I have both and must agree: if you must choose between the two, invest in the 8GPM. However, keep that 4GPM for a backup or a surface cleaning machine when you recruit a helper.
No. Your rinse will be ineffective and the time you spend fixing bad rinses will break your heart. you will spend so much more time with that machine that you’ll quickly get discouraged. SO, use that as long as you must but invest your second and third checks on that 4GPM machine. ASAP, invest in that 8 GPM machine the @Innocentbystander suggests. You can usually count on his advice: he’s already forgotten more about pressure washing than most folks will ever know.
Don’t knock on dirty houses. Those are the people who don’t care what their house looks like. The people with clean houses are the ones who actually have them washed.
30k is a pretty small market. Are you able to travel to other towns nearby? If you have a lot of wells I would stick to a 5.5 gpm. It’ll end up being faster than an 8 gpm because you won’t have to sit around waiting for water as much.
I agree that hot water may not be necessary but it definitely cleans better which makes you faster especially when dealing with grease. I was cleaning a pvc fence the other day. I did one side like I always do by down streaming, 7-10 minutes dwell, and rinse. On the other side, which was dirtier, I decided to soap with hot water. The dwell time went down to about 30 seconds. The algae just disappeared in no time at all. I also took @Kentucky1234 's advice and started using hot water when cleaning driveways. He always said you never have to post treat when using hot water and I agree for the most part. There are exceptions though. Sure, you don’t need hot water but it definitely makes a huge difference. It’ll really come in handy towards the end of the season here in IL when it gets cold. Sh doesn’t clean as well in the cold but I can change that with a flip of a switch.
@MikesHM I started off with a Hammerhead. I then upgraded to a WW Classic a few months before I bought my hot water 8 gpm. I wish I would’ve held off on the Classic and just got the 24" Aqua Pro. The Classic is better than the Hammerhead but it’s not so much better to where it makes it worth spending the money on a surface cleaner that’s 1" smaller. Even though I have the Classic I still like my Hammerhead and use it.
Appreciate the advice Brian. I’ll definitely be looking at the hammerhead also with the price difference. I haven’t moved up to an 8 gpm yet, still using the allison 6835 which we spoke about in another post. Love that pump, night and day from a 4/4. I’m assuming you use the Aqua Pro with your 8gpm. I have a cheap BE Whirlaway (16"), but I removed the 1/4" hose from it and replaced it with 3/8" and modified a suttner st-1500 to fit the 3/8 hose added to the SC. I use 23035’s and even with the 6835, that machine will take flight if your not careful, lol. I think @innocentbystander had a post about modifying the guns that come with the SC’s, but may have been someone else.
I have the Aqua Pro and both sizes of Hammerhead. Just bought the classic and absolutely love it. It’s more efficient than the HHs AND the Aqua Pro. Better balance than I ever knew available in a sc and much better side to side than anything else. I ordered it from Lori at Pressurewasherproducts.com with quad tips and run four 25020’s with the upgraded 3/8” hose pushing 8gpm.
SO, the grass is only greener until you get to the other side and look behind you.
@SurfaceTherapy apparently I’m not the only one that feels this way. I’m not gonna lie you are definitely one of the most knowledgeable people here but there’s a reason everyone wants 8gpm.
everyone wants an 8 because it’s most often talked about as the “big boy” and happens to put out usable psi with the most common engine we happen to use the, gx690, If everyone was using 10gpm machines and 35 horse kohlers then an 8 would be inefficient and this conversation would still be had. Most of these new guys coming through think the only thing stopping them from conquering there area is an 8gpm machine then a week later asking for marketing advice lol. Get the leads then worry about flow grasshoppers.
Fence and deck restorers, fleet washers, brick cleaners. I would wager most of those prefer 5.5. I can name a few off the top of my head that only clean restaurant concrete and prefer 5.5 due to water management.
SH slingers seem to prefer 8, but that is one group out of many.
I know I want no part of an 8, and the majority of the groups I mentioned don’t either. Except the sh’ers.
You need both to be the most efficient in my opinion. I use my 8 and my 4.5 almost equally. I did a 40,000 ft² metal building on Saturday and I couldn’t even imagine trying to use my 4.5 on that. On the other hand I did a couple of jobs today that were much smaller, one side of a house and vinyl railing around a deck, a stamped concrete walkway and some front brick steps. Stuff like that. Used my 4.5 for those and couldn’t imagine wanting to do that with an 8.
I agree with @Steve about having both. I have a 5.5 and an 8 and it’s really nice having both. I don’t regret spending the $1500 to build the 5.5 at all.
