Newbie ?'s EPA, Chemicals, Etc...

[hadishon]

Hi,
I've been a member for a little while and having been learning a lot reading past posts. I have a few questions and can use some advice on some things.

First off, My name is Michael Schutt. I am 23 years old and live in Columbia, MO.

My past experience in pressure washing extends to one house stripping and re-staining job that I did a couple years ago for a friend.

Currently I wash a Used Car lot of about 100 cars once per week. I am getting $3.00 per vehicle and $5.00 when I have to use soap and hand wash (cars that are new to the lot). I am happy with this account. I use DI water and Microfiber towels. I only touch the cars when they are really dirty or for touch ups. The cars dry spotless on their own.

I would like to get into more areas. I would like to keep my current car lot and also get some more accounts going.

I have 2 pressure washers. One is a 2400 PSI 2.5 GPM Home Depot special. This was the one that got me started, it is what I could afford at the time. My other machine is a CAT 1200 PSI 5 GPM.

Both machines are Cold Water, I don't have a hot box. I have a water tank on my truck that can haul 300 Gallons at a time.

I don't have a surface cleaner.

My first question is, what other areas of pressure washing can I get into with what I have?

I understand that Hot and a Surface Cleaners are must haves, but I am on a limited budget and cannot get these things until after more business comes in.

There is very little competition in my area. There is lots of work to be had.

I am willing to do any type of work. I am young, big, strong, and a hard worker.

Can I start doing flat work with what I have and have the work look good? I don't do bad work.

I'm interested in doing outside restaurant areas (dumpster pads, drive throughs, walkways, etc...).

Can I do this with what I have and what chemicals would I need? From what I've read, using an alkaline and rinse with an acid works well for these areas.

I don't have a reclaim system, is this a problem? The local pressure washing store says that guys put down a ton of chemicals around here. I don't care much to talk with him though because he doesn't think I can do anything but cars with what I have. He keeps trying to get me to rent his hot machine for $150/day (I don't have the money to do this right now). He also has a surface cleaner that he will rent for $150/day.

Should I be concerned about EPA and where do I find out what I can and can't use around here?

I appreciate any and all advice.

Thank You,
Michael Schutt
schuttauctions@aol.com
Columbia, MO

 

[hadishon]

I read that someone posted plans for a homemade surface cleaner, does anyone know where that thread is? Thanks!

Michael Schutt
Columbia, MO

[edit] I found the thread. In case someone else is looking for it it is here:
http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4422&highlight=surface+cleaner+plan*

[/edit]

 

[BigPete]

Without hot water you really can't do restaurants, too much grease, unless you use alot of chemical and pressure (more than you have).

$150/DAY!!!! You should be able to rent surface cleaner for $20-$30/day. I could rent you my rig and surface cleaner for $150/day.

 

[hadishon]

To be clear, I don't want to do restaurants indoors, only outdoors. There are 2 good pressure washers in town with a population of over 100,000. Restaurants high guys to wash off their lots with garden hoses because they can't get anything better! There is a big need in my town. I would like to capitolize on this. I understand I need a bigger and better machine, but I can't afford one right now.

I'm looking into renting. My thought is that it may be better to pay the high rental fees to do the work better and quicker until I have the money to puchase a machine.

I checked on some rental prices. There are 2 pressure wash shops in town. One is full time and the other is run by a semi-retired gentleman.

--Full Time Store--
$150 Hot 3,000 PSI 4 GPM
$50 Cold 3,000 PSI 4 GPM
$150 Surface Cleaner

--Semi Retired Store--
$50 Cold 3,500 4 GPM
$50 Cold 2,500 5 GPM

I also checked local general retal companies

$95 Hot 3,000 PSI 3.5 GPM
$90 Cold Same as above

$107 Hot 2,000 PSI 2.7 GPM


I'm open into any facet of pressure washing until I can get the funds to upgrade my equipment.

Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks

 

[hadishon]

Just a thought, would I get better results if I used my CAT 5 GPM 1200 PSI unit the same time I used my 2400PSI 2.5 GPM unit? I mean, holding both wands at the same time. Would that work? I'm kinda desparate to get going on this even if it is a pain in the back...

 

[DanKes]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2541882028&category=42926

For the price of less than 2 day's rental, you can buy a new surface cleaner on ebay.

You may want to search the various bulliten boards, as there are used one's there as well.

 

[BigPete]

The hot water is needed more outside than inside, If you want to get done fast enough to make money - you really need hot water.
Don't forget the gum.

a water hose will remove gum about as fast as a cold pressure washer, maybe faster considering time it takes to set up.

You wont make any money paying that kind of rent, That is CRAZY.
You should look into renting out pressure cleaning equipment instead of washing. Looks like EASY MONEY - CHA - CHING!!!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The way I see it ... you should get a job. Keep washing your car lot account, wash some houses, driveways, whatever with your equipment part time until you save money to buy what you need.
You are throwing money away paying $150 for the use of a surface cleaner for a day. Maybe you misread it, they get that for a week here.

Good Luck

P.S. Im serious - I will rent you a hot machine and surface cleaner for $150 a day (30 day minimum + $300 delivery all payment cash up front, of course)

 

[Dan S]

set up an account with somebody .. most suppliers will set you up with a 30 day ... go find a good one .. do you got a credit card? If ya do call Mark @ easy clean he can have anything sent to ya .

Dont want to bust your bubble here but you will never make it in this bussiness if you dont have the right tools... Just look @ those guys doing it with a garden hose... They are probably waiting on the same thing $$$$$$$$$$$ ........ You will never have the "extra" money .... You say you are desperate .. You cant be that desperate if you are afraid to buy the eq.

Here is what I would do >>>>>>>>>

1) line up a couple of accounts

2) tell the owners you can start in a week ( by then your new eq. will be @ your house

3) dont do shabby work if it takes you an hour to remove one piece of sticky bubble yum bubble gum do it .

Dont worry about the money you will pay for it in no time if you know how to sell your self.Once you have the eq. then you are forced to look for better work b/c now you have a payment ... If you dont have nothing to work for You will be like those guys with the garden hose .

ps: Im not trying to be mean just trying to get you to open your eyes and look @ different options.

 

[hadishon]

I would love to get a machine on 30 days, but I don't know if I could get that. My last business venture failed due to things out of my control and I still have a little back debt that I'm trying to pay off. As a result, I don't have the best credit. I know I can find work and I'm able to do the work, I just have to come up with a machine...

I know I need the right tools, I just don't know how I can get them right now.

I thought about getting more car lots and saving up, but I don't think I would be able to save much. I can't wash more then 100 cars a day. I would make just enough to stay afloat.

 

[hadishon]

Is there any work that I can do with the machines I have that will bring enough money in so that I could save up and get a better machine?

 

[BigPete]

if you can only " stay afloat " washing cars , then you will sink like a rock with a big machine to pay for. Why do you wash the cars if you dont make money?

There is alot of work you can do with your machines, try to sell your service to other lots, develop a system, get a helper to speed things up, make money. I know guys that only wash cars and do very well for themselves.

 

[Dan S]

yeah you can wash a house ... deck ..... hose down a driveway ..... water somebody's lawn........ just do gutters.......... etc.........................

all kinds of work for a cold unit <<< dont mistake it for a hot unit ... but you could make a couple bucks doing the above then spend your butt off on a good machine

 

[oneness]

Absolutely there's work you can do with your current equipment. Hell, there are companies out there who do deck work who don't even own a hot water machine. 5 gpm and 1200psi is more than enough for deck work. Take a few days and do a lot of reading on this board and others about how to do deckwork, and get out there and earn some money.

You'd be nuts to rent a surface cleaner for $150, 0r even $50...you can buy one new for between $300.00 and $400.00.

Making one isn't all that much cheaper, you still have to buy the spinner, and that's the expensive part.

You can do housewashing all day long with cold water, though neither machine is all that suited for that, one has to little gpm, the other too little psi.