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Washing in a hard water area

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  • 27-06-2021 11:26am
    #1
    Lewis_Benson
    Registered Users Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭


    Good folks of the detailing forum
    I have just purchased A pdpro power washer with a 6.5 Honda engine.
    A mighty machine.

    I want to use it for washing cars as well as domestic work.

    I live in an area with very hard water, a lot of limescale gets left on things washed from the mains.

    Is there any solution to this, any after wash products I can use to aid in drying off the car after washing?
    The washer has a chemical pickup which I intent on using for foam and for etc.


    Appreciate any advice.


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    #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Big barrel with lid for safety filled from downpipe of gutters on a shed or house.
    Wait for rain.


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    #3
    Lewis_Benson
    Registered Users Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭Lewis_Benson


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Big barrel with lid for safety filled from downpipe of gutters on a shed or house.
    Wait for rain.

    Thought of that.
    Would the gutter water be OK to wash with?


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    #4
    Jim_Hodge
    Registered Users Posts: 10,432 ✭✭✭✭Jim_Hodge


    Lewis_Benson wrote: »
    Thought of that.
    Would the gutter water be OK to wash with?

    If it's like what my rainwater barrel collects, I wouldn't use it as it has quite a bit of grit and silt from the roof and gutters.


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    #5
    Lewis_Benson
    Registered Users Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭Lewis_Benson


    Jim_Hodge wrote: »
    If it's like what my rainwater barrel collects, I wouldn't use it as it has quite a bit of grit and silt from the roof and gutters.

    That's what I was thinking


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    #6
    MetzgerMeister
    Registered Users Posts: 19,854 ✭✭✭✭MetzgerMeister


    I also live in a hard water area and I use 2 things:

    1 - a DI vessel and Unger resin. The outside tap is connected to one side of the vessel and the pressure washer is connected to the other side. The water flows through the resin inside and it removes all lime and sends out 0ppm water meaning no water marks on the car. This is a good way of doing it but it's not cheap. The resin has to be replaced every 2 weeks depending on how much water goes through it and how hard the water is.

    2 - A water butt. I use an extra filter on the pressure washer water inlet and it's always manky afterwards as is the inner filter. Rainwater is great though because it's 0ppm also but it does contain silt and dirt that you don't want going through your pressure washer nor do you want it being blasted at your car.


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    #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Lewis_Benson wrote: »
    Thought of that.
    Would the gutter water be OK to wash with?
    As long as you are not sucking up grit from the bottom of the barrel or water butt it is the purest water you can reasonably hope for short of distilling it.
    Most of Ireland is limestone so your options are limited. Maybe a stream would be ok but if passing through limestone country it won't be much better than local water supply or your own well.


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