump still use it to this day. The size of the hose really is a good point. I purchased a pump today it is a needed item now as I will need it to run thru a DI system. Thanks guys.

 

[Anthony G]

I am running 2-325 gallon tanks mounted side by side and the tanks are connected with 2" line to equalize them. I then teed off that and down to 3/4" line with a valve to pressure washer......no more than 5 feet. I used heater core hose from auto parts store and hose pipe repair kit for ends. I have run this set up for years and the only problem that I have is when the tanks get low and I have no water available.....I disconnect the trailer from truck put a block of wood under the jack and raise the tongue as high as I can to push the water back to the pump. Pump is mounted on the back for this purpose.

Good luck

 

[Larry L.]

On the fitting that goes though the tank I have a eblow that sets 1/4 or 1/2 inch off bottom and I can suck the tank dry.

 

[T&M WASHING]

h20 tank

Sorry alittle off topic- I am a newbie (I know you guys hear that alot). Long time reader first time poster.

I just started with a partner a Hog confinement powerwashing company. And my question regards the holding tank- we are fortunate enough not to have to haul water to location but need the extra capacity to run the pumps, the farmers allow us to use on site well water. What kind of shutoff valve do you gentlman use for the full float on the tank? And part 2 I assume we need to have 2, 3/4" inlets one for each pump from the holding tank? One pump is a 3000 psi 3 gpm and the other is a 2200 psi, 2 gpm. thanks for any reply, great info shared here.

 

[jandjsales]

i would install two fittings, each pump needs its own source. my 500 gal tank has a 2" fitting, i reduced it to 3/4", installed a tee, one side has a ball valve and a hose, so i can mix chems or wash my hands and its also a tank drain. going to the pw, i install a ball valve and then a line strainer with a fine 80-100 mesh screen and then use a 3/4" clear reinforced vinyl hose that is non collapsable. the strainer keeps junk from the tank from entering your pump. to cut down on trash getting into the tank, i install a garden hose connection on my trailers, run a hose to the top of the tank attach it to an elbow screwed into the tank.

jeff