Anyone who uses a plastic tank to bring water to their customers in the Mobile Detailing Industry subsector knows that if air gets into the line between the tank and pump the pressure washer will not work. There is no time to waste when dealing with an airlock problem. Why does this happen?
You must understand that different pumps work a little differently. The engine generally is not the issue, rather the pump. Centripetal pumps usually do not such the water well from a tank. Diaphragm pumps do. Pumps like General or CAT or the look-a-like units suck from a tank okay, but it is better to prime them. They say CAT pumps have nine lives, so if you are only sucking air for a while, you will most likely not “burn it up” but on a General Type or knock-off pump you can ruin it and the porcelain pistons can crack, not good.
I recommend taking the hose that goes from the tank to the pressure washer off at the pressure washer side – then lowering it below the pump and turning the pump on. While water is flowing out by gravity, plug it or screw the hose threads back into the pressure washer or onto the hose barb. If it has a clamp on it, then tighten the clamp. This will insure the system is primed with water.
Make sure the connection is tight and no water is leaking out, as this means air can also get in, especially if the plastic tank outlet is lower than the height of the pressure washer inlet. Also, remember this procedure if you run the tank out of water. The tank should be not lower than the inlet for the pump or you will continually have these problems.
In addition, when you drive the truck the water tank in the back or on a trailer swishes and air can get into the line and make your life difficult when you go to use the pressure washer. Remember, since some pumps, suck well from tanks and others do not, the best policy is to put the tank as low as possible, this also helps with your weight distribution for safety.
If you are a Mobile Car Washer or Own a mobile auto detailing company; I would invite you to read my articles online:
www.EzineArticles.com
At the top center of the home page is a search feature so type in;
1.) “mobile car wash”
2.) “mobile detailing”
There are about 250 articles there for you to read. Sincerely, Lance.
By: Lance Winslow
Posts Tagged ‘Pressure Washer’
Tips on Using Carpet Cleaners For Auto Detailing
December 12th, 2009
Mainly two types of machines are used in auto detailing: pressure washers and carpet cleaners. Pressure washers are used for cleaning the exteriors of an automobile, such as the engine parts and metallic body. Carpet cleaners, or carpet extractors, are used to clean the internal areas of automobiles, such as the carpets, floor mats, and seat upholstery.
Why There Is No Single Machine for Auto Detailing?
Many people ask this question: Why do suppliers not provide a single machine that can be used to clean both the interiors and exteriors surfaces of an automobile? There is a simple reason for this. These two very different types of surfaces require different levels of cleaning power. A pressure washer used on the vehicle’s interior would damage upholstery and leave carpets too wet to dry in a reasonable amount of time.
On the other hand, carpet cleaners are inherently not suitable for cleaning hard surfaces of automobile parts and components. The extraction capabilities are designed to remove stains from deep within carpet fibers, an entirely different surface than an automobile’s painted exterior. Top suppliers often offer a combo promotion, allowing auto detailers to purchase both a pressure washer and a carpet cleaner at one low price.
If you are considering the purchase of a carpet cleaner alone, here are some useful tips to guide in you in finding the right machine
Know Your Requirements
You need to be perfectly aware of your requirements. Heated and non-heated carpet cleaners are available to handle applications with varying degrees of difficulty. For example, heated carpet extractors are ideal for the most challenging interior car cleaning applications.
Opt for Devices that Use Less Water
There are two important considerations for auto detailing. The first is the quantity of water used in the process and the second is the times required for the surface to completely dry.
The general rule is to use low quantities of water. This reduces wastage of water and frees the operator from the burden of finding a suitable place where sufficient facilities for water run-off are available. Moreover, using less quantities of water reduces the drying time required for the surface. For any auto detailing professional with limited storage space for vehicles to dry, drying time is paramount.
For ensuring that the quantity of water used is low and the drying time is as short as possible, one has to opt for a carpet cleaner equipped with low flow technology. This makes sure that very low quantities of water are used for auto detailing. As a result, wastage of water is low and the drying time is short – often as low as two hours.
By: Lauren Zwiebel