How To Wash With A Pressure Washer During Water Restrictions

GK · 03-02-2007, 08:21 PM

HOW TO WASH WITH A PRESSURE WASHER DURING WATER RESTRICTIONS – By GK

Items needed. Pressure washer, 3 metres of garden hose, quick hose connector, 20 litre water container and t-tap piece and jiggler-syphon or pump. Normal car washing gear.

1. Collect rainwater any way you can. My only source for now is the garage roof into 2 x 200 litre drums. Works well enough though.
(See pic)

2. Connect t-tap to 20 litre container.

3. Extract water from drum or tank (using pump or syphon) and fill the 20 litre container.
(See first pic and note the pump)

4. Slip one end of the garden hose onto the t-tap.
(See pic)

5. Place a normal click on garden hose connector on the other end of the garden hose and connect to the pressure washer, as you would with the normal garden hose.
(See pic- hose going round the back as per normal)

6. Place 20 litre container up fairly high if you can to aid water flow as the pressure from the container to pressure washer is quite low. It will take a while to build up, but it’s worth the wait.
(See pic)

7. When you’ve got pressure (about a minute’s wait) wash away! Keep an eye on the water in the drum though and be frugal as you’ll need to refill the container a few times for each car you wash. If you get a few mates to do the sponging while you use the washer, you’ll use far less water and get it done far quicker. You’ll get into a routine though after a while.
(See pic)

Go for it!

GK

Notes:
Some pressure washers have the water pipe that you just place into the water drum. This type of arrangement would be far easier if you’ve got it.

I bought a plastic pump for 200 litre drums (44 gallons) for $20 from Bunnings. Not the best pump but certainly not the worst either.

LUXO_8 · 03-02-2007, 08:24 PM

good stuff mate..
we've got the same drums set up on our garage, currently just use the water for the garden but thats another good use for it

might have to invest in a washer now

GK · 03-02-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

good stuff mate..
we've got the same drums set up on our garage, currently just use the water for the garden but thats another good use for it

might have to invest in a washer now

I hear you, but my mum, brother in law and neighbour all have them so I'll keep my cash for mods! LOL!

GK

XR6-VCT-2000 · 03-02-2007, 11:12 PM

WD

. A charcoal canister would go nicely in that setup , help clean the rainwater of dirt & impurities a bit ?

DOC · 04-02-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6-VCT-2000

WD

. A charcoal canister would go nicely in that setup , help clean the rainwater of dirt & impurities a bit ?

Like to learn more about the canister, also GK might need part of your guide in the forum guide im putting together as this is one topic that needs covering ( thats if you agree )

GK · 04-02-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

Like to learn more about the canister, also GK might need part of your guide in the forum guide im putting together as this is one topic that needs covering ( thats if you agree )

Not sure exactly what you're referring to here DOC, but if it's to help others then no worries!

GK

DOC · 04-02-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK

Not sure exactly what you're referring to here DOC, but if it's to help others then no worries!

GK

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=83064

i am over time putting a complete guide together and part of that i want to cover water restrictions / setting up your own water supply etc etc.

GK · 04-02-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=83064

i am over time putting a complete guide together and part of that i want to cover water restrictions / setting up your own water supply etc etc.

A good looking doc DOC! LOL!

I'd be honoured if you could use something of mine for the guide!

GK

DOC · 03-02-2007, 11:40 PM

Looks good GK, i see most houses units set up this way moving forward, times are changing

AU2PWR · 04-02-2007, 09:27 AM

my god , the first How To this year , and there is a Pic of George in it !

GK · 04-02-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU2PWR

my god , the first How To this year , and there is a Pic of George in it !

Be afraid Daniel, be very afraid! LOL!

GK

1600GT · 04-02-2007, 06:09 PM

GK... very nice job mate!!
fantastic way to responsibily get around the current restrictions.
have thought about a similar idea myself, but yours is far better.

just a qik q...
where do i get some of those drums, and would u know the approx cost??

cheers!

GK · 04-02-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1600GT

GK... very nice job mate!!
fantastic way to responsibily get around the current restrictions.
have thought about a similar idea myself, but yours is far better.

just a qik q...
where do i get some of those drums, and would u know the approx cost??

cheers!

Dont know of the cost as I got them for nicks from a family member! Sorry.

I do hope to be able to obtain a few more in the future to collect water off the roof proper!

GK

DanXR6T · 04-02-2007, 09:54 AM

Just to further show how viable these kinds of setups are...

A 10m x 10m roof has a surface area of 100 square metes (actually its more depending on the pitch of the roof), so if you recieved 5mm of rain, thats 0.5 cubic metres, or 500L of water.

Those blue plastic drums are good, some mozzie mesh to act as a filter, and that'll stop the buggers breeding in the water (hopefully).

If the drums were up on a stand, even half a meter high, you could plumb direct into the bottom of them and the pressure would be sufficient to run the cleaner. But the small containers will make you more aware of how much water you are using!

And Melbourne recieved 32mm in January, thats over 2500L of water...

DanXR6T · 04-02-2007, 09:57 AM

Oh and this might sound like a picky point (and I'm sure GK considered it, but many other people never do) take the lid off the small container to avoid a vacuum building up in the container...

LUXO_8 · 04-02-2007, 10:37 AM

we have 2 of those drums currently set up on the roof......tapped in 2 pipes from the gutter, with a basic kitchen sink plug hole mounted into the guttering and a length of PVC down to each of the drums...
i have another but havent felt the need to fit it yet

the good thing with using the sink plug arangement is when the drums are full, you simply place a plug in the hole in the gutter and reopen the original drain.

if anyone is actually interested i can get some pics

would love to make up a stand to get them about a meter off the ground.........that'll come later i think

Pinkbits · 04-02-2007, 11:12 AM

pics would be good, thanks.

AU2PWR · 04-02-2007, 08:37 PM

GK's How To's

A Guide on How To on AUs ..

JC · 04-02-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU2PWR

GK's How To's

A Guide on How To on AUs ..

Yep, almost more user friendly than the Hanyes/Gregory's manuals - and GKs guides cover those little extras like painting brakes etc.

XR6-VCT-2000 · 04-02-2007, 10:22 PM

For sure full credits to GK for writiting this document , and an excellent setup it is too ;) . The charcoal canister i was on about is just a simple charcoal filter/canister ( could be added easily for $2 to $3 dollars ) , it's really no personal idea of mine , it's just a way of keeping fishtank water and drinking water clean of impurities. Add it to your system if you like , it definatelly would be a benifit, i but hey i don't want no credit for it ! , it's just a way of purifying water ;) , cheers fellas , and again wd GK for posting a document on this , with the water restictions we're all facing it was well due ;) .

Hey if you wanted you could even go as far as adding ph up or down to raise acidity or raise alcaline levels in the water until you have a ph0 water level , ( add bi-carb soda to increase alcaline , add vinigar to reduce the ph , down to a more acidic level ) , ph 0 is nice for car washing , same as johnsons baby shampoo ! ..lol

DanXR6T · 05-02-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6-VCT-2000

Hey if you wanted you could even go as far as adding ph up or down to raise acidity or raise alcaline levels in the water until you have a ph0 water level , ( add bi-carb soda to increase alcaline , add vinigar to reduce the ph , down to a more acidic level ) , ph 0 is nice for car washing , same as johnsons baby shampoo ! ..lol

I hope you mean pH neutral (7)... not pH 0....

I pity the car being washed in pH 0 liquid....

**Mechan1k** · 05-02-2007, 02:15 PM

I have a barrel of sort ... but that barrel is the 2nd 10,000L water tank connected to the shed roof

**Mechan1k** · 05-02-2007, 02:35 PM

the lower the number the more acidity in the water ... IIRC

DanXR6T · 05-02-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

the lower the number the more acidity in the water ... IIRC

Correct, pH 0 would strip the metal from your paint lol...

XR6-VCT-2000 · 05-02-2007, 04:12 PM

lol , yes sorry my mistake , don't ask me what i was thinking when i said ph0 , yes i did mean ph neutral (7), not 0 ! ..

:

DOC · 05-02-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6-VCT-2000

lol , yes sorry my mistake , don't ask me what i was thinking when i said ph0 , yes i did mean ph neutral (7), not 0 ! ..

:

Quote:

Correct, pH 0 would strip the metal from your paint lol...

Mate knew you were having a bad day when you said "strip metal from your paint" not paint from your metal

: but we understood you :yeees:

DanXR6T · 05-02-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOC

Mate knew you were having a bad day when you said "strip metal from your paint" not paint from your metal

: but we understood you :yeees:

I was the one who said strip the metal from the paint.. and yes pH 0 would do pretty horrific things to metal... so it wasn't a mistake, I meant it :P

Dan...

TUF514 · 05-02-2007, 04:34 PM

really good.

however, you shouldnt wash your car in the sun!

XR6-VCT-2000 · 05-02-2007, 07:10 PM

ah whatever ;) , i've had a bad year ! ..you all knew what i meant anyway , your all a smart bunch of peoples here

..lol , cheers. I gotta say that this is a nice setup GK has , im now looking into setting up something similar myself so i can wash my car again .

plzhelpmeiamnew · 01-09-2007, 01:05 PM

hi im after a pressure cleaner, i have a meguiars bucket with nozzle attachments http://www.motoractive.com.au/ACCESS...sh%20and%20Dry, where can i buy the pressure washer cleaner thingy for it, to wash the car? im in southeast melbourne