Gas Powered Softwash System

I am pulling the trigger and bought the fatdaddy Envirospec 11.5gpm softwash system up to 300 psi. It’s weird why all these “softwash” guys keep spending hella grip on pressure washers just to get 8gpm using high pressure equipment for weak pressures? If I knew then what I know now I would’ve bought a gas powered soft wash system do 90% of my work for way less! 11.5gpm any strength. Silly how we are misled

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There only good for high volume rinsing and chemical application if you have it setup. You can’t run a multi service business with a gas pump. There’s no way around not having a pressure washer.

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@Seandz Until it’s time to hit that driveway, or the brick below the vinyl

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Just saying I spent 13k on a 8gpm hot pressure washer and for 2k I could of got something that does most of what I need to do. I’m not negating the need for a pressure washer. But the idea the rolling up to a stucco home, setting the percent at two on SH then washing and rinsing with 11 gallons per minute with a remote control and Hydro mixer sounds 1000 times betterl than having a separate 12 V pump with weak pressure, low flow and low shooting heights, then rinsing with the 8gpm separately. You would think that the 10 plus GPM gas powered softwash pumps would be way more popular than 8 gallon per minute units downstreaming, barely getting 18 to 1, would be. But then again, most people only clean vinyl not stucco and commercial buildings maybe? An 8gpm does it all but if your stucco and commercial gas powered the way to go!

They leak. I’ve got a comet P40 sitting in my garage because I’m curious how they perform.

@Firefighter4hire has experience with several gas softwash systems.

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Yes I was going to get the p36 per his recommendation but it would be mid July before I can get one. Envirospec has a 1 week lead time and with these big jobs scheduled I need one sooner. Apparently the new p40’s have more problems than the P36, which isn’t surprising as manufacturers typically make the best products first then try to cut costs and maximize profit, all while touting the latest and greatest “improvements”. Especially now with the dollar collapsing and inflation it’s not just more expensive but cheaper garbage. Perfect example is the clear braided 1/2” hose. Last year it was $10 for 10’ and the braids were 1/16” apart. Now it’s $15 and the braids are nearly 1/4” apart. Contractors are pouring 4 inch slabs instead of 6 inch slabs of concrete just to make a sale. Another example is Amazons echo smart speaker. Generation 1 decent sound sound and then they introduced generation 2 for a little bit less money, touting it’s hub feature like it was better but it sounds like garbage with cheap components to their first one. If going with comet get the p36.

Your theory is sorta…idk

PSI and GPM are the difference between the P36 and P40.

Most prefer the AR45 but all gas soft wash systems have leaking issues from my research. Some are easier to work on than others.

Good luck with it. Mines going on our second rig in a month or so.

Leaking with those pumps quickly, I know some guys replace their whole unit every year? You do make money with them, so……

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Firefighter mentioned that his personal experience and knowledge between the 36 and 40 is that the 40 leaks more. Nevertheless what’s available to me right now is the AR so sounds like I made a good decision anyway.

This is part of my upgrade to the commercial and industrial realm. I’m also getting the Hydro mixer XL with two soap valves and the remote control system to switch between water and solution. I have a feeling I’m going to use this on houses as well. As we all know the pressure washer pump and engine is very expensive (comparatively). I can save hours on my pressure washer by using this, while at the same time get 3 gallons a minute more to wash and rinse with. Plus I love the idea of being able to just literally turn the nob to the percent I need (see pic) which frequently needs to be higher than my injector can provide. This is great for employees so it would be more difficult to make a mistake. I’ll print a chart out for what percent for what application so it’s fool proof . I’m also getting a 16’ trailer with gas powered 400cfm reclaim system, filtration down to 1 micron to reuse if necessary (but rarely will, more likely get permits to dispose of water into the sewer system after removing any possible oil contamination). 350 gallon water tank, separator tanks, holding tank for vacuumed water, 7.7 gallon per minute transfer pump to send water from holding tank back to filtration system or sewer. One 24 inch electric hose reel, reel one 18 inch electric goes reel, both Hannay, one wagon wheel with 200’ of vac hose. One small electric pressure washer dialed back to 150psi to sanitize with and one 150 Gallon SH tank of which I will only keep 100 gallons in so it doesn’t spill out the vented lid while driving. I found a spot to fit the gas powered softwash system on the back of my truck and can use with my one remaining 55 gallon bulk sh tank (taking second one off to make room for the machine) but I am going to have hoses with cam locks between the trailer and the truck to quickly connect everything back-and-forth together for bigger jobs or if needing to reclaim flatwork, filter and send back to the on board 200 gallon buffer tank.

This is the other half of what I need to be set up to do pretty much anything. The other nice thing is that I could get one more of these softwash systems for just over 2k to keep on the trailer and then have two separate rigs. I’m getting the equipment this week I’ll post pics after it’s all set up.

It will pay for itself in a week, or just one bigger job. We did a warehouse recently and it took six days with a 12 V pump and at times hooked up to water fed pole with a shooter tip to just to get the water up to the top of the 30’ building. The “7 GPM“ 12 volt pump is really like 3 gallons per minute. Good for detail work for not for production. Probably could have done that job in one or two days if I had the gas powered system.

Wow 12v for that size building, yeah gas pump would of helped a lot. Another tool in the toolbox for sure, I believe it’s worth having for sure.

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Your logic doesn’t make sense unless you only plan on washing houses. Most of us always up sell a driveway, deck, fence, etc. You can’t do that with a 300 psi soft wash pump. If you’re only planning on doing residential house washing then it’ll work. You’d have to turn down a majority of commercial work because you need high volume pressure and hot water for most of the work. You won’t be able to wash greasy concrete unless you plan on brushing it all and not getting it as clean as you should.

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On jobs like that you’re better off shaping with the 12v and rinsing with your pressure washer. You won’t have to worry about that with your gas powered soft wash tho. We don’t have enough stucco or do enough roofs in my area to make it worth getting one.

I’m not suggesting not having a pressure washer. And I understand that it’s flexible as far as softwashing and pressure washing up to 1% strength. But it seems like it makes more sense to have a much cheaper machine that performs better and faster to use 75% of the time we don’t need pressure.

I’m just going by your comment about you think it’s weird that people spend so much on an 8 gpm pressure washer. Time is money and you can clean concrete, decks, fences, etc so much faster. Plus, it’ll wash houses just as good as a gas powered soft wash system. Even if you have a gas powered soft wash system you still need a high output pressure to be efficient. There’s nothing wierd about that. :smiley: Sure, if you only washed houses the soft wash could work. Most of us don’t tho so there’s no reason to get a gas powered soft wash. In my area it doesn’t make sense to spend the money on one.

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Bingo

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It wasn’t too long ago you were saying a 5.5 could wash as fast as an 8. I see you have a different outlook now that you have something with higher output. :smiley:

I still say I’d upgrade to an 8 gpm pressure washer over a gas soft wash. Most 8 gpm put out 9.5 gpm or so when soft washing. Plus, a pressure washer has more uses. Nothing wrong with having the best of both world’s tho. The more options you have the more efficient you can be.

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Oh no sir I will wash any house you want with my 5.5 vs your 8 in the same time. I still use my 5.5 hot water machine for most basic house washing. The gas roof pump its a great machine for commercial work decks concrete. It is not a replacement for a pressure washer by any means. But compared to a 12v,booster pump, Aodd pump. The gas pump wins every time. I run mine at half throttle 100psi. Just because it will put out 11.4 gpm doesn’t mean you have too. And just to be clear I own a 8gpm and a 10gpm pressure washer. I prefer the 5.5

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I have tons of respect for you, but that’s a bet you will lose money on every time with me :slight_smile:

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You’ll be saying the same thing in a few months when you realize you have wasted so much money on a soft wash system. Folks are so easily misled to buy that junk.

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