Well, I hope you kick ass this time Jordie. I can see the potential in PWing, I know I can make money doing it (if insurance doesn’t price me out of business).
I’m sure I will have challenges, but I’m confident I’ll overcome them too. So will you.
I asked my agent a few months ago how much to add power washing and he quoted me an extra $150 per month on my present insurance. (Florida). Before I get set to purchase gear and washer I will recheck. Things change unexpectedly!
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Nit a chance. Unless your going to be The 149.00 any house guy, Which I know you won’t. Don’t worry , are there expenses of course , but that’s with anything. Your expenses dictates your price . You’ll be fine !! It’s just s matter of… will you be ok doing the work, which to me I enjoy it’s nice to have a change .
There is noting like Soneone calling you asking for a house wash , an a window cleaning
All this week each day house wash with Window Cleanjng. Cha Ching !!!
@TheWindowCleanse glad to hear your back in the game 
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That’s awesome. I’d love a week like that.
Got big signs ordered for the trailer; that’ll help, hopefully 
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No, I’m not going to be the cheapo house guy, but truthfully, I don’t know how much business this will generate or how people will accept prices. We have other people here doing power washing and I have seen roof/house washing. What kind of job they do and if they are going to be around next year, I don’t know.
Two of the power washers, I know. They do fleet stuff, and will do flatwork/decks/etc.
I just don’t know how well this will go, until I actually start doing it. The insurance thing, really bugs me. It’s a gamble switching insurers and if the new place won’t jack my rates every year, causing me to waste time and shop every year. I know my local agent and insurance company. They just aren’t affordable when I add this.
I found it’s quite similar to window cleaning. Yeah, most guys are cheaper than me. But I get in front of enough of the right kind of customers, and I don’t have to worry about competition.
Market saturation certainly does vary from market to market, and service to service. I personally can’t imagine why anyone would try and start a painting business in my town. I can’t turn around without seeing a painter’s van or truck.
Time will tell, for sure.
One advantage I have with power washing, is I’m basically the only guy around (as far as I can tell) that’s really got a grasp on soft washing. Even though my competitors aim for a lower hourly than me, our prices are not that far from one another due to their extra labor doing it “old school”
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Still trying to nail down insurance. Looks like so far, to get insured, my price will be about double what I was paying.
I still am deciding on the machine as well. I’m seriously considering a machine with a 19 HP Kohler, with a comet or general pump, gear driven. I like the idea of a gear driven pump a little better than a belt drive. Seems people think a udor gear drive is top of the line, these should be pretty good too. These are just under 8 GPM machines. More GPM than I was looking at in the beginning.
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Everything I have read on the subject says belt drive is the better choice. What is driving you to gear drive?
Quality and reliability between belt and gear drive is pretty close, these days. Most people advocating belt drive, are comparing them against direct drive. Gear drive has many of the same advantages as belt, in a smaller footprint and simpler installation/setup. If you’re going to home-build a machine, I think gear drive is the way to go.
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Ah, okay. I was only aware of Belt and Direct Drive, not aware of Gear Drive.
This video still suggest the Belt Drive being the better choice.
Comparison of Pressure washer Pump types - Direct Drive , reduction gearbox & Belt drive
This was the way I was thinking of going. Nice 19 HP Kohler motor, gear driven General pump, and mounted on a plate with rubber feet. Seems the unit is more compact, and no belts to worry about checking/replacing.
I’m not opposed to Honda’s, but I have used Kohler and Briggs engines for years, for various equipment, and had great experiences.
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Sounds like a solid plan. General makes a good pump - it’s what I have on my machine. Probably the best you can do apart from Udor. And I’ve heard good stuff about Kohler motors.
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How important is it to run a water tank, or just run off the customers supply?
Depends on the size of your machine, and how much washing you do. Most say anything over 4 gpm should be fed by a buffer tank, but I’ve run into wells that only put out ~3 gpm.
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Hmm, do you have a device that measures the output of the supply?
A 5 gallon bucket and a stopwatch 
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As long as it’s not a Simpson 
When I added power washing my Insurance doubled also.
No, no simpson for me. I looked at one at first. Then I came to my senses.
I’d rather start out 5.5 GPM plus. Then I won’t be kicking myself to upgrade so fast.
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Do you reclaim water as you pressure wash or let it drain into the storm sewer, or is that for certain chemical and contaminant surfaces only?
I don’t plan to reclaim any. I don’t plan on doing big jobs commercially either though. From what I have seen in my area with other guys doing it, they aren’t reclaiming here. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t supposed to.
