Frequently Asked Questions
Hotsy Pressure Washer Questions and Answers
Now it's easy to learn all you need to know about hot water and cold water pressure washers, accessories, maintenance and more. Hotsy has pulled together some of our most frequently asked questions and listed them here for your convenience. If your question isn't answered below, your local Hotsy dealer can provide you with more information and even perform a free onsite demo. No one knows pressure cleaning like Hotsy!
If the surfaces you are cleaning have any kind of grease or oil, you will need a hot water pressure washer to cut through the grease. If you're tackling caked-on dirt or mud, cold water pressure washer will do the job. If you're still unsure about the type of pressure cleaning machine you need, call your local Hotsy dealer to speak with a power washing expert.
The answer depends on your pressure cleaning application. When you have heavy soils to wash, GPM (gallons per minute) can be most important. When you have stuck-on grime, PSI (pounds per square inch of pressure) can be most important.
Despite what you see in advertisements or on a product label, volume is the deciding factor and a quality pressure cleaning system will provide the proper balance of volume and pressure. To make sure you choose the ideal power washing machine for your jobs, contact your local Hotsy dealer to book a free onsite demo. Our friendly professionals will recommend the perfect hot water or cold water pressure washers to suit your needs.
When it comes to pressure cleaning safety, you need the piece of mind knowing your hot & cold water pressure washers are certified to safety standards by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) such as OSHA-approved Intertek ETL Semko and CSA (Canadian Standards Association).
Don't be fooled, not all power washing systems have such approvals. At Hotsy, you can rest assured that our pressure cleaning equipment is fully certified to help you meet legal compliance, worker protection and liability protection. Contact your local Hotsy dealer today for more information.
Pressure cleaning machines move water under intense pressure, which creates wear & tear on equipment. Coupled with the challenging environmental conditions these machines often operate in, regular maintenance is recommended. Regular oil changes are required on the engine and the pump. And parts that wear, such as belts, nozzles and hoses, need replacement when worn down. Failure to maintain your pressure cleaning systems can become a safety hazard.
If you use your pressure washer regularly it will need minor maintenance 2-3 times per year. For your convenience, Hotsy service technicians will come directly to you with a truck stocked full of parts so that they can likely fix your pressure washer in just one trip! If your power washing equipment needs some attention, contact your local Hotsy dealer now!
The biggest difference is the style of heating coil. (The coil is hundreds of feet of superior Schedule 80 ASTM pipe rolled in a cylindrical shape). While Hotsy uses Schedule 80 pipe, it’s important to note not all manufacturers do. Some choose to use tubing or Schedule 40 coil. The coil is heated by a burner using oil, natural gas, or liquid propane for fuel. The burner heats the coil and the heated coil heats the water as it flows through the coil.
Your options are to buy a power washing machine with a horizontal lay-down coil, or buy one with an upright coil. The horizontal coil design typically is more compact because the coil is lying down, so the height of the pressure washer can be less (although the machine may be longer). An upright coil has the burner at the bottom of the coil instead of at the side as with a horizontal coil. Since heat rises, it rises up from the bottom of the vertical coil past all the coils and out the top. This is the most efficient coil for heating and energy usage, and produces hotter water, which cleans better.
Hotsy industrial pressure cleaning systems use vertical coils exclusively, both for energy efficiency and for higher water temperature. In addition, Hotsy has 11 different size coils for our 80 models of hot water pressure washers. Many manufacturers have just one or two coil sizes. Hotsy coils can be matched to the amount of water to be pumped through them, for maximum temperature while using the least amount of fuel possible.
Pressure cleaning accessories are a relatively minor cost that can have a huge impact on making your cleaning faster and less expensive, while also saving wear-and-tear on your hot & cold water pressure washers.
For example, the vast majority of pressure washers use far too much detergent. The detergent valve is usually opened all the way because the operators like to see lots of suds. A fixed orifice system can be installed to release the concentration of detergent needed to achieve maximum cleaning results while using the minimum amount of detergent.
A hose reel is another advantageous power washing accessory because it helps keep your pressure hose from lying on the ground where it can absorb oil and grease or be damaged by vehicles driving over the hose. A longer pressure hose makes it faster and easier to clean larger areas.
Your Hotsy Cleaning Consultant will do a free Cleaning Efficiency Inspection to determine whether adding accessories may speed your cleaning, lower your cleaning costs and reduce machine wear-and-tear. Usually these improvements can be made to your existing pressure washer, and can be even more easily made if it’s a Hotsy. Contact your local Hotsy dealer today for more information!
A permanently installed stationary pressure cleaning system can be an even better value than a portable model in many applications. First, the cost is often the same or less than for a portable machine. If there’s natural gas available, a stationary pressure washer can run on natural gas, which is more cost effective and doesn’t require refueling the burner system. Cold or hot water pressure washers can be located in a shed or room, with piping or hose out to the wash area, which protects it from weather, damage, and from operator abuse. Additionally, a stationary pressure cleaning machine can be mounted on an equipment stand, with the detergent barrels or totes placed under the stand to conserve floor space.
A high-pressure pump does not turn on its own; rather it is driven by an engine or motor. Pumps driven by motor generally turn at 1100-1500 RPM while gasoline engines turn at a rate of 3000-3600 RPM (1450-3450 RPM for electric motors). There are two predominant ways to connect the pump to an engine or motor: directly (direct-drive) or with a pulley and belt (belt-drive).
Direct-drive pumps are more compact, helping to keep the weight and cost down. Today’s direct-drive pumps have been engineered to hold up very well, even under constant use. The weakness, of course, is that a pump turning at 3600 RPM will wear out faster than a pump that turns at 1500 RPM.
On the other hand, a belt-drive pump, configured with a pulley and belt, allows the pump to turn at the slower rate (usually 1500 RPM). The belt also dissipates the build up of heat and absorbs vibration from the engine. The ultimate benefit, of course, is that downtime is minimized and the pump’s life is extended saving you money in the long run.
Hotsy offers one of the best warranty programs in the industry, including a 7-year guarantee on the Hotsy pump and a 5-year guarantee on the heating coil. To view our complete warranty, click here or contact your local Hotsy dealer now!
Hotsy offers a heating module – the 9400 Series – which gives customers the flexibility to "convert" cold water pressure washers into hot water pressure washers. By attaching the heating module to a cold water pressure washer, the pressurized water is now heated to produce all the benefits of hot water power washing machine.
Still have questions about Hotsy’s cold & hot water pressure washers and accessories? Call you local Hotsy dealer now!