Downstream water tank size.
I am brand new to this. Your help and patience is appreciated
Generally:
*What size water tank should I start with to down stream wash.
*What size mix tank?
*Do I need a buffer tank? What is that for?
Is there a newbie page?
Welcome. Some things we need to know:
Machine size/ GPM
Size/weight restrictions? What are you hauling it in?
There’s a newbie introduction thread pinned under the topic, introduce yourself there.
5.5GPM and above need a buffer tank. 4GPM machines do not in general.
I will be using a 4 GPM machine with 3000 PSI. Will that work?
I have a single axel 5 x 10 trailer. Not sure of the load limit.
What is a buffer tank for?
You have a lot of learning to do. Start by reading through old threads. You’ll end up learning info you had no idea you needed to learn. Type “buffer tank” into the search bar and you’ll easily find the purpose of it. Type in other words to.
Trailer build
roof mix
house wash mix
down stream / downstream
injector
surface cleaner
soft wash
jrod
That should get you started for now.
So your name is Mason James? Your profile says Randy Houser…?
a buffer tank will allow you to leave your gun without worrying about overheating your pump. it can also help if you’re working from a spigot that runs from a bad well that doesn’t supply a consistent flow for your machine. for 4gpm however, you won’t really be needing it. best to work work work and save up for a machine that you WILL need a buffer tank for. Just don’t leave your gun for over 2 minutes.
I’m so confused. 
Well my name is Randy Houser - there is obviously a much more talented country music singer also named Randy Houser! so as a stage name I use Mason James. https://youtu.be/R08osabt6jk
So the buffer sends a constant water flow to the pump? If you don’t tap into the spigot and use your water tank as a supply that can be setup as a buffer or not? - is that correct?
What size water tank do you recommend to start out with?
You still want to connect a supply hose to the house. A lot of us run 8 gpm machines and there are houses that don’t put out that much flow. The buffer allows us to always maintain 8 gpm of flow to our pump. We might have to stop washing and wait at times but at least we know our pump won’t be damaged.
With a 4 gpm you don’t necessarily have to have a buffer tank because most houses easily put out 4 gpm. Although, if the homeowner starts running the washing machine and takes a shower you might be below 4 gpm flow.
One of the great things about a buffer tank is you can plumb your pressure washer to where it bypasses to the buffer tank so you can let go of the gun as long as you like. If you don’t have a buffer and, the customer comes out to talk or the phone rings, you have to continue to pull the trigger every 30 seconds to make sure cool water is running through the pump so it doesn’t overheat. With a buffer you can put your gun down for pretty much as long as you want without having to worry about pulling the trigger.
The only guys that don’t use a buffer are the ones who still drag a machine around. If you have a trailer it’s a no brainer. For a 4 gpm you don’t really need that big of a tank. It’s mainly going to be for your bypass since most house spigots put out 4 gpm. You could probably get a 50-100 gallon and be fine but I would just get as big of a tank that fits okay on your trailer. That way you already have a larger tank when you upgrade machines down the road and I guarantee you will upgrade once you get the itch. Most don’t travel with a full tank. You have to keep weight in mind depending on the size of your trailer. I usually keep about a 1/4 of my 275 gallon tank filled but will fill it up if I know I’m going to a house on a well.
Even a 35 gallon leg tank is perfect for a 4gpm. I never saw my 65 drop below 50 when I was running 4gpm.
