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Pressure Washer or Steam Boiler?

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Pressure Washer or Steam Boiler?

I was recently asked by a pressure washer distributor who had received a visit from the local boiler inspector as to why hot water pressure washers do not fall under boiler code which requires an annual inspection and fee. Most states classify our products as pressure washers and not boilers since the pressure washer industry has its own standard which is UL 1776.  The pressure washer safety standard was established in 1992 at the direction of the Cleaning Equipment Trade Association and where applicable, the entire line of Hydro Tek branded standard pressure washers are approved by ETL laboratories to be certified to these standards. Your assurance of safety is indicated on the pressure washers with an ETL / UL1776 certification label attached to the front of the Hydro Tek pressure washer.   Since the pressure washer industry is separate from the ”boiler industry” and we have our own standard for inspection and approval we are exempt from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers  (A.S.M.E.) boiler standard and annual inspection. The statements below are taken from the A.S.M.E. code book which establishes a set of limitations on pressure washers which enables exemption them from boiler code:

Section I Rules for Construction of Power Boilers

PG 2.3 “It is not the intent of these rules to cover coil-type hot water boilers without any steam space where water flashes into steam when released through a manually operated nozzle for cleaning machinery, equipment, buildings, etc., unless one of the following limitations is exceeded:

(a)   ¾” diameter tubing or pipe size with no drums or headers attached;

(b)   nominal water containing capacity not exceeding 6 gallons;

(c)   water temperature not exceeding 350°F;

(d)   steam not generated within the coil;

Steam cleaners exempt by this classification shall be provided with adequate relief valves and controls.”

The A.S.M.E has excluded our type of equipment from their requirements since it does not exceed the above limitations:

(a)   Pressure washers do not come with tank heads or drums or headers attached to the coil. Hydro Tek hot pressure washers use ½” pipe.

(b)   Hot water pressure washers contain less than 6 gallons of water.

(c)   Pressure washers do not exceed 350°F. The operating temperature of hot water pressure washers is 200°F.

(d)   Hot water pressure washers do not generate steam from within the coil.

(e)   Water is pressurized by a cold water pump that travels through open pipe which is heated 250°F

John Koen

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  • Hot Water Pressure Washers

    Hydro Tek hot water pressure washers are designed to tackle the toughest messes wherever they may occur. Our products feature high-quality stainless steel construction, simple controls, and an innovative Spiralast™ heating coil that improves efficiency and reduces your fuel costs. We manufacture the Spiralast™ coils right here in our facility using a proprietary cold rolled process and robotic welds for exceptional strength and unimpeded flow. Our Spiralast™ lifetime warranty is the ONLY lifetime heating coil warranty in the industry.

  • Advantages of a Hot Water Pressure Washer

    Simply by heating up the water, a hot water pressure washer delivers dramatically improved cleaning power compared to a cold water machine. Hot water pressure washers are especially useful for cleaning sticky, greasy, or oily surfaces, because they will loosen the dirt much faster without the large amounts of soap, detergent, or other cleaning chemicals that must be used with a cold water system.

  • Hot Water Pressure Washer Applications

    A hot water pressure washer is essential for any cleanup job involving a sticky, greasy, or oily mess, as well as for applications where a surface must be sanitized. With a variety of models available, including self-contained mobile units with gas, diesel, or electric power, Hydro Tek hot water pressure washers can go anywhere and clean anything. Some common applications include heavy equipment cleaning, vehicle cleaning, graffiti removal, restaurant hood vent cleaning, and livestock facility cleaning.

Quality & Innovation Since 1985

Hydro Tek

From simple beginnings in 1985, Hydro Tek has grown to become the most trusted name in the pressure washer manufacturing industry.

How did we do it? By continually focusing on quality and reliability as the key to customer satisfaction, and by incorporating the latest technologies into our design and manufacturing processes.

By 1991, we were using computer-aided drafting systems to refine our product designs and improve efficiency. In 1997, we brought the power of computers to the shop floor by incorporating laser-cutting and other CNC manufacturing machinery, and in 2001 we began focusing on improving efficiency through the latest manufacturing techniques. The end result has been superior products delivered at a superior value to our customers. Through the next decade, we look forward to fulfilling our vision of making our products the "obvious choice" for all your industrial and commercial cleaning needs.

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