Anyone have any experience with a 110v Hotsy?

[DoctorDiesel]

Been poking around on Craigslist for a hot water pressure washer later. I would rather have a 220v unit, but I see the 110v ones are a lot cheaper. The specs worry me a little bit, about 1000psi/2.2gph. Is that enough for mostly just washing cars? They do get pretty caked in mud from the dirt roads. Ive just only ever used the big 220v Hotsys and of course they work great. I just don't want to bring one home and be disappointed. Thanks.

 

[Iluvbeer]

Haven’t used a hotsy but I do have a diesel fired 6gpm hydro Tek unit that I own. I use it to wash my truck and the Wifey’s car sometimes and it does great. Washing cars, 2.2gpm is probably enough.

 

[Wamsutta]

I used one to clean the grime off of hydraulic oil coolers that are part off the Pratt & Whitney TF-30 turbine engines. Fantastic cleaning machines. I remember at the time that we couldn't use the machine to its full potential because OSHA (or it might've been the EPA) wouldn't let us fill the machine up with the solvent we wanted to use.

 

[shanny19]

Had no idea electric steam cleaners existed. Can’t give you any advice on 110 vs 220, but can tell you kerosene ones are the bees knees.

 

[Wamsutta]

Wait a minute... I just remembered the one I used ran off of kerosene.

 

[toplessHO]

I have an older 220v Hotsy
took it to the dealer and he immediately groaned,muttered something about wish they had never made that Italian POS.
I couldnt get parts for it even tho it wasnt that old,cobbled it back together and the steam fired part quit a short time later. Its now just a high priced pressure washer.
I would talk to a local dealer and ask what they think of a 110v unit.

 

[theoldwizard1]

For JUST washing cars, it should be fine.

 

[sberry]

If you are used to a bigger one you eill be disapointed. Water volume cuts dirt. I have one 20% smaller than the other, takes a minute to get used to it.

 

[toplessHO]

also one would ask why anyone wants a hotwater pressure washer for just washing a car?
Hot water(steam) is meant to melt grease and oil first,clean better on other things second.Its also harder on rubber hoses etc so be careful

 

[Iluvbeer]

I would agree with the OP that while 2gom will work, you’ll definitely be wishing for more volume especially when rinsing where more gpm really counts. I have both 8gpm and 6gpm system and when going from the 8 to the 6, it feels like you handed me a pea shooter. My wife and I always bicker over who gets stuck using the 6gpm machines. Hotsy makes a quality product but I’ve never used an electric hot PW. Check what the heat rise is on it. You will want a true 200 degree heat rise if you want to make steam.

 

[sberry]

I never use steam, hot water. Got one with tanks in insulated truck body, its a Hotsy.

 

[Iluvbeer]

I use both depending on what I’m cleaning. I own a power washing business though so we clean a wide variety of things. I’ll have to dig up a picture if one of my wash rigs. They’re outfitted to pump 14gpm of water split between two machines. Two hose reels, 250 gallon tanks, roof cleaning systems, large rotary concrete surface cleaners and up true 200 degree heat rise above the starting temp if the tank water. The hot water systems are stainless and weigh in at almost 1000#.

 

[sberry]

I use hot washing cars quite a bit. For dirt cold works quite well but we have clay, salty grime and hot cleans quite a bit better. I am veey deliberate and follow a pattern to some extent and can be thrifty with hot.
I live 2 miles from pavement, winter weather. My unit makes 5gpm at 200 degrees. It cuts ice pretty well and I wash outside in cold weather. They use a pile of salt and sand here, it really makes a mess and I dont want it inside. When its really cold I park daily drivers inside, wash and let them dry overnight.
My shop is only 50/55 in the winter but it beats starting out really cold.
My truck has 500 gallons. I built have a dozen trucks for a local outfit, some smaller ones but couple bigger ones, 900 gallons of water, 11 gpm, big burner, million btu. They would run 2 guns but really used them more for injection than cleaning.

 

[sberry]

I want to try a Northern model and see how well they work. They are about 4k$ . While that may seem a lot it may be cheap considering the depreciation of a couple cars and reduced maintenance. It allowe me to repair a starter the other day most would have replaced simply due to the fact it was so filthy. The parts washer solvent stays clean a long time, I pressire wash most stuff instead of solvent tank.

 

[Iluvbeer]

What size engine did that 11gpm machine have?
I run two guns on my rig but from separate machines. Allows a rig to wash a 2000 sf home in about 30 minutes and move onto the next one.
The general consensus in the power washing community on the Northern power washers is that they’re not very good machines, just extremely cheap entry level for home use.
Check out HydroTek machines, they’re very nice machines that use honda engines, beckett burners, quality pumps, unloaders etc. they do run around $10,000 but worth every oenny. I love all of mine.

 

[sberry]

I have a manual for the pump somewhere yet, SP100 maybe, Giant I think but its been a while. We used liquid cooled Kawasakis on them. 20 hp. These ran a lot of hours doing oil field injection work as well as some cleaning. They used Alkota burners. It would make it hot and they shut off on thermostat.
The burner on my Alkota shop never shuts off but my water is 45 degrees or so. I am tempted to make a warmer but it would probably only save me 100 a year or so with a lot more **** to deal with. I have a 5150 which is 5 gpm @ 1500. Its a fair amount of water and really removes grime well. If (I was 25 again,m starting out would have one a size larger that ran from 50A service, mine runs from 30. I bought it in about 84 or so, still works well.
When I was working for the steamer co I had access to portables, we had a couple cold winters and I found some scrap Hotsy parts and put the truck unit together. I was going to fix a couple more things but it works well enough as it is and is hot. I always wanted a portable,,, the winters have been mild since I built it and used it only a little.
As I mention, I realty don't use steam, my water is a bit haed and it would take a toll on the coil. I ran out of cartriges for the Aquadene, looked on line and there is a delay, I need to get some. I can blast grease and grime, I really don't need steam, there is probably good places for it. I only have 250 hose,,, just replaced a couple.
The 500 gallons on this truck, a 350 with insulated box is a bit heavy but I can run 2 hours steady.

 

[sberry]

The big ones I built for the steamer company were on F600. I talked them in to heavier trucks. The tanks were custom back in the day and fairly heavy and put 2 450 gallons in them. We could use either and use water or light brine for some injection. They would pump 11 gpm against 1800# nice and toasty. Only had to run the engine about 1/2 for one gun and 8 tip for general cleaning.
The operators were pathetically lazy which was a good thing, lots of waiting and they found the easiest way to do everything. They got a cut of every billable hour.
Its long enough ago I don't have pics.
I was just curious on how well the Northern worked? For homebody types and even small shops would give them an opportunity to get hot. I also do a lot of things with these machines, some stuff no one even thinks of. I peeled 2 bushel of potatoes in wire basket with it. My Dad pulled in with a wound up disk mess, was going to try to cut it out razor knife3,,, even so I blast the dirt out first and second time it happen cut it with the machine. Would have taken an hour of hard work by hand.
I have cleaned a lot of cooking stuff, range tops, frying pan, baking sheets.

 

[sberry]

Actually washing cars is a deal. My 2 Buds got little machines. 1 has a 5 hp Honda thing and I washed a car or 2 with it, very slow. The other bought a different one with a Brigs, 7 or 8 hp maybe but a better pump and it doesn't work 2 bad, quite a bit mo power and a lot better.
The local lumberyard guy stops on offasion when he is this way and washes a truck. He has a bucket and brush here with some soap, he cold washes, soaps and brushes which is good, then rinses. The other day he stops and I was there and turned the hot on and slowed up on the cab, was on a red truck, was a noticeable difference and a lot brighter after a good hot scrub. I really press on them prior to paint, before sanding body work too. With a little soap scrub can clean streaks and stains on travel trailers.