I say whatever works the best for you stick with it. Art thank you for sharing with us. I still wont do it. There are a bunch that do and im glad it works well for them.

i recently moved from california, out there i ran a 40z and carried plenty of water. i water washed back into redi mix trucks after every job. i am now in north carolina and run a 32m schwing, dont carry too much water and when i have tried in the past to water wash back into mixers, they will not let me because they think i will "hurt" their truck.there are operators that have been pumping out here for 30 years that have never heard of a water wash, im startin to think its a cali thing!!

I guess I'm just chikin.  I have a  line pump and water wash with a sponge between mud and water. Never had a problem, but with the boom pump I can't open the backend to insert a sponge and a plug in the boom scares me.  I'm still suckin back and dumpin bottom. Enviro Sac if no good washout.

I'll answer your question, Art:  There is no big deal with water washing.

Here's my $.02:  It's important to know how to do any prime/washout procedure.  That's part of being a professional and an expert in the craft.

Once you have mastered priming/washing, then it is up to you which system works best.  Sometimes it may be harsh mix, location, hot mud, time, resources etc-  that determine which washing/priming system to use.  The important thing here, is that you are rehearsed and compitent enough to recognize your situation and put your best solution to work for you.

No guts,no glory.I ain't skirttt.

i can water wash with the best only cant find a mixer co that will let me wash back into them. rinker no no cemex thats a no fla rock ind no there too

Art u crack me up brother:)

wow art, other than that mountain bike race i was in this morning, that post really put a smile on my face! nice work!

CAn I substitute the 10 tickets to Knott's Waterworld for a lunch at Hooter's and a race?

Art the question has a multiple part answer, there is not a problem with what you are doing as a mater of fact I prefer to suck a bucket then a sponge, when my hose/reducer are off i can inspect my delivery system for ware. Here is the underling problem with water if you don't get as much concrete out of the boom before you push water you risk rocking the boom off, and if operators decide to suck a bucket then what tends to happen is they get buildup in the deck. some operators are not properly trained to tap there deck pipe. Over the corse of a few pours that buildup may come lose and jam in the turret then all fingers are pointing at you, and the boss is getting back charged. Using a sponge is great if you are not able to get the concrete wet enough the sponge will not get the pipe clean and the sponge will not clean the elbows very well. If you understand most all of the benefits and consequences of what you do then good job out there but a $5.00/10.00 sponge used multiple times is cheep insurance. Im not trying to make this a pumping 101 just my observation. Proper training is the key factor here!

Art,

I do not have 30 years experience...like some do. I just think that the sponge is THE most 'reliable' way to clean out. And I for one will take reliable as compared to  time any day. Remember, we charge for time

But throw in some golf, and I'll take your offer, but it has to be in January!!!

Please , will somebody video this water washing and stick it on here or on utube???????  cheers

Art,I looked and your not listed with AARP.Do you offer seniors discounts?

 Most concrete pumps are not designed/engineered to "water wash", There are some on the market that are actually more difficult to "water wash". Many pumps do not have the water capcity to fill the hopper and have enough left to wash out.

 Besides the amount of water required to water wash, finding a place to do so is becoming more of a pain in the a$$. Here in the Pacific NW it cost around $100 to water wash into a mixer. And if there aint a place to pump it, there sure as hell aint no place to dump it! So the "off site clean up" is becoming more often than not which cost $130 plus a half hour pump time. These days it all depends on the job.

 Your opinion of water washing is quite contrary to your opinion of priming ports? Priming a pump with water without using the priming port leaves just as many things to chance as water washing does? Nothing better than having the remote battery die about 7 strokes into a water wash!!!

art just wondering how do you drive over the road with all that water in your hopper does'nt it splash out all over the place,And what about the grey mess on the job site.I did it once they did'nt want any extra mix on the job nearest place 2hrs away so i water washed they were super pissed how do you deal with that?

contractor needs to provide a solution.  we use kiddie pools a lot and leave em full and messy.  Art, can you teach old dogs new tricks?

Never use your own water if you can help it.Use the job  site & mixers water.I'm from San Diego & there I water washed 98% of the time.But I have also pumped in Colorado & now Alberta Canada.I want to h2o wash   but   there not geared for it here(LOCATION).No water on the sites & the mixer drivers get that deer in the head lights look.Don't have the time to educate them so I suck a sponge & go home.I miss home .Dam economy!

Wash out pitts are key.

Peterpump, we just put splash board in the hopper to keep the water in. As far as cleaning up on josites after waterwashing i don't see the problem with it as long as it's cause a problem. Sometimes you just have to be diplomatic about it and say they will be charge right up to me leaving the redi-mix plant. Pretty good bet they will find you a spot. You got to remeber they called you and they also know what's envolved. What also helps is knocking down the rock pile it goes along way.

Water wash 98% of the time. One hopper over the top, suck it back, and I'm done. If it pumps, it'll water wash. As Art said, there is risk, but no worse than priming. Prime with water only unless there is rubber system. Then maybe some sort of slick 'em stuff. Unless I'm pumping a boney mix, I don't use the prime port.

 Good luck water washing in my part of town! Nothing but lava rock over here.

 I guess its hard to waterwash a Sany pump? Im just a salesman but our operators say it has something to do with the pause between fwd and rev and the way the pipe is setup?