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Message
Pressure washer to handle commercial jobs
Posted on 7/24/24 at 6:18 pm
Posted on 7/24/24 at 6:18 pm
Let me preface this by saying I don’t know much about pressure washers. I did search and found some helpful info, though
I’m looking for a unit that I can use to pressure wash my own commercial properties. Buildings are ~2,000 sq ft with concrete parking lots that sit on about an acre each, give or take. I guess I’d also use this for home use as well
Not even sure what I’m looking to spend. Is there anything say sub $2k that can get this type of job done somewhat quickly and efficiently? What am I looking for as far as PSI goes and whatnot? I’m guessing gas is the way to go. I don’t want anything I have to tow. Need to be able to throw in the back of my truck
I’m looking for a unit that I can use to pressure wash my own commercial properties. Buildings are ~2,000 sq ft with concrete parking lots that sit on about an acre each, give or take. I guess I’d also use this for home use as well
Not even sure what I’m looking to spend. Is there anything say sub $2k that can get this type of job done somewhat quickly and efficiently? What am I looking for as far as PSI goes and whatnot? I’m guessing gas is the way to go. I don’t want anything I have to tow. Need to be able to throw in the back of my truck
5
Posted on 7/24/24 at 7:03 pm to GynoSandberg
I used to use 7Hp models that seemed to work fine for parking lots, trailers, and down hole oilfield equipment. 3pm 3k psi give or take. They were over $2k. Anyone can throw together a unit(like generators) so the components are what is important.
For DIY, I think a good USA or Italy made pump is $600+ while a generic chinese triplex is like $150. In between is Canpump for $250 or so. Chinese gas motor is $150 while USA is $300. Double each for electric.
For DIY, I think a good USA or Italy made pump is $600+ while a generic chinese triplex is like $150. In between is Canpump for $250 or so. Chinese gas motor is $150 while USA is $300. Double each for electric.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 7:05 pm to GynoSandberg
3000 -3500psi pressure washer will do the trick. You can buy a 20” patio washer on amazon that will do parking lots a lot quicker. Gas is all you need. Budget depends on brand
Posted on 7/24/24 at 8:05 pm to #1RagleyTiger
What’s the minimum GPM I should be looking at?
Posted on 7/24/24 at 8:18 pm to GynoSandberg
quote:
Need to be able to throw in the back of my truck
Nothing that portable is going to work well enough or last long. This is the thing most people don't know when going from residential/light-commercial pressure washers to industrial/heavy-duty commercial-grade pressure washers is that it is a lot more than just psi/gpm and horsepower numbers. You are not going to find anything worth a shite under $2000. Good pumps from CAT, AR, AAA alone are going to run over $1000. An acre of concrete (almost 44,000 sq-ft), with vehicle fluid stains...you are going to hate how much time you are going to burn with a cheap pressure washer. I own an industrial-grade 9hp Mi-t-M direct-drive pressure washer and I know it isn't up to a task like that. Something you can fit in the back of your truck, with a friend to help push it up a ramp, that's minimally capable and durable is going to be a belt-drive 6+ gpm 3 - 4 ksi and run you around $5,500 not including extra hoses, lines, and a surface unit.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 8:38 pm to Clames
Good info.
What if im more concerned with just doing the buildings?
I was looking at this unit at HD. Sits at 120lb, I can get this in and out of my truck by myself. You think this would suffice?
What if im more concerned with just doing the buildings?
I was looking at this unit at HD. Sits at 120lb, I can get this in and out of my truck by myself. You think this would suffice?
quote:
SIMPSON
4000 PSI 3.5 GPM Cold Water Gas Pressure Washer with HONDA GX270 Engine
Posted on 7/24/24 at 9:06 pm to Clames
lol, bruh. This guy owns the buildings I’m assuming? He’s not doing commercial pressure washing all day all the time. You are waaaaayyy over blowing what OP needs imo.
I used my friends STIHL 800 that’s 429cc which is 28 hp and it’s under $2000 I believe, and it was an absolute beast. I used my surface cleaner which was probably a terrible idea and it sounded like a helicopter was going to take off.
OP I’d suggest renting a mid to full size one first and see how it fits you before spending over $2000. I think any of the good brands like Dewalt, STIHL, Honda, etc that are heavy duty residential 8hp or so will be more than fine to do 3-4 buildings that are 2000 sq ft with acre parking lots.
OP anything over 3 gpms and 3000psi is great for basic surface cleaning and pressure washing. The STIHL I talked about had a handle for both hands, if you only used one hand you really couldn’t control it. I only used I think 30* angle if I went any smaller I’d probably cut my toe off pretty easy. It looks like it was 4200 psi. They probably sell a larger surface cleaner for those bigger motors.
How often does this really need done?
ETA: it’s not the weight as much as the size to pick these up. A good ramp will do it but it needs to be a good ramp.
I used my friends STIHL 800 that’s 429cc which is 28 hp and it’s under $2000 I believe, and it was an absolute beast. I used my surface cleaner which was probably a terrible idea and it sounded like a helicopter was going to take off.
OP I’d suggest renting a mid to full size one first and see how it fits you before spending over $2000. I think any of the good brands like Dewalt, STIHL, Honda, etc that are heavy duty residential 8hp or so will be more than fine to do 3-4 buildings that are 2000 sq ft with acre parking lots.
OP anything over 3 gpms and 3000psi is great for basic surface cleaning and pressure washing. The STIHL I talked about had a handle for both hands, if you only used one hand you really couldn’t control it. I only used I think 30* angle if I went any smaller I’d probably cut my toe off pretty easy. It looks like it was 4200 psi. They probably sell a larger surface cleaner for those bigger motors.
How often does this really need done?
ETA: it’s not the weight as much as the size to pick these up. A good ramp will do it but it needs to be a good ramp.
This post was edited on 7/24/24 at 9:13 pm
Posted on 7/24/24 at 9:51 pm to baldona
Yes I own the buildings. Ten properties that could probably use a wash 2-3 times a year. Like I said, I’m more concerned with getting the buildings clean. $2k was just a number I had in my head, if I can go under on one, then sure, that’s great. I just don’t want to spend all day pressure washing these buildings
Posted on 7/24/24 at 11:21 pm to baldona
quote:
I used my friends STIHL 800 that’s 429cc which is 28 hp and it’s under $2000 I believe, and it was an absolute beast.
Lol, bruh. Try 14hp and while I like and own Stihl equipment that pressure washer is overpriced.
OP, Mi-t-M has small industrial units that can handle the hours, the aluminum cart belt-drive options have Honda GX or Kohler engines. Over $2,000 but you'll probably never wear it out on your buildings and using it at home. If you've got 10 properties, each getting cleaned twice a year plus using around your home, that's probably a good 25 instances of use per year and I don't know about you but a lot of people will always find more to clean than what they intended to initially. That means you are cranking up the pressure washer almost every other week if you spread it out evenly over the year. Doubt you'll do much in the colder months (you'll want to have it flushed with glycol anyway to keep water from freezing in the pump) so you'll probably be a frequent user of whatever you get during the months you'll be using it. Get something you'll actually want to use even if you have to go up to around $3,000 or so, always good to have a little more machine than you will think you need.
This post was edited on 7/25/24 at 12:41 am
Posted on 7/25/24 at 5:19 am to GynoSandberg
GPM > PSI
I would go minimum 4GPM for what you need. You can get a nice unit with a Honda engine and CAT pump for under 2K.
8GPM would be sweet!
I would go minimum 4GPM for what you need. You can get a nice unit with a Honda engine and CAT pump for under 2K.
8GPM would be sweet!
Posted on 7/25/24 at 6:01 am to GynoSandberg
quote:
Ten properties that could probably use a wash 2-3 times a year
What is the plan now?
Do you not have like a maintenance guy or someone that can do this?
10 buildings at twice a year is going to get very old with a quickness for a guy that owns them. I enjoy pressure washing my house and a couple things every now and then, but 20-30 buildings and parking lots a year would be quite a bit of work
Posted on 7/25/24 at 6:38 am to GynoSandberg
We used this brand. Industrial/commercial equipment. Better made than anything from the big box stores.
Mi-T-M
Mi-T-M
Posted on 7/25/24 at 6:52 am to Clames
quote:
Try 14hp and while I like and own Stihl equipment that pressure washer is overpriced.
I only used that for like 3 hours I was simply commenting that the size and build seems more than enough for light commercial use. It’s 429cc is that not over 20 hp? It weighed like 160 lb. STIHL seems routinely overpriced, fwiw. It was just the biggest I’d used.
If OP is using this that often I’d get a very small trailer for it personally. I don’t think I’d want to put it in and out of my truck 30-40 times a year.
You aren’t wrong that a bigger machine is almost always better, now that OP is talking about 10 buildings 2-3 times a year he’s jumping up in the needs most likely. That’s not a job I’d want personally
Posted on 7/25/24 at 7:52 am to GynoSandberg
quote:hire somebody and go on about your day
I just don’t want to spend all day pressure washing these buildings
Posted on 7/25/24 at 8:49 am to baldona
I have a “maintenance” guy but I don’t want him doing this type of menial task. I also own the businesses that reside in the buildings, and he stays busy 7 days a week doing electrical, carpentry etc. I have other workers I can pay to do it if it comes down to it. I’m not worried about the execution of it
And im not concerned with the parking lots, I’ll hire that out if it comes to it. Forget the parking lots
With the rates they charge, the machine can pay for itself after one run of cleaning buildings. And I have something to use around the house, help family out etc
And im not concerned with the parking lots, I’ll hire that out if it comes to it. Forget the parking lots
With the rates they charge, the machine can pay for itself after one run of cleaning buildings. And I have something to use around the house, help family out etc
Posted on 7/25/24 at 9:52 am to GynoSandberg
Buy a large surface cleaner attachment. It'll cut sidewalk/floor cleaning time down to 1/3 of what it would normally be.
Buy a 100' hose instead of what comes with whatever pressure washer you get.
As others have mentioned, if you want something good, the 4000 PSI / 3.5 GPM would be good. Also consider investing in prewash/soft wash chemicals to make the jobs faster and easier.
Buy a 100' hose instead of what comes with whatever pressure washer you get.
As others have mentioned, if you want something good, the 4000 PSI / 3.5 GPM would be good. Also consider investing in prewash/soft wash chemicals to make the jobs faster and easier.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 9:58 am to baldona
quote:
It’s 429cc is that not over 20 hp?
No, 14hp. A Honda GX690 is a 688 cc motor rated at 20hp. There are portable pressure washers that use them, 7 - 8 gpm but pumps that big are fed from water tank as a hose bib can't reliably supply enough water.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 11:29 am to GynoSandberg
chemicals will be your friends on the parking lots
Posted on 7/25/24 at 3:17 pm to GynoSandberg
quote:
I just don’t want to spend all day pressure washing these buildings
No matter the pressure washer you have, its going to take time with 10 buildings. There's only so much that better units can do. Surface cleaning flooring/ concrete is a lot faster with bigger motors and wider cleaning tools. Pressure washing buildings depending on their design is just going to take time, there's a lot of angles, obstacles, and other items you have to work around.
I personally would recommend renting a decent unit for a day and determining the work load. Pressure washing 10 buildings that are 2,000 sq ft 2-3 times a year is A LOT of work for a guy that owns them.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 3:26 pm to baldona
Once again it’s all on what you want to spend. Mite is a great product. I’m in equipment rental and that’s what we use and they get abused.
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