About Pressure Washers

There are many configurations and options for the pressure washer, also called power washers.
But, let's understand the basics first.


The first thing every pressure washer needs is a good water supply.	This configuration shows a low pressure quick connector setup to make it easy to connect and disconnect from your water tap	You need a garden type hose to get the water to your pressure washer from your tap. Some pressure washers get their water from a water supply other than a tap. These are usually fixed mounted units on a wash trailer or wash truck. Others include a myriad of in-plant applications.	Your water may not always be clean so it's a good idea to use a water filter before the water gets to the pump	The pump is the heart of any pressure wash system. There are many different kinds of pump. Axial, plunger, piston are a few. Need a parts manual or servicing guide for your pressure washer pump? Click here for links to major pump manufacturers information	Pumps can be driven by a number of engines. Gas, diesel and electric motors are most common but hydraulic motors and power-takeoffs are used for specialized applications	Now that the pump is making pressure, you need a way to control it. The unloader valve controls the pressure. It also protects the pump from over pressure when you close the trigger on the spray gun	Everything needs to be put together on a common base, Depending on the need all can be mounted on a mobile frame, skid frame or wall mounted frame

Now that the water is under pressure you need to connect a hose to the pump. You can screw it in to the pump directly but this makes it awkward to remove it, when packing up	This configuration shows a quick connect using the common "Euro M22" style connectors. There are other styles available to make hooking up easier	A high pressure hose is needed to carry the pressurized water to whatever devise your using to clean with. Hoses come in many different styles and lengths, depending on flow rate and pressure. 3/8" is a common size	As with the connection to the pump, you need to connect the hose to a trigger gun or some other cleaning device.	This configuration (left and above photos put together) shows a typical setup that most North American manufacturers use. It is quicker and easier to use than the Euro M22 style but has an o-ring that occasionally needs to be replaced	The spray gun allows the operator to turn the water flow on and off. The high pressure hose is not always connected to a spray gun if an open system is called for. ie. continuous cleaning device	A wand provides a way to get the high pressure water to a nozzle. There are many configurations of wands but the most common is 36" long with a quick connector on the end to accept a nozzle	Nozzles are the business end of a pressure washer. This is where the pressureis made. The size of the hole in the nozzle determines the pressure of the water, based on horsepower of the motor, PSI and GPM capabilities of the pump
Below are some of the many accessories available.

This is a water broom. They are available in two widths. Great for sweeping and rinsing but not very effective as a surface cleaner.	One of the most valuable accessories available, especially to contractors, is a flat surface cleaner. They are are as easy to use and decrease cleaning time up to 75%	Adjustable nozzles are popular with homeowners. They allow you to adjust the spray angle as well as the pressure for soap application	Rotary nozzles are very effective on difficult cleaning jobs such as grease, peeling paint and for ripping grass from between bricks and pavers. Shown with high pressure inline filter attached	The inline high pressure filter can save ceramics parts in rotary nozzles as well as keeping smaller nozzle from becoming plugged with debris	There are a few ingenious ways to store and carry your spare nozzles	A long or telescopic wand is a great way to reach high areas while keeping your feet on the ground. Shown with a belt kit which lightens the load of longer wands	Here is a gutter cleaning wand kit that can be clipped to the end of a wand

Soap injectors come in many configurations. This one is a high pressure injector which adds soap before the pump	Pressure gauges are a good way to check on the performance of your system	Rotating brushes can save a lot of work on some surfaces	A hose reel will save time and space. They are available in low and high pressure models	You can even turn your pressure washer into a sand blaster	A high pressure ball valve makes it easy to switch to different accessories	Hot Water heat is the ultimate in pressure washing. But, it changes almost everything	Make BIG money by adding a sewer hose with special nozzles and turn your pressure washer into a pipe, drum or drain cleaner