Choosing the right pressure washer attachment for the job is imperative to get the cleaning power you desire. Luckily, the industry has made it pretty easy and choosing the right colour to match the best pressure you need for your situation can determine how the job gets done.
Spray nozzle tips are universally colour coded to identify the angle degree and pressure released through the washer head. Note that pressure washers have the standard red, yellow, green, and white spray tips as attachments to the wand. The black nozzle will help with soaping a surface, and the turbo nozzle combines pressure and wide water angle to hit your target.
Pressure washer tips are known to control the V – shape angle of the spraying wand and how much water exits the opening. Nozzles typically affect the water pressure but may not increase pressure above the pressure washer capacity.
Also note that nozzles with smaller orifices will spray with a higher pressure than a wider opening. Less water exits through a smaller opening causing the increased pressure. The angle of the water leaving the wand controls the spray area. A 40 – degree angle results in the water fanning out more than a 0 – degree angle that has almost no “spray cone” when leaving the wand.
A green 25 – degrees power washer tip is more or less the ideal nozzle used for most pressure washing chores. There’s enough pressure but at a wider fan of water that covers more surface than the yellow nozzle does.
This nozzle washes away dirt from decks, patios, and vinyl sidings. The water – jet angle is wide and strong enough to wash away leaves from areas around the house like decks, driveways, and paths.
Also note that the pressure is gentle enough but powerful to clean dirt from cars, boats, trucks, and boats using detergents and chemicals. The green 25 – degree nozzle is for general cleaning of most surfaces. It is the most common all – purpose nozzle around the home.
How to Pick the Right Nozzle for your Car or Deck
If you are not certain of the right nozzle you need for your car or deck, or if you are new to pressure washing or trying a new machine for the first time, here are few general rules to consider.
- Let common sense guide you – For example, if you want to clean a wooden deck or your car rims, definitely you won’t need a 0 – degree nozzle, and you probably won’t need a 15 – degree nozzle unless you have a very dirty muddy surface that you are prepping for paint or stain.
- Start wide, then work your way in – Always remember to begin with the widest angle, such as a 40 – degree nozzle to begin with.
- Keep your distance at first – According to experts, always start at about 24 inches away from the surface. Then slowly move closer until you see the desired results. Do not attempt to get closer than 6 inches from the surface. If it is not removing dirt from that close, then try a narrower angled nozzle.
- Test on a small, inconspicuous area – Start by experimenting on a corner of the deck where the grill usually sits, for instance. If it happens to get damaged, at least you can hide it.
Tips When Using Pressure Washer Attachments
In terms of pressure washing, always note that the right time – saving tools can help you squeeze both your around – the – house tasks and recreational activities into a single weekend. Refreshing a dirty deck, cleaning mold from patio furniture, removing packed mud from tire wells—all these can be done more quickly and efficiently when you break out a pressure washer.
This handy machine uses up to 80 percent less water than the average garden hose while packing more than 50 times the power! So whether you are in the market for a powerful, game – changing cleaner or you already have one in your home – care arsenal, consider these tips mentioned above to ensure your personal safety and also to get the work done efficiently.
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Prep Before Starting
Note that without adequate water supply, your pressure washer will fall below your expectations for efficiency. So, start by testing the water flow from your hose by timing how long it takes to fill a five – gallon bucket. If it takes two minutes or less, you are good to go; longer than that indicates that there’s not enough water flow to operate the washer. After that, clean out its inlet filter and check that the connections are secure wherever the tool attaches to a hose or accessory.
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Use the correct detergent
It is pertinent to make sure you are using the correct detergent for the task you are trying to achieve. Have it in mind there are many different kinds of detergent you can get for a pressure washer. Multi – purpose cleaners can be used for heavily soiled spots. Heavy – duty degreasers get rid of grease, gas and oil stains. You can get wood surface cleaners, as well.
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Never Underestimate Its Power
Note that a pressure washer’s biggest strengths—speed and power—make this tool as dangerous as it is efficient. Remember that the water stream from even those models with psi’s on the lower side can be strong enough to cut through human skin! So it is imperative you save yourself and your property from harm by putting on safety goggles, gripping the wand tightly to avoid recoil when the pressure kicks in, and starting on the lowest pressure setting. Work in sweeping motions so that you are never concentrating the tool’s power in one place for too long—and always aim the nozzle away from people, pets, and your valuables.
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Let your detergent soak in
Once you are trying to clean up difficult stains with your pressure washer, you will want to make sure you are letting the detergent soak in for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off. The detergent needs time to bond with the stain before it will pull it out.
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Master the Correct Washing Technique
Caked-on gunk comes off more easily if you first soak the surface, with or without detergent, and let it sit for a few minutes. However when using detergent, wet from the bottom up, using sweeping horizontal strokes to prevent streaks caused by runoff. To rinse, do the opposite, working from the top down so you don’t miss any cleanser.
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Ease Into the Job
Always remember that a blast that is too direct can damage even those surfaces you expect to hold up well to a washing, so you always want to start with a light touch. For example: Pressure washers excel at cleaning most types, but stand too close and you risk blasting off some of the paint or ruining softer wood from your deck or paintings from your car. For best results in pressure – washing, consider staying 10 feet away from the surface you are cleaning, turn on the water, then step forward until the spray is just forceful enough to remove dirt.
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Use a rotating surface cleaner
By using a rotating surface cleaner, you can be assured you won’t have stripes left on the area you are cleaning. Also, when just using a pressure washer sometimes, without any attachments, you won’t get all the spots that you are trying to clean. Using the rotating surface cleaner will help to clean up all the dirt and grime, without leaving those streaks behind
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Using a multi – tip nozzle
You can get areas better cleaned when you use a multi – tip nozzle. This allows you to spray at different patterns, just by adjusting the nozzle. These nozzles reduce the chance of damaging an area because you didn’t spray it with the right pattern. You can also change from higher pressure to higher flow with these nozzles, as well.
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Do not Use a Pressure Washer for Everything
Note that even with extreme care and lowest pressure, not all items are suitable for pressure – washing, particularly if they already show signs of wear and tear. For example, while most automobile paint jobs can withstand strong spray, a thin clear coat or scratched exterior should be cleaned using lower water pressure.
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Use the best attachment for each job
You can save wearing of a piece of equipment, in addition to saving water, effort, and time, if you make sure to use the correct attachment for every job. Know what you need to get done and spend time picking out the right attachment for that particular job.
Conclusion
Indeed you can fit a pressure washer with a variety of nozzles that produce everything from wide – spray patterns to narrow streams so you can better harness the water. However, just like it was stated above, the more narrow the spray, the more force it delivers. The green 25 – degree nozzle is for general cleaning of most surfaces. It is the most common all – purpose nozzle around the home. The wider spray is great for sweeping away debris, mud, leaves, and other grime that isn’t deeply embedded in a surface. It can be used on decks, driveways, vinyl siding, cars, boats, patio furniture, and lots more.