Using water tank without an unloader?
- Thread starter tigerwash
- Start date
You'll be fine. Just don't ever let off of the trigger gun.
What machine are you running that lacks an unloader?
ruben
New member
if your machine doesnt have an unloader I dont think is the right machine to make a living washing long term. why are you planning to use it whitout one?
Christopher
Moderator
If you want to run without an unloader you will need open dump guns (no trigger so the flow is always flowing, you cannot use regular guns as hoses will pop or damage to your pumps and/or both), have someone holding the gun when you start the machine as water will be flowing and the gun will kick, you cannot put the gun down until you are done.
I know many people that work certain jobs like this but it is dangerous and if someone gets hurt using your system without trigger guns, pray you have a good attorney as you will need it, also make sure you have an umbrella policy so if someone gets hurt, you might be covered.
Without the unloader, trigger gun, no ball valve, the hoses might last longer as there are no more pressure spikes and if you are downstreaming, the chemicals will flow until you turn off the valve or remove the chemical hose from the tank depending on your setup.
Just telling how it is, the good and bad.
Good luck.
I know many people that work certain jobs like this but it is dangerous and if someone gets hurt using your system without trigger guns, pray you have a good attorney as you will need it, also make sure you have an umbrella policy so if someone gets hurt, you might be covered.
Without the unloader, trigger gun, no ball valve, the hoses might last longer as there are no more pressure spikes and if you are downstreaming, the chemicals will flow until you turn off the valve or remove the chemical hose from the tank depending on your setup.
Just telling how it is, the good and bad.
Good luck.
tomtucson
New member
Vince Wood
Active member
Pay the $100 and put one on it. You will be $$$$ ahead in the long run.
junker1
Roundtable Host 2009
I wouldn't advise it. Why do you ask?
tigerwash
New member
I am back home for the weekend, brought my "portable" pressure washer (an Excel 3600 PSI/4GPM) as opposed to my hot water unit, and had a family friend ask if I could wash his house in N.O. that has no running water. I have a tank over here, but have never used it, and after talking to a local pressure washer repair guy I saw building a bad ass custom 2 tank hot/cold water unit, I realized it's pretty much unfeasible and DANGEROUS without an unloader, and not really worth picking one up for this one job, as all the houses I do have a water connection. Just wanted to confirm my findings on here.
Christopher
Moderator
Just wondering why you think that a machine does not need an unloader?
Does the rig being built not have an unloader?
There might be some confusion there with regards to the unloader and what it does, please explain your thoughts about the unloader, maybe there is more info you need?
The unloader is there all the time whether you are tank feeding the machine or if it is pulling from a tank, the unloader just sends water to the tank if you are pulling from a tank but if you are hose feeding it, there is still an unloader but it sends the water back into the suction to the pump. this can be sent onto the ground if needed, a longer hose could be added and many other options if needing.
One thing to think about is, not all hose fed machines will pull from a tank so you could end up starving your pump and burning it up, you would need to call Russ J. about the model/brand of pump you have to see if it could be tank fed first before you do anything, the unloader has nothing to do with this, it is the pump that determines if you can pull from the tank or not. There are direct drive pumps that will pull from a tank or from a hose, I don't remember which models will do this but Russ J. can help you with this.
Hope this clears up things.
Does the rig being built not have an unloader?
There might be some confusion there with regards to the unloader and what it does, please explain your thoughts about the unloader, maybe there is more info you need?
The unloader is there all the time whether you are tank feeding the machine or if it is pulling from a tank, the unloader just sends water to the tank if you are pulling from a tank but if you are hose feeding it, there is still an unloader but it sends the water back into the suction to the pump. this can be sent onto the ground if needed, a longer hose could be added and many other options if needing.
One thing to think about is, not all hose fed machines will pull from a tank so you could end up starving your pump and burning it up, you would need to call Russ J. about the model/brand of pump you have to see if it could be tank fed first before you do anything, the unloader has nothing to do with this, it is the pump that determines if you can pull from the tank or not. There are direct drive pumps that will pull from a tank or from a hose, I don't remember which models will do this but Russ J. can help you with this.
Hope this clears up things.
JBurd
New member
I've heard of guys running without an unloader doing moderately large areas of flatwork. Of course they equip the surface cleaners without a valve and the rinse gun the same. The thinking is it forces the crew to constantly wash, that surface cleaner is moving from the time the engine is fired to the time it is shut off, no messing around wasting time. it is dangerous though, for one thing what if the spray tips clog?