Running a pressure washer from a bucket

[binovc]

I have a Ryobi 2300psi electric pressure washer (RY142300), and the user manual states "NEVER use ... water from pools, lakes, etc." I'm wondering if this is a water quality issue, or a pump mechanical issue.
There was an occasion when I potentially wanted to run using water from a bucket, because I had access to electricity but no water spigot. I was considering simply buying an inlet filter and attach to a short garden hose. Although this never came to fruition, I wanted to find out if this was an option.
Anyone have some wisdom about this?

 

[LXCam]

Without a pressurized water source you'll cavitate the pump and ruin it. Also, you' not going to run it for more than a couple minutes that way considering it'll push 1.2 gallons a minute.

 

[Stelzer]

I have 8 different pressure washers, but only 4 that can draw their own water. Electrics most certainly won't. Most direct drives won't either, unless you double the intake hose and elevate the buffer tank, but even that is hit or miss. Gear drives work well pulling water, but belt drive pressure washers are the best at pulling their own water. Your washer needs a constant pressure source and lacks the ability to pull water without it though.

 

[PoorUB]

I have a Ryobi 2300psi electric pressure washer (RY142300), and the user manual states "NEVER use ... water from pools, lakes, etc."

If you put the water supply above the pump you should be ok. Most pressure washer pumps do not draw up water very well, plus the water acts like lubrication so if run dry you can ruin the pump seals.
Years back I used to go service HVAC in Radio towers and would have to washout units. ! would bring a bunch of water along in 5 gallon jugs. I had one jug with the top cut out and a hose fitting at the bottom. I would set the jug up on something, usually the back of the shop truck, and set the pressure washer on the ground. I could wash 2-3 minutes than refill, or if I had a helper his job was to keep the one jug full.

 

[honcho]

The battery powered DeWalt pressure washer will pump it's own water but it's barely a pressure washer. Though I like it for washing cars and such. Since you've got electricity you could conceivably pair a pump with your Ryobi pressure washer to use a standing water source.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I've got a TroyBilt gas, and a GreenWorks electric, and both are fine as long as the PW is on the ground and the tank is on the tailgate. Not quite as powerful, but good enough.

 

[binovc]

Thanks, I appreciate the comments.
I may give the elevated bucket a short test (after priming the line first), just to see what happens...
Otherwise I may pick up some sort of external electric pump.
Fortunately I don't anticipate needing this set-up, but nice to know on the front end!

 

[Stelzer]

Just know that it doesn't take long to cavitate those pumps, and when they do, the entire unit would be worthless.

 

[dr_clyde]

I used to work at a large brewery and we had pumps everywhere. A large part of my job was maintaining pumps. I learned a LOT about pumps and I also learned that most people actually have no idea how pumps work. The amount of pumps I had to rebuild due to either running them dry or trying to **** out a tank below the pump was ridiculous.

Most pumps are designed to PUSH. The inlet needs to be flooded with more fluid than the pump is rated to flow. Just gravity alone isn’t enough on a higher volume pressure washer and you’ll cavitate the pump and wreck it.

Some pressure washers are designed to work off of mobile truck tanks, and as such they will have pumps that can run off of gravity fed supply water. Even these want a little head pressure from at least gravity. Like, the pressure washer is at least a couple feet below the source.

Rarely will you find a pump that is designed to **** up liquid. Diaphragm pumps do this well, but at the sacrifice of pressure and volume.

 

[binovc]

Advice appreciated, won't mess around with the bucket idea. Paid too much for this unit and no need to take any chances!

 

[MileHighRover]

The owners manual will tell you what the incoming water pressure needs to be. If you can't meet that number, you'll damage your pump. No need to guess or try things out.

 

[Grokew]

Would the SpeedClean CoilJet work in a situation like that? It's only 125psi, but having the water, cleaning solution, and pump, all in one unit, while also being able to select the ratio of water to cleaner, with a dial knob is quite useful. You could also build your own, there are a few videos on how to make them.

 

[binovc]

Mine doesn't. The only "water" spec it provides is max GPM of 1.2 and max PSI of 2,300.
If interested:
https://manuals.ttigroupna.com/system/files/9960/original/RY142300_090079330_162_trilingual_04.pdf?2019

 

[MileHighRover]

Mine doesn't. The only "water" spec it provides is max GPM of 1.2 and max PSI of 2,300.
If interested:
https://manuals.ttigroupna.com/system/files/9960/original/RY142300_090079330_162_trilingual_04.pdf?2019

You're right. The manual just indicates inlet water from water main only, no freestanding bodies of water. Also states water must be turned on (meaning pressurized water feeding the pump) before running the pressure washer otherwise damage will occur.

They don't directly state it can't be fed from a bucket or it can't be gravity fed, but they make it clear in needs pressurized water from a water main.

The few pressure washer manuals I've seen and read (all on higher end units, both gas and electric), they always state inlet water pressure requirements. My current electric commercial unit has an inlet pressure range of -8.5 to 40psi. Negative because it is a belt driven piston pump that can siphon water from a container. Most, but not all, of the pumps that can be siphon fed will be belt driven piston pumps.

 

[lbhsbz]

Drop a submersable pump in the bucket and feed the pressure washer from the pump.

 

[Stelzer]

You're right. The manual just indicates inlet water from water main only, no freestanding bodies of water. Also states water must be turned on (meaning pressurized water feeding the pump) before running the pressure washer otherwise damage will occur.

They don't directly state it can't be fed from a bucket or it can't be gravity fed, but they make it clear in needs pressurized water from a water main.

The few pressure washer manuals I've seen and read (all on higher end units, both gas and electric), they always state inlet water pressure requirements. My current electric commercial unit has an inlet pressure range of -8.5 to 40psi. Negative because it is a belt driven piston pump that can siphon water from a container. Most, but not all, of the pumps that can be siphon fed will be belt driven piston pumps.

All gear driven pressure washing pumps can pull water from tanks as well. Some direct drives, but not always. We have 2 direct drives that are tank fed, but tanks are elevated and the intake hose from buffer tank to pressure washer is 2.5 times the diameter of the inlet at the pump.

 

[dogdog]

RYOBI RY120350 or the a likes you can do it... they are for washing cars and light pressure use.