Hot water heater

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

I am considering buying portable unit. It is oil fired, adjustable thermostat, up to 5 gpm, 450,000 btu for $799.+ shipping. I have 3 cold water 4 gpm units and anticipate using this on one of them. This should improve job efficency trmendously. I am a legal part timer paying all my taxes ect. Cant afford a big skid unit at this time.
Any input that you fine folks can give me will be appreciated!
Maybe this is not a practical approach.

 

[Scott Stone]

A couple of things that you might want to consider. You will need a generator, as well. There needs to be some sort of power source to make it all happen. As for the hot box idea, it works. There are advantages and disadvantages to it as with anything else, but if you are being totally price conscious, then it is one way to go.

Scott

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Scott,
I have a 5k generator so the power issue is covered. Thanks for your response!

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Mr. Young,

A 450,000 Btu heater should be able to give you a 100 degree temperature rise on a flow of 4.5 gpm. In my area East Central Illinois that is not enough.

Very cold here right now. My crew will be out tonight doing a kitchen and the forecasted low is for 5 degrees above zero!

Check your inlet water temperature and see if a 100 degree rise will get you the working temperature that you want. We try to have at least 200 degrees to do degreasing.

Dave Olson

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Thanks Dave,
Our current temperature in Central Texas is 38 f . Water coming out of a tap that has ran for 1 minute is 63.7 F. We generaly don't have this cold of weather. Would 160 f water do a good job on grease? The summer months here wouldn't be a problem. Have you used this type of unit before? Thanks for any input!

 

[Glenn]

B.E.
Not sure what Brand unit you are refering, but I have a Tuff HotBox that will give you a 130 degree temp rise @ 4.5 gpm flow and I can beat that price. The 130 Temp rise will put you around 200 degrees. If your interested give me a call and I will give you more details.
Glenn

 

[charlie]

A year ago I was going to get a hot box called the manufacture to see what they would recommend. They said if i was going to add a hot box the warrenty was not good any more. Check with the manufacture before adding the box. Just my 2 cents.


Charlie

 

[Dave Olson]

B. E. Young,

Our stand alone heater/boiler (Hot Box) is Lp fired.

Ours is 980,000 Btu. We can easily get 170-180 degree temperature rise at 5 gpm. Water out of the tap here is around 35 degrees during the winter months.

The 160 degrees will be slower and you will use more chemicals (degreaser).

Dave Olson

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

David,
Thanks for the picture and info.. Looks like you have a top notch set up!

 

[Richard R.]

Hey Glenn,
I have a Shark 1000psi 3 gpm 248 degree hotwater machine that I use on houses. Is there anyway I could convert that to higher psi and gpm or maybe convert it to a hotbox?

If so, how much am I looking at spending?

Thanks
Richard R.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Originally posted by charlie
A year ago I was going to get a hot box called the manufacture to see what they would recommend. They said if i was going to add a hot box the warrenty was not good any more. Check with the manufacture before adding the box. Just my 2 cents.


Charlie [/QUOT
Thanks Charlie,
I thought that most companies only warrant equipment for commercial use for 90 days! Am I using the wrong companies???

 

[charlie]

The unit at the time was from northern tool and equipment. They told me that the internal parts would get damaged using a hot box. Some companies give you a 90 day warranty. When I buy a unit know I want at least a 3 year warranty on the engine and 2 year on the pump. Best thing is check around. Also when I bought my commercial unit I wanted somebody that would service it also. Did you check with the company that you powerwashers are from as see if adding a hot box could damage it. Appently you are out of warranty. My suggestions is buy a hot water pressure washer. I know people will disagree with me.


Charlie

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Charlie,
Thanks.
You may be right on track with your suggestion to purchase a new hot water pw machine. My cold units pump is only designed to take 140 f water. I still have to check on what the hoses are rated at. You can bet that this will be something that is given consideration on any pump and part changes in the future.
Can any of you tell me if 140 F water will help much on oil and grease vs tap water and a good degreaser?

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B. E. I can't understand Northern telling you what they did about damaging your machine. Northern has some good machines but remember they are just sales people. The hot box is installed after the pump. At no time you will be running hot water through your pump. I have a hot box like the one Glenn described . It is a good idea if you can't afford a complete unit right now. We use a hot water machine now and keep the hot box and a cold machine in the trailer as a backup. The only way the water in your cold machine will reach 140 degrees is if you leave it in bypass too long, then your thermal relief valve should open up to avoid pump damage. An engine Terminator will shut the engine down if the temp. rises above that. If you have any questions about the hot box feel free to call me at 1-800-357-6295 .

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Steve,
Thanks much for the input. It was not me that was told that by Northern, it was someone that replied to my post.
So the cold water connects to the machine like always than connects to the heater after being presurized.
Thats great so I am back in the game now.
Can you recommend a good stand alone heater?
Do you suggest the Tuff box?

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B.E., I would suggest the Tuff unit. I would get the THB55GPM unit from Glenn. It will be good for 5.5gpm @ 3500psi. $995.95. This is the unit I have , I gave $1295.00 from a Hoysy dealer 5 years ago, paid way to much. The first job I used it on paid $1600.00 so It paid for itself in 2 1/2 days. Glad I could help. Glenn also has a 4.5 gpm unit for $849.95

 

[charlie]

B E

Call the company that made your pressure washer ask them about installing a hot water unit to see what they say. When it comes to pressure washing machines they are not all the same. Investigate before buying anything. As for Northern telling me that it will hurt the machine it was the techinical dept. When it comes to questions about my machines I go to the source. I figure that they kno about the machine better then anyone else. Steve please take no offense to this post.


Charlie

 

[Steven Rowlet]

Charlie, No problem. Just because they were in the tech. dept. doesn't make them right though.

 

[Mark]

Originally posted by Richard R.
Hey Glenn,
I have a Shark 1000psi 3 gpm 248 degree hotwater machine that I use on houses. Is there anyway I could convert that to higher psi and gpm or maybe convert it to a hotbox?

If so, how much am I looking at spending?

Thanks
Richard R.

Richard,

You should be able to convert that Shark unit to a water heater
with little or no expense!

-1- Disconect pump, run whip hose from your cold water unit to your Shark
coil inlet, if it has a flow or pressure switch on it already you are in luck.

Call me and I can walk you through the set up.

Happy New Year!

 

[Richard R.]

Mark,
If you can help me do that, I will owe you big time.
That means I could have 3500 psi & 248 degree.
I'd be da baddest on the block.

Will tomorrow be OK?

Thanks
Richard R.