Starting up a Pressure Washing Business - Startup Equipment, Useful Tools.
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- Опубликовано: 10 окт 2024
- Some of the gear you will need to carry out driveway cleaning jobs. You don't need all this gear but always invest in the best you can afford, it will save you money longterm.
So impressed with your setup and the way you help your subscribers, with any questions. Thanks
Thank you, sometimes people just need advice. It doesn't cost anything to be helpful.
@Dirty Drive-Away You think so and I agree...but others saying on RUclips they want to help newbie because they was same position, and someone didn't want to share information,but in fact when I have been writing few times on facebook have not gotten any answer. So thank you again. I found your RUclips channel recently...super
Hi, found your video very helpful. I'm starting a business and really like your set up. Cheers
I might have some questions for you at some stage if that's OK.
@@phillstimson1481 I guess its not okay lol
Hi Phil, Lovin your videos mate, I've been going 3 years now, long enough to recognise someone who knows what they are doing! I am going to model my van set up on what you have here, I have a bigger van so will probably go for a bigger tank. I have ordered my "fantasy lance" double turbo nozzle, in-line filters, quick release lance and swivel on the back, the only thing after that is to get the easy grip trigger - maybe next time. Keep up the good work!
Jesmond Jetclean thanks for your comment. i would like a bigger van but I won't get it on my drive. The big water tank is well handy, don't think I've had it empty on me yet. only downside is sometimes you can really feel the water moving when driving.
Im glad you said you dont use the Rotary that much because someone told me not to even think about not having one.New sub here,thumbs up and great video.
Rotary have their place but I prefer the finish of a lance. I know people go on about speed, but being quick can lead to a poor finish. Rotary are ok on large block pave areas that aren't too weedy. Problem is you got to run them on full power for max performance but your then burning more fuel and using more water.
That is a really informative video. I'm a self employed gardener and thinking about offering drive and patio cleaning
Oh how I enjoyed that! ❤ Thank you!
Your videos are really good, you have indeed inspired me. Great work !
Thank you.
U have a great set up my man very good work 🇬🇧🇬🇧from the USA
Thank you. Thats my old van
Cheers for the reply Phil keep up the good work
The briggs is a great engine I have 6.5hp cf model on my washer with 15lpm AR pump great machine it not like the big washer you have but it dos the job .👍
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Your welcome.
very professional.
Great setup sir.
Very nice setup sir
Awesome setup! I just reviewed my pressure washing set up
Great video, thank you for sharing. This is something I'd like to get into as a business, for the van and all the kit would you say around 10 grand? How do you know in the beginning what to charge and is there plenty of work once established.
Hi work is seasonal and runs from march till around September. You'll have to find something else for winter. Kit wise it depends on the budget but proper washers go from around £1500+ you could get away with a cheaper washer but you'll want a bigger one sooner than later. If you went for a £1500 washer the you could get all your startup kit for around £2300 with washer.
@@DirtyDriveAway thank you for your advice, I appreciate it.
What do you do to get over having no work in winter?
@@aaronjonesGrp get another job I would of thought
@@aaronjonesGrp do window cleaning during winter months
Brilliant Video thank you
Great Video Very Helpfull
Nice, quite interesting, I used to do a little bit with my dad every now & then on some of his property maintenance jobs, not as serious kit as you have but I'm thinking seriously about investing in a van, washer etc & a few other bits to start out by myself self employed, What can you expect to take home on both 1) A bad day. 2) A good day, if you don't mind saying that is. Thanks 👍🏻
Its seasonal work so unless you have a winter job you will only be working from late march till around mid september/October. It can take several years to build up a good client base and really see the work coming in. Earning really depend on what your going to charge. There is a lot of people doing the kind of work so if you over price you'll never get the jobs. Some jobs are small and will only earn you £60 and some are big. I base earnings around £30 per hour average. Although I doubt you'll be working 8hrs a day everyday.
@@DirtyDriveAway Ok thanks, & what do you do when your not jet washing then? I know that I won't just be doing this all the time, I like the idea of unblocking drains, landscaping etc, when you have a van you have so many more options
@@JayG94 put me feet up lol
Hi Phil love your video great work. I'm thinking of starting up business in Midlands area I've tried to get work with a local drive company but not interested. How do you price work per meter and surface type? What's the best start up washer? And what power output do I need 5-6hp?
Appreciate any help and time you can give me.
Best wishes mike
Hi Mike, pricing really depends on competition. I'm quite cheap but I get booked solid every year. I know there is a lot of people up your way doing this sort of thing so you have to price keen. Machine wise, something reliable with a honda or Briggs engine. Ultimately it depends on your budget but you ideally want want something of around 200bar at 16lpm minimum. A decent startup washer will set you back around £1400-£2000 depending on flow rate/pressure. Electric start models cost about £300 more than pull start. Something running a honda GX390 engine would be a good start (these are 13hp I believe) 5-6hp won't pull the skin of a rice pudding. My machine is 570cc 18hp and outputs 250bar @ 23lpm, but one of those will set you back around £3500. I would say your looking at around £2000-£2200 investment in a washer and gear to get started properly. Then you will need a van to haul it all about, proper washers are quite large and heavy and hence don't come out the van, you will need around 40m of high pressure hose (I also have an additional 20+10m hose I can connect).
If your serious speak to Damian at Qwashers 01524241487 i think he's in Lancashire. Top guy who deals in washers and parts etc. Tell him Phill from dirty drive-away sent you across and he will take care of everything for you. Phill
Can you make a updated van setup?
I'm building a new washer over winter so I may do a new one when it's all hooked up in the van.
Alright 😊 looking forward too the vid
Hi been planning on getting started for a while now you're bites have really helped. Where do you buy parts such as your lance
I get all my parts from Q Services in Yorkshire.
Love this set up. Question. I assume you leave the washer in the van at all times? Do you ever get worried about thieves?
Not really, it's locked and blocked when at home. The washer is so heavy it will take at least 3 guys to lift it and it won't fit out the side door. Plus it's all insured.
Great video. Where can I get the rice down nozzle
I make them myself.
You will have to do a video on how to make a nozzle 👍
@maz man but then people wouldn't buy them from me.
@@DirtyDriveAway I didn't no you sell them .can I order one
@maz man email me at dirtydriveaway@gmail.com I will need to know the pressure and flow rate of your machine. I typically make them for std (19.5mm) 3/8" quick release but I can also do them for 3/8" midi. Current cost is £27 posted (UK)
Great video, it’s really helped me a lot. Could you recommend any particular weed killer, and general all purpose cleaning detergent? There seems to be loads on the market. Thankyou 😀
Problem with weedkillers is you need to be licensed to use them. Even bog standard diy store stuff, if your applying it for business then a Pa1/6 licence is needed. The strong stuff you can buy but your not supposed to. A good glyphosate based weedkiller works best but even still it's a regular thing hence why I don't bother. Even strong stuff will only keep weeds away for 6-8weeks. If weeds are a big issue then its best to seal the area. You don't really need detergent, I use stuff in my softwash mix but that's it, it's not needed. I use clever wash in my hypo.
@@DirtyDriveAway thank you 👍
Great info 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi, Do you ask the customer about their expectations or explain what type of finish they can expect? I would imagine that not all jobs will end up looking like new but some customers may expect it.
To be honest customers expectations don't actually tend to be stupidly high. Most tend have the understanding that it's stonework and won't always look new. I can get pretty much all areas to look nearly new but it all has an affect on price. When I look at an area I do sometimes ask customers what may seem a silly question "how clean do you want it" a jet wash won't remove all ingrained dirt etc hence the reasoning for using sodium hypochlorite.
great video very interesting ...thanks
Great set up video, really useful. Do you have many jobs were there is no outside tap available?
Mowtown NI, hi i get asked a few times but not many. I will avoid them if there is no outside tap, unless they are small enough that i can get away with the water on board. If i have to run a hose through the house to an indoor tap i get the customer to sign a disclaimer.
Hi mate great video been at it two years now might buy a dual turbo now
They are great tools. Much quicker than a single nozzle. Only downside is the power is split between the 2 nozzles. There aren't as aggressive as a single but they do make lighter work of block paving. Just a word of warning they seem quite liable to cracking, I've had 2 go on me now around the bends at the end near the welds for the support brace. Phill
@cosh rowcan't remember exactly what I wrote but you can't run it out of a car. You will need a van with a water tank and room for all the hoses, Lance's, etc etc. You will be looking at investing around £2000+ for a decent professional setup and that's without the cost of a van.
@cosh row yes that would be your run of the mill basic setup. I would say £1400 minimum on a washer with a honda engine. £200 on a suitable size water tank (200l+) depending on your machine, maybe bigger (I have a 400l) you will then need longer hoses (proper washers don't move about too easily), additional Lance's/nozzles garden hoses, buckets, brooms, shovels, protective gear, fuel can etc. I'm not sure what the towing capacity of your vehicle is so can't comment on that but all this gear takes up a fair bit of space and it all needs strapping down. Also where will you keep it when not in use? All this stuff is too heavy to keep moving on and off a trailer. I think you need to do more research into this if it's the profession you want to choose. Technically I suppose you could tow it all providing you have a big enough trailer and your car can pull it. Don't forget all your insurance's, waste licence etc
@cosh row not water licence, waste licence. You have to apply for one. Just business insurance for vehicle and public liability insurance.
@cosh row if you carry any kind of waste material such as driveway scrappings, leaves etc then yes.
Dirty Drive - Away , hi Phil , wonder if you can help me , ive got a Parker petrol pressure washer , it’s 200 bar 3100 psi I’m trying to buy a turbo nozzle for it , Parker site says turbo nozzle not compatible with my my model , would you no if there’s any other turbo nozzles available for it , I’m pulling my hair out , no body can help me 😭
Hi Phil,
I have the connect LWB High top van like yourself, Where did you get your water tank from and how big is it, basically what do I ask for? :) do the hose attachment/ ball cock come already installed or do you have to buy them seperate and connect them yourself? appreciate all your help Phil thanks.
I'm really surprised your not using the surface cleaner as much as possible - I.e. out the back there, and the cobble out front. The rinse net looks perfect. Did you board up your van or was it like that already. looks great.
Joseph Collins I hate the surface cleaner, it doesn't give anywhere near the level of clean I expect. You spend half your time going over bits you've missed. Quality over speed...I boarded the van out myself, just buy a lining kit.
@Dirty Drive-Away Hi. Do you not find you end up removing more than necessary amounts of sand between block paving when using a lance over a surface cleaner? Thanks
Great videos. Question for you. The 400 litre tank in the van. How have you got it secured? Are straps enough, or is it bolted down as well. And do you fill it right up, or just three quarters? Many thanks.
It's just secured with heavy duty ratchet straps round the bulkhead. I fill it up till the float valve shuts it off. Never had any issues with it. It certainly don't move about.
Hello. Any chance you start selling the rinse down nozzle?
great advice ,am thinkin startin up just could you tell my why poeple fill they own water tank from owners tap,instead ov straight from tap to pressure washer cheers
Because tap to washer is whats known as positive feed. Because domestic taps tend to vary in output pressure/flow they can't give a constant regular flow rate across all properties. Some may be as low as 5/6lpm if they have tap issues and some can be in excess of 15lpm. Since there is such a varied flow rate manufactures of tap fed machines tend to cap they max flow rate to around 10/11lpm to ensure they always work. Now proper professional grade machines need to be high flow rate usually in excess of 16lpm. In order for the washer to be able to continuously produce peak flow rate it has to draw its own water from a tank. A domestic tap simply wouldn't be able to supply the constant water demands that a pro grade washer requires. It's the water flow on a washer that does the work not the pressure. Some manufactures claim 4000psi which sounds awesome but if they only output 12-15lpm then it's useless. A lot of online companies give a pressure to entice people to buy but many people neglect to realise that the figures normally given are max pressure, not continuous working pressure. Usually a max pressure of 4000psi usually equates to around 3000psi continuous. Combine that with 12lpm and it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. The Honda GX390 washer is a very popular pro grade machine with 200bar and 21lpm, but it will be tank fed.
See this other vid I did a few years back
ruclips.net/video/15NctxCffcs/видео.html
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks for info very hekpful cheers
@@markrobertson2426 welcome
Hi,
Do you not get striping when using the turbo nozzle ? I thought the point of a floor cleaner was to eliminate striping ? Love your videos very informative keep up the good work, any chance of a decking vid ?
DARRYL BAKER No you shouldn't do, in fact I get more striping using a rotary cleaner, that I then have to go over with a lance. If your getting striping it could be that your not on high enough power. If I use my turbo nozzle on idle or just above it doesn't clean anywhere near as well, and you do get some striping. I only use my turbo nozzle on block paving. If you use it on concrete etc I find there is a higher risk of blowing out mortar, and the clean just isn't as good as a normal lance.
excellent video, Phil. What would you recommend for starting out with a small budget?
Hi Michael, it really depends what the budget is. Ideally a reliable washer that's up to professional usage is going to start around £1600 (200bar @ 21llm) running a GX390 engine. Factor in all the extra hoses, reels Lance's etc and your probably looking around £2200 as a startup cost plus vehicle. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away alright phill what you think of Hyundai’ 4200 psi 15lpm it’s not belt driven though, you think it’s ok for starting, ive got a small van a euro parts biller van the pressure washer and a leaf blower how much more you think I’ll have to spend to hook the equipment up like the tank etc ?
@@miftaahmed7209 Hyundai is a budget machine, would see you for a few months but it's definitely not 4200psi, they always way over inflate their figures. You'll need a water tank, additional nozzles (turbo), garden hoses, PPE, broom, buckets, waste bags, shovel. Belt drive washers aren't highly rated anyway. gearbox driven is better, less maintenance and things to go wrong. You'll also need a waste licence and liability insurance.
Hi Phil, this is a great video so thank you. As somebody who is considering setting up my own business but has no experience other than doing my own paving with a household jet washer, would you recommend giving it a go?
It can be expensive to get setup with professional gear. You can do it with cheaper stuff but that normally means under performing equipment that ultimately makes the job take longer.
@@DirtyDriveAway i think if im to commit i'll look to invest in better equipment and go all in to making it work. Do you think you can make a good go of it working for yourself with little to no experience? Watching lots of guides but I guess its different doing it for real. Thanks
@@malkitkang528 you can but if your in the UK it's very seasonal. The work season only runs from mid march till September. Its practically dead after that.
Great video and really helpful. I am one of those people just setting up a jet washing business, so found your knowledge invaluable In terms of set up, thanks. Wonder if you can tell me what factors you look at when pricing, are you basing just on measurement of the area to be cleaned?
Hi, yes usually it's just the size but you may need to take into account things like heavy weeds, drainage etc as all of these issues can add to the time it takes.
@@DirtyDriveAway ah yes that makes sense, thanks. I suppose it's a bit trial and error at first to get that right, I had thought of doing some free jobs at first to build up some photos for the website, but also get a better idea of how long jobs take to help pricing...
@@richardhandy9291 I did that when I started but found that I was so out of pocket it wasn't worth it. Dont do free but do an introductory price. You have to cover your overheads like fuel, waste disposal etc
@@DirtyDriveAway Great advice, hadn't thought of that, so thank you again
Whats budget would I need for start up just washer and kit not the van pal
I have a 250 litre water butt I was thinking about using as a water tank, would it just be a case off filling it up with a hose or tap constantly while drawing water with the pressure washer ?
Yes you can use any container as a water tank. If you planning on driving with it full then it needs to be able to seal sufficiently. If like me you have it in the van you will need to ensure it has a ball valve so the water flow cuts off automatically.
I don’t have a van but ordered a honda engine washer… my plan was to use wheelie bin filled with water with a hose from the customers tap feeding the bin with water then that feeds my pressure washer… is that possible? Thanks
Yes it is possible, a lot of people with smaller washers do this. So long as the jet wash is mobile and light enough to keep moving. Downside is more setup time and you have to wait for wheelie bin to fill once at customers house.
love your setup...))) when I get a bigger washer I will have to get a van . have pro10 lpm and an 15 lpm which run just fine off mains as Essex not too bad as I test everytime normally round 20-25 lpm. How much does your tank hold and how long that last??
Hi, my tank holds 400L, if it's hooked up to the supply and is good pressure it stays pretty much topped. If I don't connect it for a small job it might last me about 50 mins on 1/4 throttle. About 17 mins on full power. mains pressure here is anywhere from 9lpm to 17lpm but i find it's normally around 12-15 which isn't too bad. pressure drops off loads in summer as demand is higher with people washing cars, watering gardens etc. then i struggle keeping it topped up.
was looking at the xline 750L for the window cleaning side of the business which would double up for tank..gotta get a van sorted..
Stuart Russell Just got to bare in mind the Max gross weight of the van. this LWB connect has a payload of just under a ton. the SWB version is a lot less. A 750L water tank will weigh 750KG+ when full that's nearly the MGW of most small vans. My payload is near my limit so I don't always drive with a full tank of water. Just depends what I'm cleaning.
hi there love your videos very interested to find where i can buy the twin turbo lance and your rinse away system please
Joe Magic hi joe, qwashers on ebay sells the twin head. Rinse nozzle you have to make. Twin nozzle will only work on relatively high power machines as the nozzle size is split in half. If you run an 06+ nozzle youll be good. Phill
Sorry to be nosey but what do you do in the winter months? Was thinking if starting a business but it needs to run all year. Thanks
Nothing lol, make your money in the summer and then put your feet up in winter. Season runs march to late September into October if your lucky.
Thinking of setting up myself had enough of been a hgv driver how would I go about charging a price for a job if I may ask an cool video very informative 👍
Well firstly you need to think about competition and also what you want to earn. You normally either price per square meter or if it's a large job work out a day rate. Sq M prices vary in too cheap I know but I'm now booked solid for the next 3 months. The average I would say for most people is £2-£2.5 sqM but if you want to be pretty guaranteed to get the job go cheaper. It also all depends on your kit as to how long it will take. Customers want professional gear and not a DIY washer that they can buy themselves. Your probably looking at around £2000+ for a pro grade startup washer and gear you will then need a van to carry it all. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away dont believe that for a second, customers dont care about what equipment you have as the reason they are calling you is because they dont have time to do it themselfs. All my equpiment comes to under £1000. I have been in business for 15 years and full up 24 days in the month
@@cbecks2051 may I ask what gear you use as I'm looking now for some equipment to start doing it need to get out of the truck driving now
@@cbecks2051 hello pal would I be able to.pick ya brains about starting up if possible mate
Nice!
Hi, thanks for the great informational video, I have a few questions I hope you can answer as I am considering starting my own business cleaning drives etc. 1, can you tell me where I can purchase a 40m hose that will withstand 250 bar pressure. 2, after watching various video's, some comments are made regarding the darker hose leaving marks on the surfaces, is this true and would you say a yellow or gray hose reduces these problems? 3, I'm thinking of purchasing an IBC container (1000L) and was wondering if this can be connected to the pressure washer? 4, what is the lowest pressure you can use, using a surface cleaner and still get the job done adequately as 28L per minute on a 1000L lasts 35 minutes. Also, can you use a surface cleaner on a composite drive without damaging it? Lastly, and I realize I'm asking so many questions, could you do a small video or explain the process of making your rinse nozzle please as it looks a handy tool. Hope i haven't asked to much. TX
Hoses are available from rutland pumps and usually withstand 330bar. Black hose can leave marks on natural stone but it washes off so no issues. A 1000L ibc will work on a suction fed machine so long as its plumbed I sufficiently. The longer the hose the more pressure you will loose, on average 10bar per 10M of hose. If your running 40m of hose then expect to loose around 40bar nozzle pressure. Ideally a surface cleaner needs around 200bar but they will struggle on heavy weeds and moss, you will need virtually full throttle to ensure a decent clean. I sell the rinse nozzles for £35 fitted with a suitable stainless nozzle. Phill
Hi Phil. Would you have a kit you recommend buying to start? Thinking of starting with a Parker washer but don’t know if I would need a sieve kit?
Hmm I have no idea what a Parker washer is or what a sieve kit it. Not something I've heard of. Store bought DIY washers aren't strong enough for everyday continuous running. A professional grade machine that works quickly and efficiently come in around £2300 these days. A £500 washer won't cut it in the professional game. Just because a washer is petrol doesn't mean its good enough to perform professionally. You would ideally be looking at 200bar and 15-16lpm as a minimum to clean, the pro machines typically start around 200bar at 21lpm.
@@DirtyDriveAway thank you for the reply. I have hire and reward insurance on my van do you think this would be enough cover? Sorry for questions understand if you would rather not answer.
@SoulsLikeGamer hire and reward is for courier or taxi. It may be OK but I would check with your insurance company as it will need to be business use. You will need public liability insurance for high-pressure cleaning, trade waste license for removing the muck.
Hi there. Sorry if this is a silly question but what is the point of a stonking great pump like that if you only really use it on 1/2 throttle. Would it be better to get a less powerful one and give it the berries or what ?
Cynical Cole a pressure washer performance is measured by it's pressure and water flow. the higher the flow the more water it puts out, so will clean quicker. You can have high bar output but low flow and it won't be any better than a diy store washer. the power is there should I need it, I may run 1/2 - 3/4 throttle when doing block pave. It would be silly to buy a smaller washer and rag the nuts out of it. Just buy a bigger one and let it so it's thing without struggling. why buy a small car and drive it on the rev limit if you can buy a bigger one and just cruise.
Phil, I've been searching the comments for ages now , I thought I read one where someone mentioned the lance grip you have in this video.. but I can't find it anywhere.. I have typed in easy grip lance on Google and a few different sites and I can't find it anywhere.. nor can I find the comment to actually confirm it's called an easy grip lance.. please let me know what it's called and where I can find one? Also do you not prefer a fluted lance? Also what exactly did you mean by you can swap out the tools on the trigger without having to isolate the supply? What is the attachment that allows this? Thanks again for all the advice and wisdom you share!!!
If your referring to the easy trigger then they are guns made by suttner with LTF which is low trigger force. Something like the suttner ST2600 with LTF. I don't know what you mean by a fluted lance, do you mean angled. If so I used an angle end on one of my lances for the turbo nozzle. Isolating the supply by means of a lever valve on the hose end. You can then remove your trigger without shutting off the machine. This is an old video now so things have changed a bit since. I have 1 trigger with a quick release end, this allows me to swap lances and nozzles etc without shutting off.
@@DirtyDriveAway thank you so much for taking the time to reply mate! Yes by fluted I mean angled.. also I meant the grip on the lance, the ergonomic looking one but searching for a suttner lance on eBay it has actually come up a few times.. one last thing, do you use a swivel end with your triggers? Thanks again for all your help!
@@duncan5800 suttner stainless lances are best as they don't rust and are more ergonomically designed. Yes I have swivels on my triggers as it can help with hose knotting.
Hi mate Ii have a question for you what chemical can I use on resin driveways thanks 👍
Hi sodium hypochlorite works really well. Resin tends to stripe badly without a chemical.
Where did you get the rinse down nozzle mate?
Hi Phil thanks for giving out advice to people
I have a wilks washer it’s 270 bar 8hp 3900 psi
Do you know if the turbo 5 jet will be ok on this
Do you use the isolator as a pressure gauge
It won’t be a full time job maybe once or twice a week
Thanks for any help
Hi, I highly doubt that the wilks is powerful enough for the falch nozzle. I have read the spec on those wilks machines and they say max pressure 3900 but the actual continuous operating pressure is about 230. falch will only sell it if they know the machine is capable and they rarely sell it for machines below 250bar at 16lpm cont pressure.
Although it may have a high pressure rating I'm pretty sure an 8hp engine won't provide more than around 12lpm
What brand of garden sprayer do you have that works with sodium hypochlorite ? The ones I've tried don't last very long.
None of them will to he honest. I use a sherpa deluxe but the pumps only last about 12months. Even viton seals don't last forever with hypo.
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks I will look into Sherpa. I did some searching and found the Goizper IK-12 Multi - Industrial Pressure Sprayer, which claims to be compatible with hypo even at full strength !
@markkinnon4866 I used the IK9 for a while, held up well but even then the trigger seals failed after about 2 hrs and the delivery hose starts to go stiff. If you rinse them well they will last as its usually the residue hypo salt that knackers them.
Hi great video do you havecany advice i want to set up with a van power wash and possibly a gutter vac.
Best jet was to buy? I was thinking of getting a 500l tank and using a hose to suck water from the tank to the jet wash. I've looked at the Gx390 evoloution
Hi, are you still using the same setup? Also, can I ask. With the water tank installed are you only filling it up from the customers tap once you get there or carrying the water from home? Thank you and loving the content.
Well I have a bigger van now but my setup has got bigger but its the same stuff. No travel with a full tank so I can start cleaning straight away. The tank takes an average of 40mins to fill up.
@@DirtyDriveAway Thank you, I was thinking the same, but a few guys have mentioned you can only carry a certain amount of water whilst travelling?
@@strongteee you can carry what you like so long as its secure and within the vehicles payload limit. Obviously all the weight limits the vehicles braking etc
Is the customer providing the water which you fill the tank with and then you draw down from the tank?
Yes, although I turn up with a full tank ready to start cleaning. Being tank fed is the only way to have a machine with high flow rate as a garden tap can't supply enough water.
@@DirtyDriveAway gotcha, thanks for that.
Do both of the hoses that are filling the tank up run from the same outlet
Yes. But its better to use a single 19mm (3/4") pipe with proper full bore connectors.
Hi why did u not use your round 18inch floor cleaner on the slabs? Prob a silly question..
Complete waste of time, I've had an FSC on the van for years and they just don't deliver the level of clean I expect. They struggle with weeds, the rotor arm gets bogged down on heavy moss, they leave stripping marks and they don't push the muck away as you clean. If you have large concrete areas they work well but everything else I favour a lance, turbo or if you can stump nearly £1700 the falch PS5. FSC's can also be really aggressive on mortar lines so will destroy crazy pave joints and regular loose joints if your not careful. Overall it's a well over rated bit of kit that just doesn't clean to my expectations.
Did you find the connect was to small am looking at getting a new van was looking at a citron dispatch
The connect worked fine for me whilst it worked lol. Its long gone now as it just got too unreliable. I now have a renault trafic. The extra room is nice but the connect is a s small as I would go.
Hey dude great video . Would just like to ask what's the financial cost of set up bar the van and what sort of price can you charge ?
If your looking professional equipment I would say around £2200+ and then van etc.
Price really depends on competition and what you want to earn
Cheers dude 👍 I was thinking it would be around that area .
Hi, Phil. What is the internal length, width, and height of the van that carries all the equipment?
This is my old van, it was a long wheelbase high roof transit connect. I now have a new Renault trafic.
Great video, can I ask is it ok to have the washer running in the van without some sort of attachment to send the fumes out? Thanks
Yes so long as the exhaust is ideally facing towards an open door. I always run it with both the side and rear doors open, I also have a roof vent on my new van.
@@DirtyDriveAway Thanks for the info. Looking at getting a van setup 👍
@@danielmayer7580 all I did on my new van was add a piece of bent steel tube to the exhaust to direct it towards the door. Never had an issue.
Hi Phil, have you got a link for the water tank you have please
Ecosure 400L, just pop it in Google.
How do you work out how much to charge the customer as a newbie, do you charge by the hour ,buy the day or on size of area????
I have a pricing structure based on the area. If it's a big job I will charge a day rate. I'm too cheap I know, but I get booked up months in advance every year. Phill
@@DirtyDriveAway could you send me an example please ,i have no idea how to price and could do with some help as im starting out in wolverhampton.
My email is aaronbryn@hotmail.co.uk thanks for your help phil
Hi
Great vid thanks. When you say you run a 2 hose system? What do you mean. Do you literally run 2 garden hoses thru a y piece into your main tank?
Thanks
Jason.
Yes that's right. A STD garden hose will only flow so much water due to its size. Over the length of pipe this flow drops off, so by running 2 hoses you can gain back a few litres per min. Or you can run larger hose such as 3/4".
Dirty Drive-Away
Thanks for reply.
I’ve been looking for a good pressure washer for a while. I know your machine is 23LPM and 250bar. But most online seem to be around 15LPM and around 200bar. Which is most important the lpm, bar or psi. An you explain them all in layman’s terms for me please.
Cheers ja.
@@Powershiftcleaning flow rate is what gives you the performance and cleaning power. To can get washers that are 250bar but only output 12lpm which is nor going to give you amazing cleaning. In the UK pressure is measured in bar and in the US it's measured in psi, they are both pressure ratings. The reason why you get machines around 200bar 15lpm is because they use smaller pumps. It depends on your budget but once you start getting into proper flow rates the cost goes up. The most common washer is the gx390 with a 200bar 21lpm pump which will cost around £1600. For my washer your looking around £3000. If you wanting a washer for professional use ideally you should be looking at 200bar 16lpm at a minimum. Problem is if your machine is too low certain accessories such as surface cleaners won't work properly. Phill
@@Powershiftcleaning 1bar = 14.5psi (approx) so 250bar is 3625psi
Dirty Drive-Away thank you for taking the time to explain this for me Phil.
Regards
Jay.
Where did you get the shut of tap I did my first job yesterday and had to keep stopping and starting my machine to change over
Its just a high pressure lever valve, you can get them on ebay. They vary in price but tend to be £25-£35+ stainless ones can be mega money. I fitted stainless about 5 years ago and have never changed it. Mild steel ones do corrode over time. Absolute life saver, would not be without one.
Dirty Drive-Away good to see your back I just started a pressure washing business in surrey new Malden and getting regular work right now I’m peak season
Hi Phil,
Mega videos, thinking of starting a small local business pressure washing in the North East. I currently have a small petrol pressure washer running 2100psi at 7lpm, takes around 3-4 hours to do 150 sq metres block paving. I’m looking at undercutting the current competitors with price, starting off part time and building up loyal customers. Would you recommend purchasing a more capable pressure washer or would I get by with my current one until I have enough cash to re-invest? Cheers
You would struggle to offer a fully professional clean with a machine that low in power. The thing with getting work is that customers want a level of clean that they can't get with a domestic washer. You will find it hard work with your washer, purely because it would take so much longer than one with more power. At the end of the day if you feel you can offer quality service with the equipment you have then go for it. You may find however that you will soon want better gear. Your going to be looking at around £2000 for a decent startup washer etc. Phill
Hi Phil is there anything you need to know about cleaning tarmac
Be careful as it will break away quickly on high pressures. Sometimes it's best to pre treat with a moss remover to help loosen it off. Moss can really damage tarmac, it digs itself in and when you jet wash it it can lift pieces out.
i have a 3600psi with a 4.5gpm pressure washer is this enough to work a double headed turbo nozzle and a 21"rotary cleaner
thomash hyland you may possibly just get awat with a double turbo. They usually recommend 18lpm. They issue is not the power but getting the turbo nozzle jets small enough. You can use a rotary on most machines, 21" is quite large so you may get a bit of striping.
Hi Phil,
Hope you are well, what measuring equipment do you use to price your job up, or do you do it by eye?
I use a laser measure to get dimensions. It's difficult to eye up jobs as it's surprising how big some areas are. Google earth can help with measuring too if you can't get out, it's not 100% accurate but so long as you have a decent image it can give you pretty good results.
Dirty Drive-Away Thanks Phil.
TOP of the morning to you Phil. Chris hear from over the pound her in Ireland.well belfast. I can tale your a up north lad maybe Blackpool or Leeds.look would you be on Facebook Phil so I could talk to you better. O have you ever been to northern Ireland. It's honstly give thanks to what you do with your videos for people. Anyway am away to pressure wash a leprechaun.
How you doing Chris, yes I have a page on Facebook. No I'm not a northerner lol I'm actually from London.
facebook.com/dirtydriveaway
I think that's right
Hi what size hose do you use please for your pressure washer much appreciated
3/8" high pressure hose.
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks mate much appreciated I have got a honda gx390 21lt some times when I press the trigger it cut out any ideas please the governor arm keeps moving
How do you cope with the British weather ie rain. Do you have to cancel and reschedule jobs or can it be done in the rain? Cheers
hellotroy0794 well cleaning is not problem in the rain, your going to get wet anyway. Sanding and sealing needs to be done in the dry which can sometimes be a challenge during spring/summer. Cleaning is seasonal and runs from march to october. Winter is dead for cleaning, might get a couple but nothing major. Phill
Hi when using the rotary cleaner how much pressure would you use about a half or quarter turn on the knob ?
Rotary's are shite, they need full power to do anything and even then won't shift weeds or heavy moss.
I take that uses more water more quickly ?
@@marccleaning7985 yeah the higher the throttle the more water you use, but it's the water flow that's does the cleaning not the pressure. The more flow you have the quicker the clean will be. When using a rotary or FSC as they are commonly called you need max flow/pressure because your machines power/flow is split between the 2 nozzles.
Great video👍🏼. Do you reckon a Honda GX 340 could do a professional job on driveways?
They not bad but tend to be on the lower end on flow rate. Pressure values are normally OK, but they tend lack flow. It's all about the flow rate not pressure.
Hi Phil. I have no idea where to find a shut off ball valve for my washer. I have M22 fittings on my hose and Lance. Do you know where I could find one? Thanks
olivia sharpe - willson, ooh M22 is common with karcher hoses and most shut off valves are BSP fitting. As with most things in life im sure with the right adaptions you can make a 3/8" ball valve fit.
Thanks a lot!
olivia sharpe - willson i would be a bit wary of the extra weight of the ball valve on the M22 connection as they use a single small o-ring to seal.
olivia sharpe - willson
rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F311886059369
Hi, just wondering how hard it is to start up your business? A mate has suggested drive way cleaning as an option but no previous experience of doing so. Could you provide any tips please?
mb 89 hi, its not that hard but it depends on your startup budget. You will nees quite a few things other than a washer and they all add up. Just simple things that can make your life a shit load easier, like a wet vac for instance.
Dirty Drive-Away its just a rough idea at the moment. I would be looking at a budget of around 4/5k for equipment and advertising minus van of course
Hi. love your channel. have been doing jet washing for over a year as another service to my cleaning business. I've been using a karcher k7 which is ok but now looking to expand. Can you recommend a decent mains fed petrol washer brand or machine. looking to spend around £800. is kiam any good.
David Beeching Hi David wow you got your work cut out with a K7 that's what I use as my portable. £800 is not a lot of money for a washer if your doing cleaning professionally. I would seriously think about investing some more money into your washer. If you looking at mains fed i.e positive flow you not really going to get any better performance than your K7. The washer is only going to output what the mains can feed in. That's normally between 9-15lpm hence why the k7 tops out around 12lpm. for professional use your best looking at a negative feed with a flow rate of 15lpm minimum. More flow means more power and quicker cleaning...Your back will thank me. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away thanks Phill for the reply. Will look into neg input. Do you find your topping up your water tank/butt alot tho.
David Beeching yeah you need a constant feed in via as garden hose/ ball valve etc. but by using negative feed you can have a more powerful pump. The pump is the biggest part of the washer, it's what gives you your power. anything that connects directly to a garden hose (positive) will be limited by the max flow of the mains pressure. Litres per minute is the figure you want the more lpm the better the performance. you can have 250bar of pressure but if your max flow is 9lpm it won't give you a great clean. ideally you want 200-250bar and 15lpm upwards. you will look at spending around £1500 for something around 15lpm. my 23lpm pump alone would cost £800 to replace.
Dirty Drive-Away another question. if your washer is 15lpm and you plug hose pipe directly into the machine and the tap gives out say only 10lmp will the pump not work.
David Beeching Not exactly sure what will happen there. I know I have had issues with water pressure when using my K7 Karcher on jobs with limited access. For some reason the flow from the outdoor tap isn't great. Normally an outdoor tap comes straight from a main in the kitchen. But I have seen them elsewhere that someone has diy'd and ended up being tank fed lol. anyway the Karcher just keeps cutting in and out so basically not working. The only way round it was using it on lowest power setting, which in turn is no good for cleaning.
What psi and flow rate do you use and how much was the machine much thanks
I have a custom built machine now that's 350bar at 23lpm. However the one in the video is 250bar at 23lpm and was approx £3500 for just the machine. My new one is over £5000.
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks pal you’re great I would like a 250 bar 23 lpm will that be ok for most driveways , there’s a comp called jet Mac any ideas well appreciated plus keep up the sword training with the young Jedi force looks very strong in him
@steveclay7536 jetmac push belt driven systems and to be honest they aren't that great. Most people like the much cheaper 200bar at 21lpm purely because its over £1000 cheaper. Speak to Qservices in Yorkshire, top guys and only sell good quality washers.
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks so much I would love to have a 21 lpm at 250 bar . Do you think Honda engines are best for long term. Sorry to be a pain and I’ll speak to Qservices and are gear drive not so bad
@steveclay7536 gearbox are tried and tested. In fact interpump the leading pump brand don't warrant their pumps when belt driven. Most of the 250bar machines will use briggs and stratton engines. Honda are more reliable but more expensive. Even once you have the machine, you will probably be looking at another £1000+ to get it all hooked up with a tank etc in a van, plus other ancillaries like hoses and reels. It's a massive outlay for a professional setup. In this economy and they way people are cutting back its a hard game to get into. As it's seasonal, you'll only be cleaning from mid-March through to around the end of September or early October if you are lucky. New work can be hard to find, luckily I have loads of repeat/regular customers.
Is that wide rinse nozzle the same as a 65 degree chemical nozzle? And would appreciate a video on the twin turbo to see it in use. Keep up the good videos!
Henry Walters hi, yeah it's a chemical nozzle that's wicked as a rinse down. I'll do a vid on the twin lance as you asked so nicely.
Great thanks, never seen one before.
I was going to get a flat surface cleaner, but for mainly doing brick driveways i think i will hold off. Do you use it often on patios tarmac etc.
Henry Walters To be fair i hardly ever use my surface cleaner. I just don't feel that it cleans as well as a lance. if you have a mossy or weedy block pave drive it really doesn't like cutting through it like the turbo nozzle does. To get it to clean well you have to ramp the power up and then it drinks water. If I have tarmac I will use the surface cleaner and also large concrete areas. Everything else I use a lance, turbo nozzle on block pave as it rips out the weeds. Don't get me wrong the surface cleaner is a good bit of kit in the right environment. Being circular it doesn't get into corners or too close to edges so you have to finish those manually anyway. mine lives on the roof of the van and is a bit of an arse getting in and out, if you have space for one it will be useful but you could quite easily do without it. Would be good on large block pave areas like forcourts etc where there is no weeds.
Thanks great advice.
How much would a set up cost what you have got thanks
This is an old video now. But the washer alone is 3.5k, factor in all the extras like tank, lances etc etc probably around 5.5k
What brand/model variable nozzle are you using or prefer?
Blake hi, I am using an interpump one at the moment. It's the only one I've found rated to 250bar, the rest seem to max out at 200.
Do you ever use the customers water?
Always. There's no way to clean without a water source. 400L won't last more than about 20mins.
Are you still running this van? I’m looking at a LWB Transit Connect for my business too. Trying to avoid anything bigger but wondering if you found a larger van necessary later on?
Is it standard practice to soft wash every surface you clean
No not always, it does give a deeper clean but obviously the use of chem adds to the customers bill so not all want it.
@@DirtyDriveAway thank you im starting my own business any info is greatly appreciated 😊
If your not using any chemicals or resanding how much would you charge a square meter plz.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions
@Nick Caprani really depends on competition. You have to re sand d block pave driveways after, it's a must otherwise it will cause the blocks to shift. I don't divulge prices on here, as they can change yearly. Price varies on size and what needs doing.
Oki doki thank you so much
Nice vid pal, this is a business I'm genuinely contemplating getting into with a view to do car valeting on the side, my question is regarding the petrol pressure washer, is it very noisy and how do you reduce the noise level especially if working in the mornings. Thanks and what pressure washer would you recommend as a good one for starting up?
A good startup washer is something with a Honda GX390 engine and decent interpump pump and gearbox (£1600) yes they can be noisy, on par with a lawnmower. Not much you can do about noise, I won't start before 9am due to noise. If your doing this full time and doing it properly you won't have the time or energy for a sideline during the cleaning season (march-october). Phill
Hi could I ask were you got your 400l water tank from thankyou.
Ecosure
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks
Hi,is a turbo nozzle the wrong thing to use for that natural stone
michael kilner yeah it is a bit aggressive for natural stone. I only ever use it on block pave really. Sometimes if you've got some difficult concrete I will use it, also good for walls and the white wall tops. You can easily de layer natural stone and using a turbo nozzle on it is a sure fire way to do that.
Nice vid. Won't it mess up the pump if u don't use the jet for over a minute
The pump has a return to tank bypass system. It will only heat the pump up if the machine has a recirculation unloader valve. You can run the machine off the trigger for as long as you want with a RTT system as there is a constant flow of cold water going through the pump.
@@DirtyDriveAway smart
@@DirtyDriveAway did u install that urself
@@xxdeedee no they are pretty standard on most professional grade washers.
@@DirtyDriveAway where did u buy urs geeze
Where did you get that vario nozzle/Lance mate
Depends on the pressure of your machine. Up to 200bar you can buy on ebay, if its above 200 then you need interpumps version called the mulitreg. Think most ebay ones only go 200bar max. The mulitreg is 250bar, and you'll have to search online. Think I got mine from an interpump UK supplier years ago.
@@DirtyDriveAway nice one cheers 👍
Did ur tank come with the ball valve or did u fit it?
No I fitted everything. Tanks don't come with ball valves
@@DirtyDriveAway I thought so- sorry to be a complete novice! Literally just starting up have a demon storm 2 next thing is the tank and needing any info on the ball valve would be massively appropriated. Like where did u get your tank and ball valve? And how much should I be looking letre wise? My machine puts out 11 lpm but always have just used connected to a garden tap
@@__jake46 Most people just use a standard Part 2 toilet ball valve. I need high flow so i use a jobe valve. As your only running 11lpm you can get away with a smaller tank. At 11lpm you will be hard pushed running out of water so you could easily get away with a 100-150L tank.
@@DirtyDriveAway thankyou for the reply and information I'll look into part 2 toilet ball valve. Just wary of being a smaller tank when I upgrade the machine aware 11 lpm isnt as much as u guys have!
@@__jake46 I mean you can fit any size tank you want, but at 11lpm the chances of it emptying are quite slim. You may be best just upgrading the tank in the future as you can fit a larger tank by the size of your machine.
With regards to the actual hose have you actually had to ever use more than 50m?
matty7489 hi, yeah I've had a few jobs where the distance from the van is more than 50m. I have 40m on the reel and then an extra 10m wound up separate. if it's a big worthwhile job and it's more than 50m from the van I will take the washer out the van but I won't do it on a small job. a lot of jobs I do use the full 40m reel. It's not hard to be that far from the van by the time you have gone up a side path and round a corner. the problem is you can't always park on a driveway so sometimes your out in the road.
Yh im thinking about buying 3x20m that I can just join together as needed. That way if I damage a length I just have to replace 20m rather that 40. What fittings do you reckon would be best to joint them with, with regards to flow? Are some more restrictive than others?
matty7489 I use 3/8" tema quick release connectors. I've used cheap ones and also stainless but they don't last long. I've had my tema connectors on for over a year now and still going good. cheap ones lasted me about 2 months before seizing up. if you don't have the room for a reel then 3 separate hoses will work. you may find them more expensive in smaller lengths mind. I find coiling up even a 10m hose by hand a pain. 20m could be an arse to jump about and coil up all the time. I would look at some kind of reel to make ya life easier.
may I ask were I can find a longer high pressure hose ?
jacqui rolph hi Jacqui, any decent hose supplier should be able to hook you up. Depending what length you want, I think they go up to 40M in one length, I've used Rutland pumps (in the UK) for several of my hoses and they are always good quality. Should be standard 3/8" high pressure hose.
Sorry to ask another question, but for a ball stop valve will a 'part 1 high pressure ball valve' work.
Henry Walters Hey Henry, it's no problem. Yes a HP ball valve will work fine. It's what I started with, the only downside to the ball valve is it has a max flow rate. I use a Rojo valve, not easy to get hold of as they are used for agricultural use, mainly filling cattle troughs. They have a much higher flow rate. I connect up 2 garden hoses to mine on a Y piece. If you are working in an area with high pressure the 2 hoses and Rojo valve keep the tank filled up. when I was using the normal ball valve there was only so fast it would flow.
Thanks never heard of a rojo valve, they do seem hard to get hold of. Did you get yours from the uk and online?
Henry Walters yes but I can't for the life of me remember from who. it was an agricultural/farm supplier. They weren't cheap mind think around £45.
That is around the price i found, it is the yellow and black one right?
Henry Walters yeah that's the one. I also upgraded the internal valve to the high flow one, that had to be imported from America I think.
Whats the cost of the washer pal
About £3500
Hi what fitting are for the wash down tool
3/8" bsp quick release.
what type pressure washer using for two turbo nossle
Mine is 250bar ar 23lpm. You can use a lower pressure machine but at a sacrificed cleaning power.
@@DirtyDriveAway suprise at video very good, have a small electrical washer with out a trigger handle just hose n turbo tip very good for cleaning under car fenders, thanks for showing your video