propane hot boxes and PW sources

[Dan Mauser]

Hi!

I anticipate getting into the pressure washer business slowly over the next several months, looking at 3000psi/4gpm. We have a small home and office cleaning business and I will be entering the carpet cleaning business next month. At the same time I will be offering pressure washing services mainly since some of the equipment and customers would be the same.

I want a hot water heater and a pressure washer that I could take inside with my portable carpet cleaner, so propane looks like the choice. With unlimited bucks, I'd get a propane fired hot pressure washer.

A second option would be to get the propane hot box by itself and use cold water pressure washers, possibly rentals at first. Since most cold water washers aren't made to run with hot water, I assume I'd put the hot box downstream from the pressure washer. In this case I'd have to contend with pressure limits of the hot box.

Or I could have the cold water pressure washer custom made to withstand hot water, which may pricey.

If I go with separate units then the cold water pressure washer would have to be propane or electric to allow inside operations.

I would appreciate some sources for this equipment and what your recommendations about this plan would be.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Richard R.]

Dan,
You say you currently clean homes and offices. Exactly what is it that you plan on using your washer for on the inside?

Richard R.

 

[Jon]

My recommendation is not to by a cold water machine and add a hot box, if you can afford that just be a hot water system.

They are manufactured that way for a purpose, adding a hot box is adding trouble in my opinion.

As Richard asked, a pressure washer inside a business.

I too want to know your plans with this pressure washer inside an office building.

 

[Dan Mauser]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Tile cleaning is done around 800 psi. That's the main inside job.

Take care,
Dan

 

[Richard R.]

Dan,
I spent a lot of my youth as a tile setter's helper and later a tile setter. We never used that type of technique to clean tile. However, if this is something that you plan on doing, I would suggest talking to Mark on this board about a small pressure washer that you can bring inside like a small toolbox. It's a lot easier to get in and out of a bathroom and inside a home or office. I believe these small washers have a special hook up for connecting directly to the hot water faucets.
I know there are a few exhaust cleaners that use this type, so you may get an idea from one of them.
I really think your asking for a lot of extra work trying to use anything larger than that. As for a hot box, they have there place, but in my opinion, this is not one of them. Especially if your running on a limited budget.
I believe EasyClean website is the best place to go. If you have any problems finding the site, find Mark and he has a link usually on his posts that will take you there directly.

Hope this helps
Richard R.

 

[Dan Mauser]

Thanks, Richard!

I'll check out your leads. Here's a link to one manufacturer of tile cleaning equipment: Turbo Tile Tool
People describe it as a concrete surface cleaner with a vac hose connected. In fact, some people have made their own by attaching a vac hose to a surface cleaner.
Take care,
Dan

 

[Richard R.]

Hey Dan,
Thanks for the link. Very interesting machines.
Sure wish I would have had those back then.
Would have been better than using the acid mob and scrub wash method we did back then.

If your doing large scale tile cleaning such as stone, ceramic, porcelain, quarry and other clay tiles, vinyl's, engineered stone and concrete like terrazzo, etc., you may want to look into the more high scale pressure washers with more heat, pressure and reasonable gpm, instead of the small machines like I had suggested before. It just didn't register on me as to what you were talking about until you sent this last post.
What Jon said is very important.
If you have a fairly well established business and have the financial resources, improvising is not recommended. Just my opinion, but I don't think you will be satisfied with the hotbox route, especially if you plan to expand into power washing exterior surfaces in addition to the interior surfaces that you do now. Believe it or not, there are actually some fairly reasonable priced machines on the market that would be an incredible addition to your business. On the other hand and unfortunately, I have very little expertise in that area. I am one who did the improvising that I talk against and am struggling for it today. I have a few suggestions, but out of respect for the sponsors of this BB, I would hate to step out of line. I have not investigated all of the sponsors sites in their entirety , so I'd rather leave that to some of the Moderators or the Administator who could better
direct you to the right products and equipment.
If you get a chance, contact me at badge@vvm.com


Take Care
Rcihard R.

 

[Glenn]

Dan,
In all situations I would recommend that you keep the unit wether gas, electric, or propane outside. You are opening yourself up for alot of liability bringing equipment inside like that even in a large warehouse. I would buy extra hose and keep my unit outside in all circumstances. If I couldn't, then I would refuse the job. A parking garage with concrete walls and high concrete ceilings would be an exception.
Glenn