WARNING: The pump discussed in this article is not designed for soft washing. Soft washing uses sodium hypochlorite (SH), a highly corrosive chemical that breaks down metals, plastics, and many other materials. SH can cause serious harm if ingested, inhaled, or if it comes into contact with your skin.
We recommend a soft wash pump designed for the application such as the Comet P40, AR45, or 12V options from companies like Remco or EverFlo.
That being said, some DIY soft washers recently posted about this $189 Harbor Freight pump and we wanted to summarize what we know from the soft wash community currently using this pump.
This article does not endorse the use of this pump in the soft wash industry. Please research and proceed with caution.
Intro: Using a Soft Wash Pump from Harbor Freight
Now that we’ve covered the warning, let’s talk about this low-cost gas-powered Predator pump from Harbor Freight.
First of all, it goes by many names including, Trash Pump, Cheap Shot, Predator Pump, Harbor Freight Pump, Budget Pump. They all refer to the same product.
This is a 79cc 4-stroke engine with a cast iron pump and silicon carbide seals. It is not made for SH. It features 1-inch NPT input and output ports and connects easily with standard plumbing setups used in the industry. Its size is about 15x15x11 inches and it weighs around 40 lbs.
Advanced Softwash LLC has several videos on YouTube. One of our customers shared the first video, asking if our 1” proportioner works with this gas-powered soft wash pump. Joseph Nallick’s overview video shows his plumbing setup, output, and spray distance during a house wash.
If you are interested in trying out the Predator Pump with a soft wash proportioner, we recommend the 1” proportioner in our shop. Check it out below:
Predator Pump Specs in a Soft Wash Pump Setup
Reminder: this pump was not designed for soft washing. The specs below reflect the pump’s performance when set up in a soft wash configuration.
GPM: The maximum flow for this unit is rated at 35 GPM. However, it’s important to remember that this pump was not made for soft washing. When you add over 100 feet of 1/2” soft wash hose, the output GPM drops significantly. I’ve seen two GPM tests using this pump with soft wash setups. The results ranged from 8 to 9 GPM. That’s pretty crazy for a pump this cheap!
PSI: This pump seems to have decent pressure. It’s similar to many 12V pumps on the market. In one of Joseph Nallick’s videos from Advanced Soft LLC, he mentions getting about 60 PSI after using around 100 feet of 5/8” soft wash hose. If that’s accurate, it falls on the low end of PSI for a starter soft wash pump. Most professionals recommend 100+ PSI. Still, performance depends on the actual results you get on the job.
SPRAY DISTANCE: Speaking of results, the spray distance on this trash pump is impressive. In the videos I’ve watched, it reaches up to 50 feet and can easily hit a two-story house. For best results, we recommend using this HIGH FLOW SOFT WASH GUN.
RELIABILITY: Great performance doesn’t matter if the pump fails after a week. I’ve seen mixed feedback on how reliable this pump is for soft washing. Some users say it stops working after three jobs. Others report getting several months of use from it. That’s typical with Harbor Freight tools. One thing I’ll say: even a $2,000 soft wash machine will fail quickly if you don’t maintain it properly.
Best Maintenance Practices for the Predator Pump
We know that SH is highly corrosive and this pump is made with cast iron. That is not a good combo to start with. It’s ok though. We understand this isn’t the “gold standard” pump, but we still want to get the most out of it. This is where maintenance comes into play and it is very simple. FLUSH!!!
The most effective way to slow the corrosion of your soft wash pump is to limit its exposure to SH. Obviously when it is in action you are constantly pumping chemicals through it. When you finish a job it is vital that you flush your pump out with at least water and preferably a bleach neutralizer like the one below.
Typically after soft washing with chemicals you will do a final rinse down with just water to wash away any excess SH and to protect vegetation. This is great because it gives you the minimum 5-10 minutes you need to flush residual SH out of your pump so it doesn’t corrode so quickly. For best results, use bleach neutraliser when performing your rinse down to preserve your clients property and to give some much needed love to your pump’s internals :)
Also, this pump does not have a bypass. If you are not spraying, the fluid inside of your pump is still circulating and has nowhere to go which creates heat. Shawn Alexander from Apex Pressure Cleaning recommends you turn your machine off if letting it idle for more than 5 minutes without pulling the trigger to avoid overheating. You can check out his review of the pump below.
Soft Wash Pump Comparison: Comet P40 vs Predator Pump
A Comet P40 (industry standard pump) can cost 10x more than this Predator Pump, or around $1,800. The Comet P40 justifies its $1,800 price with materials like stainless steel and Viton seals, offering greater resistance to SH and significantly longer service life. We have to temper our expectations for this Predator pump because of its $189 price tag. You get what you pay for, and any industry veteran knows this.
With a 10x price difference it would be fair to expect a 10x difference in performance amongst these two machines, right? In reality, the biggest difference between these machines isn’t performance, but rather reliability.
If you have been in the industry for any period of time you know that soft wash pumps are notorious for failing on the job. This is because SH is such a corrosive chemical that even pumps designed with special materials break down over time. The Predator Pump is made with cast iron metal which will break down very quickly if not maintained properly. Even if you are religious about flushing it out between jobs, it is only a matter of time before you will need to replace the Trash Pump.
Trash Pump Warranty:
This is where the warranty comes in. Harbor Freight is known for selling cheap sh*t with great warranties. For instance, the Predator Pump comes with a 90 day warranty. If the pump stops working you can bring it in for a replacement. They also sell an extended 1-year warranty for $55 which will come in handy because it’s very unlikely this pump lasts that long when subject to SH. (It’s unlikely to last 90 days to be honest)
There is probably fine print that nullifies the warranty if a product is used outside of the scope of its purpose. In this case, the pump is developed for water not chlorine. But, after speaking to the cashier at my local Harbor Freight, he told me they don’t ask questions when it comes to warranties. Do with that info what you will.
Oh, and make sure if you do return the pump for replacement that you empty any remaining gasoline from the tank or they won’t accept it!
Conclusion: Should You Use a Harbor Freight Soft Wash Pump?
In summary, the Predator Pump is not designed for soft wash and is not a long term solution to grow your professional business. But, it could be a cheap entry point for those just getting started who don’t have a lot to spend on their first setup.
You are rolling the dice with the materials it’s made out of and you can’t rely on this pump with your life. Make sure to have a backup solution if possible.
Proper maintenance on a pump like this is ESPECIALLY important to keep it from breaking. Regardless of which soft wash pump you are using, make sure to rinse the pump out with water for at least ~10 minutes after a job, and invest in a HIGH QUALITY NEUTRALIZER for added protection.
Finally, we recommend you invest in basic safety gear when working with soft washing equipment. This includes but is not limited to high quality boots, eye protection, and a respirator to minimize bodily exposure to SH. You can find our SOFT WASH RESPIRATOR HERE for just $30.
Hopefully you got something out of this article. Please reach out if you have any questions (561) 314-0761 and check out our other blogs for more soft washing info!
