I thought it might be helpful to start a thread dedicated to information on pressure washer setups. A place where we can share our setups and allow others to ask questions. Judging by a few posts, there’s definitely some confusion around using pressure washers.
First off, the 2 important factors in using a pressure washer are pressure (PSI) and water flow (gallons per minute) and how to control them. Ideal for washing a car is ~1000 PSI and between 1.5 and 2.0 GPM. However, those numbers don’t mean you need to go out and buy an expensive pressure washer.
ANY pressure washer can be used for washing a car as long as you can regulate the PSI and GPM. You do that with the use of different sized nozzles.
Typically, pressure washers come with their own nozzles with an orifice size around 1.5mm. They do this to maximize the pressure. However, increasing the orifice size will both lower the PSI and increase the GPM. So using a 3.5mm nozzle on a pressure washer rated at 2000 PSI and 1.2 GPM will actually end up around 1000 PSI and 1.7 GPM (give or take). Which is ideal.
The important thing to remember is if you can put your hand 6” in front of the wand and it hurts your hand, it will also hurt your paint!
So rather than investing in an expensive pressure washer, you can get away with using any pressure washer and upgrading a few key things:
1) The hose. The included hoses are usually garbage. Get a good anti-kink one.
2) The gun/wand. Most stock wands don’t accept standard nozzles.You’ll need one that does.
3) 3.5mm nozzles. I personally like to use a 40 degrees, but 25 works as well. (BTW, it’s the orifice size, not degree opening that dictates the pressure)
4) Quick release fittings make things so much easier, but aren’t 100% necessary
I could go on and on, but will leave it there for now. Foam canons are another great discussion point that I’d be happy to get into 🙂. Thought this would be a good start.
Oh, and here’s my setup. It’s a Dewalt 2100 PSI pressure washer with MTM s/s quick-release fittings, gun and wand. 1/4” Uberflex hose, MTM 50’ hose reel and MJJC Pro foam canon. I’ve used hard lines from the water source to the washer and s/s flex lines at the connection points. Also added an RV filter to reduce some of the hard water spots (replaced ever 4 months).
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I’d say it’s a solid mid-tier setup. Been thinking about upgrading to a Kranzle at some point, but I like that I can easily disconnect the Dewalt to use for other jobs around the house.
I hope others find this useful! Please post pics and descriptions of your setup 🙂
First off, the 2 important factors in using a pressure washer are pressure (PSI) and water flow (gallons per minute) and how to control them. Ideal for washing a car is ~1000 PSI and between 1.5 and 2.0 GPM. However, those numbers don’t mean you need to go out and buy an expensive pressure washer.
ANY pressure washer can be used for washing a car as long as you can regulate the PSI and GPM. You do that with the use of different sized nozzles.
Typically, pressure washers come with their own nozzles with an orifice size around 1.5mm. They do this to maximize the pressure. However, increasing the orifice size will both lower the PSI and increase the GPM. So using a 3.5mm nozzle on a pressure washer rated at 2000 PSI and 1.2 GPM will actually end up around 1000 PSI and 1.7 GPM (give or take). Which is ideal.
The important thing to remember is if you can put your hand 6” in front of the wand and it hurts your hand, it will also hurt your paint!
So rather than investing in an expensive pressure washer, you can get away with using any pressure washer and upgrading a few key things:
1) The hose. The included hoses are usually garbage. Get a good anti-kink one.
2) The gun/wand. Most stock wands don’t accept standard nozzles.You’ll need one that does.
3) 3.5mm nozzles. I personally like to use a 40 degrees, but 25 works as well. (BTW, it’s the orifice size, not degree opening that dictates the pressure)
4) Quick release fittings make things so much easier, but aren’t 100% necessary
I could go on and on, but will leave it there for now. Foam canons are another great discussion point that I’d be happy to get into 🙂. Thought this would be a good start.
Oh, and here’s my setup. It’s a Dewalt 2100 PSI pressure washer with MTM s/s quick-release fittings, gun and wand. 1/4” Uberflex hose, MTM 50’ hose reel and MJJC Pro foam canon. I’ve used hard lines from the water source to the washer and s/s flex lines at the connection points. Also added an RV filter to reduce some of the hard water spots (replaced ever 4 months).
I’d say it’s a solid mid-tier setup. Been thinking about upgrading to a Kranzle at some point, but I like that I can easily disconnect the Dewalt to use for other jobs around the house.
I hope others find this useful! Please post pics and descriptions of your setup 🙂
