[Paul79]

I did find a thread posted on here about this but it was about 8 years old and I didn’t want to dig it up, plus not much info on it anyway and when I google search it it brings me results and videos on how to clean a wheelie bin with a pressure washer instead of actually using a wheelie bin as a tank to pressure wash if you know what I mean.

I’ve done 4 jobs now, the first 1 my parents there outside tap is very powerful and I used a whirlaway 14 inch surface cleaner which worked brilliant. The next 2 jobs it didn’t rotate so I returned it assuming it was at fault (especially after reading Amazon reviews on it). So I ended up lancing those 2 jobs which wasn’t a lot of work as was just small areas for other family members to get some pics and videos in so wasn’t a big deal until….

The 4th job! Which I did yesterday and it nearly killed me lol. Took me 4-5 hours in total all with the lance only and my back is still suffering today as I write this! But today also came my new surface cleaner, this is an 18 inch with handles and wow that will for sure save my back! After setting it up I wanted to test it in my yard but it would not couple up with my hose so went to a place that specialises in jet washing and got the fitting but then also got talking to them. They basically told me with my set up that this new surface cleaner probably won’t rotate either they said I need a water tank as outdoor tap really can’t provide my pressure washer with enough water.

I know I need one and will eventually get one but since I’m starting out and on low budget I thought to use a wheelie bin (240litre). Now this isn’t a nicked council one it would be a bought one in a nice colour with my logo and some advertising slapped on it but I have no clue where to begin in getting it fixed up. By that I mean I’ve seen a picture of someone who did it with a ball cock so once it’s filled it will stop the tap and as it lowers it will let the tap fill it as you use it. My machine is only 12lpm so I think a 240litre wheelie bin will pretty much get me through any job at least for now if I can set it up properly.

Sorry for the long post I do tend to go on lol. But hoping someone has done this in the past and maybe has instructions, pictures or a video on how it’s setup so I can replicate it!

[SB Cleaning]

I have a wheelie bin setup with ball valve it's very easy to do, I will try to get a video up over the weekend.

[zesty]

Just get a water butt from wickes for the time being mate, fitting a ball cock is easy, i Used to use them, but then just got fed up and left the water running regardless.

You get a massive water butt for £20 200 litres.

Just check your machine is capable of sucking water, some can’t...

[SB Cleaning]

Just get a water butt from wickes for the time being mate, fitting a ball cock is easy, i Used to use them, but then just got fed up and left the water running regardless.

You get a massive water butt for £20 200 litres.

Just check your machine is capable of sucking water, some can’t...

How can you get "fed up" of a ball valve exactly?

[hotsteam]

Ball valves don't  go there 

[Jonny Swirljet]

If a custard has low water pressure i use two wheelies. I used to fit valves on the bins but they kept getting damaged in transit. My Pro 21 splutters a tad when the butt is near to empty so just stop and move the pipework from one bin into the full one. I found that even with a ball-cock set up the water low pressure meant waiting around whilst the bin fills up again. 

[zesty]

Just get a water butt from wickes for the time being mate, fitting a ball cock is easy, i Used to use them, but then just got fed up and left the water running regardless.

You get a massive water butt for £20 200 litres.

Just check your machine is capable of sucking water, some can’t...

How can you get "fed up" of a ball valve exactly?

Kept getting damaged, knocked etc.

Just leaving the tap running works great, it’s rare it overflows if ever. When your drawing at 18-21lpm, you don’t need a ball valve.  I also find a hose straight into the water butt means I haven’t gotta bother sorting out a hose lock connector if customers hose doesn’t have one.

In essence, it became pointless, and kept getting knocked/damaged.

[zesty]

If a custard has low water pressure i use two wheelies. I used to fit valves on the bins but they kept getting damaged in transit. My Pro 21 splutters a tad when the butt is near to empty so just stop and move the pipework from one bin into the full one. I found that even with a ball-cock set up the water low pressure meant waiting around whilst the bin fills up again.

Exactly, I can’t think of a time when the ball valve came in handy. I’m drawing water faster than it can fill. Pointless really...

[SB Cleaning]

If a custard has low water pressure i use two wheelies. I used to fit valves on the bins but they kept getting damaged in transit. My Pro 21 splutters a tad when the butt is near to empty so just stop and move the pipework from one bin into the full one. I found that even with a ball-cock set up the water low pressure meant waiting around whilst the bin fills up again.

Exactly, I can’t think of a time when the ball valve came in handy. I’m drawing water faster than it can fill. Pointless really...

I have my washer and bin in the van so it's a must for me as I wouldn't want it overflowing into van.

[zesty]

If a custard has low water pressure i use two wheelies. I used to fit valves on the bins but they kept getting damaged in transit. My Pro 21 splutters a tad when the butt is near to empty so just stop and move the pipework from one bin into the full one. I found that even with a ball-cock set up the water low pressure meant waiting around whilst the bin fills up again.

Exactly, I can’t think of a time when the ball valve came in handy. I’m drawing water faster than it can fill. Pointless really...

I have my washer and bin in the van so it's a must for me as I wouldn't want it overflowing into van.

Makes sense.

[Smudger]

My tanks bigger yours - nah,nah

1000 litres feeding 2 machines - sometimes it overflows  when being supp,ied from a stand pipe and the guys have gone for lunch leaving the water on 

Darran

[zesty]

My tanks bigger yours - nah,nah

1000 litres feeding 2 machines - sometimes it overflows  when being supp,ied from a stand pipe and the guys have gone for lunch leaving the water on 

Darran

Do you use roadside stand pipes Darran? I’ve seen a a guy filling his bowser from them after he’d finished a Customers driveway - cheeky!

[Smudger]

sometimes,

you need a licence otherwise your in big trouble if caught using one

cost varies depending on the water authority

Darran

[zesty]

sometimes,

you need a licence otherwise your in big trouble if caught using one

cost varies depending on the water authority

Darran

Yeah I thought so.

[Paul79]

I have a wheelie bin setup with ball valve it's very easy to do, I will try to get a video up over the weekend.

Hey mate did you manage to make that video? I got a wheelie bin now made it as least council bin looking as I could lol:

[Paul79]

Just thought! Now I know my machine can draw water from a source but is the start up procedure any different than usual?

Usually I would connect customer tap/hose to my machine then press the lance until water is passing through before starting the machine. This would be totally different now with no water flowing through it or would it? Would I just start the machine up and it will immediatley draw water from the wheelie bin without problem or is there something else that needs to be done?

[Mike Halliday]

Does your pump have a bleed valve on the opposite high pressure outlet, that you open when you start your machine?

If you put your supply hose over the top into the through the lid of the bin then it will need bleeding to get water to the pump, if you have fitted a connector to the bottom of your wheely-bin so it draws water from the bottom it won’t be necessary

[zesty]

Just start it as normal, you may need to hold the trigger in on the wand, to take the pressure off the pump.

If you don’t hold the trigger in, it’ll be almost impossible to start after a few pulls, as you’ll be building up pressure in the pump.

If you have a bleed valve (don’t think you will on that machine) then it’ll be easy as said.

[Paul79]

This is turning into a nightmare!

I've converted the wheelie bin it has a connector at the top with ball cock valve works perfect and has a outlet at the bottom also works perfect. I started the machine up without hose connected and waited a minute for the water to pump through all looking good. But as soon as I connected the hose/lance and pulled the trigger the water pressure coming through was very poor and the pump sounding like it was struggling really bad like metal rattiling big time. I rang Kiam about it and they said this machine I have (the warrior 3000p) isn't really geared for drawing water!!!!

But it comes with a 3 metre suction hose plus filter and is part of there business package which comes with a 1000 litre IBC tank? At a loss here. Done loads of testing with it today I just don't get it.

[Paul79]

Just looking at the description here https://kiamproducts.co.uk/pressure-washer/petrol-pressure-washer/kiam-warrior-3000p-petrol-high-pressure-washer-jet-cleaner-6-5hp-engine.html

It says 'This unit comes complete with a 3m water suction hose & water suction filter and is designed to suck from a water butt or water tank, and can also be connected direct to the mains.'

Highlighted the bit in bold.