FREE Atlantic City! Pressure Wash / SoftWash / Roof Cleaning / Window Cleaning

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I don't know how to start a New Thread.


As some of you might know, I'm a painting contractor and don't have (or need!) a fancy rig, hot water, Titanium hose reels, or even a tank. We pressure wash homes prior to painting the exterior, and occasionally I pick up a house or two here & there, maybe a driveway or deck, plus two commercial accounts that we wash twice a year.



As a proud member of Hack Nation, I'd like to share my experience with purchasing a new unit. I tried asking for the board's advice several years ago, when I needed to buy a new unit, and was ridiculed for my low budget and lack of desire to "step up" and purchase a commercial unit.


I'd be willing to bet that there are many lurkers that monitor this board from a distance, as well as a few members that share my predicament. This post is for you.


Close to eight years ago, after tiring of my 3rd $300 Troy-Bilt unit, I purchased a bigger, more powerful unit from Lowe's (commence pearl-clutching). It had a Honda GX390 and an Annovi Reverbi pump, with output of 4000psi and 3.8 gpm. It cost $999.


Now before you tell me how crappy box-store stuff is, and how I should've bought a belt-drive from a specialty store, please read my entire post.


Granted, I am meticulous about my equipment -- I change the oil after every 4 or 5 jobs, and run lots of fresh water through the hoses after I throw bleach or any other type of cleaner. Well, after eight years and approximately 250 jobs, the Annovi has died.


Spring in the LowCountry brings pollen, and my phone was ringing off the hook. Jobs were backing up. I looked high and low for reasonably-priced "commercial" used units -- on PWI, craigslist, and even at the rental houses and paint stores. The best I found was a new GX270 3,000 psi with a 2.7 gpm pump for $1150. I politely declined, and kept looking.


Frustrated, I went back to the box.


At The Home Depot, they had the GX390 4200 psi with 4.0 gpm for $999, but the weight of the GX390 doesn't fit my needs. Real estate is expensive here, so I only keep a small trailer. I don't like to use more than 150' of hose, so often the unit had to be moved from the trailer, and rolled across the pine straw and sandy soil that is so common here in Beaufort County.


Then, I saw a GX270 that claimed to produce 3800psi and 3.5 gpm for $799. I was skeptical, to say the least. I doubted that a GX270 could produce that PSI.


After much hemming and hawing, I bought the unit and used it today on a job. Much to my surprise, the unit produced plenty of kick, and enough power to throw the water to the very tip of the gable of the 2.5-story home.


And even though the actual weight (125lbs) is 13lbs more than the listed weight, it is not completely unmanageable. My old GX390 is 152lbs.


As expected, the hose and gun are garbage, but that didn't really matter as I have others. And I also need a true chemical injector, even though this unit is built to downstream.


My story is complete, so all of you Landa owners can chirp away. Keep in mind, not everyone needs a $10k unit, or, for that matter, a trailer-mounted unit. There are lots of us that simply need a powerful machine at a reasonable price. The Honda fits the bill.


I don't visit here as often as I used to, but would welcome the opportunity to follow some of you on twitter, and I invite you to follow me @UKTBL. I post job pics almost daily, along with some political & sports ramblings. Hope to see some of you there.


Happy Washing!
 
Put the engine on a Udor Zeta pump and you'll be in good shape for house washing and a 2nd high pressure unit for paint prep.
 
Yeah, I still have my old 390, and have considered installing a new pump and keeping it as a backup unit. Tell me more about that pump...
 
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