Pressure washer question

[WBWI]

Can a residential quality pressure washer run off of a holding tank full of water instead of a hose hooked to a pressurized water supply? I don't know if the head pressure of the water in the tank would be sufficient to supply the washer.

I can get electric to the washer with extension cords unless the voltage drop is too great. I could always run it off of a portable generator. Getting water to it is the bigger problem.

 

[thatguy]

A few years back when I think I remember seeing a Kartcher (sp) electrical, residential unit that was capable of pulling water from holding tank.. I have no idea where I saw it or what model it was though..

sorry

Brian

 

[SnowRidge]

It's been a long time since I read the manual that came with my Northstar washer, but I'm pretty sure it said it needed a pressure supply. That said, I don't know why it wouldn't work of off a gravity flow tank, provided you made sure that all the air was purged from the supply line prior to staring the engine.

You would have to squeeze the trigger on the wand and wait patiently for a continuous water stream to come out of the nozzle. It would probably take several minutes to clear all the air out of the line. If you screwed up and started the engine too soon, you could easily damage the pump. I think that is why they have the warning requiring a pressure supply.

 

[thatguy]

A few years back when I think I remember seeing a Kartcher (sp) electrical, residential unit that was capable of pulling water from holding tank.. I have no idea where I saw it or what model it was though..

sorry

Brian

 

[jinman]

I have a commercial pressure washer with a small 30-gal tank. That washer works far better with a pressurized supply than with the gravity fed tank. I think that will be true of all washers.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I did some hoses for a customer that has a 500 gallon tank and a gas powered pressure washer in the back of a box truck. It works real good for him.

 

[AlanB]

Pretty common to run them at the motorcycle events off a 55 gallon drum on the front of a trailer, also mobile wash places often do this type setup as well.

While it may not be quite as good as a pressurized supply, I think you would find it adequete for most needs.

 

[Philscbx]

Systems I built for years, you need to have supply pressure 40 - 60 psi to have a working 2500 psi unit with 1 hp 110 volt on clean 20 amp line.
For long runs of electric, just use romex 10g right out of the box with ends applied. Pressure washer will think it's in the garage.
Or 5hp Gas.

You only need a small boost pump from tank to machine when output at gun is 2.5 - 5.0 gallons per minute.

You could use the old shallow well pump just laying around placed into 55g barrel. Aim a torpedo at it and you have warm water.
3 piston ceramic types are the best by CAT. They will go twenty years easy.
Filter it, and it's flawless.

Hot is not recommended for pressure washer pumps.
Hot or super heated is applied after the pump.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I do this when I use My hot water washer in the feild., I have a 330 gallon tank and the spout at the bottom. when o nthe truck the tank ie lower than the pum by 2 feet. It takes a second to prime then it goes on. Ive also gotten to where I Have a sealable vent in top of the tank I tapped it to add a valave and fitting to give it about 10 psi with the trucks air compressor. That helps alot,. I had a 100 dollar waterpump a shurflo that ran off the washers batery but the pressure cutoof quit on me big time and busted the housing. The air works good but with a full tank it usually primes right up. If I cant use my big tiank I have a longer hose and I put the washer on a trailer and leave the tank in the bed up hill. The best thing to do first is to get a 1 inch hydrauilc hose made to keep it from starving. Thats what I did with mine.

 

[J_J]

Can a residential quality pressure washer run off of a holding tank full of water instead of a hose hooked to a pressurized water supply? I don't know if the head pressure of the water in the tank would be sufficient to supply the washer.

I can get electric to the washer with extension cords unless the voltage drop is too great. I could always run it off of a portable generator. Getting water to it is the bigger problem.

If your pressure washer can put out 4 GPM, then it should be able to draw that same amount. The input hose should be a non-collapsible hose like a hydraulic hose. I have seen it suck a regular hose from being round to flat. A trailer mounted pressure pump should be able to draw out of the tank. A little air pressure is good as someone mentioned.