Thanks for adding this. I didn’t get to it but it’s true! Also, people should know that you can’t just leave most pressure washers running on idle while you stop washing. That water heats up and can also burn the pump up without cool water flowing through. Commercial washers have recirculating on systems but most “residential” machines don’t.
Thank you so much for this! I recently lost my dad. It was sudden and unexpected. Tomorrow is my first father's day without him and I wanted to make the house look nice. There are so many things that he never got to teach me. I really appreciate you putting this information out there for people like me. My dad had no siblings and I have no one in my life who could come help me out. But, it's nice to know that there are people like you who can lend a hand. Thank you!
This seems almost too wholesome for RUclips comments! I’m genuinely sorry for your loss and anyone one else watching this for the same reason. Your sharing means a lot… and you are very welcome.
Another tip for normal household pressure washer, don’t let them “idle”. I mean, it is turned on , pump,is running, but you are not letting water out with the wand. This is very tough on pump. Pull,trigger on wand, then turn on washer. When you want to stop, turn off pump, with wand still open. If you read mgrs instructions very carefully, they tell you this. And so,true about wearing right foot wear. SAme is true when mowing lawn. I have big thick rubber boots I wear. Injuries from pressure washers are really bad, your foot may never be the same again. Nice video.
My husband got me a pressure washer for Christmas and since the weather is finally nice, I wanted to start using it. I wanted to watch a few videos because manuals are always vague. And I love how a “what not to do” video is 100 times more helpful than an actual “what to do” video! You’re a natural teacher and I’m excited to start washing safely thanks to this!💚
this is generous and so appreciated! Thank you for the comment! You're invited to join along for the other pressure washing videos (and random dad stuff) of course....
So I've only used this pressure washer one time. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxfQauTxLT0JLSvqkq10rD79TU4k0Vz8zP The one time I used it, it worked great. I recently had new siding installed but kept the old gutters and small areas surrounding my house that weren't replaced so they looked horrible and dirty because of the new siding. I needed to get it cleaned asap. When I used the pressure washer, man it just melted all the dirt and grime that was on those areas of my house. I used that krud kutter soap and it was over after that. Easy to assemble, feels durable, very simple to use. Also, I purchased a used one to save money and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I want to get more use out of it so I think I'll be washing the cars and update this comment as time goes on.
I found this very helpful I was just going to go out and work with my pressure washer wearing sneakers. Now I've got on work boots because you guys reminded me how much pressure is really involved. I also like that while recognizing that people watching are often novices I don't feel talked down to.
Absolutely! I also struggled to find videos that really got back to the basics and cover some of the “little things” that no one was talking about. Im learning more every time I wash… even a few years later since this was made. Thank you for the kind words!
Be very cautious when you first get a pressure washer. You can do a lot of damage if you don't know what you're doing. You can easily destroy vinyl siding and damage the waterproof underlayer if you're not careful.
My best tips... Throw away the zero degree red tip, immediately. There is no practical use for it. Get a nice heavy duty hose. Do not wash large flat surfaces without a surface cleaner. It's going to do it 10x faster and way nicer while keeping you nearly dry in the process. Get the "smallest" extendable wand(or extensions if you need it to be lighter) to wash houses with, it eliminates almost all the ladder work on your typical house and keeps you much safer and dryer, as you're not blasting the surface immediately next to you. And yes, I said the smallest one that extends, they get super heavy very quickly and practically useless once extended passed 14 feet, at that point you are better off getting ontop of a small A-frame ladder for extra height. Start with the widest tip and work your way down, never use the zero degree red tip that you already threw away(please just forget it even exists), and if need be get a turbo nozzle and try to minimize using that as well, make sure the tip is freely rotating without stopping before you blast anything with the turbo nozzle, which is literally just a rotating zero degree tip, and stay far away from anything fragile (windows, doors, screens, old wooden siding etc). Use chemicals as little as possible (unless you know exactly what you are doing), maintain a constant speed, angle, and distance between 6 to 14 inches. Wash in any order you want, but rinse from top down after blasting away the dirt. Use common sense and you'll get the hang of it in no time.
Check this out for some continued advice. It's solid! thanks for contributing! For those looking for more details like this, I hope to contribute more even though there are so many videos out there. Let's get the basics down first before we get wild out there!
If you use stripper (highly basic) buy disposable boots. It will literally melt the boots away over time. Then, when the pressure washer is on and you are trying to wash a deck, it will be like walking on ice. Very slippery. Another thing; there is no such thing as a "plant friendly" soap/surfactant. It doesn't exist. By definition, soaps kill microbes; and if they kill the beneficial soil microbes, nutrient cycling is reduced and it stunts the growth of the plants. Try to never get any large amount of concentrated soap in the soil where healthy plants are.
@Alex k The red tip is uselful for power washing the grease and crap off your motor and in tiny spaces on the engine while especially if your planning on painting it chevy orange for your '70 Nova. Ridiculous tip.
People will say "o yes we have amazing water pressure" and the water will trickle..I always check my gpm and I run a 2.5-3.0gpm 3200-4000 psi set up on residential..It helps keep from any damage..
@@dameronlyon6740 👍 yup, my 35 gallon buffer has a Hudson float valve on top feeding from the supply line, that has two outlets for the pressure washer and softwash. But nonetheless a tank is the best way hands down.
I work for a pressure washing company and the machine we have is one of the beastier ones. I can confirm that the do kick when poping pressure, they can do a lot of damage if not careful. The widest tip we have is a 65 but that is a interchangeable tip. Not the adjustable xjet. Both are good but the difference is the xjet has a connection for chemicals. The interchangeable tips the will sometimes come with the pressure washer will have a tip specifically for chemicals. With the xjet you generally have to carry the chemicals with you because the connection is on the xjet. But for the ones we use we can put a chemical connection at the point between the pressure washer and the hose leading to the gun and have the chemicals sit by the pressure washer. The only thing that's a problem with that is if you forget it's connected there and leave it connected and accidentally run chemicals threw surface cleaner or waist chemicals. I would put a turn off valve before the chemical connection and one at the gun as well so you have more control and less waisted chemicals and water.
That millennial dad thanks for the ♥️ I really like how your spreading info I'm kind of new to the job and watched your video to see if I could learn something although what you said would be common sense not everyone thinks about it or will try to avoid it.
@@Micahshot its going pretty well. I've done 3 pretty big houses so far. Then things slowed down, I'm not focusing on Marketing and advertising to keep customers coming.
Dont need to say anything, except Thank You. Sure glad I listened before I started this project. I have already ruined the front of my old house with a pressure washer I borrowed. Wish I could find a computer guy like you. They all take it for granted that you know what this, that, or the other is. When you have no, I repeat, NO knowledge of what they are telling you to do.
@@CharlotteWaters-dm3yl this comment means a lot and Im grateful for the kind words. I really did try to do my best to make this for people out there with no prior experience. With that in mind, what’s a follow up video to this that YOU wish existed? Or a recommendation?
I bought an electric 2000 psi for my own use from Lowes. Works great, (no gas engine that won't start, no gas to mess with). But use it just at home and own shop for farm equipment to wash. Great buy.
As an RN I can verify our hero's statement about footwear. An injection injury is hell at first and THEN IT GETS WORSE. There's little to do for it except pain control and cutting away the dead tissue as the days go by. Skin grafts are real fun. Pain at the donor site AND the receiving site. STEEL TOED RUBBER BOOTS and not the cut-rate ones either. Always buy them 3-4 sizes larger than your shoe size. Your feet will thank you.
You’re absolutely welcome. We’ve all been there! I hope you’ll follow along/subscribe for other helpful info… and sharing of stuff you don’t need at all!
Hay Bro. ! You had some really good stuff to say about the up & down streaming that 's pretty important ,,.. And I don't recall anybody covering that before. thanks
Today I started my 4000psi 4gpm Powerhorse pressure washer for the first time......I was not ready. Everything I thought I learned went out the window. Cause yeah that sweeping....I was sweeping like I was trying to get gum up with a regular broom smh. I see you have to keep it at an upright angle at the same level. And yeah 4gpm is a lot of water, muddied my lawn. Also tried my turbo nozzle out........😬. This video helped me out a lot. Thanks man. Tomorrow will be better.
Hey, Now you’ve got practice under your belt! It’s a whole new experience when you actually start the washer and things get really loud and messy. Tomorrow will be better!
Not sure I got to this in time but just in case: Closed toed protection for feet, pants to cover the legs and something comfortable that can get wet 👍 oh! And I like to wear my Bluetooth capable ear protection too, but that’s not essential
So, I've pressure washed 2 houses and used sandals and that's 100% true. Not only did I sweep my foot, but you also get brush burns basically from your feet being soaked with dirt and tiny pebbles that get in your sandal because your feet move around a lot in them while they're wet
I live off a dirt road with a white vinyl siding and its stained so bad. Im at a loss of what to use to get the brown yellow stains off. Everybody in the neighborhood thought my house was yellow.😢
@@joe89chev this is a tough one. Water alone will not get it… and SOME chemicals are able to at least lighten the stains. Good luck! I have had to invest in chemicals to have any luck.
Oh geez. I just typed this whole diatribe and accidently did something wrong and poof. So let's start over. I am researching how to clean algae, mold and water stains off my house's exterior walls (stucco or concrete..not sure yet) and was planning on renting a pressure washer. The dude at home depot told me I needed a 4000psi. He insisted. I rallied for one in the 2000 range ($$) plus I pictured an angry jetpack gone rogue and zooming around my neighborhood dragging me with it through yards, flopping like a fish out of water...or blasting my cat's eyeball out accidently. I digress. Home Depot swore I needed the monster. But you tube and my dad all are telling me a lighter pressure will prevent damage or paint chipping and my dad takes it a step further and says no soap or chemicals needed. But in FL, algae and stuff can be hard to remove, according to you tube. So I am getting each side of the spectrum. But no inbetween. I was thinking 2800psi and EZ (supposedly a hazard free, plant safe option that works...??) Thoughts? Also, this house is a sh*&hole and parts of the walls are already mushed in and cracking and there looks to be some questionable rotting going on in some random wood panels near the front door....so there is that. Any ideas, advice or direction welcomed. The good news is I really can't make the house look any worse than it already does so I could just fire away. j/k. do I go with the nancy pressure washer that my grandma uses to clean her birdcages or the almighty aggressor that might actually transport me back to 1955 with Biff and Marty McFLy??
I'm honored that you typed all of this twice! Thank you! That said, here are my thoughts. In Florida where things go green in the BAD way, you will need to kill it. Water won't get it all without damaging... even if it was 4000psi. Don't just blast it! I invite you to watch my video about downstreaming on my channel but I know that may be overkill. I'd recommned a professional with good reviews that does "softwashing" in your area if you can afford it especially with the wood you describe. Those companies are everywhere in Florida since algae and mildew grow so fast! You can also buy a product called "wet and forget" at either home depot or lowes that will take care of a lot of what you are saying. It's pretty impressive. They even have a bottle you can just hook onto a garden hose! I hope that helps and I hope you'll join on the journey!
How often should a brick house get pressure washed? How long should you wait in between the first-time pressure wash and second time? Had a brick house pressure washed for the first time and was informed a second should be done in three months.
Hello! This depends on where you are in the world and how fast it gets dirty. In the southeast USA, I recommend once a year. The recommendation sounds… odd! You don’t have to rewash in 3 months unless you are planning to paint or do something specific. There is no advantage to doing it that often due to it being brick. I hope that helps!
My electric pressure washer has a soap tank. I confirmed it's a downstream system and the soap doesn't go through the pump. The soap is syphoned with a ball valve venturi and mixed with water after the pump.
@@Pystdammit thanks for chipping in! While I’ve experienced less than that… especially when dealing with well water… it’s always relieving to get 4gpm from a house. For those reading and wondering, once your water pump crosses that GPM rating, dont forget to get a buffer tank!
I've noticed (sometimes) after I pressure wash brick surfaces that there's a white chalky, salt looking substance afterwards. What is this and how do I prevent? Am I "burning" the brick with too high a mix? Not rinsing enough, or soon enough?Thank u!
Great question but tricky to answer! I’ll try my best. Sometimes the “chalky” look is something you put onto the outside (sodium hypochlorite for example can dry like salt) of the block and sometimes it’s from inside the block (usually efflorescence) due to reactions of moisture pushing through the block. Hard to know which one it is but if you are soft washing with a mix, it’s possible that it’s reacting with the concrete mix of the block itself. Maybe it needs more rinsing? I’d experiment with a small section of the next one with different mixes in an out-of-view area. Try it without a mix, then with a different percentage, then maybe with a different product? Also consider if it’s concrete block or brick/masonry. I’ve seen it before and it’s not a one size fits all answer. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the question! Foam cannons are awesome but here are the issues you will have to figure out. Is the pressure washer you have strong enough to push the chemicals/soaps out? It probably is but just check. Will chemicals quickly destroy the foam cannon? Can you get enough chemicals within the foam to actually do the work you need it to do? Will you be able to switch back and forth between soap and water to rinse easily enough to make sure you rinse before the chemicals cause damage or dry? I personally would try other things but I suppose it doesn't hurt to carefully experiment with a non-bleach washing product on your personal property to see what happens! That's just my opinion, be careful out there! Also I have a video about downstreaming... ruclips.net/video/FFsKhOB8HSM/видео.htmlsi=YUMoz2GWe-fR503B
THANK YOU for this! I thought the process was like using a garden hose, how hard could this be?😌after watching this VERY informative vid... **I'll jus hire a pro**🤣
Thanks for this great video. Very interesting. I used a pressure washer at a client friend's place the other day, having never ever used one before. I pushed the trigger and it sprayed fine, but then I let it go and then pressed it again and it wouldn't respond to that for a while. Then after a while I pressed the trigger again and it sprayed. Then I let it go and when I pressed it again it wouldn't spray again. Any ideas why this would happen, why I couldn't just press the trigger whenever I wanted to blast water?
This one is interesting. How long did you wait in between stopping and trying to spray? Water pumps need some time to “load”… it sounds like it’s changing gears once you go to spray. That said, it could be a lot of things. The pressure washer motor, the water pump, the water flow from the source (like a house), the washer could simply be dying… I wish I could help! I’d start with my sure there is good water flow going to the washer and making sure you have good oil in the pressure water motor AND water pump… and go from there.
@@ThatMillennialDad I didn't time how long I had to wait. The second time it didn't respond to my pushing the trigger, I just gave up, disconnected the hose and unplugged the pressure washer, and then just washed everything with just a hose and nozzle. There was a slow leak where the hose connects to the pressure washer, that probably didn't help. It has an on/off pedal, looks like every other time you push it you turn it on and every other time you push it you turn it off. Like a toggle switch. So you can't tell if you're turing it on or off. But I pressed it and then the trigger many times, and no spray for a while after I let go of the trigger. It might well have kept spraying if I'd kept holding onto the trigger, who knows.
Another fun fact! If you have a higher Gallon Per Minute (GMP) machine and your water supply cannot feed it at that gpm rate, then the pressure washers pump can seize up. It can run dry, run to fast or overheat. Definitely be mindful of the gpm number.
@@ZAP719 Id say it’s simply one of the risks of not running a buffer tank. You could either have a smaller washer that pulls less water OR MAYBE get fancy and tap into other/multiple alternative supplies for water? All of that might not work, thankfully it’s uncommon in the USA where I’m at. I just run into Well water for farms out in the country that can’t supply as much as home on city water. Less pressure but not problematic
Would you mind sharing the timestamp by just typing the time that I mention it? I might have mentioned "SH" which is short for Sodium Hypochlorite? It's also called "pool shock".
Thanks for the helpful tips. I’m about to get a pressure washer. But most of the ones I’m looking at are about 120 to 140 PSI, I’m guessing you’re talking about some professional versions, not the domestic ones you clean your car or mountain bike with? Or am I getting confused here?
Are you sure they aren’t 1200-1400 psi? Those would be consider “home” and “consumer” grade. 120-140 would be like… a garden hose out of a hose in the USA.
Thank you for your advice. I had not used the electric pressure washer of my late husband and was just thinking about using it this year for my vinyl sidings. I cleaned it manually with long brush and soap last year but I missed a few spots. Hopefully I can also use it to remove the moss on my driveway.
Can you recommend the size unit I should buy to do a stucco home? I tried using a cheap unit and it was useless yet at the same time I’ve heard to big of a unit could cause damage Thanks
@@Mainly-melty I think a unit that’s between 2000-3500 psi going for 2-3 gallons per minute (GPM) is great for household use. That’s just my opinion! Good luck!
@@nicholaspiela4864 Great question! Soap works best in a Milwaukee but if you’re on a budget, get yourself some Amish hand-churned butter cream. Gets the toughest stains out every time.
Usually if you are just switching the tips at the end of the wand, then no. Just don’t leave it running for very long if you aren’t spraying! Up to 30 seconds usually won’t cause problems
Oh my. We borrowed a pressure washer 2 years ago and had so much fun cleaning the patio without any guidance on how to do it. Now I feel like we were lucky to not get injured 😅 Ordered our own just an hour ago and this time I will make sure I am well prepared. Don't want to loose a toe or something 😬
As a proud owner of Crocs… I meant not disrespect HOWEVER… you should tuck them away and lie to them that you’re on a business trip and you’ll be back soon. Then get some washing done.
With cement siding, my first question is going to be “Is it painted? If so, with what?” Just be careful about what’s directly under the mold. Considering it’s mold, you are going to need something like Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorinated bleach) to kill it since mold is organic and spreads with spores. If you don’t do it all of it, it will simply pop up somewhere else soon. Soap is just there to hold it on longer… so that would depend on what you choose to kill it. Know what you mix or it could be deadly! For example, any bleach with any sort of ammonia (found in some dish soaps and detergents) can create deadly gas! Hope that helps!
@@kristinatidwell6563 I have found that many newer homes actually use the minimum amount of primer and paint… one coat of each so it’s very easy for mold and other things to stain and permeate the paint. I would hope that your suggestion is the case, but unfortunately it’s usually only the case in specific areas or where the homeowner has repainted. I hope that makes sense
this was great to the end still not sure about the soap i cleaned the patio kinda can you turn off soap or do you empty the soap out or take hose off for not soap i am a lady 79 years old probabvly could use easy to do help???
If your pressure washer has the soap tank, the SOAP will only come out mixed with the water if you use the "soap" tip that came with your pressure washer. You'll see tips that fit on the wand that are different colors (red, yellow and green are common). The soap tip is black a lot of times. I hope that helps!
Great video! Had a quick question… What pressure setting would you recommend to wash a brick home built in 1995? Any specific cleaner best? I know you said they can damage the pump. I was going to use “mean green”. Thanks for any help, God bless
You’re welcome and thanks for the comment! Getting to the questions: -for the SETTING, pay attention to the degree number/color of the tip. For brick, I would try the 25 degree/green tip and be careful with your distance (like in the b-roll of the video). If the brick is in good condition, this shouldn’t be a problem but be cautious as you go. - As far as the chemical, something like “mean green” can help. If you are going to spray it through your pressure washer, make sure you rinse it when you are done by putting water in the soap tank. Some of their products do have diluted chlorinated bleach in them. That’s what will rust things from the inside out if you’re not careful! Brick doesn’t need a specific cleaner, but I’ll note that some of those common cleaners make it a little easier since it’s a very porous surface. I hope that helps and I hope you’ll follow along to check out the videos I have planned for the near future!
Keep the want pointing straight down. Or keep at the same distance away from the surface you are washing. If you sweep you are 6 inches away in the middle but on the sweep you 10 inches away creating a patter. So the dance is just taking little steps and moving yourself instead of moving the wand.
Great question! For most washers that size, it would not work from a barrel unless there was enough pressure from a very large tank that would be comparable to the PSI comity out of a home. The exception to this would be if the water pump on your washer was BELT driven. Most pumps on 1800 psi washers are not belt driven. They call them “direct drive”. Thanks for the question and I hope you’ll follow along for other videos!
Well this depends on what you are washing, your market and frankly... what you can handle. There is a range. I have seen one "standard range" where I am is between 10-25 cents (USD) per sq ft depending on factors. so 5000 sq ft could be between $500-$1250 depending on many things. I'm not the expert, but I've found the healthy spot for my market with experience and sometimes getting turned down!
bought A NEW RYOBI 2900 PSI THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE will not disconnect from the pump or the handle , I don't want to wrench it , it was the first use . I only hand tightened
Hi sir. Good video. I was working on getting an old pressure washer running and my neighbor came by to ask if i could pressure wash his house and pay me after i got it running. So I did get it running and now i have never pressure washed anything but I have heard to be cautious since my machine is 3500 PSI... how much would this kind of work charge the customer? And what kind of suggestion of caution ? Should i just stand further away or use a less aggressive nozzle? I'd say the house is two story and probably no more than 1200 sq feet if that matters....
We if you look through some of the comment section you might find more helpful info. The summary is that it’s hard to know what you can charge someone fairly. Lots of factors but most of all… has anyone charge you for your house in your area? Do you have a gauge of what companies charge? You shouldn’t charge more than them of course but that gives you an idea. Since it’s your first time, I would think of it as a really valuable learning experience where you are really REALLY careful. Stay back and use the widest tip possible but DONT do it if what you are washing seems damaged or like it’s not worth the risk. Don’t chase the money! Chase the knowledge.
I’m coming late to the game, but I just bought a Greenworks Pro 2700 PSI Electric Power Washer. Please share your thoughts on doing windows. We have huge 2 story windows along the back of our house which are covered with screen tinting. We had a windstorm awhile back causing all of our windows to need cleaning. Since the windows are so tall and big, I purchased the power washer mainly to reach them and keep them clean. Which sprayer should I use for our 1st and 2nd story screened picture windows? I’m assuming that I fan out and just barely apply pressure. The main reason I bought the washer is to keep our windows clean.
I’ll do my best to answer this so that it helps: There are a lot of specifics to your situation that make it hard to say “do this” or “don’t do that”. Screen tinting, size, height, etc. Pressure washing will get the water up there but it depends on how you define “clean” as well. Correct, don’t use a lot of pressure (wider tip), keep your distance and consider using a basic soap solution to help work for you instead of depending only on water. Good luck!
I just upgraded my 2.6gpm to a 4.7gpm and it scares the crap out of me. Haha. Same PSI between the machines but the increased gpm is insane. It’s not as easy to hold and control as some of these guys make it look.
Thanks for sharing and confirming! Yeah man. The first time I used an 8GPM pressure washer, it actually knocked me off balance when I popped the pressure to start. Good luck out there and thanks for being here. I hope you’ll follow along!
So when people have 8gpm + pressure washers do they use tanks and fill it with customers water first and then refill it once it’s empty with the customers hose or water reservoir once it’s empty and repeat?
Thanks for the comment! So usually for pros, we/they carry a large water tank and simultaneously fill and draw from it while washing. (Carrying it full can be an enormous weight! Many tow the tank 1/3 full or less) They can do this using something like a Hudson valve that automatically shuts off the water once the tank is full. 8gpm can drain a 250gallon tank pretty fast so it’s constantly refilling.
Hi i am a 17 years old and i want to start a side hustle with a 250 dollar machine and to clean cars and parking lots and stuff like that. I learned actually a lot from the video and i hope if you can give some tips like how much money should i charge and what kind of chemicals should i use and just a small question, how much time it generally takes to wash a single car including using a foam gun first and then using the power wash with only water? Anyway thanks for this video and the tips!
It’s great that you are looking for a hustle and getting out there! For charging, it’s subjective to the area but here are some thought. Is this for individuals or for a business that needs lots of cars washed? How much do mobile detailers charge in your area (Call or Google them)? How much soap/supplies do you need to buy for each car? And for the time… for me, if you are ONLY rinsing THEN foaming THEN rinsing and toweling… I would allow at least 30min for a car. Adding services would add time of course
I am only a beginner at pressure washing I am 12 years old I am going to use the Greenworks 1800 PSI 1.1-Gallon-GPM Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer is that good for washing walk ways
Hey! Thanks for the comment. Can that size washer clean the walkways? Yes! Will it do it quickly? No. Remember to slide, don’t sweep 😉 I’d recommend taking your time, wearing good shoes and even pants, wear some glasses to protect your eyes and use the 25 degree green tip. There are other tips and attachments out there for your “wand” to make it go faster but that requires money! Oh… and sunscreen is good too since it will take a while.
Question...for a decent power washer (i have a Simpson 3000 psi) how many hours can you realistically expect to use a power washer before the pump blows up? I've heard with typical use an maintenance,some pressure washer pumps only last about 100-150 hours of use. If your running a power washing side-business,that 100-150 hours could be used up in a month! Any advice on how long to expect a pump to last and how to keep it from breaking down? Thanks!
Great question! The simple answer is “it depends”. Mostly, I has to do with the quality of the manufacturing and how well you maintain it. If you always have water running to it while it’s on, change the oil at recommended intervals, don’t let it idle for long periods, and generally treat it well… I would HOPE it last longer than that. It just depends! I’ve seen some lay less but they were “bargain” washers to begin with. My 4gpm unit is on its second Annovi Reverberi pump but I used it well over 250 hours and I bought it used. Not what you wanted but i hope that helps!
If it’s a built-in soap tank underneath, check to make sure 1) you are using the correct “soap tip” 2) everything is hooked up and filled up underneath so that the tube is reaching the soap and 3) that the soap itself is approved for that washer type. That’s where I’d start!
I painted my exterior brick/ slump block, turned out darker that I wanted. Can I power wash with bleach to lighten the color a few shades? I don't want to repaint.
While I feel a little out of my field here, I know that you can did a little more RUclips research about products that could help speed up the fading process of paint. Bleach will help that but keep in mind that it’s hard to control it being an even fade. The pro recommendation is to simply paint again but there are diy workarounds. Just not sure which one is efficient and most common.
I have white cars , one of them havent been used for along time , the paint built up black dots like a tuff black stain on the paint , What features for the water pressure machine you recommend me to buy when it comes to the PSI , 2030 PSI would do it ?or i need a stronger pressure for it ? Gonna be using a house backyard water tap for it, Thanks.
With a standard pressure washer around that psi strength, it should come with different colored tips. If you have stains, I’d actually see if you can get them off with soap and sponge first. If not, Do NOT get too close and try a 40 degree tip (white color here in the USA) and see if anything comes off. But be warned, that sort of staining means the paint is fading and there is not clear coat protection. You could easily strip paint off and I don’t want you to do that. Be careful!
With full understanding that this could be trolling or sarcastic… imagine sweeping a floor. A you are creating a pendulum therefore… the tip is closer to the ground in the middle and further away on the extension of your “sweep”… so you leave streaks on concrete. ✌️
So my Ryobi pressure washer has a tank included but it has a letter that says no bleach so I'm assuming that's an upstream injector is it possible to reroute it and use it as a downstream injector?
Great question! Yes, that means that it has a small injection valve that is built into the pump (underneath). You can purchase a separate “downstream injector” kit that is the appropriate size, in gallons per minute, for your washer. If you choose to buy that kit, make sure it comes with the correct size of “soap tip”. If not, you’ll need to buy one of those as well. If you were going to use this setup a lot, I’d recommend that you use quick connect fittings for your injector and hoses to make life easier. (If not, maybe just make a safe mix for a one time use through a pump sprayer for what you are cleaning). Rerouting is really about getting the fittings to match up so that the injector is in line with your pressure hose outside of your pump. Make sure that whatever you inject is diluted appropriately but… this would accomplish what you want.
I appreciate this video, just landed a job so I am happy to GOD for it. Will subscribe and view all of your videos. Would you say that the green tip is appropriate for a building that is not that dirty???
You’re welcome! I appreciate it. The green tip is usually 25 degree and is commonly used BUT it’s not necessarily best for every washing. Have you considered downstreaming an appropriate chemical if it’s not that dirty so you don’t have to use pressure? I have a video on that. Also, consider the condition of the surface before you spray it at all!
@@ThatMillennialDad I have to watch your video, I am not familiar with the process, thank you for sharing this. If I have any questions, would it be okay to reach out to you???
No sense in getting too much. Rather than the brand, I look for who they bought the motor and water pump from. I prefer Honda small engines so I look for that first. Again, not something too powerful or too expensive to get started. Good luck!
I am a renter and the driveway/parking area here is extremely uneven and has several large dips. The dirt really accumulates in the indents as does ice in the winter. There is so much dirt in the dips that when it rains dirty water splashes up on my car and it becomes quite dirty. How can I clean this uneven surface with a pressure washer? Do I clean out the gullies first and then the rest of the driveway? Do you have a recommended approach? I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks
Thanks for asking! There are lots of different tip sizes and attachments you could use to get the job done faster or less messy based on your budget. That’s a long topic but just know that “surface cleaners” spin and make it go faster. As far as the approach, I would work downhill to use gravity to your advantage. Sometimes using an edger to clear out along the edges along the parking area will allow the water to flow out better but you can only do so much in these scenarios. Regarding the gullies, I would deep clean them first (fast so you don’t puddle too much water), the do the driveway, then come back last to rinse out what runs back into the gullies for a final touch up.
I would add another “what not to do” never start your pressure washer before turning on the water FIRST! You can easily burn out the pump that way
Thanks for adding this. I didn’t get to it but it’s true! Also, people should know that you can’t just leave most pressure washers running on idle while you stop washing. That water heats up and can also burn the pump up without cool water flowing through. Commercial washers have recirculating on systems but most “residential” machines don’t.
Thanks buddy
@@ThatMillennialDad Or crack the motor with the sudden cooldown when the trigger is pulled.
Thankyou jack web
Thank you. I've already made that mistake by accident!
Thank you so much for this! I recently lost my dad. It was sudden and unexpected. Tomorrow is my first father's day without him and I wanted to make the house look nice. There are so many things that he never got to teach me. I really appreciate you putting this information out there for people like me. My dad had no siblings and I have no one in my life who could come help me out. But, it's nice to know that there are people like you who can lend a hand. Thank you!
This seems almost too wholesome for RUclips comments! I’m genuinely sorry for your loss and anyone one else watching this for the same reason. Your sharing means a lot… and you are very welcome.
@Rissa Roo Your dad has an awesome daughter.
Praying for you dear one.
Prayers and love. So sorry for your loss.
❤🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Another tip for normal household pressure washer, don’t let them “idle”. I mean, it is turned on , pump,is running, but you are not letting water out with the wand. This is very tough on pump. Pull,trigger on wand, then turn on washer. When you want to stop, turn off pump, with wand still open. If you read mgrs instructions very carefully, they tell you this. And so,true about wearing right foot wear. SAme is true when mowing lawn. I have big thick rubber boots I wear. Injuries from pressure washers are really bad, your foot may never be the same again. Nice video.
Thanks for the kind words and spreading the knowledge! I know it’ll help some people!
My husband got me a pressure washer for Christmas and since the weather is finally nice, I wanted to start using it. I wanted to watch a few videos because manuals are always vague. And I love how a “what not to do” video is 100 times more helpful than an actual “what to do” video! You’re a natural teacher and I’m excited to start washing safely thanks to this!💚
this is generous and so appreciated! Thank you for the comment! You're invited to join along for the other pressure washing videos (and random dad stuff) of course....
So I've only used this pressure washer one time. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxfQauTxLT0JLSvqkq10rD79TU4k0Vz8zP The one time I used it, it worked great. I recently had new siding installed but kept the old gutters and small areas surrounding my house that weren't replaced so they looked horrible and dirty because of the new siding. I needed to get it cleaned asap. When I used the pressure washer, man it just melted all the dirt and grime that was on those areas of my house. I used that krud kutter soap and it was over after that. Easy to assemble, feels durable, very simple to use. Also, I purchased a used one to save money and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I want to get more use out of it so I think I'll be washing the cars and update this comment as time goes on.
Not sure I understand the comment but… I wasn’t using an electric washer in this video. They are getting better though! Just not enough for what I do.
I found this very helpful I was just going to go out and work with my pressure washer wearing sneakers.
Now I've got on work boots because you guys reminded me how much pressure is really involved.
I also like that while recognizing that people watching are often novices I don't feel talked down to.
Absolutely! I also struggled to find videos that really got back to the basics and cover some of the “little things” that no one was talking about. Im learning more every time I wash… even a few years later since this was made. Thank you for the kind words!
This is my first time watching your channel. I learned a lot.
You are a natural born teacher!!
[blushing] Oh stop it.
Just started my pressure washing business a few days ago. Thank you for this information.
You’re welcome! Be careful, take your time, don’t compare yourself with others further down the road than you and enjoy it!
Be very cautious when you first get a pressure washer. You can do a lot of damage if you don't know what you're doing. You can easily destroy vinyl siding and damage the waterproof underlayer if you're not careful.
absolutely!
Thank you for the advice, im new to using these tools . I had no idea how unsafe it could be.. You saved my life 😊
Woah. And I thought I was just saving toes! Thanks for the kind words. We all start somewhere
My best tips... Throw away the zero degree red tip, immediately. There is no practical use for it. Get a nice heavy duty hose. Do not wash large flat surfaces without a surface cleaner. It's going to do it 10x faster and way nicer while keeping you nearly dry in the process. Get the "smallest" extendable wand(or extensions if you need it to be lighter) to wash houses with, it eliminates almost all the ladder work on your typical house and keeps you much safer and dryer, as you're not blasting the surface immediately next to you. And yes, I said the smallest one that extends, they get super heavy very quickly and practically useless once extended passed 14 feet, at that point you are better off getting ontop of a small A-frame ladder for extra height. Start with the widest tip and work your way down, never use the zero degree red tip that you already threw away(please just forget it even exists), and if need be get a turbo nozzle and try to minimize using that as well, make sure the tip is freely rotating without stopping before you blast anything with the turbo nozzle, which is literally just a rotating zero degree tip, and stay far away from anything fragile (windows, doors, screens, old wooden siding etc). Use chemicals as little as possible (unless you know exactly what you are doing), maintain a constant speed, angle, and distance between 6 to 14 inches. Wash in any order you want, but rinse from top down after blasting away the dirt. Use common sense and you'll get the hang of it in no time.
Check this out for some continued advice. It's solid! thanks for contributing! For those looking for more details like this, I hope to contribute more even though there are so many videos out there. Let's get the basics down first before we get wild out there!
Thanks bro
If you use stripper (highly basic) buy disposable boots. It will literally melt the boots away over time. Then, when the pressure washer is on and you are trying to wash a deck, it will be like walking on ice. Very slippery. Another thing; there is no such thing as a "plant friendly" soap/surfactant. It doesn't exist. By definition, soaps kill microbes; and if they kill the beneficial soil microbes, nutrient cycling is reduced and it stunts the growth of the plants. Try to never get any large amount of concentrated soap in the soil where healthy plants are.
@Alex k
The red tip is uselful for power washing the grease and crap off your motor and in tiny spaces on the engine while especially if your planning on painting it chevy orange for your '70 Nova. Ridiculous tip.
*you're
People will say "o yes we have amazing water pressure" and the water will trickle..I always check my gpm and I run a 2.5-3.0gpm 3200-4000 psi set up on residential..It helps keep from any damage..
That’s why I run mine off a buffer tank.
@@jamesg863 I got one of those ibc tanks and bought the fittings and made my own
@@dameronlyon6740 👍 yup, my 35 gallon buffer has a Hudson float valve on top feeding from the supply line, that has two outlets for the pressure washer and softwash. But nonetheless a tank is the best way hands down.
Very informative especially the upstream part and release the pressure part.
I appreciate it! Also, I have the additional video on down-streaming if you plan to do it. Either way, good luck to you!
I work for a pressure washing company and the machine we have is one of the beastier ones. I can confirm that the do kick when poping pressure, they can do a lot of damage if not careful. The widest tip we have is a 65 but that is a interchangeable tip. Not the adjustable xjet. Both are good but the difference is the xjet has a connection for chemicals. The interchangeable tips the will sometimes come with the pressure washer will have a tip specifically for chemicals. With the xjet you generally have to carry the chemicals with you because the connection is on the xjet. But for the ones we use we can put a chemical connection at the point between the pressure washer and the hose leading to the gun and have the chemicals sit by the pressure washer. The only thing that's a problem with that is if you forget it's connected there and leave it connected and accidentally run chemicals threw surface cleaner or waist chemicals. I would put a turn off valve before the chemical connection and one at the gun as well so you have more control and less waisted chemicals and water.
That millennial dad thanks for the ♥️ I really like how your spreading info I'm kind of new to the job and watched your video to see if I could learn something although what you said would be common sense not everyone thinks about it or will try to avoid it.
Great video about pressure washing. I watched alot of different videos and this one is the most knowledgeable
While I have my doubts, I won't argue with that! Thank you!
Cheers pal about to pressure wash my garden. Thanks from England 👍🏼
Cheers from the southeast USA! Hope it goes/went well! Let me know if you lose a toe or two!
Kidding of course since you saw this.
Your garden? Aren't you going to kill all your plants? Is that what you're trying to do
Just bought a pressure washer today. Hoping to get my business up and running soon. This was very informative
Gl
How's it going to far?
@@Micahshot its going pretty well. I've done 3 pretty big houses so far. Then things slowed down, I'm not focusing on Marketing and advertising to keep customers coming.
@@kingofkings8709 how much did you make from 3 houses?
@@Micahshot I did one for 400, one for 475, and the last one was the largest of the 3 and I charged him 650. The large one took about 7 hours.
Dont need to say anything, except Thank You. Sure glad I listened before I started this project. I have already ruined the front of my old house with a pressure washer I borrowed. Wish I could find a computer guy like you. They all take it for granted that you know what this, that, or the other is. When you have no, I repeat, NO knowledge of what they are telling you to do.
@@CharlotteWaters-dm3yl this comment means a lot and Im grateful for the kind words. I really did try to do my best to make this for people out there with no prior experience. With that in mind, what’s a follow up video to this that YOU wish existed? Or a recommendation?
I bought an electric 2000 psi for my own use from Lowes. Works great, (no gas engine that won't start, no gas to mess with). But use it just at home and own shop for farm equipment to wash. Great buy.
Awesome! I admit that electric is improving. Thanks for sharing!
As an RN I can verify our hero's statement about footwear. An injection injury is hell at first and THEN IT GETS WORSE. There's little to do for it except pain control and cutting away the dead tissue as the days go by. Skin grafts are real fun. Pain at the donor site AND the receiving site. STEEL TOED RUBBER BOOTS and not the cut-rate ones either. Always buy them 3-4 sizes larger than your shoe size. Your feet will thank you.
Our feet appreciate you!
Absolutely. Preferably wellies, waterproofs, eye protectors, old clothes. First time I did it I was covered in dirt.
Way more dirt than we ever expect…
Thank you so much from someone who has no idea what or how to do this. You are a Godsend.
You’re absolutely welcome. We’ve all been there! I hope you’ll follow along/subscribe for other helpful info… and sharing of stuff you don’t need at all!
Hay Bro. ! You had some really good stuff to say about the up & down streaming that 's pretty important ,,.. And I don't recall anybody covering that before. thanks
You're welcome! I did try to mention some things that I specifically hadn't heard people talking about. Thanks for the comment!
Today I started my 4000psi 4gpm Powerhorse pressure washer for the first time......I was not ready. Everything I thought I learned went out the window. Cause yeah that sweeping....I was sweeping like I was trying to get gum up with a regular broom smh. I see you have to keep it at an upright angle at the same level. And yeah 4gpm is a lot of water, muddied my lawn. Also tried my turbo nozzle out........😬. This video helped me out a lot. Thanks man. Tomorrow will be better.
Hey, Now you’ve got practice under your belt! It’s a whole new experience when you actually start the washer and things get really loud and messy. Tomorrow will be better!
I am going to do my first power washing tomorrow. What should I wear? Any tips please!
Not sure I got to this in time but just in case: Closed toed protection for feet, pants to cover the legs and something comfortable that can get wet 👍 oh! And I like to wear my Bluetooth capable ear protection too, but that’s not essential
Excellent covering all the most important points I’m learning a lot.
I appreciate the comment and I hope it leads to good things for you.
So, I've pressure washed 2 houses and used sandals and that's 100% true. Not only did I sweep my foot, but you also get brush burns basically from your feet being soaked with dirt and tiny pebbles that get in your sandal because your feet move around a lot in them while they're wet
You are brave… you have learned… and thank you for confirming my point! 😆 I hope you’ll stick around for what I have planned. Best of luck out there!
@@ThatMillennialDad I don't know about brave. But I sure learned my lesson :)
@@Jay-Kaizo hey, going outside seems to be an act of courage in 2024… right? Haha.
I live off a dirt road with a white vinyl siding and its stained so bad. Im at a loss of what to use to get the brown yellow stains off. Everybody in the neighborhood thought my house was yellow.😢
@@joe89chev this is a tough one. Water alone will not get it… and SOME chemicals are able to at least lighten the stains. Good luck! I have had to invest in chemicals to have any luck.
I'm glad you didn't add any video on it, because then we'd get to see it.
Me too... me too
My dad, my son, my husband, and my brother in law are all gone. I have no idea how to do any of this stuff. So I'm going to give it a try.
You are not alone! Cheering for you! Feel free to ask questions or scroll through the comments after you watch to see what’s helpful!
Awesome video and great tips. 👍
Honestly before this video I was about to do some of your NOT TO DO list 😅
Now I won't! thanks
Glad I could help! Be safe out there and enjoy the shower 😉
Oh geez. I just typed this whole diatribe and accidently did something wrong and poof. So let's start over. I am researching how to clean algae, mold and water stains off my house's exterior walls (stucco or concrete..not sure yet) and was planning on renting a pressure washer. The dude at home depot told me I needed a 4000psi. He insisted. I rallied for one in the 2000 range ($$) plus I pictured an angry jetpack gone rogue and zooming around my neighborhood dragging me with it through yards, flopping like a fish out of water...or blasting my cat's eyeball out accidently. I digress. Home Depot swore I needed the monster. But you tube and my dad all are telling me a lighter pressure will prevent damage or paint chipping and my dad takes it a step further and says no soap or chemicals needed. But in FL, algae and stuff can be hard to remove, according to you tube. So I am getting each side of the spectrum. But no inbetween. I was thinking 2800psi and EZ (supposedly a hazard free, plant safe option that works...??) Thoughts? Also, this house is a sh*&hole and parts of the walls are already mushed in and cracking and there looks to be some questionable rotting going on in some random wood panels near the front door....so there is that. Any ideas, advice or direction welcomed. The good news is I really can't make the house look any worse than it already does so I could just fire away. j/k. do I go with the nancy pressure washer that my grandma uses to clean her birdcages or the almighty aggressor that might actually transport me back to 1955 with Biff and Marty McFLy??
I'm honored that you typed all of this twice! Thank you! That said, here are my thoughts. In Florida where things go green in the BAD way, you will need to kill it. Water won't get it all without damaging... even if it was 4000psi. Don't just blast it! I invite you to watch my video about downstreaming on my channel but I know that may be overkill. I'd recommned a professional with good reviews that does "softwashing" in your area if you can afford it especially with the wood you describe. Those companies are everywhere in Florida since algae and mildew grow so fast! You can also buy a product called "wet and forget" at either home depot or lowes that will take care of a lot of what you are saying. It's pretty impressive. They even have a bottle you can just hook onto a garden hose! I hope that helps and I hope you'll join on the journey!
How often should a brick house get pressure washed? How long should you wait in between the first-time pressure wash and second time? Had a brick house pressure washed for the first time and was informed a second should be done in three months.
Hello! This depends on where you are in the world and how fast it gets dirty. In the southeast USA, I recommend once a year.
The recommendation sounds… odd! You don’t have to rewash in 3 months unless you are planning to paint or do something specific. There is no advantage to doing it that often due to it being brick. I hope that helps!
My electric pressure washer has a soap tank. I confirmed it's a downstream system and the soap doesn't go through the pump. The soap is syphoned with a ball valve venturi and mixed with water after the pump.
Kudos to you for taking the time to investigate how your washer works! Best of luck
Standard GPM is 4 for residential.
@@Pystdammit thanks for chipping in! While I’ve experienced less than that… especially when dealing with well water… it’s always relieving to get 4gpm from a house. For those reading and wondering, once your water pump crosses that GPM rating, dont forget to get a buffer tank!
I've noticed (sometimes) after I pressure wash brick surfaces that there's a white chalky, salt looking substance afterwards. What is this and how do I prevent? Am I "burning" the brick with too high a mix? Not rinsing enough, or soon enough?Thank u!
Great question but tricky to answer! I’ll try my best. Sometimes the “chalky” look is something you put onto the outside (sodium hypochlorite for example can dry like salt) of the block and sometimes it’s from inside the block (usually efflorescence) due to reactions of moisture pushing through the block. Hard to know which one it is but if you are soft washing with a mix, it’s possible that it’s reacting with the concrete mix of the block itself.
Maybe it needs more rinsing?
I’d experiment with a small section of the next one with different mixes in an out-of-view area. Try it without a mix, then with a different percentage, then maybe with a different product?
Also consider if it’s concrete block or brick/masonry. I’ve seen it before and it’s not a one size fits all answer. I hope that helps!
Great video. Helped out alot. Father of 6. Just bought a pressure washer !!!!
That's awesome! Hopes this helps around the house and beyond. Also, good luck being an awesome dad! Thanks for following!
UAP taskforce
1st tip for having 6 kids: it's ok to make the kids move the wood pile.
I don't have xjet nor downstream yet, can I use a mjc foam cannon? it can adjust how thin or thickness for foam it shoots out
Thanks for the question! Foam cannons are awesome but here are the issues you will have to figure out. Is the pressure washer you have strong enough to push the chemicals/soaps out? It probably is but just check. Will chemicals quickly destroy the foam cannon? Can you get enough chemicals within the foam to actually do the work you need it to do? Will you be able to switch back and forth between soap and water to rinse easily enough to make sure you rinse before the chemicals cause damage or dry? I personally would try other things but I suppose it doesn't hurt to carefully experiment with a non-bleach washing product on your personal property to see what happens! That's just my opinion, be careful out there! Also I have a video about downstreaming... ruclips.net/video/FFsKhOB8HSM/видео.htmlsi=YUMoz2GWe-fR503B
Thank you for posting this video because it is extremely helpful.
You’re welcome!
Very helpful tips. Thank you!
@@susanepstein5874 you’re welcome!
THANK YOU for this! I thought the process was like using a garden hose, how hard could this be?😌after watching this VERY informative vid... **I'll jus hire a pro**🤣
Hey it's hard to know what we don't know! You're welcome!
GREAT rules to follow
Thanks!
I love tips 😂😊. This was a great video!
I appreciate that! YOURE WELCOME 😄
Thanks for this great video. Very interesting. I used a pressure washer at a client friend's place the other day, having never ever used one before. I pushed the trigger and it sprayed fine, but then I let it go and then pressed it again and it wouldn't respond to that for a while. Then after a while I pressed the trigger again and it sprayed. Then I let it go and when I pressed it again it wouldn't spray again. Any ideas why this would happen, why I couldn't just press the trigger whenever I wanted to blast water?
This one is interesting. How long did you wait in between stopping and trying to spray? Water pumps need some time to “load”… it sounds like it’s changing gears once you go to spray. That said, it could be a lot of things. The pressure washer motor, the water pump, the water flow from the source (like a house), the washer could simply be dying… I wish I could help!
I’d start with my sure there is good water flow going to the washer and making sure you have good oil in the pressure water motor AND water pump… and go from there.
@@ThatMillennialDad I didn't time how long I had to wait. The second time it didn't respond to my pushing the trigger, I just gave up, disconnected the hose and unplugged the pressure washer, and then just washed everything with just a hose and nozzle. There was a slow leak where the hose connects to the pressure washer, that probably didn't help. It has an on/off pedal, looks like every other time you push it you turn it on and every other time you push it you turn it off. Like a toggle switch. So you can't tell if you're turing it on or off. But I pressed it and then the trigger many times, and no spray for a while after I let go of the trigger. It might well have kept spraying if I'd kept holding onto the trigger, who knows.
Another fun fact! If you have a higher Gallon Per Minute (GMP) machine and your water supply cannot feed it at that gpm rate, then the pressure washers pump can seize up. It can run dry, run to fast or overheat. Definitely be mindful of the gpm number.
Absolutely! Don’t underestimate it!!!
Ran into this the other day. Just used a different supply and got lucky. Wonder how to prevent this without a buffer tank?
@@ZAP719 Id say it’s simply one of the risks of not running a buffer tank. You could either have a smaller washer that pulls less water OR MAYBE get fancy and tap into other/multiple alternative supplies for water? All of that might not work, thankfully it’s uncommon in the USA where I’m at. I just run into Well water for farms out in the country that can’t supply as much as home on city water. Less pressure but not problematic
*too
Woah I appreciate RUclips so much for these type of videos ! Thank you
You are very welcome! Thanks for commenting liking and subscribing! Also… Thanks for being safe out there :-)
Could somebody clarify what he means by HE or se on the concrete Is he talked about a Sullivan
Would you mind sharing the timestamp by just typing the time that I mention it? I might have mentioned "SH" which is short for Sodium Hypochlorite? It's also called "pool shock".
@@ThatMillennialDad Thank you much appreciated
Thanks for the helpful tips. I’m about to get a pressure washer. But most of the ones I’m looking at are about 120 to 140 PSI, I’m guessing you’re talking about some professional versions, not the domestic ones you clean your car or mountain bike with? Or am I getting confused here?
Are you sure they aren’t 1200-1400 psi? Those would be consider “home” and “consumer” grade. 120-140 would be like… a garden hose out of a hose in the USA.
@@ThatMillennialDad thanks for replying. I got mixed up. They are 120-140 Bar. They don’t always say how much psi they are.
@@domtomas1178 you’re welcome. Follow along for more helpful info! And feel free to drop more questions
Great video. Thank you
That's encouraging! I appreciate it!
I didn’t understand upstream/downstream until now, thank you 😊
Glad to help!
Thank you for your advice. I had not used the electric pressure washer of my late husband and was just thinking about using it this year for my vinyl sidings. I cleaned it manually with long brush and soap last year but I missed a few spots. Hopefully I can also use it to remove the moss on my driveway.
That washer should be able to take care of that moss for you! All the best to you!
Can you recommend the size unit I should buy to do a stucco home?
I tried using a cheap unit and it was useless yet at the same time I’ve heard to big of a unit could cause damage
Thanks
@@Mainly-melty I think a unit that’s between 2000-3500 psi going for 2-3 gallons per minute (GPM) is great for household use. That’s just my opinion! Good luck!
Looking to get into the pressure washing business. I'm definitely saving this video.
Awesome! Feel free to subscribe as I work on some more videos about washing and small business in the future!
You just talked me into hiring someone 😂
My guess is that you were worried about your toes? 😁
What soap is good for the upstream on the Ryobi?
@@nicholaspiela4864 Great question! Soap works best in a Milwaukee but if you’re on a budget, get yourself some Amish hand-churned butter cream. Gets the toughest stains out every time.
Starting a job with a pressure washing company. Hoping within a year can start my own buisness
That’s a great way to learn a lot without as much liability while learning from others who have experience. Best of luck!
@@ThatMillennialDad appreciate it man
Do you need to shut the machine down when you are switching tips for different surfaces?
Usually if you are just switching the tips at the end of the wand, then no. Just don’t leave it running for very long if you aren’t spraying! Up to 30 seconds usually won’t cause problems
Oh my. We borrowed a pressure washer 2 years ago and had so much fun cleaning the patio without any guidance on how to do it.
Now I feel like we were lucky to not get injured 😅
Ordered our own just an hour ago and this time I will make sure I am well prepared. Don't want to loose a toe or something 😬
Glad you had fun AND you still have your toes! 🤘🤘
Great video ,good insights and knowledge of product..
thanks so much!
I feel attacked. My Crocs clean off so well when I'm done power washing.
As a proud owner of Crocs… I meant not disrespect HOWEVER… you should tuck them away and lie to them that you’re on a business trip and you’ll be back soon. Then get some washing done.
We have mold on cement siding. Recommended soap or chemicals?
With cement siding, my first question is going to be “Is it painted? If so, with what?” Just be careful about what’s directly under the mold. Considering it’s mold, you are going to need something like Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorinated bleach) to kill it since mold is organic and spreads with spores. If you don’t do it all of it, it will simply pop up somewhere else soon. Soap is just there to hold it on longer… so that would depend on what you choose to kill it. Know what you mix or it could be deadly! For example, any bleach with any sort of ammonia (found in some dish soaps and detergents) can create deadly gas! Hope that helps!
@@ThatMillennialDad
Wouldn't the siding be painted with a version of Kilz to seal the cement before it's painted with the color paint like Behr??
@@kristinatidwell6563 I have found that many newer homes actually use the minimum amount of primer and paint… one coat of each so it’s very easy for mold and other things to stain and permeate the paint. I would hope that your suggestion is the case, but unfortunately it’s usually only the case in specific areas or where the homeowner has repainted. I hope that makes sense
Damn bro I have a back problem I’m not about To dance with it all day I’ll have to modify the method. Thanks for the tips!!
Just find a dance that doesn’t hurt that back… I’m sure you can find a way, lol
this was great to the end still not sure about the soap i cleaned the patio kinda can you turn off soap or do you empty the soap out or take hose off for not soap i am a lady 79 years old probabvly could use easy to do help???
If your pressure washer has the soap tank, the SOAP will only come out mixed with the water if you use the "soap" tip that came with your pressure washer. You'll see tips that fit on the wand that are different colors (red, yellow and green are common). The soap tip is black a lot of times. I hope that helps!
Great video!
Had a quick question…
What pressure setting would you recommend to wash a brick home built in 1995? Any specific cleaner best? I know you said they can damage the pump. I was going to use “mean green”.
Thanks for any help, God bless
You’re welcome and thanks for the comment!
Getting to the questions:
-for the SETTING, pay attention to the degree number/color of the tip. For brick, I would try the 25 degree/green tip and be careful with your distance (like in the b-roll of the video). If the brick is in good condition, this shouldn’t be a problem but be cautious as you go.
- As far as the chemical, something like “mean green” can help. If you are going to spray it through your pressure washer, make sure you rinse it when you are done by putting water in the soap tank. Some of their products do have diluted chlorinated bleach in them. That’s what will rust things from the inside out if you’re not careful! Brick doesn’t need a specific cleaner, but I’ll note that some of those common cleaners make it a little easier since it’s a very porous surface.
I hope that helps and I hope you’ll follow along to check out the videos I have planned for the near future!
Thanks for the information!
You’re so welcome!
Thanks a-lot for your pointers
On pressure washing.
They were not pointers… they were tips, haha. Kidding and you’re welcome!
May I please have a further explanation on the dance part
Keep the want pointing straight down. Or keep at the same distance away from the surface you are washing. If you sweep you are 6 inches away in the middle but on the sweep you 10 inches away creating a patter. So the dance is just taking little steps and moving yourself instead of moving the wand.
@@dalynferguson2582 okay thank you
Would you like me to dance for you? Am I the only one reading into this? Lol
@@ThatMillennialDad nah your reading into it just right
I'm slow so thanks for the shoe tip
No matter how slow you think you are… you’re not the slowest and you’re awesome.
Thanks mate from Australia
You’re welcome!
Why no get the Honda generator ? It’s 8,000psi
LOLOLOLOLOLOL. I'll do it if you pay my business insurance....
Could you connect a rain water barrel to a psi 1800 power washer? Would it work properly? Thank you
Great question! For most washers that size, it would not work from a barrel unless there was enough pressure from a very large tank that would be comparable to the PSI comity out of a home. The exception to this would be if the water pump on your washer was BELT driven. Most pumps on 1800 psi washers are not belt driven. They call them “direct drive”. Thanks for the question and I hope you’ll follow along for other videos!
Very Good Vid! ty!
Thanks and you’re welcome!
How much should I charge per square foot starting??
Well this depends on what you are washing, your market and frankly... what you can handle. There is a range. I have seen one "standard range" where I am is between 10-25 cents (USD) per sq ft depending on factors. so 5000 sq ft could be between $500-$1250 depending on many things. I'm not the expert, but I've found the healthy spot for my market with experience and sometimes getting turned down!
bought A NEW RYOBI 2900 PSI THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE will not disconnect from the pump or the handle , I don't want to wrench it , it was the first use . I only hand tightened
I’m sorry to hear that…
Hi sir. Good video. I was working on getting an old pressure washer running and my neighbor came by to ask if i could pressure wash his house and pay me after i got it running. So I did get it running and now i have never pressure washed anything but I have heard to be cautious since my machine is 3500 PSI... how much would this kind of work charge the customer? And what kind of suggestion of caution ? Should i just stand further away or use a less aggressive nozzle? I'd say the house is two story and probably no more than 1200 sq feet if that matters....
We if you look through some of the comment section you might find more helpful info. The summary is that it’s hard to know what you can charge someone fairly. Lots of factors but most of all… has anyone charge you for your house in your area? Do you have a gauge of what companies charge? You shouldn’t charge more than them of course but that gives you an idea. Since it’s your first time, I would think of it as a really valuable learning experience where you are really REALLY careful. Stay back and use the widest tip possible but DONT do it if what you are washing seems damaged or like it’s not worth the risk. Don’t chase the money! Chase the knowledge.
I’m coming late to the game, but I just bought a Greenworks Pro 2700 PSI Electric Power Washer. Please share your thoughts on doing windows. We have huge 2 story windows along the back of our house which are covered with screen tinting. We had a windstorm awhile back causing all of our windows to need cleaning. Since the windows are so tall and big, I purchased the power washer mainly to reach them and keep them clean. Which sprayer should I use for our 1st and 2nd story screened picture windows? I’m assuming that I fan out and just barely apply pressure. The main reason I bought the washer is to keep our windows clean.
I’ll do my best to answer this so that it helps: There are a lot of specifics to your situation that make it hard to say “do this” or “don’t do that”. Screen tinting, size, height, etc. Pressure washing will get the water up there but it depends on how you define “clean” as well. Correct, don’t use a lot of pressure (wider tip), keep your distance and consider using a basic soap solution to help work for you instead of depending only on water. Good luck!
First time I touched one I knew I had a weapon in my hand
You knew… you had the power! With much power comes…
I just upgraded my 2.6gpm to a 4.7gpm and it scares the crap out of me. Haha. Same PSI between the machines but the increased gpm is insane. It’s not as easy to hold and control as some of these guys make it look.
Thanks for sharing and confirming! Yeah man. The first time I used an 8GPM pressure washer, it actually knocked me off balance when I popped the pressure to start. Good luck out there and thanks for being here. I hope you’ll follow along!
@@ThatMillennialDad geez! I couldn’t imagine. That double what mine is almost. Thanks, good luck to you as well!
Thank you
you're welcome
Lobed the video....very informative...im now a subscriber
I’m honored! I won’t let you down… if you’re a millennial 😉
I have a 3300psi 2.5 gpm is that good?
Yeah! You can do a lot with that size. Just get accessories that work best with that GPM and PSI
So when people have 8gpm + pressure washers do they use tanks and fill it with customers water first and then refill it once it’s empty with the customers hose or water reservoir once it’s empty and repeat?
Thanks for the comment! So usually for pros, we/they carry a large water tank and simultaneously fill and draw from it while washing. (Carrying it full can be an enormous weight! Many tow the tank 1/3 full or less) They can do this using something like a Hudson valve that automatically shuts off the water once the tank is full. 8gpm can drain a 250gallon tank pretty fast so it’s constantly refilling.
Love the advice. Thank you.
You're welcome!
Can these things be converted into flamethrowers?
Haven't you seen my new video on conversions? *wink*
Very informative ! Than you 👍
You’re welcome!
Hi i am a 17 years old and i want to start a side hustle with a 250 dollar machine and to clean cars and parking lots and stuff like that. I learned actually a lot from the video and i hope if you can give some tips like how much money should i charge and what kind of chemicals should i use and just a small question, how much time it generally takes to wash a single car including using a foam gun first and then using the power wash with only water? Anyway thanks for this video and the tips!
It’s great that you are looking for a hustle and getting out there! For charging, it’s subjective to the area but here are some thought. Is this for individuals or for a business that needs lots of cars washed? How much do mobile detailers charge in your area (Call or Google them)? How much soap/supplies do you need to buy for each car? And for the time… for me, if you are ONLY rinsing THEN foaming THEN rinsing and toweling… I would allow at least 30min for a car. Adding services would add time of course
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Great info thanks you
You’re welcome! #savethetoes
I love that you said, “spigot.”
Got to let them know… YALL
I am only a beginner at pressure washing I am 12 years old I am going to use the Greenworks 1800 PSI 1.1-Gallon-GPM Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer is that good for washing walk ways
Hey! Thanks for the comment. Can that size washer clean the walkways? Yes! Will it do it quickly? No. Remember to slide, don’t sweep 😉 I’d recommend taking your time, wearing good shoes and even pants, wear some glasses to protect your eyes and use the 25 degree green tip. There are other tips and attachments out there for your “wand” to make it go faster but that requires money! Oh… and sunscreen is good too since it will take a while.
@@ThatMillennialDad thanks you and I know to take my time and I won’t be that fast.
@@W0uldyouRather0957 then you are set! Good luck
Question...for a decent power washer (i have a Simpson 3000 psi) how many hours can you realistically expect to use a power washer before the pump blows up? I've heard with typical use an maintenance,some pressure washer pumps only last about 100-150 hours of use. If your running a power washing side-business,that 100-150 hours could be used up in a month! Any advice on how long to expect a pump to last and how to keep it from breaking down? Thanks!
Great question! The simple answer is “it depends”. Mostly, I has to do with the quality of the manufacturing and how well you maintain it. If you always have water running to it while it’s on, change the oil at recommended intervals, don’t let it idle for long periods, and generally treat it well… I would HOPE it last longer than that. It just depends! I’ve seen some lay less but they were “bargain” washers to begin with. My 4gpm unit is on its second Annovi Reverberi pump but I used it well over 250 hours and I bought it used. Not what you wanted but i hope that helps!
@@ThatMillennialDad thanks! Makes sense,i will try to maintain it well.
@@dwade6322 you’re welcome. You got this 💪
Just received a karcher water pressure 1800 psi and the soap is not dispensing?
If it’s a built-in soap tank underneath, check to make sure 1) you are using the correct “soap tip” 2) everything is hooked up and filled up underneath so that the tube is reaching the soap and 3) that the soap itself is approved for that washer type. That’s where I’d start!
I painted my exterior brick/ slump block, turned out darker that I wanted. Can I power wash with bleach to lighten the color a few shades? I don't want to repaint.
While I feel a little out of my field here, I know that you can did a little more RUclips research about products that could help speed up the fading process of paint. Bleach will help that but keep in mind that it’s hard to control it being an even fade. The pro recommendation is to simply paint again but there are diy workarounds. Just not sure which one is efficient and most common.
Great tips!!!
Thanks!
I have white cars , one of them havent been used for along time , the paint built up black dots like a tuff black stain on the paint , What features for the water pressure machine you recommend me to buy when it comes to the PSI , 2030 PSI would do it ?or i need a stronger pressure for it ? Gonna be using a house backyard water tap for it, Thanks.
With a standard pressure washer around that psi strength, it should come with different colored tips. If you have stains, I’d actually see if you can get them off with soap and sponge first. If not, Do NOT get too close and try a 40 degree tip (white color here in the USA) and see if anything comes off. But be warned, that sort of staining means the paint is fading and there is not clear coat protection. You could easily strip paint off and I don’t want you to do that. Be careful!
One question, what do you mean by sweep, I’m a little confused? 🤔
With full understanding that this could be trolling or sarcastic… imagine sweeping a floor. A you are creating a pendulum therefore… the tip is closer to the ground in the middle and further away on the extension of your “sweep”… so you leave streaks on concrete. ✌️
So my Ryobi pressure washer has a tank included but it has a letter that says no bleach so I'm assuming that's an upstream injector is it possible to reroute it and use it as a downstream injector?
Great question! Yes, that means that it has a small injection valve that is built into the pump (underneath). You can purchase a separate “downstream injector” kit that is the appropriate size, in gallons per minute, for your washer. If you choose to buy that kit, make sure it comes with the correct size of “soap tip”. If not, you’ll need to buy one of those as well. If you were going to use this setup a lot, I’d recommend that you use quick connect fittings for your injector and hoses to make life easier. (If not, maybe just make a safe mix for a one time use through a pump sprayer for what you are cleaning). Rerouting is really about getting the fittings to match up so that the injector is in line with your pressure hose outside of your pump. Make sure that whatever you inject is diluted appropriately but… this would accomplish what you want.
I appreciate this video, just landed a job so I am happy to GOD for it.
Will subscribe and view all of your videos. Would you say that the green tip is appropriate for a building that is not that dirty???
You’re welcome! I appreciate it. The green tip is usually 25 degree and is commonly used BUT it’s not necessarily best for every washing. Have you considered downstreaming an appropriate chemical if it’s not that dirty so you don’t have to use pressure? I have a video on that. Also, consider the condition of the surface before you spray it at all!
@@ThatMillennialDad I have to watch your video, I am not familiar with the process, thank you for sharing this.
If I have any questions, would it be okay to reach out to you???
@@renostubbs8504 sure! I’ll do my best to help
What is a good pressure washer for a beginner?I am thinking about gettin into it
No sense in getting too much. Rather than the brand, I look for who they bought the motor and water pump from. I prefer Honda small engines so I look for that first. Again, not something too powerful or too expensive to get started. Good luck!
I am a renter and the driveway/parking area here is extremely uneven and has several large dips. The dirt really accumulates in the indents as does ice in the winter. There is so much dirt in the dips that when it rains dirty water splashes up on my car and it becomes quite dirty.
How can I clean this uneven surface with a pressure washer? Do I clean out the gullies first and then the rest of the driveway? Do you have a recommended approach?
I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks
Thanks for asking! There are lots of different tip sizes and attachments you could use to get the job done faster or less messy based on your budget. That’s a long topic but just know that “surface cleaners” spin and make it go faster. As far as the approach, I would work downhill to use gravity to your advantage. Sometimes using an edger to clear out along the edges along the parking area will allow the water to flow out better but you can only do so much in these scenarios. Regarding the gullies, I would deep clean them first (fast so you don’t puddle too much water), the do the driveway, then come back last to rinse out what runs back into the gullies for a final touch up.
@@ThatMillennialDad That is very helpful. Keeping the water from running back into the dips is key. Thank you so much.