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My first PW
- Thread starter ImthePrez
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Grime Busters
Member
Hello "prez", and welcome to the PWN. You will find our membership full of professional contractors, all ready and willing to help you represent the industry professionally.
First and foremost you must complete your signature line. You can accomplish this by using the UserCp tab above on the top header. Please use other member’s signature lines as an example. You name, company name, company website, contact phone number(s) and email address.
The signature line is a simple requirement, which not only allows the members to know who they are communicating with, but will also benefit you and your business by increasing your Internet presence and your company’s website visibility.
Mark is one of our valuable members who is also a supplier, and I am sure he can assist you with your equipment purchases.
Once again, welcome to the PWN.
First and foremost you must complete your signature line. You can accomplish this by using the UserCp tab above on the top header. Please use other member’s signature lines as an example. You name, company name, company website, contact phone number(s) and email address.
The signature line is a simple requirement, which not only allows the members to know who they are communicating with, but will also benefit you and your business by increasing your Internet presence and your company’s website visibility.
Mark is one of our valuable members who is also a supplier, and I am sure he can assist you with your equipment purchases.
Once again, welcome to the PWN.
Welcome aboard "PREZ"a if I can help you in anyway please feel free to let me know.
PressurePros
New Member
Start searching CraigsList and eBay for used machines. You can get great deal this time of year. Keep in mind you will need buffer tank, hose, supply line, reels, and wands. These extras can add $1000 so look for a full setup.
Also some things to think about... GPM is king in commercial concrete cleaning. The washing part is no time killer it is the rinsing and that is where higher flow machines make you more efficient. I wouldn't go below 5 gpm if you can take your time searching and are willing to travel to get your rig.
Final note... Having a rig is great but meaningless without getting your name out there. At the very least you need a website, some print material like a brochure and biz cards and the willingness to cold call accounts to gain work. Its unlikely you will make any money your first and second year so either have a cash reserve or keep a full time job and wash on the side. These are all real world factors to consider. The equipment is only half the battle.
Also some things to think about... GPM is king in commercial concrete cleaning. The washing part is no time killer it is the rinsing and that is where higher flow machines make you more efficient. I wouldn't go below 5 gpm if you can take your time searching and are willing to travel to get your rig.
Final note... Having a rig is great but meaningless without getting your name out there. At the very least you need a website, some print material like a brochure and biz cards and the willingness to cold call accounts to gain work. Its unlikely you will make any money your first and second year so either have a cash reserve or keep a full time job and wash on the side. These are all real world factors to consider. The equipment is only half the battle.
Thanks for the help guys! I promise ill fill out my sig line very soon.
Nothern Tool has a Northstar setup thats 3500 psi and 4 gpm with heat, will 4 gpm be to low? They also suggested buying a 4000 psi cold pressure washer with 4 gpm then adding the Northstar heater (goes to 250 degrees). They said they way is cheaper and just as effective. Is this true?
I dont want a trailer setup, I need it to be 4 wheel cart or 2 wheel. Ive been on ebay and seeing a few washers that seem like a good deal but they only hold heat up to 400 psi. Id really like to stay around the 3k mark if possible. HELP me guys Help me! Thanks again
Nothern Tool has a Northstar setup thats 3500 psi and 4 gpm with heat, will 4 gpm be to low? They also suggested buying a 4000 psi cold pressure washer with 4 gpm then adding the Northstar heater (goes to 250 degrees). They said they way is cheaper and just as effective. Is this true?
I dont want a trailer setup, I need it to be 4 wheel cart or 2 wheel. Ive been on ebay and seeing a few washers that seem like a good deal but they only hold heat up to 400 psi. Id really like to stay around the 3k mark if possible. HELP me guys Help me! Thanks again
Clean County
New Member
Ken Fenner's answer once again is a well thought out response. As for Northern my first Powerwasher I bought from them. My budget back then was about $5000 to get "everything I needed" to get this business going. That was everything excluding my pickup truck which I had(What a nice truck that was but with its oversized tires and 3" lift what a pain to take the powerwasher up and down the ramps I had for that truck. I even had the 350 lb PW drive over me when I was taking it down the ramp and stumbled. So in essence I got ran over by my first powerwasher and OUCH did that hurt:smad:
I didn't have a hot water unit but knowing what I know today I would have bought one then. 5gpm @3000psi hot is the least you should have for any Commercial work you may get. More GPM the better but that will come with a much higher price.
For new Mark here from Easy Clean would be a great choice and this being your first Powerwasher I would recommend you buy new because you can't afford to have to many problems with it since a used one obviously your most likely to have a few problems.
Also the weight of a hot water Powerwasher is up there with probably a range of 500lbs if not more you'll be dealing with to push around and I would highly advised against doing that. I got ran over by a 350lb cold water powerwasher the 500lbers just thinking about pushing it is hurting my back[spin]
If you have to stay at that $3000 range then I would first look for a used PW on Ebay and sites like that. If your adament about pushing this thing around then I would by a cold water unit and a Hot box seperatly. This way the times you don't need the hot water you wont have to push that one heavy Powerwasher around because the hot box can stay put.
Best Idea would be to have a hot water Powerwasher to stay stationary because of injury liability due to weight and just buy more hoses in 100' lengths and run them from your Powerwasher.
Before you do anything I would still check with Mark here on a cold water unit and a seperate Hot box to see what they would cost. Also don't forget since your new at this customer service is important and Mark is excellent on that. Northern who I bought from in the past forget about ever calling them to analyze a problem with one of there machines.... there clueless and there only about selling other companies machines.
Good Luck.
I didn't have a hot water unit but knowing what I know today I would have bought one then. 5gpm @3000psi hot is the least you should have for any Commercial work you may get. More GPM the better but that will come with a much higher price.
For new Mark here from Easy Clean would be a great choice and this being your first Powerwasher I would recommend you buy new because you can't afford to have to many problems with it since a used one obviously your most likely to have a few problems.
Also the weight of a hot water Powerwasher is up there with probably a range of 500lbs if not more you'll be dealing with to push around and I would highly advised against doing that. I got ran over by a 350lb cold water powerwasher the 500lbers just thinking about pushing it is hurting my back[spin]
If you have to stay at that $3000 range then I would first look for a used PW on Ebay and sites like that. If your adament about pushing this thing around then I would by a cold water unit and a Hot box seperatly. This way the times you don't need the hot water you wont have to push that one heavy Powerwasher around because the hot box can stay put.
Best Idea would be to have a hot water Powerwasher to stay stationary because of injury liability due to weight and just buy more hoses in 100' lengths and run them from your Powerwasher.
Before you do anything I would still check with Mark here on a cold water unit and a seperate Hot box to see what they would cost. Also don't forget since your new at this customer service is important and Mark is excellent on that. Northern who I bought from in the past forget about ever calling them to analyze a problem with one of there machines.... there clueless and there only about selling other companies machines.
Good Luck.
New Look
Registerd User
Pressure Washer Sales & Service Specialists
Since 1979
A Sponsor of PowerWashNetwork since 2000
Pressure Washers, Infrared Heaters, Parts - Easy Clean Systems
www.PressureWasherZone.com
www.PowerWashDirect.com
Mark McIntyre 800-292-EASY 916-638-0828
E-mail Mark Click Here
I just met with the local washing equipment place in my area who sell Hotsy and Landa and Pressure Pro. After all the research I think Im gonna go with the Pressure Pro E4040HG cold water unit with the Northstar heater. Its the best setup for me right now, plus I can use the heater on another piece of equipment I have. I know its not 5 gpm but I think 4 gpm with the heat should be ok. Ill make up for it elsewhere in the cleaning equation.
I use around 200 degrees of heat. Water boils at 212 degrees unless its pressurized. It will remain liquid in the hoses above that but I dont know about that once it comes out of the nozzle. I haven't tried really. I put my power washer together myself. Some parts new some used. Currently using a 13hp Honda engine that I bought used for $300. I found a NEW 4000psi 4gpm pump, direct drive, for $300. Got $150 in the hose reel, $200 in hoses. Maybe $100 in tips wands and guns. I was lucky enough to find a hot water box on craigslist for $200. It was originally a steam cleaner but the pump and motor were removed from it. I converted it from 220v to 110 (you can even do 12v) and have maybe 300 or 400 dollars in that. Since I am using it as a 110 unit right now I have a small generator powering it, doesn't take much 1000 watts would probably do it, 2000 for sure since that is what I am using. I bought a NEW trailer specifically for this purpose, was $1,100 dollars. You dont need a new one or one that expensive or big. I picked up a 330 gallon cage type "tote" tank that you get from buying bulk chemicals. I payed way too much for it (i was a sucker and it was a hard to find size when I was looking) at $175 and some hose and fittings. I dont know how much that all adds up to but it have probably the equivalent of a 7 or 8 thousand dollar unit (or more) for a fraction of that.
Its a nice setup, not all flashy stainless steel wrapped up on a skid like a hydrotek but its nice.
I've got a 7gpm 3000psi that I am mating up to a thermoking 4 cylinder diesel that I also got a steal of a deal on. That will be later this year or end of this summer before I have that done tho. I got the engine for $100 but it needs a sleeve in one cylinder (engine was practically new but was removed from the reefer unit and water got in one cylinder and pitted the wall) and then cleaned up and put back together. Then I need either a clutch unit or fabricate a plate/shaft adapter to mate the engine to the pump via some pulleys. \
Anyways I love craigslist you can get many nice things needing little or no work for cheap. And you'll have a unique setup, everyone around here has alot more money tied up in a commercially built unit that is no more effective than mine and is harder to work on god forbid it ever need it.
Its a nice setup, not all flashy stainless steel wrapped up on a skid like a hydrotek but its nice.
I've got a 7gpm 3000psi that I am mating up to a thermoking 4 cylinder diesel that I also got a steal of a deal on. That will be later this year or end of this summer before I have that done tho. I got the engine for $100 but it needs a sleeve in one cylinder (engine was practically new but was removed from the reefer unit and water got in one cylinder and pitted the wall) and then cleaned up and put back together. Then I need either a clutch unit or fabricate a plate/shaft adapter to mate the engine to the pump via some pulleys. \
Anyways I love craigslist you can get many nice things needing little or no work for cheap. And you'll have a unique setup, everyone around here has alot more money tied up in a commercially built unit that is no more effective than mine and is harder to work on god forbid it ever need it.
pondandco
New Member
Hi Ken,
I am in the process of looking for a new unit. I found a Hotsy on Craigslist and it is about three years old. The guy isn't the original owner so he wasn't sure how many hours are on it. It isn't leaking water anywhere, and the oil looks clean but is it worth it to spend $3,000 on a used unit? It's a 1260ss.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Kevin
I am in the process of looking for a new unit. I found a Hotsy on Craigslist and it is about three years old. The guy isn't the original owner so he wasn't sure how many hours are on it. It isn't leaking water anywhere, and the oil looks clean but is it worth it to spend $3,000 on a used unit? It's a 1260ss.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Kevin
Grime Busters
Member
Kevin, welcome to the PWN.
Since this owner has no clue as to the hours on the machine, I would pass. There is so many quality used and new units available these days, you can do better than that.
Not sure what your budget is. Mark of Easy Clean would be my suggestion for you in Californai.
Since this owner has no clue as to the hours on the machine, I would pass. There is so many quality used and new units available these days, you can do better than that.
Not sure what your budget is. Mark of Easy Clean would be my suggestion for you in Californai.
Gogreenwash
Member
Good luck Kevin.