Using a pressure washer with a water butt

twignme

I have never had a pressure washer because my mains water pressure is simply a dribble. I’m now looking at buying one to use with a water butt, and would appreciate some advice please.
What spec should I look for when buying the washer?
Would it give sufficient spray to clean patio flagstones?
Any recommendations for which type?

Thanks.

Alkers

Mains pressure would normally be more than that from a water butt unless it's very large or tall/elevated.
Do you have a tap which is supplied from your attic which you could use the pressure washer with?
You can use a pressure washer with a butt in any case but it will work better the nearer the butt is to where the washer will be. A butt won't have enough pressure to prime a long hose.

twignme

Thanks Simona, I dont have any water storage in the house at all, it's all outside. I did think a butt would have to be elevated, but saw a karcher infomercial online that shows water being taken from a pond as well as the hose being dropped into a regular sized waterbutt from the top using a special hose. I was hoping it was going to be the answer to my prayers as my mains water pressure is unworkable.

wexie

twignme wrote: »

Thanks Simona, I dont have any water storage in the house at all, it's all outside. I did think a butt would have to be elevated, but saw a karcher infomercial online that shows water being taken from a pond as well as the hose being dropped into a regular sized waterbutt from the top using a special hose. I was hoping it was going to be the answer to my prayers as my mains water pressure is unworkable.

If you get a pressure washer that can work with a but it won't depend on whatever 'pressure' you can get from the butt rather it will supply it's own pressure by sucking the water from the butt at whatever rate it needs to. So no need to elevate anything.

my3cents

Funny, I use a water butt for the exact opposite reason - 150psi water pressure which blows off any hose fittings and will even split the hose pipe.

I have a 220l chemical barrel with the top cut off and I cut a hole near the base and fitted a small tank connector (often used on header tanks for the overflow) a ball valve and a standard push fit hose connector.

Most of not all the Karcher pressure washers will work fine on low pressure and many can even lift water from lower down and don't need a flooded head.

twignme

Thaks wexie, so is there something in particular I should look for in the spec of the machine? Are they all capabale of doing this and will I need any special bits of equipment add-ons?

wexie

twignme wrote: »

Thaks wexie, so is there something in particular I should look for in the spec of the machine? Are they all capabale of doing this and will I need any special bits of equipment add-ons?

Just having a look now because I thought this was usually really only commercial spec types ones.

However this : http://www.halfords.ie/motoring/car-cleaning/pressure-washers-hoses/karcher-pressure-washer-suction-hose

Would suggest differently

The Karcher Pressure Washer Suction Hose enables the user to use water from a static source, ie. water butt, bucket, pond etc.

Of course you'd still need a suitable pressure washer to go with it but at least it means you won't need a big petrol jobbie

twignme

my3cents wrote: »

Funny, I use a water butt for the exact opposite reason - 150psi water pressure which blows off any hose fittings and will even split the hose pipe.

I have a 220l chemical barrel with the top cut off and I cut a hole near the base and fitted a small tank connector (often used on header tanks for the overflow) a ball valve and a standard push fit hose connector.

Most of not all the Karcher pressure washers will work fine on low pressure and many can even lift water from lower down and don't need a flooded head.

That's good news, and I understand that Karcher is a good make according to many posts on here.

wexie

my3cents wrote: »

150psi water pressure which blows off any hose fittings and will even split the hose pipe.

from your mains :eek:

You must keep the local plumber well employed, that's nuts!!

twignme

That looks like the hose I saw on the infomercial wexie, so it looks as though it may do the trick. I also like the barrel idea from my3cents as I have the space outside for that size and should keep me going through the bigger jobs.

my3cents

wexie wrote: »

from your mains :eek:

You must keep the local plumber well employed, that's nuts!!

We are at the bottom of a hill and the same supply has to supply houses nearly 100 m higher than us, the maths is obvious.

my3cents

twignme wrote: »

That looks like the hose I saw on the infomercial wexie, so it looks as though it may do the trick. I also like the barrel idea from my3cents as I have the space outside for that size and should keep me going through the bigger jobs.

If you put your own connector at the bottom of the tank (less than €15 worth of plumbing fittings) you only need a normal hose pipe and not a suction pipe.

You do however need to make sure the water in the barrel is clean to save any pump damage. If you put the take off a few inches above the bottom then sediment won't end up sucked into the supply pipe.

listermint

twignme wrote: »

That's good news, and I understand that Karcher is a good make according to many posts on here.

Karcher are not worth the money. The brand rides on history.

There's far more value in nilfisk range. They have some metal internals same warranty and much better price point.

Have a look at the c120 on Amazon I've had one for six years and it's great.

They work perfectly with water butts.in fact it's better for the car because you get less water marks with the rainwater than mains

Ewan Hoosarmi

my3cents wrote: »

Funny, I use a water butt for the exact opposite reason - 150psi water pressure which blows off any hose fittings and will even split the hose pipe.

I have a 220l chemical barrel with the top cut off and I cut a hole near the base and fitted a small tank connector (often used on header tanks for the overflow) a ball valve and a standard push fit hose connector.

Most of not all the Karcher pressure washers will work fine on low pressure and many can even lift water from lower down and don't need a flooded head.

Only the K4 and up.

Make sure you don't get fooled by the line 'can even be used from a water butt' That often means that it can... as long as the butt is 5M above the washer.

Alkers

wexie wrote:

If you get a pressure washer that can work with a but it won't depend on whatever 'pressure' you can get from the butt rather it will supply it's own pressure by sucking the water from the butt at whatever rate it needs to. So no need to elevate anything.

Yeah that's fine if the washer is to be used beside the water butt. If you need to use a hose between the butt and the washer, like if you have a big garden or something, then you need enough head in the butt to feed the hose also.

twignme

Thank you all for the advice, it seems from what you say there could be various degrees of success possible. I researched reviews of the hose as advertised and whilst the majority seem to find it works, there are a few kinks that can cause problems. Sorting those out don't seem too difficult but I need to think carefully about spending the money on a washer if I am dependent upon the hose doing the job it should. Too expensive a mistake otherwise!

raxy

I used a Bosch 37-10 with a water butt. Worked fine for cleaning paths. Connected ust using a regular hose. I only used a few feet of hose to the washer though.

tcif

We use a Karcher K5 with a butt with no problems. There is a max limit to how long the hose between the butt and the washer can be (not sure exactly but maybe 4 or 5 feet) but there's a good long hose between the washer and the wand so it works out fine. To be fair, we actually have two butts, one at either end of the house, so if we run out of cable from one side we can just switch to the other. Plus if your're doing paths or patios a power washer will go through a butt in reasonable time so second one handy for that too.