Is it legal to use pressure washer to clean car?

Tom

Hi, I would like to know if its legal to use pressure washer to clean car on a public road ?

Answer
Pressure washing contractors do it every day, the legal issue has to do with reclaiming the water. Some cities are mandating that if you wash a car with a pressure washer, you must have a system to vacuum the water back up. They state that cars get many contaminants that should not be washed down the drain. Some cities will require you to pick the water up, AND have a special permit to do so. Check my sources- I have included a forum discussion on this among pressure washer contractors, and a document from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Check with your county, city, and state for the mandates to make sure you are not breaking any laws.

What good is a surface cleaner for a pressure washer?

Miles bobb

So I am new to pressure washing and I had some questions! I have seen a thing called a surface cleaner and it looks like it does the same work a pressure washer does but just easier and faster! Will you explain the difference between normal pressure washing and a surface cleaner?

Answer
When you say "surface cleaner", I assume you're referring to a device that hooks up to a garden hose, not a chemical treatment.

A surface cleaner can only deliver water at your water line's pressure. This should be between 40 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch).

A pressure washer has an internal, electrically operated motor and pump which delivers water at around 10 atmospheres (1500 psi).

A pressure washer will clean grime off that a "surface cleaner" won't. If all you have to clean is superficial dirt and debris, a surface cleaner should work just fine.

If however, you have embedded dirt debris, or moss, a pressure washer is what you need.

NOTE: Be careful what you use a pressure washer on. It can damage some surfaces and remove paint.

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What size pressure washer is good for cleaning a deck?

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BigRed

Hi i am looking at buying a pressure washer to clean my deck and to clean my house i found a 2600psi for $299 and a 3000psi for $399 both have a Honda motor. I was planing on using it to clean a couple other houses and decks is it better to get the bigger one or should i stick with the 2600psi?

Answer
The cleaning power is roughly proportional to the PSI rating multiplied by the GPM. While the higher pressure might not be necessary for the tasks you are considering, the added cleaning power means you'll get the job done faster with the more expensive unit. Keep in mind that you can always add distance to reduce pressure (back away from the surface), but you can't add pressure that the unit doesn't produce.

I have tried to use an old 1500 psi unit that I already had to clean a concrete driveway, but just purchased the 3000 psi machine from a home store, and the difference is amazing. My evaluation was that the extra $100 above the 2600 psi unit was well worth the hours saved. And the Honda engine gets very good reviews from most of what I've read.

I would suggest also getting the surface cleaning attachment, particularly for your wood deck. It's not really powerful enough for a really dirty concrete drive, but would surmise that it is sufficient for the wood (you don't want that high of pressure for the wood). For cleaning concrete surfaces, I highly recommend the Turbo nozzle; it takes the 0 deg pattern and spins it in a 15-25 deg (or so) pattern so that you get the dislodging pressure of the 0 degree, but in a pattern size that allows efficient cleaning.

What's the best electric pressure washer for detailing cars?

black_ice_

I'm looking for a good quality pressure washer for cleaning cars. It needs to be able to draw from a water tank without assistance, and it needs to be reliable. About $200 is my budget, but I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible while still keeping quality.

Answer
For $200 you are not going to get any kind of quality pressure washer.
You need a washer which operates at 1800 PSI or higher pressure output to perform effectively. They start at around $350 - $400 dollars. I do not know of any commercially available pressure washers which will draw from an unpressurized tank - they all are designed to operate from a pressurized hose delivering 3-5 GPM @ 20+ PSI.

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From where should I buy a power washer or pressure washer in MN?

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Julie M

Please help me in it. I want to buy a power washer or pressure washer for cleaning my hotel kitchen. For cleaning oil and black spots.

Answer
First, consider if you will be using it enough to buy one. Rentals are cheap and you don't need to do maintenance or storage. Most Home Centers and Sears sell decent units.

Is there a portable pressure washer out there that can clean a truck without having to use a brush?

GC

I manage a fleet of semi-trucks, and I need a fast and efficient way to wash them. It normally takes 2 hours to wash one truck with a hose, spray nozzle, and brush. I need to know if there is a portable pressure washer out there that can clean a dirty truck without the need for scrubbing with a brush. This should reduce the wash time to less than half.

Answer
There are many different models of pressure washers but without a brush you always have slight film of dirt. But if you don't mind a slight film of dirt it would cut your wash time in half or maybe less than half. I hope this helps you out.
Good luck.

Oldman

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