The general answer is no longer than a minute. When the trigger is not pulled, the water will cycle through the pump, and the heat from the pump will cause the water to heat, which can ultimately burn and melt the internal components of the washer.
Cleaning Equipment
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Hydro Tek Systems Inc. is an industry-leading manufacturer of high quality cold, hot, and steam pressure washers. We design and engineer our pressure washers and cleaning equipment with high grade, top-quality components, increasing reliability and performance and producing a system that “Cleans Fast and Outlasts”.
Our reputation for reliability and the impressive look and style of our products has made us the manufacturer of choice across a diverse range of industries including industrial, commercial and contract cleaning; heavy construction; fleet maintenance; agricultural; and government agencies.
The family-owned company, Kärcher is today the world’s leading provider of efficient, resource-conserving cleaning systems. Kärcher makes a difference through top performance, innovation and quality.
Kärcher is constantly striving to achieve the best solution to every cleaning task. This is why we develop powerful systems made up of perfectly matched cleaning machines, accessories and cleaning agents. In order to best meet the needs and preferences of our customers, we are in constant discussion with both private and professional operators. The insights that we gain from this have a direct influence on the development of new products. This means that we can ensure that each new innovation not only meets the requirements of increasingly complex cleaning tasks, but that it makes work as easy and straightforward as possible for operators.
Custom-built pressure washers built specifically for your application. Our private label pressure washers come standard with the highest quality parts. All applications feature Honda motors, stainless steel frames, high quality pumps and accessories.
Hundreds Of Uses
- Food & Beverage Processing
- Agriculture
- Roof & Concrete Cleaner
- Logging Equipment Washer
- Oil Spill Cleanup
- Coating Removal Washer
- Off Shore Rig Washer
- Oil Field Equipment Washer
- And much more!
We understand that our commercial customers have their own unique cleaning tasks. Our range of commercial cleaning equipment, accessories and detergents are designed with our customers’ needs in mind. Kärcher products provide superb cleaning performance, save time and resources, and are intuitive to operate: leaving our customers to focus on what is most important to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much pressure and flow do I need?
AROUND THE HOUSE
To clean around your house, wash your siding, wash your car (Most Coin-Op car washes have about 700psi), or clean your deck you probably only need 1,500 to 2,000 PSI For concrete cleaning or to clean barnacles off boat hulls you would be better off with 3,000 PSI.
COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL USE
As a commercial contractor you need at least 3,000 PSI in order to be fully productive. Flow is important for rinsing horizontal surfaces or powering surface cleaning machines, such as our Hydro Twister. If you are cleaning vertical surfaces, or excess water is a problem, a low flow/high-psi unit is possibly the better option.
For a given amount of horsepower you can only get so much pressure and flow. Pressure is good for cleaning, but to rinse you need flow to push the dirt across the horizontal surface. If what you are cleaning comes off easily, but you need to push a lot of dirt — cleaning animal enclosures or sidewalks for example — then you need a high-flow unit.
What size spray tip do I need?
The spray tip may be the most important part of the pressure washer. They range in size from 2.0 – 15.0. If the tip size is to big, you will experience pressure loss. The same thing happens if you move your thumb over the opening of a running garden hose. The bigger you make the opening of the garden hose, the less pressure you get.
IF THE SPRAY TIP IS TO SMALL, YOU MAY EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING:
- Higher pressure
- Higher amp draw
- Belt slippage
- Hotter water discharge
- Premature motor / pump / unloader wear
- Less discharge flow
Do I need a hot or cold pressure washer?
COLD WATER
Cold water pressure washers can be used to successfully clean many objects and surfaces through a combination of impact of the spray and the application of cleaning chemicals and soaps. Cold water is generally used where grease and oil are not a factor, but with the right chemicals grease and oil can still be effectively dealt with.
HOT WATER
We know from washing dishes that hot water makes cleaning easier, especially if we are cleaning greases, oils, or petrochemicals. Cold water can only be as effective if the proper cleaning chemicals are also used. Hot water can often make cleaning faster by loosening dirt, gum, grease and oil. Most hot water units use diesel or kerosene to heat the pressurized water in a heavy duty heating coil. The heating coil and burner system makes the hot water unit much heavier, more complex and more difficult to maintain than a cold water unit. To run the burner system the unit requires electricity. So unless the unit uses a self-contained power source such as a battery or generator (Like our SC, SS and SM series) , you have to plug the hot water unit in (Like our HG, HD & HN series).
Can you pick a power washer on performance alone?
No. The first step in picking a pressure washer is determining how much performance you need to get the job done. How much pressure? How much flow? Do you need hot or cold water? Is gas, diesel or electric power better, safer, quieter, or cheaper. Once you have decided upon these factors, discussed in the other sections, you need to pick a product. Pressure washers with the same power plant will have similar performance, for example an 11 HP gas engine unit will typically produce at least 3,000 PSI and 4 gpm So it is often difficult to decide between different products except on price.Quality is what sets one pressure washer apart from another. Two pressure washers offered by two different manufacturers may have similar performance in terms of pressure and flow but will be quite different in terms of quality of components and unit configuration. They will also vary in price. When buying a pressure washer selecting the correct performance for the cleaning job at hand is just the first step. The second step is looking at the quality of construction and the quality of the components.
What is more important? Pressure (PSI) or Flow (GPM)?
When purchasing a pressure washer you should consider both the p.s.i. and g.p.m. of the machine. The p.s.i. or pounds per square inch, delivers the “punch” to a washing application and forces the contaminants from the surface. The g.p.m. or gallons per minute will flush the contaminants from the service. Choosing the right combination of p.s.i. and g.p.m. is the key to purchasing the ideal pressure washing system for your cleaning needs.
Can hoses be attached together?
Yes, through quick release couplers, you can connect hoses together. Keep in mind however that for each additional 50′ of hose, you will lose approximately 50 PSI.
What is the difference between belt drive and direct drive?
BELT DRIVE
The belt drive system will slow the RPM of the pump depending on the pulley and belt set up. This system increases pump life because the bearings get less wear and the belts and pulleys are separated from the heat of the engine. The downside to belt driven systems is that belts and pulleys create more friction which creates less efficiency.
DIRECT DRIVE
In a drive washer system, the washer pump is directly connected to the engine, which spins the pump at the same RPM as the engine. The downside to the direct drive washers is that the bearings receive more wear, which reduces the life of the pump.
Which tip should I use for which job?
0° Red – Used for extremely difficult stains and tough dirt.
15° Yellow – Chiseling Nozzle, Can strip paint, grease, and grime from hard surfaces.
25° Green – Flushing Nozzle, Most commonly used for flushing dirt from sidewalks, metal furniture, and other surfaces, as well as sweeping wet leaves.
40° White – Good for cleaning a large area fast. Usually good for cleaning surfaces such as aluminum siding and vehicles (from a distance).
Items above are examples, your use case might vary.
What are telescoping wands?
Telescoping wands are extension wands that range anywhere from 6′ to 24′. They are great for use on roofs and ceilings. They also do a great job of keeping the person spraying further away from the surface, keeping them dry and away from the flying debris
Can I leave the washer on without triggering the gun?
How do I repair a punture in a washer hose?
You don’t! Keep in mind that many of these washers can be up to 3000+ PSI. Trying to repair a high pressured hose can create a great amount of safety hazards and risks. Ultimately, you need to purchase a new hose.
If I have a hot water supply, can I run it through my pump?
No. Hot water pressure washers are specifically designed for hot water use. If you have a cold water machine, running water through the machine at a greater temperature than 140 can damage the pump, and cause serious defects to the washer.
What is a sidewalk scrubber?
A sidewalk scrubber, also known as a “Surface Cleaner” is a device used to clean flat surfaces quickly. It provides even coverage and eliminates the streaks that many surfaces receive when spraying with a conventional wand.
What type of oil should be used in the pump?
Most washers will take a Non-Detergent, 30 weight oil. Your owners manual should state the proper oil for your exact model. BE pump oil is one of the most common
