If you had 5 grand

If you had 5 grand to spend on a hot water machine, what would it be? That’s my budget for my first pressure washer. I want to be able to do residential and commercial as well as fleets. Which machine would ypu choose?

:thinking::thinking: if i had 5 grand hmm so many things come to mind.

Do i have to buy a hot water pressure washer ?

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Lol… I mean if you were me… new to the business. Which machine would you buy for 5 or under. Hopefully, with hot water. I been looking at pressure pro.

I would rent until I built clientele up and save my profits until I got another 10k and get started right with a good hot water unit, trailer tank, and accessories.

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You won’t need hot water unless doing big commercial jobs. And unless you do multiple a year it’s more cost effective to rent hot water units.

Buy an 8gpm unit belt or gear driven.

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You can buy a cold water pressure pro for around $1500. You can make enough money with it to buy you a decent hot water machine for 8,000+. 5,000 isnt enough to buy a decent hot water machine.

Alot of guys here do not even own a hot water machine and make a killing.

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thanks for the advice. I have about 10k to invest in this, and already have a cargo van I will be building everything out in. The 5 grand budget was strictly for the machine.

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I was under the impression that most commercial jobs will want hot water, as well as fleet washing. Also, how effective is a cold water machine on grease and gum? I plan to pick up a bunch of restaurants cleaning the drive through and whatnot.

Thanks Grizz. Like I said to Schertz, I was under the impression that hot water was a requirement for grease, oil, gum and commercial jobs? I can stretch the budget a little… but if you guys on this forum think I can get buy doing commercial and fleets with cold, I will go that route.

Save a good chunk of that budget for marketing. Buy a cold water machine and rent a hot water machine when needed until you can afford one

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If you are new then saying that and actually getting them are far from a reality. Most fast food places pay employees to go and and “wash”…

If your new you won’t be landing big commercial jobs right away. It takes time and experience or you’ll mess something up and be out of business before the first net 30 check comes.

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I know a lot of people do, but there’s no way I would put a hot water unit in a enclosed space. Ive seen to many heaters load up with fuel and then fire up. I watched an open trailer burn because of it

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I don’t do fleet so I can’t answer this. I would think hot water would be a must. But if you are just starting I would think fleet washing would be hard to land as well.

You need hot water to effectively clean concrete. Popping gum etc. Cold water you have to cut the gum off hot water you melt it off. residential you’re good with cold but commercial hot

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Thanks for the replies guys. I realize it wont be all butterflies and rainbows. I try to be realistic. In the location that I am in, I will be the only guy in town doing this business, and most of our fast food places are owned by the same family, who I have somewhat of an “in” with. As far as the fleets in the area, there is only one truck wash here, and its usually a long wait to get in. Also, my full time job now, is working for one of the largest trucking companies in the country, and I believe I can get the contract on this fleet, because right now they can only get washed at Blue Beacon, and we’re a regional fleet. The closest Blue Beacon is 200 miles away. I am on good terms with and know the Regional Manager personally. I know this will be a long slow process, but I believe the work is there for me.

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Best of luck I’m sure you’ll do good. Just make sure you have some experience before you go after these contracts. You’ll need the experience and confidence to do these jobs correctly.

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Remember there is alot more expenses than you understand. Plumping, fitting, guns, nozzles, hose reels, etc. Thats another 2 grand easy.

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Why the van. For what you’re trying to do, not the right equipment. If you need enclosed get 14’ box truck or enclosed trailer. But open trailer is the easiest to work off of. If you really think you’ve got a good shot at getting all of the above get a 8gpm hot water skid. But you’re looking at $7k minimum.

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I purchased the van because I don’t have a truck to pull a trailer, and that would be an extra expense. Was hoping to use the van until I made enough cash to buy a trailer, then pull the trailer with the van. Its a 1 ton Chevy 3500. Starting out, I figured this was my most effective use of capital to have something to work out of and get to jobs.

As far as the machine, I was looking at:

https://shop.pressurewasherky.us/5-GPM-3000-PSI-5012PRO-10.htm

Would this machine not be decent to start with?

PSI will not be ideal for concrete cleaning with that machine. Assuming that is why you wanted hot water.

It not going to be putting out 3k psi due to lack of horse power. The burner will also take away a few hundred and if your running 200 feet of hose your only putting out around 2200 psi im guessing.

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