Hot Water Pressure Washer worth the investment?

[LeMarque]

Been thinking about this one:



Shark Handtruck Electric Hot Water Pressure Washer-2 0GPM-1400PSI-2HP-120V-20Amps-HPB-201407D



For a couple of reasons. First is to be able to clean the wheel wells better. Many times the clearance won't permit a brush to get between the tire and the fender. The door jambs at the front where the electrical comes thru and is a pita to clean off all the grime. Might be better then a cold water for the initial rinse. Stuff like that.



Anyone use one for these or other reasons?

 

[Dan]

I used to have access to a 460 volt monster heated PW. It would peel wheel paint if you wanted it to.



The big advantage with heat is cutting grease. Great for filthy engines and underbodies. You don't have to use a ton of pressure when you have very hot water.



I'm not sure that you'll get much help for the wheel wells, I'd just jack the car up slightly, you'll get much better results.

 

[Shane.belzers]

Hot water pressure washers are nice for what dan said. We just replaced our ten year old electric one finally We used this company local here in Mn.



American pressure washers and they built us a 5HP 460V 3phase beast that puts out 2000psi 4GPM and we run and in line tankless water heater mostly during the winter, otherwise just cold water summer time...



Otherwise look at this unit:



NorthStar Electric Cold Water Pressure Washer — 2000 PSI, 1.5 GPM, 120 Volt | Electric-Cold Water| Northern Tool + Equipment



I owned the older 1500psi model which was nice and my previous employer had the 1700 or 2000psi 2.5 or 3GPM unit and they are rock solid units also made here is MN but carried at all northern tool stores. I would highly recommend them!

 

[LeMarque]

I used to have access to a 460 volt monster heated PW. It would peel wheel paint if you wanted it to.



The big advantage with heat is cutting grease. Great for filthy engines and underbodies. You don't have to use a ton of pressure when you have very hot water.



I'm not sure that you'll get much help for the wheel wells, I'd just jack the car up slightly, you'll get much better results.

Must'a been fun to use



Thinking about how to speed up my Daily Driver details. Right now I pressure wash the wheels prior to Megs Brightener; seems I get better results rather then spraying the wheel cleaner on dirt. Thinking a HWPW would do an even better job of removing the caked on brake dust. Also, in my neck of the woods, the weather stripping gets really full of dirt. Even My Karcher PW can't remove all the congealed sand, etc.



And wouldn't it be better for the rinse? Particularly if used with a foam gun?

 

[LeMarque]

Hot water pressure washers are nice for what dan said. We just replaced our ten year old electric one finally We used this company local here in Mn.



American pressure washers and they built us a 5HP 460V 3phase beast that puts out 2000psi 4GPM and we run and in line tankless water heater mostly during the winter, otherwise just cold water summer time...



Otherwise look at this unit:



NorthStar Electric Cold Water Pressure Washer — 2000 PSI, 1.5 GPM, 120 Volt | Electric-Cold Water| Northern Tool + Equipment



I owned the older 1500psi model which was nice and my previous employer had the 1700 or 2000psi 2.5 or 3GPM unit and they are rock solid units also made here is MN but carried at all northern tool stores. I would highly recommend them!

Nice unit but it's cold water. I have been considering this one from them:



NorthStar Electric Wet Steam & Hot Water Pressure Washer — 2000 PSI, 1.5 GPM, 120 Volt | Electric-Hot Water| Northern Tool + Equipment



Did you use the HWPW for things other then engines, etc.?

 

[Dan]

I'd really say it depends on your volume and type of cars. If you are doing 2-3 cars per day, I think it would be hard to get your ROI. If you do a ton of beaters, I'd say it will work out very well. Have you hooked up your existing PW to a hot water supply?

 

[Shane.belzers]

That north star will accept hot water actually... Max temp is around 140 degrees so running 100-110 degrees through it is safe and VERY hot, our custom made unit is cold unit as well but we run "hot" water through it within the safe guide lines... Nothing over 120 degrees to be safe...

 

[LeMarque]

I'd really say it depends on your volume and type of cars. If you are doing 2-3 cars per day, I think it would be hard to get your ROI. If you do a ton of beaters, I'd say it will work out very well. Have you hooked up your existing PW to a hot water supply?

Your probably right about the ROI.

 

[LeMarque]

That north star will accept hot water actually... Max temp is around 140 degrees so running 100-110 degrees through it is safe and VERY hot, our custom made unit is cold unit as well but we run "hot" water through it within the safe guide lines... Nothing over 120 degrees to be safe...

My Karcher is good to 104 degrees, I think and I do have it hooked up to the hot water. But it's an old small tank and replacing it to get more hot water volume would cost 3/4 the price of a HWPW.