Pressure Washing questions

[acwindows]

Hi everybody,
Ive been a window cleaner for about 14 years. Im in the process of buying a pressure washer for driveway, sidewalk and deck cleaning work. Im also going to buy a sidewalk sweeper. What Ive been looking at is a honda gx 390 w/ 3700 psi, 4 gpm pump and 13 hp for 999.00

Ive been told what I need is something more like this:
2500 psi, 5 gpm pump and 13 to 18 hp. Does this sound right?

I just want to make sure I get something suited for this particular kind of work. Id prefer to get a honda pressure washer. My budget is 1000-1300.
Any tips, suggestions or advice would be really helpful.
Thanks

 

[bholcombe]

ive been told that a 13 -18 hp is the perfict way to go. they say the more gpm the better off you are. i have a 16 hp 5gpm 3000 psi heat machine it work great for what i do. basicly the same as what you are planning. sidewalk and any flat work.

 

[dankes]

Of the 2 machines that yu described, I would prefer the 5 gpm, 2500 psi machine. I think many would agree. There aren't too many applications where more psi would be needed. You will see in many of the other posts on this board, 1000 psi is typical for deck cleaning. As for sidewalks, hot water is most efective for gum, grease & dirt removal.

 

[acwindows]

Thanks for the tips guys. Going to pick up a new rig tomorrow.

 

[Mathew Johnson]

I agree. I have a few different machines, hot and cold and I have changed my tips on my 3700psi - 4 gpm to drop my PSI to 2400-2600.

GPM and Chemicals get your cleaning done.

 

[acwindows]

I ended up buying a 3000 psi 5 gpm 13 hp honda machine with a surface cleaner......Now all I need is work

 

[beyoungsr]

Is that a belt drive or direct drive machine?

They did some creative math to get that out of a 13 hp motor!

3000 psi x 5.0 gpm =15,000/1100=13.64 hp required

Maybe they over clocked the pump!

 

[acwindows]

Is that a belt drive or direct drive machine?

They did some creative math to get that out of a 13 hp motor!

3000 psi x 5.0 gpm =15,000/1100=13.64 hp required

Maybe they over clocked the pump!

Well, if you want to be specific:
Engine is a Honda GX390 13 hp direct drive
Water pump is a Giant P319
gpm 4.8
3000 psi(intermittent)
2500 psi(continuous)

The manuals equasion looks like this:
hp=(gpm*psi)/1450

So then I would assume:
(4.8*3000)/1450=9.93hp

 

[Russ Johnson]

That's electric hp, to get gas hp, multiply by 1.5