You can never be too careful. Been washing as a side business for almost a year now. As stated I have a 4gpm 4,000 psi hot water unit. Was washing a bed and breakfast and chipping paint off a brick foundation. So I was full throttle and running my burner at 130 degrees roughly. Had just refilled my engine with gas and unit had been running for 3 hours straight on a 90 degree day. Long story short I left some gas drippings on my fuel tank and it hit a flash point and ignited a flame for about 30 seconds before I killed it with a fire extinguisher. Took it to my Kohler small engine mechanic, he gave an inspection of it. He said my engine, pump, burner and exhaust vent look good. Just my air filter, carburetor, and fuel supply line need replacing, which all come in the same shell mechanism. If I make it out of this with spending under 200$ I’ll be thankful. Personally I don’t think much of small gas drippings or residue on my gas tank as a big deal, but after the flame it created from my exhaust vent yesterday is gonna make me go back to the basics of safety. Anybody else dealt with or seen this?
Point being, something small I got complacent with almost bit me big.
Is what happened to me a first? Seriously? I didn’t think this kinda thing was completely uncommon.
Are you talking to yourself lol. I had an enclosed trailer burn up because a guy left a sweat shirt over the exhaust to dry out. Charlie with Apex Deck Savers burnt up his truck because of rags and linseed oil. It happens often. Glad you had an extinguisher
Thanks for the info @Innocentbystander. I have liability insurance. I guess now would be a good time to get my equipment itself insured. Besides common sense, any more dummy proof tricks to prevent this? Your well versed in the business.
Not sure what kind of setup you have but some mount a larger gas tank so you don’t have to fill up during the job. You can even mount it away from the engine. It saves on time and you don’t have to worry about gas dripping on the exhaust or anything else hot because you can fill up the night or morning before going to work.
I like Racer’s gas tank.
a 4 gpm is going to have a self contained gas tank. Just have to be careful when filling, take your time.
