Help!! High pressure/low pressure, is there an answer or only opinion?

needadvice

New Member
Hello to all, OK, I was in the pressure washing business for 10+ years and always used 4gm/minute and between 2,500 and 3,500 psi cold water. But, within the last year I have spent a lot of time on hundreds of Pressure Washing Contractors websites and it seems that about 1/3 of these companys spend a lot of time and space on their sites preaching that pressure washing pressure treated wood, aluminum siding, vinyl siding, roof shingles and just about everything else that is cleaned with high pressure such as 3000 psi and above is going to do thousands of dollars in damage. It seems that a lot of companys use low pressure, and depend on so called " bio friendly cleaning chemicals" that do most of the work. I never cleaned anything with less than atleast 2000+ psi and 4gpm. I can see a logical point in what these companys are saying but is that cause they just dont have machines that have high psi? Is there a right answer to this question? PLEASE LET ME KNOW? Thanks,needadvice
 

Dan S

New Member
Help!! High pressure/low pressure, is there an answer or only opinion? mostly opinion !

Those guys who use or claim they use low pressure to wash are like you said they probably dont have the machine , By claiming you use "low pressure" you give your customer a piece of mind that you are not going to use " high-pressure" . when in all reality most people will and must use the High pressure to get to the top of a house for instance . And using high pressure on a treated deck is perfectly fine to do IF YOU PAY ATTENTION . I have have tons of success using a surface cleaner on a roof and on a treated deck .....if you are using the right nozzel to get the effect you are hired to do.
What it all boils down to is educating your customer .. For instance When I was full tilt in this business I started to advertise ONLY low-pressure cleaning , I got jobs that were higher in bid then my competitors because of the low pressure "claim" . Once again the customer is not educated . A high pressure washer can do the job 6 times or more faster then a low pressure washer. I mean you buy a 5.2 @ 3000 washer and some people claim that they only use half the pressure to clean . Thats "hog-wash " if you were to be on a job with them and had to chance to watch how they clean ... Chances are that they are using all the pressure that the machine can give them .. There is alot of instances where you need to back off the pressure and give a low pressure rince .. or a chunk of asphalt shingles that is worn or ripped or missing ... Just back off the pressure .. Common since tells `ya that !

I know that I am repeating myself and you probably are more confused then ever ... But There are times when you need low and times when you need High pressure .

I dont think I will ever understand how anybody could go into this business without first buying the proper tool . Alot of people get by with a cold washer and a wal-mart washer to-boot . It's kinda like hiring some one to dig a footer for your house and they show up with 10 spade shovels . Heat and high pressure will out-do a low cold washer and the worlds best " BIO-CHEM" . any day .

If you market equipment , concrete , or production plants , chances are they associate that with high-pressure . However if you are marketing homes , campers, cars , decks, roofs . You are going to need to use the phrase of " low-pressure" . you get more jobs .. Only because you are using those words and you dont need to explain or educate the customer that high pressure is better, but low pressure sounds better ! ... but once you get to that job ... You have a choice .......... "should i go get the ladder so I can reach the top of this home with low pressure " or " should I just use what the machine can do and pay attention and back off the pressure as needed ?"

hope this can put some insite ......... okay ! have a great day and Im sure you should get more post after the "pro's" read my mumble jumble !!
 

needadvice

New Member
Thanks DAN S for replying

Dan S, I just wanted to thank you for replying. I sometimes wonder about this site because I thought my question was one that would get atleast a few replies. But, like a lot of Threads on this site, a big ole Zero in the reply column. I dont know if that is a lack of members or whatever. I wont blame my Thread. I agree with you on your "opinion". Like I said in my Thread, I have always used 4gpm and high pressure. I was in business for a 10 years and knew when to back off but I think I spend to much time looking at other Companies Websites and got caught up in the TOTALLY LOW PRESSURE for all jobs BS. I am sure you can clean in low pressure with Harsh or Caustic chemicals or like you said, maybe they dont have the capability of High pressure. I know if I used 1000 psi on a deck that had mildew, old sealer, or even bad sun damage/weathered I would be there 3 or more times longer than normal. OK, thanks bp
 

Dan S

New Member
It's good to compare and or " check-up" on a competitor ... But dont let what they are advertising get inside your head .. If you have been in biz for 10 years and still going strong . Stick to what you are doing ! It's a misconception about low and high wash ! a virgin washer should use low pressure and spend money on chems .. The "smart" washer will use the machine to get the job done . WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER ! every chem you waste money on is a dollar you could of saved !!

Few years ago I got involved with a company that had a great chemical ... It is a wonderfull chem. does a great job .. And while @ the training end of it they had this speaker . He opened up my mentality on cleaning and ways to get new customers ... Of course he had an agenda .. He was selling this chem ...anyways this company hooked you up with these fine looking flyers that were very professionally .. every flyer had the words " low-pressure wash " .... So I went with that . even tho I knew I wasnt going to be using this LOW wash .. and sells trippled . Home owners and or business people have it in there head that High-pressure is like 10millions pounds .. Or something . and they think that you are going to cause them more damage .. So by changing one word it changes that misconseption ... O and btw : im in a hurry and wanted to respond while I was in here checking my mail ... so I dont have time to spell check... That means `ya gotz to put up with it or dont read it ! ha

being in business and staying in business is the most rewarding job in the world .... Im going on 22 years of self employment ! yes it has it's downs but the up's make up for it !

Be smarter ... Know your machine . and remember the most important thing >>

THE TOOL MAKES THE JOB EASIER !

and ..... if you ever need assistance on picking out a good machine . contact Mark he is very friendly and he knows what he is talking about !
 

john orr

New Member
For what I wash - houses - there is generally no need for pressure. Volume yes, but pressure no. Heat is nice, but not absolutely necessary. Again, it depends on what you're washing. I wash 2 and 3 story houses almost every day and you could rinse your hands in the stream of water. I use an 8 gpm/3000 psi hot water machine, but I actually started my company without a pressure washer! I used a hose-end sprayer. It took longer, but it did the job. Like Dan said, work smarter, not harder!
 

Dan S

New Member
Your right John, I used a garden hose hooked up to a spicket @ a trucking company a few times to wash a truck or two when the washer took a "dump" .... But e-gads It's like wiping your bumm with a fig branch !
Volume is the key ! and low pressure can get the job done..... i was making the statement of using chems versus heat ........... and the right machine versus a cold unit .

you can wash anything with a garden hose > a bucket > and a long handel brush .
 

Tom Stetina

New Member
A pressure washer can wash anything with low pressure if you know what your doing. It's all about knowing your equipment...
 

jetstream1

New Member
Now who wants 3000 psi on a roof or wood not me or anyone i know
yes there is a time when you need a little more pressure.
In fact I don't even bring a pressure washer to a roof cleaning job no need for it
and wood can be trashed with high pressure,or water can be blown up behind siding of a home with high psi the list can go on just my 2 cents
 

jillshelton

New Member
Depends

Hello to all, OK, I was in the pressure washing business for 10+ years and always used 4gm/minute and between 2,500 and 3,500 psi cold water. But, within the last year I have spent a lot of time on hundreds of Pressure Washing Contractors websites and it seems that about 1/3 of these companys spend a lot of time and space on their sites preaching that pressure washing pressure treated wood, aluminum siding, vinyl siding, roof shingles and just about everything else that is cleaned with high pressure such as 3000 psi and above is going to do thousands of dollars in damage. It seems that a lot of companys use low pressure, and depend on so called " bio friendly cleaning chemicals" that do most of the work. I never cleaned anything with less than atleast 2000+ psi and 4gpm. I can see a logical point in what these companys are saying but is that cause they just dont have machines that have high psi? Is there a right answer to this question? PLEASE LET ME KNOW? Thanks,needadvice

It depends on what you do.As a power washing company we use various pressures,hot and cold water I believe you can use a cold water unit and get the job done but there is benefits to having a hot water unit. so I guess it all depends
 

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