Using a bucket to provide water to power washer?

[Conor]

Hey Guys,

I am thinking about getting a pressure washer (Nilfisk) but as I live in London, it's complicated, like everything about car ownership.

Is it possible to use a bucket of water as the source for power washers, in general or would that be a specific feature of a particular washer?

I suppose it's a question of what kind of pressure is needed for the water source.

Thanks
Conor

 

[Tony Dyson]

Like any water pump, some are self priming and some need a positive head of water, you'll need to check the specification of the machine you intend to buy.

 

[Wighty]

I know some karcher’s can lift from water sources using a provided hose , not sure how fast they would empty the bucket though .
A watering can may be more efficient and easy ?

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

You can use a Karcher from a water butt, apparently.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Chrishazle]

I tried using my Lavor Tiger pressure washer from our rainwater butts through a normal garden hose, no success at all, so back to using the garden tap and the mains!

 

[Tony Dyson]

I tried using my Lavor Tiger pressure washer from our rainwater butts through a normal garden hose, no success at all, so back to using the garden tap and the mains!

All it needs is a positive head to prime the pump, once primed it will continue to pump water so if you place your pump below the head of water, open all the valves to get a water flow into the pump then start the pump it will work.

 

[Jasons76]

have you thought about the worx hydroshot,its not as powerful as a pressure washer fed from a tap but it does a decent job.

 

[KennyN]

A 15L bucket will last > 2m using an average pressure washer , not worth the hassle of carrying full buckets down numerous flights of stairs.

K

 

[Kev555]

40 gallon used oil barrel is what you need, local garages especially heavy commercials ones have them, probably get it free as they have no real value

 

[Conor]

40 gallon used oil barrel is what you need, local garages especially heavy commercials ones have them, probably get it free as they have no real value

LOL Where will I store that? In my London flat

 

[MJJ]

I use my Karcher K5 with a water butt all the time, works really well, with a bonus that harvested rain water does not leave residue on the car when it dries.

Karcher's own Youtube video

shows what is involved, and shows how a car can be washed using 20l of water from a plastic Jerry Can. In my experience of washing cars from the water butt, and not caring at all about the volume of water used, I would say 40-50l is more likely than the 20l shown though.

Martin.

 

[AnthonyUK]

When I wash the car I find it uses hardly any water with a jet washer.
This weekend I washed mine and my daughters cars at the same time with the Autoglym polar products so snow foam, rinse, polar clean and wash with bucket then polar seal and rinse.
The nearest drain to my drive is 6-7m away and the runoff doesn't reach it.

Much more water efficient than any thing else.

 

[Wighty]

LOL Where will I store that? In my London flat

Back of the car

 

[Conor]

Back of the car

That old chestnut

I feel like I don't want a Karcher. I read online that the Nilfisk are better as they have metal gears. Although that said, with the amount of use i'd be giving it, plastic gears would probably be fine lol

 

[Wighty]

That old chestnut

I feel like I don't want a Karcher. I read online that the Nilfisk are better as they have metal gears. Although that said, with the amount of use i'd be giving it, plastic gears would probably be fine lol

I’m just not sure you need a jet wash for the car ? I have one but rarely use it . What about a hosepipe out the window ? (Depends on what floor of course )

 

[Conor]

I’m just not sure you need a jet wash for the car ? I have one but rarely use it . What about a hosepipe out the window ? (Depends on what floor of course )

Well you see that's why I have the original question of using the bucket to provide for the power hose. I'm not sure I can run a hose from my house.

I have been considering it.

I could potentially run a fitting from the bath in the upstairs and out the window and operate in front of flat.

Alternatively, I could drive my car up onto the grass behind my flat and out the back window. I would have the added bonus that is the fitting popped off the tap the water would just do the bath drain hole.

I basically need to move out of London and find a house with some good utility space. I've been looking but all the rentals are with a "D" energy rating lol, and I don't want to go cold in the winter...!

 

[Wighty]

Well you see that's why I have the original question of using the bucket to provide for the power hose. I'm not sure I can run a hose from my house.

I have been considering it.

I could potentially run a fitting from the bath in the upstairs and out the window and operate in front of flat.

Alternatively, I could drive my car up onto the grass behind my flat and out the back window. I would have the added bonus that is the fitting popped off the tap the water would just do the bath drain hole.

I basically need to move out of London and find a house with some good utility space. I've been looking but all the rentals are with a "D" energy rating lol, and I don't want to go cold in the winter...!

The difference between D and A rating is a jumper

 

[Tony Dyson]

Well I have two garden water supplies and a third in the garage, an engine driven jetwash but still prefer to use an IMO car wash for the car, life's too short...

@Conor aren't you also going to have to run a mains 240v lead to your proposed jetwash for a power supply?

 

[Kev555]

LOL Where will I store that? In my London flat

put it outside the flats and tell other residents its a communal bath

 

[Kev555]

Well you see that's why I have the original question of using the bucket to provide for the power hose. I'm not sure I can run a hose from my house.

I have been considering it.

I could potentially run a fitting from the bath in the upstairs and out the window and operate in front of flat.

Alternatively, I could drive my car up onto the grass behind my flat and out the back window. I would have the added bonus that is the fitting popped off the tap the water would just do the bath drain hole.

I basically need to move out of London and find a house with some good utility space. I've been looking but all the rentals are with a "D" energy rating lol, and I don't want to go cold in the winter...!

if you have grass dig a hole and hide the 40 gallon barrel underground, on its side in the ground with right water harvesting technique and it will fill itself where theres a will and a few dodges theres a way LOL