Using Lake Water - Pumping To Pressure Washer Etc.

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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Using Lake Water - Pumping To Pressure Washer Etc.


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morganplus8 Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 11:31am Reply What would be the best way to draw lake water to a pressure washer? The height is about 15 feet and the distance is 30 feet to the deck. I would like to feed a pressure washer to hose down my building and boat etc.. How much pressure could be generated from a Honda gas operated water pump, say, 5 HP, directly into a pressure washer hose assembly? I would leave the gun open so there isn't a shut-off to ruin the seals. Has anyone tried to create something like this? Thanks

GomerPile Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 11:43am Reply I have used several things to pump garden water from my brook. A common 120V submersible sump pump in a homer bucket works well for a little bit of water (bet its enough for a PW). To drive several sprinklers I used one of these: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_7738_7738 It is not self priming (I used the garden hose to prime it) and it lasted about 3 years. I powered 3 large sprinklers without any trouble at all. For $70 it was worth the $$$ IMO.

Just Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 12:31pm Reply do it often, with my 4 hp. honda,, you will have no problems..

AYP1909 Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 12:34pm Reply Quoting: morganplus8 What would be the best way to draw lake water to a pressure washer? Depending on which state you are in, you may want to check on the legality of any water withdrawal: http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/env-res/state-water-withdrawal-regulations.aspx

TomChum Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 12:38pm - Edited by: TomChum Reply Quoting: morganplus8 How much pressure could be generated from a Honda gas operated water pump, say, 5 HP, directly into a pressure washer hose assembly? Hi Morgan, the 5HP Honda pump will supply far more water than a pressure washer can use, probably 20x more. To reduce back-pressure on the 5HP pump you might consider to run the large pump hose to a "Y" where one outlet exhausts back to the lake and the other outlet supplies the pressure washer. You could squeeze the waste outlet with a vise grip to increase the pressure to the washer outlet (unlikely that would be necessary). To determine if it meets the minimum input requirement for the pressure-washer; you can easily measure the flow of water out of the "Y" by timing it to fill a 5-gal bucket. The pressure washer should have a sticker on it telling the minimum flow required. My 5 hp pressure washer needs 2.2 gallons per minute, which is a trickle of what a 5HP trash pump can put out.

morganplus8 Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 12:59pm Reply Some great ideas! Just, That 4 HP Honda is over kill isn't it? I like the idea of having a blow-off tap at a Y junction to take excess water away and balance the system, great idea there, TomChum. I would set it up to handle my specific PW and that tap could run and save the seals. Lovin' it! Gomerpile, I do need to have it primed, thought the Honda pump would deal with that nicely. I'll look at the consumption of my PW and see what it is drawing. This is really interesting. I have a 60 foot by 25 foot deck to wash down not to mention the building etc., and it would be nice to have pressure for that. As for the law, it is fine to draw from the lake here. Thanks. I need to get some numbers fast!!

morganplus8 Member	# Posted: 13 Nov 2012 01:19pm Reply So here is what I have found: My smallest PW is 1150 PSI at 1.3 Gal/Min, I have several new ones in boxes as they come with larger units that we buy. I have looked up this pump by Honda, it is a whopping 37 g/min!!! It is a toy and can easily feed that PW. http://powerequipment.honda.com/pumps/models/wx10 What do you think of something like this little fella with a "Y" connection??? I guess there are self-priming pumps that will supply around 2 gal/min at some nominal power source.

neckless Member	# Posted: 18 Nov 2012 06:33pm Reply i use a small burcam pump from can. tire 120 volt plug in to gen and go my 2600 psi pump needs 2 gal to operate , you need volume morethan anything.

morganplus8 Member	# Posted: 19 Nov 2012 09:24am Reply neckless, Is this the type of pump that you are referring to? http://www.burcam.com/en/products?view=details&mainsection_id=200&section_id=90&cat_i d=750&sku=300308P I checked with Canadian Tire and they are showing 3 tanks and one huge double acting pump that wouldn't work for me. Any specs on that pump would be appreciated, I have to lift from the lake, about 10 feet tops. Thanks

littlesalmon4 Member	# Posted: 27 Nov 2012 06:31pm - Edited by: littlesalmon4 Reply This washer is from Canadian Tire. It only requires a water supply. It draws water from a bucket. It is however electric and not gas powered http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/CarWashingCleaning/PressureWashersElectr ic/PRD~0398586P/Coleman+1600+PSI+Electric+Pressure+Washer.jsp?locale=en

littlesalmon4 Member	# Posted: 3 Dec 2012 12:27pm Reply You should be able to supply 1.3 gallons/minute with a small 12 volt RV pump. Pump the water to a large pail or clean garbage can, hook up the 12 volt pump to draw from the can and supply your pressure washer.

morganplus8 Member	# Posted: 3 Dec 2012 07:29pm Reply Thanks for the advice, I'll look into setting up a 12V pump that can comfortably handle the pressure washer, I'll install a tank to hold water for those days when I want to wash down my boat or deck/building etc.. Thanks again.

littlesalmon4 Member	# Posted: 4 Dec 2012 03:43pm Reply No problem. Even the standard Shurflo RV pump provides 2.8 gpm. I use one for my L5 on demand shower. Very little draw on a battery and lots of pressure. We used a 15 watt solar panel and had plenty of juice for a family of 4 to shower.

morganplus8 Member	# Posted: 4 Dec 2012 06:53pm Reply littlesalmon4, Thanks for the heads up, I'll get the same setup for next year, should work great.

mikethoms Member	# Posted: 11 Aug 2017 03:42am Reply Which pressure washer you people are using ? Im looking for best pressure washer 2017 for commercial use. Recently i have bad experience with Karchar K3 washer

Littlecooner Member	# Posted: 11 Aug 2017 11:29am Reply Several years ago, I desired to clean some headstones of my ancestors. I had a pressure washer of about 2 gal/minute ( the 2500 +/- psi and 4-5 HP motor). I filled two 30 gallon plastic barrels with water, sitting in the back of a pickup truck, drove to the various cemeteries and set the pressure washer on the ground at the back of the truck, using a short garden hose and a regular hose bib screwed into the top of the barrels. This provide about 30 minutes of washing and i never had a problem with the usage with only the couple of feet of head pressure of the barrels to the washer provided by only gravity. This could provide you with an idea for your usage, use a barrel or other container, fill with water and place barrel a few feet above elevation of washer and just use gravity to feed the pressure washer.

mikethoms Member	# Posted: 20 Aug 2017 05:46am Reply As per discussion, i realized that all of you are expert, having good piece of knowledge on best pressure washers and cleaning services, due to relevancy i donâ€™t want to make a separate post for my question. What do you guys recommend me if i want to buy new and best pressure washer for home use? Is it wise decision to buy or should continue with pressure cleaning services?

mikethoms Member	# Posted: 14 Sep 2017 05:42am - Edited by: mikethoms Reply Finalzed my decision from Best Pressure Washer

keng223 Member	# Posted: 15 Jul 2019 02:08pm Reply Quoting: TomChum the 5HP Honda pump will supply far more water than a pressure washer can use, probably 20x more. To reduce back-pressure on the 5HP pump you might consider to run the large pump hose to a "Y" where one outlet exhausts back to the lake and the other outlet supplies the pressure washer. You could squeeze the waste outlet with a vise grip to increase the pressure to the washer outlet (unlikely that would be necessary). I have this VERY SAME ISSUE. just about 7 years later. know I've scoured the internet for the answer and this thread right here is the most relevant. So thank you for coming back to it. I have a 3000 psi 2.4 gpm washer. I'm drawing from a fast moving creek supplying clear water. Power washer manufacturer told me my submersible pump's pressure was too strong at 6 gpm and I need to go with a pump that'll supply 2.5-3 gpm. BUT - I saw this Y idea and I'd like to explore. Can I get verification this actually works? And if it actually does, can I assume the power washer will use exactly what it needs and the rest jets back into the creek via an escape hose? Thank you and thank you for coming back to this after it being dormant for so long.

NorthRick Member	# Posted: 17 Jul 2019 02:41am - Edited by: NorthRick Reply Quoting: keng223 Power washer manufacturer told me my submersible pump's pressure was too strong at 6 gpm and I need to go with a pump that'll supply 2.5-3 gpm. If the pump is really rated at 6 gpm and the pressure washer consumes 3 gpm, I wouldn't worry about it. Connect the pump to the pressure washer and fire it up and wash what you are going to wash. That's not that much of a disconnect to worry about.

Good_Vibez_Garage Member	# Posted: 26 Apr 2022 08:48pm Reply I made a video of a gas water pump plus gas power washer using this discussion as inspiration! URL

Cowracer Member	# Posted: 27 Apr 2022 09:54am - Edited by: Cowracer Reply Pressure washers are positive displacement pumps. If you could fit them with a rigid intake hose, they will have no problems lifting water directly out of the lake at 15 feet. of course, you would need a good strainer Finding a rigid garden hose is the issue. if you use a regular hose, it will suck shut due to atmospheric pressure Tim

Tim_Ohio Member	# Posted: 27 Apr 2022 10:08am Reply I used a cheap champion brand gas powered trash pump and made an adapter on the output for a garden hose. The strainer on the intake kept most of the debris out, but it helped to stick it in a second home made strainer that was just a 5-gallon bucket with a bunch of holes drilled in it. The lid had a hole large enough for the hose to pass through, then the original strainer was reconnected and sat inside the home-made bucket strainer with the bucket lid in place.. The output reduction of a garden hose from the original 2 inch discharge didn't seem to be a problem. You do have to prime a trash pump, though. Tim_Ohio

Bruces Member	# Posted: 28 Apr 2022 09:08am Reply I am with Cowracer ,I set my power washer on the dock and go to town straight out of the river with no problems .I have had no issue feeding it with a short 6ft hose .My big washer is 12 hp ,4.5 gpm ,and I have a smaller 3.0 gpm unit and both have worked perfectly fine .

Tim_Ohio Member	# Posted: 28 Apr 2022 09:19am Reply @Bruces: So, you run the pump dry until it draws water into it? Tim

Bruces Member	# Posted: 28 Apr 2022 01:21pm Reply Nope ,I have a foot valve on the hose ,I pre fill the hose and go .

Tim_Ohio Member	# Posted: 28 Apr 2022 02:03pm Reply I have a cistern at a home I'm working on and it's full of water. It might be nice to use this for a pressure washer and not having to use a trash pump in this application would be awesome. Are you using a spring loaded foot valve or a gate type? I'm wondering because I'm thinking of trying this. There must be an adapter to the hose? Or, I guess I should say how is your valve set up or which is used? Thanks, Tim

Bruces Member	# Posted: 28 Apr 2022 04:49pm Reply Itâ€™s just a typical inexpensive spring loaded foot valve you would have on a lake water pump system ,nothing special and about $8.00 .If your pressure washer can be set up lower than your cistern ,you wouldnâ€™t need anything but a hose .The hose I am using is 1.25â€ hydraulic return hose ,I need the big size for my big pressure washer ,I donâ€™t think it would be required for the smaller units ,but using the big hose doesnâ€™t hurt the little one either .