Pressure washers and hot water

Paul Hearsey · Feb 26, 2009

Is it true some pressure washers can handle hot water and some cannot? Why? What terrible thing will happen to a cold-water unit that is fed hot water? Or am I wrong, and any pressure washer is fine on hot or cold? Obviously cleaning with hot would be a bonus. Paul

Glen D Anderson · Feb 26, 2009

The packing for the plungers in the pump may or may not be able to tolerate the heat...........some types of packing will fall apart when the water is too hot............

Patsdeere · Feb 27, 2009

In addition to the seals inside, the output hose are thicker for hot water. I haven't had problems running warm water through mine (and it is a cold water unit). I have found a little oven cleaner and pressue does almost as good as a hot water one.

Patsdeere · Feb 27, 2009

In addition to the seals inside, the output hose are thicker for hot water. I haven't had problems running warm water through mine (and it is a cold water unit). I have found a little oven cleaner and pressue does almost as good as a hot water one.

Paul Hearsey · Feb 27, 2009

Thanks for the info, guys! Interestingly, a neighbour has both an old Steam Jenny steam cleaner AND a Honda cold water pressure washer. He only uses the pressure washer these days. Hot water, he says, just melts the grease and smears it around. For what it's worth.....Paul

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2009

I believe that if you supply hot water from your houshold water heater you will not do any damage to a pressure washer. Hotter than that and you may cause some problems with a "cold" water unit. One thing to remember about the hot pressure washers is that under pressure the boiling point of water is raised significantly. If the water is heated in excess of 212* F under pressure it will flash to steam when released. This is esentially a very hot air cleaning method. The steam doesn't have much mass compared to water. That is why the water cleans better.

Mike M · Mar 11, 2009

Your neighbor has 2 totaly different machines made for different jobs.
There is a 3rd and better choice. A Hotsy pressure washer. Hot water with pressure and volume. You can get different flow rated models depending on how tough of stuff you need to clean. You can even adjust the heat temp. or even turn it off.

I got rid of a steam jenny and my cold water machines and replaced them with 1 Hotsy and have never regreted it.

Pressure washers and hot water

Paul Hearsey

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Glen D Anderson

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Patsdeere

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Patsdeere

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Paul Hearsey

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Anonymous-0

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Mike M

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