Pressure Washer and low mains water problem

spender

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Oct 23, 2011, 4:17:59 PM10/23/11

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I have a normal domestic type pressure washer, and at certain times of
the day, the pressure just stops and starts every few seconds. I am
told this is because I must have low water pressure or flow.

So without installing a new mains water pipe, what can I do to get over
it.

Can I somehow fill a tank up with water, and will the pressure washer
suck it up, or must it have a head of water, ie put the tank on a
stand.

Any ideas please.

Andy Champ

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Oct 23, 2011, 4:55:55 PM10/23/11

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My pressure washer will happily run on the water in the hose - at least
until it runs out. It must be sucking to do that.

You'll need a small positive pressure to start it off - but I reckon a
cold tap fed from a loft tank would be fine.

Andy

Andrew Gabriel

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Oct 23, 2011, 5:14:04 PM10/23/11

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In article <ZD_oq.2529$cH4...@newsfe24.ams2>,

I always run mine off the rain water butt.

The flow rate required by most home pressure washers is very low.
I would be surprised if your mains water supply can't even meet that.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

gremlin_95

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Oct 23, 2011, 5:41:12 PM10/23/11

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On 23/10/2011 21:17, spender wrote:

Out of interest, what is the flow rate of your pressure washer? I have
run mine from a water tank before and it works okay, just got to prime
the line first. Though, I am told that higher rpm (2800rpm) motors will
wear out quicker used this way. Apparently the more expensive machines
have a reduction gear box to run at 1400rpm.

--
David

Dave Liquorice

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Oct 23, 2011, 7:08:12 PM10/23/11

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On Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:55:55 +0100, Andy Champ wrote:

> You'll need a small positive pressure to start it off - but I reckon a
> cold tap fed from a loft tank would be fine.

My domestic PW is fine from the loft tank and a long convoluted route
in 15mm pipe. It was even happy with another 50m of 1/2" hosepipe
from that tap.

--
Cheers
Dave.

harry

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Oct 24, 2011, 4:09:40 AM10/24/11

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Sounds unlikely, water requirement is very low for a pressure washer.
Maybe an airlock? I run mine off the mains, I turn on the water and
squeeze the trigger and let water come through before I turn the motor
on.
If I don't do this it starts and stops due to air in the works.

MuddyMike

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Oct 24, 2011, 5:37:51 AM10/24/11

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"spender" <thesp...@spender.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ZD_oq.2529$cH4...@newsfe24.ams2...

Is there a filter of some kind on the inlet to the machine? If so it may be
partially blocked with some debris that was in the supply hose. I once had a
problem of this kind and it turned out to be a small snail that must have
made the hose pipe its home whilst left outside unconnected.

Mike

ianp...@googlemail.com

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Oct 24, 2011, 12:04:22 PM10/24/11

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On Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:17:59 GMT, "spender" <thesp...@spender.co.uk>
wrote:

I had a similar symptom which I asked about on this group and was
pointed to thepossibility of too high pressure. May be worthy of
consideration. Have alook at this thread if you think it a
possibility.

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_thread/thread/7900acdee2593056/108fc64337d2f27c?q=pressure+washer+Stihl+group:uk.d-i-y#108fc64337d2f27c
Please reply to group - email address is not monitored
Ian

The Medway Handyman

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Oct 24, 2011, 3:07:05 PM10/24/11

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Its a four pole as opposed to a two pole motor.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

The Medway Handyman

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Oct 24, 2011, 3:10:02 PM10/24/11

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On 23/10/2011 21:17, spender wrote:

Are you by any chance using Hozelock 'water stop' fittings?

gremlin_95

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Oct 24, 2011, 3:30:12 PM10/24/11

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Ah, is the reduction gear box for petrol machines?

And how true is it that the machines at lower RPM last a lot longer?

--
David

The Medway Handyman

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Oct 24, 2011, 4:09:46 PM10/24/11

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Yes. Although cheaper petrol machines don't have them.

>
> And how true is it that the machines at lower RPM last a lot longer?
>

Hmmm! Bit of a marketing thing :-)

In the early days HPC's used plunger pumps like the legendary CAT or the
Hawk, Speck etc
> http://www.catpumps.com/products/pumps-positive-displacement-triplex-piston.asp

These were designed to be belt driven at a fairly slow rpm. They had a
relatively long piston stroke. Great for flow rate, great on suction &
priming.

This were in tut days of a proper balance between pressure & volume.
Nowadays pressure is king.

Typical commercial machine when I were a lad was 70 bar @ 12 to 15
litres/min Cleaned better than 150 bar @ 9 litres/min.

Most HPC's these days use direct drive axial swash plate pumps which
have a very short piston stroke - good for pressure, not so good for
flow rate. They can be run much faster - but their main attraction is
that they are very cheap to make.

I suppose a slower running machine would last longer, but most of it is
marketing.

gremlin_95

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Oct 24, 2011, 4:36:56 PM10/24/11

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I am still saving up for this machine:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INTERPUMP-10-100-QUIKY-ELECTRIC-PRESSURE-WASHER-/350359490431?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item51930d8f7f

It appeals to me because it seems like an old school, tried and tested
product :)

--
David

The Medway Handyman

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Oct 25, 2011, 3:42:46 AM10/25/11

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The Boxjet as was. Absolutely excellent choice. You will never regret
buying it.

gremlin_95

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Oct 25, 2011, 12:57:48 PM10/25/11

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Yep, I suppose this model I have linked to is based on the Boxjet?
Boxjet has 8 litres/minute whilst this one has 10...

--
David

The Medway Handyman

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Oct 26, 2011, 2:44:28 PM10/26/11

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IIRC there were a range of Boxjets, all good. !0 litres is way better
than 8 litres.

gremlin_95

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Oct 26, 2011, 4:09:46 PM10/26/11

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Yup, it's the best I can afford anyway at the moment, hopefully I should
get a long service life from it. I like the fact that the pump seems to
have all the parts available.

--
David