Power Washer Soot Buildup

What kind of fuel do you run in your Power Washer?

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purepowerwash

New member
Hi,
I own a Hydroblaster power washer and I just had the Burner completely serviced and cleaned to the price tag of $618.00 and I noticed that soot is already starting to buildup again in the burner. The service manager mentioned that the air/fuel ratio was off and the fuel pressure was too low before so he adjusted it, and the baffle plate had to be replaced. Is there something I can do to keep the soot buildup down? I currently burn diesel (not offroad diesel), because kerosene is outrageously expensive. Any recommendations? Thanks, I am just starting in this business this year, and with 17 gas stations to keep up on, I need to keep this thing going.


Thanks,
Tim
 
So you are saying you do run Diesel? How much Red Devil do you put in the tank?
 
I don't have to worry about soot build up. My burner is propane. I'm getting ready to have Jerry build me a new unit. Propane burner and propane engine. I'll put another 50 gallon propane tank on the truck for a total of 100 gallons and I'll be good to go.
 
It should not soot up. Either your fuel pressure is too high, or the air bands aren't opened enough...or both. Fuel pressure should be set to 140 psi. Get a gauge if you don't have one. What burner do you have? I'm guessing a 12 volt Beckett.
 
Vince Wood said:
I don't have to worry about soot build up. My burner is propane. I'm getting ready to have Jerry build me a new unit. Propane burner and propane engine. I'll put another 50 gallon propane tank on the truck for a total of 100 gallons and I'll be good to go.
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Vince, what's the fuel operating cost look like - diesel vs. propane?
 
Rapid HotClean said:
Vince, what's the fuel operating cost look like - diesel vs. propane?
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I buy my propane wholesale at $2.00 a gallon. Gas is $3.95 a gallon and diesel is $3.89 a gallon here. The Air Quality Management District here is imposing $500 permit fees beginning July 1 (I think) here for all diesel burner pressure washers per unit, per year.

It's another selling point for me also when you can tell your customers your unit is all propane powered. It's a win, win for me.

The only down fall is if I every roll my truck, then at least I'll go out of this world with a kaboom and not just a bang.
 
purepowerwash said:
So you are saying you do run Diesel? How much Red Devil do you put in the tank?
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No, I only used kerosene. I recommend the Red Devil for those using diesel. The instructions are on the can.
 
Been doing this 30 years, de-scale when needed. The red devil works but it cost 30 bucks to un-scale a coil.

To me it's no issue, this is just regular Maint at so many hours. Cost of doing business.

If any of the fuels where readily available I would use them. Diesel is the one that's popular because its accessible


Text me for info on Milwaukee event. 480-522-5227


Heres a Good thread about it from the Dead http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/power-washing/417-kero-diesel.html
 
Ron Musgraves said:
Been doing this 30 years, de-scale when needed. The red devil works but it cost 30 bucks to un-scale a coil.

To me it's no issue, this is just regular Maint at so many hours. Cost of doing business.

If any of the fuels where readily available I would use them. Diesel is the one that's popular because its accessible


Text me for info on Milwaukee event. 480-522-5227


Heres a Good thread about it from the Dead http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/power-washing/417-kero-diesel.html
Click to expand...

Ron, I recommended the Red Devil to add to the diesel to reduce buildup on the outside of the coil. For descaling the inside of the coil for scale buildup I use HF acid and then neturalize with a high pH cleaner. This is something I would do once a year.
 
Steven Rowlett said:
Ron, I recommended the Red Devil to add to the diesel to reduce buildup on the outside of the coil. For descaling the inside of the coil for scale buildup I use HF acid and then neturalize with a high pH cleaner. This is something I would do once a year.
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Yeah, when I descale I take another Washer and Just Blow the soot right out. My point was I do not worry about either one. Its just part of regular Maint. When I De-scale I take a Pressure washer and Blast the Coil. Yes I do not worry about the Wrap getting Wet, we fire the burner Back up after it dries right up.

Its great we are all talking about this, but for me its just part of maint. It just has to be done and your going to have to deal with it. Nothing will prevent it!!! Neither one

Personally De-scale is more important to me that Soot. YES you can USE Air, I like to just Blast it out. These guys will tell you about the how not to get the Wrap Wet. I have never had issues because those will be replaced to at some point. Nothing on these machines last forever.
 
Ron Musgraves said:
Yeah, when I descale I take another Washer and Just Blow the soot right out. My point was I do not worry about either one. Its just part of regular Maint. When I De-scale I take a Pressure washer and Blast the Coil. Yes I do not worry about the Wrap getting Wet, we fire the burner Back up after it dries right up.

Its great we are all talking about this, but for me its just part of maint. It just has to be done and your going to have to deal with it. Nothing will prevent it!!! Neither one

Personally De-scale is more important to me that Soot. YES you can USE Air, I like to just Blast it out. These guys will tell you about the how not to get the Wrap Wet. I have never had issues because those will be replaced to at some point. Nothing on these machines last forever.
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How often do you have to replace the wrap? I think all of ours are less than three years old but one now.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
 
Thanks Ron!! Like I was saying I am new to all of this so I am still learning and with having bought a used machine to start with I want to maintain it the best I can. I am still just in the building stage of the business so money is tight. Do you know of anyone who makes a CNG pressure washer? CNG is extremely popular here in Utah and is really inexpensive...
 
purepowerwash said:
Thanks Ron!! Like I was saying I am new to all of this so I am still learning and with having bought a used machine to start with I want to maintain it the best I can. I am still just in the building stage of the business so money is tight. Do you know of anyone who makes a CNG pressure washer? CNG is extremely popular here in Utah and is really inexpensive...
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I have never heard or seen a CNG pressure washer. I would though if it can be done then Sirocco Jerry would be able to build it.
 
Vince Wood said:
I buy my propane wholesale at $2.00 a gallon. Gas is $3.95 a gallon and diesel is $3.89 a gallon here. The Air Quality Management District here is imposing $500 permit fees beginning July 1 (I think) here for all diesel burner pressure washers per unit, per year.

It's another selling point for me also when you can tell your customers your unit is all propane powered. It's a win, win for me.

The only down fall is if I every roll my truck, then at least I'll go out of this world with a kaboom and not just a bang.
Click to expand...

Propane has 75% as much BTUs as diesel.

So, $2.00/0.75 = $2.67 per gallon for the equivalent BTUs.

Against diesel at $3.95/gal that's a savings of $1.28/gal. That's huge!

Why isn't everyone doing this?

How much gas can you carry before the state/Feds want special licenses?
 
So, I ordered some Red Devil and it arrived today just in time for my next job and a fresh tank of diesel....I will let you know how it works.
 
Wow.. this thread should be split into about 4 different ones.. Heaters are affected by altitude here in Sand Diego county, elevations range from sea level to 7000 ft. Soot build-up can be can be can be from altitude change, improper air adjustment, improper fuel pressure, worn of partially plugged burner nozzle, partially plugged fuel filter, ignored INternal fuel filter of the fuel pump, improper voltage delivery to a burner motor, or Ignitor, bad contacts in a "stressed" pressure switch. etc. , .. .. You need to have technical help available.. Guessing at your troubleshooting is too time consuming, if you are too independent to "consult" experienced.. A seriously managed heater system gets adjusted at every puff of smoke, for every shot at reliability, and Long-Term-Low-Cost. Someone in your business needs to understand the "Care and Feeding" of a heater, to be safe. This is why I refer to it as BMP's and Sustainability. One more thing.. Soot-Remover is a great tool.. it should have been used as a tool to save 80% of that $500 bill. And.. it can also be used as insurance inbetween.. a dose a month can relieve the occasional small mishap.. like running the heater Low of fuel.
 
Tony Shelton said:
How often do you have to replace the wrap? I think all of ours are less than three years old but one now.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
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When I replace coils unless they fail!
If you buy cheap coils with bad pancakes the wrap will fail sooner.

All the people who say machines are the same understand when they owned a landa and then another manufacture that's coils flop around.

Text me for info on Milwaukee event. 480-522-5227
 
Rapid HotClean said:
Propane has 75% as much BTUs as diesel.

So, $2.00/0.75 = $2.67 per gallon for the equivalent BTUs.

Against diesel at $3.95/gal that's a savings of $1.28/gal. That's huge!

Why isn't everyone doing this?

How much gas can you carry before the state/Feds want special licenses?
Click to expand...


You can carry 100 gallons of propane before you need a hazmat endorsement or placards for your truck. I have a few answers to your question as to why isn't everyone doing this?

1. Diesel is easier to find than propane at 2 AM when you run out of it.
2. Propane is more flammable than diesel so there is more chance of a explosion if you don't check for leaks regularly.
3. The propane units cost more $$$ when you go to buy them and not everything manufacture makes them.
 
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