Usage question about my new pressure washer

[wahoowad]

I bought a pressure washer so I can keep my deck clean. I bought a mid-grade unit after some helpful advice here awhile back. It is a 3300 psi / 2.5 gpm Simpson unit.

I tested it out tonight and it’s gonna do fine. But I suspect I’m holding or using it wrong as the 2” to 3” wide spray seems more powerful on the very bottom of the stream no matter which tip I use and leaves an extra clean line everywhere I power wash. What am I doing wrong?

Also the friggin hose seems like it wants to always be bound up on itself and it’s like I’m wrestling an anaconda. I don’t remember the rental units doing this. Is there a rotating adapter to help it rotate around? I’m guessing I should completely uncoil it before using it, hunh? I haven’t yet as i’ve only been experimenting with it to ensure it runs right.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[PassnThru]

On the tip issue what you describe is an issue I faced after using my pressure washer for a few years. This year, I bought new tips and that took care of the uneven stream issue. Now - yours is new - so I can only guess that you have a different problem or you have junk tips from the factory.
Yes - you should pull the entire hose out and unwind it before using it. You have a quick disconnect at the base that will help some but a hose that can stand that kind of pressure is not going to be particularly easy to deal with.

 

[BleedingBlue]

I also have a Simpson unit and decided to purchase a turbo nozzle and a pressure regulator that attaches to the wand.

I would recommend looking into both.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wahoowad]

What does the Turbo nozzle do over the standard one?

 

[Rory Bellows]

What does the Turbo nozzle do over the standard one?

It's like a 0 degree tip except it sprays in a circular pattern. It works great for cleaning concrete and most of anything else. I wouldn't use on it soft items. I powerwash my driveway every year. I used to use the 15 degree and it worked great but took forever. The turbo nozzle is way faster and easier.

 

[KenC]

But I suspect I’m holding or using it wrong as the 2” to 3” wide spray seems more powerful on the very bottom of the stream no matter which tip I use and leaves an extra clean line everywhere I power wash. What am I doing wrong?

That's because you're holding the nozzle at an angle to the surface. The more you angle it, the closer the side near you is to the surface relative to the far side. The more near to vertical you get, the the more uniform the cleaning is.

 

[wahoowad]

That's because you're holding the nozzle at an angle to the surface. The more you angle it, the closer the side near you is to the surface relative to the far side. The more near to vertical you get, the the more uniform the cleaning is.

I figured it was this, but handle isn’t angled to hold it vertical comfortably every long for deck or driveway work. Is there a better way to hold it or do it to get a good vertical spray onto the deck?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Homeowner grade surface cleaners work great for not a lot of money. Here's one made by your manufacturer:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SH905OC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Tommy

 

[CrazyAirborne]

Id point out if you have the nozzle turned horizontally, there is no side of the spray pattern that would be closer to the surface than any other point in the spray pattern, as long as you keep the distance from the tip to the surface semi consistent. that would be easier to explain with a picture but maybe you can understand what Im trying to say.

all that aside, a turbo tip does work really well, and for me has been much easier getting a uniform clean on cement and decking.


Edit* maybe an easier way to think about it, instead of swinging the wand from right to left as you are washing (with the nozzle turned vertical), bring the wand forward and back(with the nozzle turned horizontal)

 

[PassnThru]

As noted earlier I have had the same problem with mine and the issue extended to cleaning furniture also. In other words, while you may have an angle issue with cleaning concrete I was dead on straight and the issue persisted. You could actually see a thicker spray on one end of the fan which was putting a cleaner line in everything I did. I put up with it for a few years but this year after noticing the problem again - I stopped washing and headed to Tractor Supply and picked up new nozzles. It solved my problem completely.

 

[bcoke]

I also recommend the "turbo"tip there is also a brush attachment that rotates about a 14 inch diameter brush that is great for decking........I find the soap dispenser in the machine do not work a separate soap container between the hose and the wand works much better..

 

[wahoowad]

I like that round brush/surface cleaner thing. But it looks like the wand is short and I would be bent over the entire time using it?

I am going to get a Turbo nozzle and give it a try.

 

[MarlynOC]

We always had a slight bend to lower end of the wand to make it easier to direct the stream. Quick connects are a must, we have then on hose, handle, wand and the nozzles.

 

[Stuart in MN]

For cleaning a wood deck, I wouldn't recommend the turbo nozzle attachments - they're pretty aggressive. You may want to simply try holding the tip of the wand further away from the deck so it has less force on the wood. Also, there's some technique involved so you don't get lines on the wood...to minimize stripes and lines you have to go along a single board in a smooth motion, and start and stop at the joints.

 

[Lynden]

I like that round brush/surface cleaner thing. But it looks like the wand is short and I would be bent over the entire time using it?

Simpson sells three lengths of wand extensions. A 16" extension would solve the problem of the wand being too short. Or you could have a 16" extension bent at an angle to solve the problem of the nozzle not being perpendicular to the surface.

https://simpsoncleaning.com/accessories/cold-water-wand-extensions-80161/

 

[redmondjp]

They also make swivel adapters for the end of the gun that will allow you to vary the angle of the tip to the gun. This can be useful for certain situations, such as for getting the proper angle on a roof when standing on it from above and trying to get the edge of the roof below you.

 

[sberry]

I screw a 15 degree tip in the end of 42 inch pipe with coupling. I lap 50 percent in a steady square motion like spray painting. No wrist whip. A very deliberate operation. Do it the same way and pattern most every time. No stripes.

 

[wahoowad]

I bought a turbo nozzle and that thing is a strange beast! It definitely seems to kick it up a notch, and in doing so I could see a lot more wood fibers lifting up from the boards. But strangely it didn’t seem to clean as well as the 25 and 40 degree nozzles even though they didn’t seem to be chewing up the boards. I stuck with the 25 degree nozzle as it seems to give me the best overall performance.

My deck gets a lot of mildew as I have many trees close to the house and they drop a lot of debris and fine sap that keeps me constantly sweeping and blowing it off. So after a couple years i’ve got some surface grime that is definitely getting cleaned off yet other areas that aren’t coming as clean as i’d expected after a smooth pass or two with the pressure washer. Those lines I’m trying to avoid creating have that clean ‘newish board’ look I’d like to end up with but the main sweep area isn’t as clean. Almost seems stained as if i’ll need to follow up with a deck wash or something which I was hoping to avoid.

 

[MarlynOC]

Better be careful with turbos; a 3500 psi 4.5 gpm will cut a hole thru 3/4 plywood in less than a minute

 

[wahoowad]

Wow. The surface cleaner worked great! It only took about 25% of the time as taking long, slow and tedious sweeps with a standard tip. And is somewhat forgiving as it is easier to make overlapping passes. I recommend one of these to anybody considering it.

Mine was a Briggs model from Lowes but looks exactly like the Simpson model I see online.

 

[aka Larry]

FYI, Flexilla now has a replacement hose for a pressure washer, and like their air hoses, it works great and doesn't kink.