[nathankaye]

Many may kno my story now, traditional window cleaner 14 yrs, switched wfp bk in june last yr, bla,bla,bla....
Anyway, all is going great and now venturing into power washing cust drive, decking etc etc and i get impression some on here have, n for some time. So looking for a little advice please.
From what i can gather, i work no where near people on here, so no competition n looking into targeting existing customers. I have my 3rd child on its way in 2mnths, so im not looking at selling up n investing into business n leaflet dropping millions.
Do you guys connect up from your tank in van or straight from customers if outside tap. If its the former, what connections would i need to connect my microbore hose n rectus fittings to? So it connects to a male hozelock connection on pressure washer.  Thanks in advance of anh help

[Smurf]

There are two types of  petrol driven washer you can get. Direct feed (lower LPM & PSI spec type) that are designed for light use only and heavy duty washers that draw water from a source be it a wheelie bin, tank, etc that have a higher LPM flow rate & PSI in general.  However don't be confused with the cheap china ones being sold new on ebay for about £200 that so say can draw water as are crap and the pump will not last five mins.

Regards to hoses etc direct type feed washers you just connect it up using standard garden hose reel and conections directly to an outside tap. However in doing so you are dependant on the tap water flow and pressure if the washer pump will work properley at full pressure and flow rate or not. Or if using a draw type washer you run a standard garden hose reel to say a wheelie bin  so the washer is fed from that using the draw hose and weighted filter that came with the washer.  Most would also fit a ball valve to stop the tap water overflowing.

If wanting to use van tank that you use for pure water for wfp work then is not a great idea sticking tap water in it just so to run a draw type washer if you ask me. Not unless you already do so as you're lucky enough to live in a very  soft water area and di on demand straight from tap water in the tank to your wfp pole.  However if doing so the draw feed hose from the tank needs to be at least 1/2 " or 3/4" so the washer pump is not starved of water.  Then you are really looking at building a van mount pressure washer system with fitted pressure washer hose reels etc rather than a portable system.

What sort of budget do you have as to get into pressure washing to buy decent kit is not cheap even buying good used kit?

Also unless you can sell the service at a decent price to your existing domestic customers then may not be worth getting into pressure washing at all as you could probably make more money on the glass.

I had one job cancel yesterday because the lady spoke to next door that said you can just buy and spray a chem on her block paved drive instead and mentioned to me in an email it was the more trendy way to do it now. Good luck with that one I thought as was in a terrible state that had not been cleaned in years.   

It don't help when people google vids like this as they assume it's an easy and cheaper way to do it themselves rather than paying someone to get the job done properly. http://www.smartseal.co.uk/help-advice/step-by-step-video-guides.htm














 

[Clever Forum Name]

Please copy and paste your original OP In general cleaning. Let us know when and I will get my popcorn. They just love to help window cleaners who wanna dabble with PW 

[Smurf]

Nothing wrong in wanting to have a dabble Damo. Anyway I thought I was trying to be helpful here.
Best you don't turn up with a diy electric pressure washer though as most custards have already got one that is ether broke or they can't get the surface and joints clean enough especialy when trying to clean block pavers. Also yeeha (hypo) is your friend when needed as some jobs you don't need a pressure washer at all 

[Clever Forum Name]

You wouldn't get it Alan, running joke on the forum.

[nathankaye]

Please copy and paste your original OP In general cleaning. Let us know when and I will get my popcorn. They just love to help window cleaners who wanna dabble with PW 

Might just do that for the fun wind up of it. I had a look on their forum and then for laugh was going to post on it. But its a little more ferocious than this forum.

Cheers smurf, info much appreciated. Ive been fortunate to pick up a direct feed washer, a cheap one, but one all the same. Had a practice in my own humble yard and convincing friends and family to let me rip in their yards so i can perfect my techniques before im let loose on the paying public :-)   

I have 3 kids to my x mrs of many yrs who did dirty n i pay maintenance too. Not learnt lesson n soon to add 3rd little one to my mrs. So untill i reap profit from these additional clean to reinvest into more suitable machinery it will have to do. But im not jumping into big jobs, nor being unrealistic as these will be few and far n seasonal bonuses lets say. So starting with idea of improving decking and small pathways etc. A number of my reg custies have enquired if i kno of anyone and so im targeting my existing market as i know them well. In addition, i have some very good close friends who are fellow windies too, who will refer their cust to me for such jobs and they gain a small cut from price. Very weary from quizing some prior, that certain custies dont want to pay for a job well done, but we experience that as wfp when pricing roof cleans or fascia jobs etc. Its all in how you sell it, but i worked in sales before and that part i dont have any probs with. So will be happy with the periodic boost to turnover/profit to belp with nappies lol

[dazmond]

Many may kno my story now, traditional window cleaner 14 yrs, switched wfp bk in june last yr, bla,bla,bla....
Anyway, all is going great and now venturing into power washing cust drive, decking etc etc and i get impression some on here have, n for some time. So looking for a little advice please.
From what i can gather, i work no where near people on here, so no competition n looking into targeting existing customers. I have my 3rd child on its way in 2mnths, so im not looking at selling up n investing into business n leaflet dropping millions.
Do you guys connect up from your tank in van or straight from customers if outside tap. If its the former, what connections would i need to connect my microbore hose n rectus fittings to? So it connects to a male hozelock connection on pressure washer.  Thanks in advance of anh help

if your planning on staying as a sole trader i wouldnt bother buying all the pressure washing gear mate.its just not worth it esp if you already have a busy solid workload.its easier and less faff to make extra money by offering f/s/g cleans,conservatory roofs  and solar panels using existing equipment.

dont forget you need the room in your van for lugging the extra gear in and out.

also you ll find you ll pick up the odd job here and there off existing customers but not enough to really make it pay unless you leaflet/canvass a lot.which takes up even more of your precious time.

the extra expense and hassle is often a waste of time and money.loads of sole trader window cleaners end up selling their pressure washing equipment after a while.

[nathankaye]

Ive been fortunate to get big chunk of equipment virtually free of someone I know. So just thinking for odd seasonal jobs like decking or small patio jobs. Small to medium jobs that I cud book together on a saturday, hopefully 2, if real lucky 3. Im not expecting loads of work from it, my bulk is windows n associated work ie fascia. Just thinking whip mg hose n brushes out. Washer in n hose n some bonus money for the summer.