I have a descent cold pressure washer, but sometimes on tough grease, it doesn't quite get the job done, so I 've been looking at hot water/steam pressure washers. These things are so expensive, especially if you get a good brand like Hotsy or Steam Geanie. So I was thinking why not adapt a hot water heater to an existing cold pressure washer like this attachement http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200016124_200016124 but I still want to go cheaper. So I started thinking about building my own heater or adapting a standard household hot water heater. I wonder if I just hook the supply going into the pressure washer up to a standard household hot water heater or even a on demand tankless heater if the hot water going in would hurt the pump or boil and make it cavitate? Then I thought about plumbing in a on demand hot water heater on the output of the pressure washer before the wand, but those heaters are only rated for arround 300 psi max and the pump is putting out over 2000 psi. Has anyone built there own steam pressure washer? Any ideas?
Haven't built one and I don't think that I would. My suggestion would be to get a separate hot water heater for the shop and set it as high as it would go and then run the hot water through the pressure washer you have now. I had one of the big old Jenny steam cleaners in the highschool auto shop where I taught,. In fact I was the first person to use it when I was a student in 1964/65 and I didn't think it was a safe enough unit for the kids to use without extremely close supervision. It had a long startup process and a longer shutdown process that had to be followed for safety. I replaced that with a Landa hot water pressure washer. Those are pretty well idiot proof and still work quite well. The burner didn't kick on unless the trigger on the wand was pulled and water was flowing through the hose and unit it's self. When you were done washing the car/parts or what not all you had to do was turn off the switch to the burner and run it untill cold water came out the nozzle and you were ready to put it away untill next time. I'd really think out the safety issues before attempting to build one myself.
The problem you will have is over heating the pump, unless it is specified as a high-heat pump (read expensive) it needs the cold water to cool the seals inside the pump valves. I'm sure it would work fine for a while, but it will destroy the pump. Hisik -who had to learn something from cleaning carpets all those years.
On my faucet in the garage I have cold & hot. If I need some hot then I turn up the Hot Water Heater then run it thru my pressuer washer I got from HD. Works great, plus its the inexpensive way for a set up.
I've ran a pressure washer from a home hot water heater before and it worked fine. After you are done you will want to hook it up to a cold water outlet to to cool the seals. I only used it this way for about 20-30 minutes. It still works but I only did it once with this pressure washer so not sure of long term affects. I know alot of rental yards rent hot water pressure washers. Have you tried using a degreaser before pressure washing again on the stuborn parts?
I have a hot water unit that I have used over and over.It puts out 210 degree water and will blast anything off that I want.It will even strip paint.The one I use is in the first pic.Never had any problems with it.It was money well spent. http://www.aaladin.com/ProductCatalog/Series13-14.htm
In ansewr to Doozecoupe. They are by no means "cheap" unless you might be able to pick up a used one but they are pretty well idiot proof if you have others besides yourself using them. http://www.landa.com/?source=google&camp=brand&gclid=CK27i9zrj5ICFRpOagodIBI9WA Simple operation, Hook up and turn on the water hose. Flip on the pump switch and flip on the burner switch which on the one I had only let the burner kick on when the trigger on the wand was pulled. For shut down flip off the burner switch, spray water untill it comes out cold and you are ready to put it away.
The Jalopy Journal
