What GPM suits your needs best?

Hey Guys I’m fairly new to the industry and have started out with a Hotsy 965B 3000 PSI 3 GPM. I’m running into efficiency issues with jobs I’m doing. I know I can do them faster but my 3GPM machine is holding me back. I mainly do Car/Bus/Heavy equipment washing, house/roof washing and shop floor degreasing.
My question to you guys is what do you use and would recommend for my next big purchase?

A lot of people confuse the importance of psi vs. gpm. Both are important but gpm = speed while psi = impact power. The balance is finding what suits your specific needs.

Personally I prefer more gpm vs. psi…but that suits our needs.

Yeah I’m finding speed the big issue so far. The 3000 PSI is decent just need more speed. I hear a lot of guys say 8 GPM for house washing is where it’s at, not sure if it is a little over kill for driveway and roof washing, maybe someone could chime in and educate me.

No, no pressure washer use on roofs…never…not the proper technique or equipment use. For us 8 gpm is the heat for what we do, we have 5 of them, so yea we kinda like them. :wink:

We use a bigger nozzle so you can put your hand in front of the stream so that it is about 700-1000 psi and hold it away from the roof. It works really well for our moss after its dead.

Yea we clean roofs with about 60 psi. I sell roofs by telling customers about the improper methods being used. And IMO you are using improper methods that will damage shingles.

You definitely want to go with a higher GPM PW. 8’s are great. We have one thats 10.5 GPM that rocks. But in your case without busting the bank a 5gpm machine will work fine. My first machine was a 4 GPM cold & then a yr later I bought a 5.2 GPM Landa hot water machine and that machine made a world of difference. Had that for about 5-6 yrs and moved up from there.

8’s is what you should aim for but a 5+ will move you along just fine.

You definitely want to go with a higher GPM PW. 8’s are great. We have one thats 10.5 GPM that rocks. But in your case without busting the bank a 5gpm machine will work fine. My first machine was a 4 GPM cold & then a yr later I bought a 5.2 GPM Landa hot water machine and that machine made a world of difference. Had that for about 5-6 yrs and moved up from there.

8’s is what you should aim for but a 5+ will move you along just fine.

Thanx for the advise guys. Ill price out the 5-5.5 and 8 GPM machines. I don’t mind spending a bit more if the return is good. I crave efficiency so I don’t mind spending a bit more to have a happy work environment.

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I am using a 4gpm 4000psi hot/cold pressure washer…works ok for me plus I do not like carrying water with me. All in all it suits me ok…

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For Truck Washing we run about 2500 PSI at 5.5 GPM. This has worked out to be the best combination of PSI and GPM for us.

For Truck Washing we run about 2500 PSI at 5.5 GPM. This has worked out to be the best combination of PSI and GPM for us.

I clean residential. I know people swear by 8 gpm, but I’m happy with my 5.5.

I do residential, when I built my trailer I herd people say 5 is good 8 is good blah blah so I got one of each to find out for my self, I use the 8 all the time

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For fleets, I like something in the 3-4 gpm range. It’s plenty of water to get the job done, and it reduces the amount of waste water you have to reclaim.

I am actually looking at one that is in between, but I have having trouble with the price difference? What do you all think about the Hotsy Vs. Northstar?

Northstar: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342903_200342903
Hotsy:

20 HP HONDA ENGINE
5.6 GPM @ 3000 PSI
ELECTRIC START
HOUR METER
TEMP. ADJUSTABLE TO 248°
CHEMICAL INJECTION SYSTEM
HEAVY DUTY INTERSTATE BATTERY
5 X 10 TRAILER W/ BULLDOG HITCH & STEEL DECK
225 GALLON POLY TANK
2 – HEAVY DUTY HOSE REELS
100 FT. HIGH PRESSURE HOSE
50 FT. SUPPLY HOSE

Hello sir, what chemicals do you use. I happen to be in mexico and there is no way i can get the 2 step cleaning process. I upstream from a bucket soap/degreaser and then scrub if its dirty and use the yellow/green tip por rinsing. I use turbo nozzle on rims with grease and chasis. I use a 4gpm 4000 psi cold water machine. Any advice will be very well appreciated. Thanks

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