Best Hot Water Pressure Washer?

[SMLWinds]

I don't know exactly where this question should go but I am betting a lot of you guys use pressure washers and may have some insight.

I am looking for a hot water pressure washer. Who makes the best one of these? Is Hotsy top of the line? What about Shark? Or Mi-T-M?

I definitely want hot water but can't find much information on who makes the best unit. Is there a "cadillac" or hot water pressure washers? Thanks!

 

[Loudpipes66]

Landa or Mi-T-M. Both made in the USA. Check youtube both companies have very informative channels.

 

[SMLWinds]

Thanks so much for the response! I will be sure to do that and see what they say. Do you know anything about Hotsy or Shark? Both claim to be the best selling brand in North America.

Thanks!

 

[bigfunwmu]

We've got a Hotsy at the shop. Since it's a hydraulics shop, we end up washing LOTS of oil off of stuff. Works nice, service is top notch for any issues too.

 

[turnpikecrusier]

I have a Hotsy unit, very pleased with it.

 

[SMLWinds]

Thanks for the replies. So is Hotsy generally considered the "Snap On" of hot water pressure washers? (ie-do most people think of them as the best?)

Who else is in the elite class of hot water washers? Just want to get an idea of who I need to investigate closely. Thanks!

 

[Dust Devil]

I had a job years ago that required the use of a hot pressure washer (decon of groundwater testing equipment) We had a Karcher that ran on diesel, it was awesome. I wish I had something like it today. It was an industrial type unit. I just googled and it looks like something like it is about 10k$. Worked great though.

 

[gtermini]

I've used a few Landas that have seen hard use on farms and they have all held up really well. Pin holes in the heating coil has been the most common death I've seen, but no brand is immune to that.

Greyson

 

[bigfunwmu]

You can try calling a couple local reps to demo a couple. Also, if you are looking for a good unit for cheaper, our local Hotsy guys refurb in house. If you are in southern MN or northern IA, I can get you our guy's contact info.

 

[Jswain]

Hotsy's are great but teach yourself how to use it properly and don't abuse it or the repair bills get very expensive very fast.

 

[sberry]

I like the Alkota. Pretty simple off the shelf design and belt drive. I havnt use all Landa models and only a rare Hotsy a long time ago. There are a lot of models so the best is subjective but basically either 30A or 50A models. If I was replacing mine it would be LP and if I was paying guys by the hour to clean equipment 1 size bigger. I built some portables with 1 million btu burners with 11 gpm, they are bout 2x as big as needed for a single operator to clean well.
I have mine plumbed in switched outside. Flip switch and wash.

 

[thetoolking1998]

It depends on the job's that need to be completed with it you can get a really good hot water pressure washer and you can also get a really cheaply made one too i would go to different construction equipment dealers and have them do a live demonstration on a couple different ones and then take it from there also northern tools+equipment has some good machinery but then again you would have to do research before buying best of luck!

 

[RV77]

We have a Hotsy stationary unit hooked to natural gas and also a ( somewhat ) portable Shark pw.

Both have excellent pressure and heating systems and very reliable.The shark is orange chassis 4 wheel system with Honda GTX engine.

 

[chrisbowles]

We priced a nice hotsy unit on a trailer with tank with all v bells and whistles was around 9-10k. Very nice unit

 

[skylinegtr20]

My son owns a business that pressure wash's Kitchen exhaust systems for fire code. He has Hotsy units in all of his vans with diesel burners which get used 8+ Hrs a day 6 days a week. They also have fantastic service if you dont plan on repairing yourself.

They hold up extremely well, just make sure you know how to operate it! Clicking the trigger a hundred times a second is murder for them.

 

[Ainsley]

We have an easy clean unit where I work and it it built like ****. Stay away!

 

[Toymeister]

Here in Afghanistan we use a northstar. Afghanistan is dusty, a fine dust that ruins bearings on a regular basis. I can not think of a better endorcement than something that survives the dust of Kandahar.

 

[bobcatdan]

Beaver of Wisconsin is the best in my book. The one at my old work is at least 20 years old and still works great. Had one small problem with it. Called Beaver and they sent a guy from the factory who fixed it right the first time. Every other pressure washer company always took six trys to fix something.

 

[shanker]

I work in the oilfield where pressurwashers are running 24/7

I used to think that Hotsy was a top brand....but they're complete junk compared to other pumps out here. The biggest problem is that the pump housings crack and the unloaders fail...when it goes down, it starts costing $$ by the minute in lost fluid over the shale shaker screens.


I mainly run Diesel thru our pressure washers and the Hotsy units only last a few weeks before needing repaired or replaced. the pumps are made out of cast parts.

On the flip side, I just got one line up for the Company Man last week coming from a rental place (it costs 50 dollars/day though) ...It's a 480V 3Phase electric motor connected to a machined brass pump. The last one I had seemed to run 18hrs/day and lasted over a year.

http://www.dupre.com/Images/Interior/brochures/ksw_shaker washer_043013.pdf

 

[sberry]

I would like to try one from Northern to see what that's all about. They are quite a bit cheaper. Everyone in the patch here is using Alkota. I used a Landa but only one model and it was direct drive, it worked but relaly wanted to slam on and off.

 

[sberry]

http://www.empirealberta.com/ You can google to see different setups. I built about half a dozen in trucks with water tanks, a couple big ones with 2 tanks which was handy.

 

[sberry]

There is really no Snapon of washers, they are more like welding equipment, very competitive between brands.

 

[toplessHO]

Ive got a Hotsy from a repair job gone south.
Guy didnt want to pay me what it cost to repair so he just gave it to me.
I took it in to the local Hotsy dealer and they rolled eyes,said "oh no not one of those"
Im guessing it was a cheaper version and was made in Italy.Guy said they didnt even service them anymore.
It still works on pressure but the steam part has quit,was really handy and quick when it worked and was in service for about 5 years before I got it.

 

[Hidrolimpiadoras]

Do you use the boiler with gasoil or with gas?

 

[sberry]

I have an old Hotsy I got in a basket from a bud, pieces it together for a truck. 500 gallons of water, 4 gpm. It's kind of small but it gets hot, super toasty. It cleans pretty well. I bought a couple valves I found later. But had less than 400$ in to it.