Monday, February 9, 2015

How to Pressure Wash Vinyl Siding

Spring is almost here! Pretty soon the temperatures will be warm and it will be time for Spring cleaning.  Moldy or dirty vinyl siding make your home look less than its' best so giving it a good pressure washing will definitely help.  When washing vinyl siding, you want to take precautions to make sure that you do not cause any damage.  You want to choose the correct nozzle, extension wand if needed and the correct size pressure washer to do the job safely and efficiently.  We are a proud distributor of Mi-T-M products and they have created some video guides for their customers.  If you would like tips on pressure washing vinyl siding, please click to watch the video:




If you need any parts or accessories for washing siding, please check out our website or contact us if we can assist you.

www.thepumpoutlet.com

jconner@airlessoutlet.com
770-532-4442

What Pressure Washer Pump do I need?

How to Choose A Replacement Pump
Knowing the correct dimensions and choosing a pump that will work well with your engine are very important.  Let us help you through the process...
1st. Axial or Triplex? Axial pumps are generally found on lighter duty washers and triplex pumps are on commercial washers and feature more durable parts such as ceramic plungers.
2nd. How is it mounted? Pumps may either be mounted horizontally or vertically. Horizontal shaft pumps will be mounted next to the engine while vertical shaft pumps will be mounted under the engine. 
3rd. Measure the shaft. We have our pumps listed by mounting position and shaft size. Be sure to measure the size carefully to be sure that your new pump will fit correctly.
4th. Match the pump ratings. You need to determine the PSI and GPM of the pump you are replacing. If you still have your owner's manual you may want to take a look to see the minimum and maximum ratings.  You are looking for something to be in the correct range because you don't want to purchase a new pump that is not compatible with your engine.
5th. Personal Preference. This last choice is something the consumer does have control over. Decide if you are looking for a cheap pump or a highly rated pump.  Do you have a particular brand name in mind?  Do you want a pump that is bare or one that is already complete with a new thermal relief valve, unloader, chemical injector, quick connects and is ready to go?  

This is an example of a 3/4" 2700 PSI Horizontal Shaft Axial pump 

This is an example of a 7/8" Horizontal Shaft Pump.. the Giant GHX2525A
This is an example of a 1" Horizontal Shaft pump... the ARRV4G40

This is an example of a 7/8" Vertical Shaft Pump ARRMW22G24-EZ
Still unsure?
We want our customers to be confident about their purchase and receive a pump that is the right fit for the washer. If ever in doubt, it is always better to ask and purchase the right pump the first time. We are here to help!
770-532-4442
jconner@airlessoutlet.com
www.thepumpoutlet.com
www.northgeorgiaairless.com


Thursday, February 5, 2015

Review... Belt Drive or Direct Drive

We offer belt drive and direct drive pressure washers.  Want to know which is best? Both types are offered in different qualities.


We recommend belt drive pumps to commercial/industrial users.  If you plan on using your pressure washer 20+ hours a week, you want a belt drive.  Why? Belt drive pressure washers allow the pump to rotate at around half the RPMs of a direct drive.  The reduced rotations means that the pump is exposed to less heat, vibrations, wear and tear.  In turn, the unit will last longer and is worth the cost difference.

We typically recommend direct drive pressure washers to residential customers or those who plan to use the washer much less frequently.... less than 20 hours a week. Belt drive washers rotate at around double the RPMs and demonstrate wear much more quickly.  They are typically cheaper than belt drives.  They can do the job as well just don't expect direct drives to last as long.

If you have questions about choosing a pressure washer, we would be glad to help.  We want to make sure our customers choose a washer that works best for them and their needs.  These are things to always consider.....

How often will you be using the washer?
What types of surfaces are you cleaning?
Hot or cold water?
Where will you be using the washer?.... Keep portability in mind.

We have many high pressure washers available.  Only a few are listed on our website.  Check them out!
  Pressure Washers

Call or email us if you have any questions!
jconner@airlessoutlet.com
770-532-4442

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Which Pressure Washer Nozzle Works Best?

Which pressure washer nozzle works best?  Well, that depends on what you are doing. Spray nozzles are color coded.

Red Pressure Washer Tip- This is a Zero Degree Nozzle. A zero degree nozzle is the smallest size so it restricts the amount of water coming out and thus creates the most concentrated amount of water coming out of the tip.  This nozzle is used on durable surfaces such as concrete and metal to remove tough stains. It should not be used on softer materials such as wood or siding as it may cause damage.

Yellow Pressure Washer Tip- This is a Fifteen Degree Nozzle. The water coming out of the tip is still very concentrated and powerful but comes out in a wider spray pattern.  It is mainly used for cleaning larger areas or surfaces. It is safe for most materials at the recommended distance.

Green Pressure Washer Tip This is a 25 Degree Nozzle. It provides a much wider spray. It is used mainly for rinsing large areas instead of focusing on difficult stains. 

Black Pressure Washer Tip  This is a soap nozzle or detergent nozzle.  It is used to spray detergent or approved chemicals onto surfaces before pressure washing.


Most customers keep all tips available at hand to be able to switch out quickly depending upon the job they are working on.  We have tip kits as well as individual tips available on our website.  There are bulk discounts on individual tips! If you have any questions on choosing the best spray tip/ nozzle, please give us a call! 770-532-4442

Pressure Washer Tips

0° 40 Soap Tip (Low Pressure)

If you want to see different tips in action, check out Mi-T-M's video on choosing the right nozzle.

Mi-T-M Nozzle Video

Monday, February 2, 2015

How to Operate a Hot Water Pressure Washer

Remember to take safety into consideration when using a hot water pressure washer. Mi-T-M is a great brand and has video guides available for customers.  We do not have any Mi-T-M washers listed on our website yet but we do offer them. We should have them online soon. If you 're interested now, please give us a call and we will be glad to help you out.  If you already have a hot water washer, check out this video by Mi-T-M

Using a Hot Water Washer

Hot Water Pressure Washers

Pressure Washer Review..Big Box vs. thePumpOutlet

Strolling through a big box commercial store on the weekend, you may find pressure washers that look enticing with reduced or lower prices. You can pick it up on a Sunday and take it home with you... but is that really the best option?  As a local small business we want our customers to be informed about the benefits of buying from a smaller consumer-based company.

When something goes wrong........
If you purchase a pressure washer from a big box store, it is very unlikely that they have any experience or knowledge about the product.  They also have no repair parts in stock or even available for that matter.  So, you are left looking for a local company or searching online to find a way to get your unit up and running for the next job.  Local companies such as ours do not keep parts for such units because we don't stock their products since we do not believe they are high quality in the first place.  We do value our customers and will often try to find them parts even though they didn't purchase from us but they usually aren't available.  The big box stores want you to simply replace your product when something goes wrong.  Our goal is to sell quality from the beginning. We keep parts for our products in stock and can help you and your machine get back to work if something does happen to go wrong.

Extras!
Many of our pressure washers feature external bypass unloaders. They are the best unloader system available. Many big box store washers are equipped with integral unloaders which are inferior to external bypass unloaders. Pumps with integral unloaders are cheaper up front but the repair cost is substantially higher. Often times, you may replace an integral unloader pump when you could simply repair an external bypass setup for $50. External bypass unloaders have a bypass hose that allows heat to dissipate when the pump is in bypass; thus contributes to a longer pump life.

Ease of Use
Most of our portable cold water units are built with an aluminum frame.  This makes them easier to use and more portable.

Many feature pneumatic tires which helps prevents vibration issues with the unit.

Customization
We are proud to be a distributor of Pressure-Pro products. We have many different options available on our site but if you don't find what you're looking for, we can often find it for you.  Choose from Honda, Kohler, Briggs and Stratton engines.  We can customize your unit to have CAT, General or AR pumps based on your preference. Most any unit can be purchased on a skid for bolt down application or carts for portability.  Need more or less hose? Let us know and we can adjust your order.  Have an excess of guns, hoses or tips already? We can sell units with or without these options depending on what you need.

If you live in the Northeast Georgia area, come visit us!
Our Local Store

If not, check out some of the units that we have available on our website


Mi-T-M HSP3504


Pressure Pro E3024HC


Pressure Pro E4040HG 4 GPM 4000 PSI Gas Pressure Washer
E4040HG




Surface Cleaners... Is Bigger Better?

When choosing a surface cleaner, many customers automatically assume that bigger is better. Well, we all know the problem with making assumptions. The most important part to consider is the pressure washer you are using to power the surface cleaner.  If your high pressure washer is not powerful enough it will not be effective. Gallons per minute and pressure are both factors but the max gallons per minute are more essential to cleaning. For example, a 2500 PSI 3 Gallon Per Minute washer will not clean as effectively as a 2500 PSI 4 Gallon Per Minute washer. A general rule of thumb is that the diameter of the surface cleaner should not be more than 4-5 inches per gallon per minute.  Below are examples:

4 Gallon Per Minute Washer will work best with a 16"-20" Surface Cleaner
We recommend the General 18" or 20" Cleaner
18" General Pump
20" General Pump

6 Gallon Per Minute Washer will work best with a 24"-30" Surface Cleaner
We recommend the 24"Easy Glide Stainless or the Whisper Wash 28"

24" Easy Glide Surface Cleaner
Big Guy 28" Surface Cleaner

Contact us if you have any questions!
jconner@airlessoutlet.com
770-532-4442