Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Pressure Washer Specials
WMPCS now has 13 refurbished pressure washers in stock from 5-13 h.p. priced from $295-$795. These will not last long as they are in great shape and fully warranted!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Winterizing Pressure Washers
Now that the cold weather is upon us, it is time to think about protecting your equipment from freezing. You MUST protect EVERY pressure washer from sub-freezing conditions or the consequences can be VERY expensive! If you have a cold water machine, your pump head may freeze and crack and if you have a hot water machine, you have the additional concern that your heating coil can freeze and break. In either case, this is a very expensive mistake. It is highly recommended that you purchase a 16 oz. bottle of "Pump Guard" from us for $9.95. This not only protects your pump from freezing, it also protects your internal aluminum parts from oxidation caused by non-use. Please contact us w/ any questions.
What is the purpose of a Surface Cleaner
Whether it is in residential, commercial or industrial cleaning, it is all about getting the job done right and done fast! Using standard fan spray nozzles can become very tedious and in many applications can leave the finished job with imperfections and flaws due to the intensity of the concentrated spray of a fan nozzle. This is the reason the flat surface cleaner has become an industry leading accessory to purchase to cut time and leave you feeling satisfied with the finished project.
Not only can a surface cleaner can cut your time by over 50% on any flat area surface cleaning job, but it also keeps dirt and debris from being blown on windows, siding or areas that aren’t intended to be wet, this can reduce clean up time after the project is complete and prevent damage caused by high pressure water. Also, with keeping the spray under the plastic housing the operator stays clean and dry there is nothing worse than being soaking wet while trying to power wash.
See some of the applications and benefits of using a surface cleaner:
Driveways, sidewalks, tennis courts
75% Faster than using a traditional fan spray nozzle, concentrated spray under the plastic housing keeps dirty water and debris from being sprayed in areas that are already cleaned or not intended to be wet.
Natural wood decks, plastic or trek decking
50% Faster than using a traditional fan spray nozzle, avoids damaging wood or creating what we call “Zebra Stripping” where deck boards are un-evenly cleaned and the surface of the deck boards are damaged. Keeps debris from being sprayed onto sliding glass doors, windows, plants and shrubs.
Not only can a surface cleaner can cut your time by over 50% on any flat area surface cleaning job, but it also keeps dirt and debris from being blown on windows, siding or areas that aren’t intended to be wet, this can reduce clean up time after the project is complete and prevent damage caused by high pressure water. Also, with keeping the spray under the plastic housing the operator stays clean and dry there is nothing worse than being soaking wet while trying to power wash.
See some of the applications and benefits of using a surface cleaner:
Driveways, sidewalks, tennis courts
75% Faster than using a traditional fan spray nozzle, concentrated spray under the plastic housing keeps dirty water and debris from being sprayed in areas that are already cleaned or not intended to be wet.
Natural wood decks, plastic or trek decking
50% Faster than using a traditional fan spray nozzle, avoids damaging wood or creating what we call “Zebra Stripping” where deck boards are un-evenly cleaned and the surface of the deck boards are damaged. Keeps debris from being sprayed onto sliding glass doors, windows, plants and shrubs.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hot water vs. Cold water Pressure Washer
There is a substantial difference between hot water pressure washers and cold water pressure washers when it comes to both the quality of cleaning and the price. If you are a homeowner and your power washer is going to be used for residential projects such as the driveway, house, deck, patio then a cold-water pressure washer is the way to go. Not only is a cold water pressure washer going to be an affordable option but is also going to be the most convenient. If you have a stubborn cleaning job most of the time a cleaning detergent can be used in the aid of cleaning. We offer detergents for any different cleaning application so you are going to want to make sure that you purchase the correct one or you might run into problems. One thing that people ask a lot is can I run hot water through my cold water pressure washer, simply the answer is no! I will go into further detail of that some other time. On the other hand hot water pressure washers do have their benefit over cold-water machines for specific cleaning applications.
If you are trying to clean oil, grease, road film, tar or any other sticky, nasty substance then there is no other option other than hot water. The way I look at it is, would you put a greasy pan into a dishwasher that only used cold water and expect it to come clean? Well, of course not, so why would you expect to remove a stubborn substance like grease with a cold water pressure washer? Not only is a hot water pressure washer going to clean better but it is also going to clean faster. If you are a business owner and are paying someone to power wash equipment for you more than twice a week it is understandable that hot water is the way to go. All of the hot water pressure washers that we sell are very efficient and can easily pay themselves off over a short period of time. Once you use a hot water pressure washer there is no going back to cold.
If you are trying to clean oil, grease, road film, tar or any other sticky, nasty substance then there is no other option other than hot water. The way I look at it is, would you put a greasy pan into a dishwasher that only used cold water and expect it to come clean? Well, of course not, so why would you expect to remove a stubborn substance like grease with a cold water pressure washer? Not only is a hot water pressure washer going to clean better but it is also going to clean faster. If you are a business owner and are paying someone to power wash equipment for you more than twice a week it is understandable that hot water is the way to go. All of the hot water pressure washers that we sell are very efficient and can easily pay themselves off over a short period of time. Once you use a hot water pressure washer there is no going back to cold.
Why buy a reconditioned pressure washer?
Why are so many power washers that are offered over the Internet reconditioned compared to new?
The major benefit to purchasing a reconditioned power washer compared to that of a new one is the lower cost and most people on the Internet are shopping to find the best price. Reconditioned pressure washers are priced to sell and are just as good of quality to that of a new one.
Why are there so many reconditioned pressure washers available?
Reconditioned pressure washers come from big box stores (outlet stores), these are the machines that are returned and then have to be sent back to the company as defective. In the reconditioning process we find that about 95% of the machines had nothing wrong with them and about 40% of those machines are brand new and never have been used. A majority of these machines are purchased by a customer to do a small cleaning project around their home and then returned after the project is complete. Most of the machines that are like new that are returned are missing a accessory in the box, so in order to get a missing item the customer then has to return the machine and get a new one that has all of the accessories in the box.
What is the reconditioning process?
After the machines are returned to the factory, each machine is taken out and inspected. Pressure washers that have more then 10 hours on the motor are discarded to be used as parts, the machines do not come standard with hour meters but we can tell the use of the machine by the tint on the muffler. The machines that pass the first test are then tested and if there is anything defective on the machine the part is replaced with a new part and then re-tested and approved to be re-sold.
What are the benefits other then price to purchasing a reconditioned pressure washer?
Other then getting a better price on a quality machine that you would usually pay a higher price for a reconditioned machine has other benefits. Our company offers a full one year warranty on reconditioned pressure washers compared to other companies that only offer a 30 day limited warranty on the same machines. You can also sleep well knowing that a certified Karcher technician tested and went through the entire machine before approving it to be re-sold, unlike the new machines that aren’t tested before leaving the factory.
See our full line of recondtioned pressure washers
The major benefit to purchasing a reconditioned power washer compared to that of a new one is the lower cost and most people on the Internet are shopping to find the best price. Reconditioned pressure washers are priced to sell and are just as good of quality to that of a new one.
Why are there so many reconditioned pressure washers available?
Reconditioned pressure washers come from big box stores (outlet stores), these are the machines that are returned and then have to be sent back to the company as defective. In the reconditioning process we find that about 95% of the machines had nothing wrong with them and about 40% of those machines are brand new and never have been used. A majority of these machines are purchased by a customer to do a small cleaning project around their home and then returned after the project is complete. Most of the machines that are like new that are returned are missing a accessory in the box, so in order to get a missing item the customer then has to return the machine and get a new one that has all of the accessories in the box.
What is the reconditioning process?
After the machines are returned to the factory, each machine is taken out and inspected. Pressure washers that have more then 10 hours on the motor are discarded to be used as parts, the machines do not come standard with hour meters but we can tell the use of the machine by the tint on the muffler. The machines that pass the first test are then tested and if there is anything defective on the machine the part is replaced with a new part and then re-tested and approved to be re-sold.
What are the benefits other then price to purchasing a reconditioned pressure washer?
Other then getting a better price on a quality machine that you would usually pay a higher price for a reconditioned machine has other benefits. Our company offers a full one year warranty on reconditioned pressure washers compared to other companies that only offer a 30 day limited warranty on the same machines. You can also sleep well knowing that a certified Karcher technician tested and went through the entire machine before approving it to be re-sold, unlike the new machines that aren’t tested before leaving the factory.
See our full line of recondtioned pressure washers
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Direct Drive vs. Belt Drive
There are many options out there when purchasing pressure washers, one of the questions that we get from people looking to purchase a pressure washer is what the difference is between a direct drive pump and a belt drive pump. It comes down to how much you are going to be using the machine, if you are a home owner and looking to use it a couple times a year and only a 3 to 4 hours at a time then going with a direct drive pump would be the answer. On the other hand, if you are using the pressure washer in a commercial or industrial application where the machine will be run all day for some projects and you have the budget to spend a little more then, the belt drive pump is the machine to purchase.
A “Direct Drive” pump has a hollow shaft, which simply slides onto the drive shaft of a motor or engine. The flange on the pump is mounted to the face of the engine or shaft end of the motor. Normal gasoline engine speed is about 3450 RPM. Since the pump is connected directly to the engine shaft, the pump rpm is the same as the engine rpm. Electric motors typically will turn a direct drive pump at 3450 RPM or 1725 RPM. Direct drive pumps allow for a more compact designed pressure washer. Another advantage is that this drive system is simple, with fewer moving parts; therefore less expensive. The disadvantage is by having the pump spin as much as the engine or motor, the bearings and other parts get more wear and tear, reducing the life span of the pump. Direct drive pressure washers transfer the vibration of the engine or motor directly to the pump. Also, the faster pumps of direct drive pressure washers are spinning so fast that they cannot draw water from a tank or lake very well. They tend to work just fine when the water is forced into the pump (like when it is hooked-up to a hose from a house).
Benefits of Direct Drive:
-Compact Design
-Lower Acquisition Cost
Disadvantages of Direct Drive:
-Reduced Life Span
-Tri-axle direct drive pumps cannot draw water form a tank or standing water
Direct Drive Karcher HD 4.0/36
A “Belt Drive” pump has a pulley mounted to its solid shaft and is driven by one or more belts that are attached to a pulley on the motor or engine. The pulley system allows these pumps to turn at a much lower RPM than a direct drive pump (typically 900-1400 RPM). The belt drive pump crankcase has a larger oil capacity. This, combined with the lower RPM of the belt drive pump, allows the pump to run much cooler than a direct drive pump. The pump is isolated from the heat of the engine or motor, also. Belts and pulleys also absorb vibration, reducing pump fatigue. Because of these factors, most heavy use pressure washer applications will demand a belt drive pump. The disadvantage of this system is there is some loss of efficiency due to the additional friction from the belts and pulleys. Plus there is more maintenance required adjusting the belts. However, all other things being equal, the belt drive system should provide for
the longest pump life.
Benefits of Belt Drive:
-Vibration Absorption
-Pump spins at a lower RPM
-Low operating temperature
-Pump will have a longer life span
Disadvantages of Belt Drive:
-Higher cost
-Heavier machine platform
Belt Drive Karcher HD 3.7/35
A “Direct Drive” pump has a hollow shaft, which simply slides onto the drive shaft of a motor or engine. The flange on the pump is mounted to the face of the engine or shaft end of the motor. Normal gasoline engine speed is about 3450 RPM. Since the pump is connected directly to the engine shaft, the pump rpm is the same as the engine rpm. Electric motors typically will turn a direct drive pump at 3450 RPM or 1725 RPM. Direct drive pumps allow for a more compact designed pressure washer. Another advantage is that this drive system is simple, with fewer moving parts; therefore less expensive. The disadvantage is by having the pump spin as much as the engine or motor, the bearings and other parts get more wear and tear, reducing the life span of the pump. Direct drive pressure washers transfer the vibration of the engine or motor directly to the pump. Also, the faster pumps of direct drive pressure washers are spinning so fast that they cannot draw water from a tank or lake very well. They tend to work just fine when the water is forced into the pump (like when it is hooked-up to a hose from a house).
Benefits of Direct Drive:
-Compact Design
-Lower Acquisition Cost
Disadvantages of Direct Drive:
-Reduced Life Span
-Tri-axle direct drive pumps cannot draw water form a tank or standing water
Direct Drive Karcher HD 4.0/36
A “Belt Drive” pump has a pulley mounted to its solid shaft and is driven by one or more belts that are attached to a pulley on the motor or engine. The pulley system allows these pumps to turn at a much lower RPM than a direct drive pump (typically 900-1400 RPM). The belt drive pump crankcase has a larger oil capacity. This, combined with the lower RPM of the belt drive pump, allows the pump to run much cooler than a direct drive pump. The pump is isolated from the heat of the engine or motor, also. Belts and pulleys also absorb vibration, reducing pump fatigue. Because of these factors, most heavy use pressure washer applications will demand a belt drive pump. The disadvantage of this system is there is some loss of efficiency due to the additional friction from the belts and pulleys. Plus there is more maintenance required adjusting the belts. However, all other things being equal, the belt drive system should provide for
the longest pump life.
Benefits of Belt Drive:
-Vibration Absorption
-Pump spins at a lower RPM
-Low operating temperature
-Pump will have a longer life span
Disadvantages of Belt Drive:
-Higher cost
-Heavier machine platform
Belt Drive Karcher HD 3.7/35
Welcome
This is the West Michigan Power Cleaning Systems informational site, this site is designed to give you a better understanding on how to buy pressure washer equipment, solutions to your cleaning solutions and general conversation about power washing.
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