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Pressure Washer Accessories Tips
What Are My Cleaning Head Options?
Pressure washer accessories include a variety of cleaning head options. Optional cleaning heads are often designed for specific jobs; a car wash cleaning head is self-rotating with a gallons-per-minute rating in a range between three and 16. A cleaning head for large containers will be greatly different. Many of them use motors to rotate the head, and have gallons-per-minute ratings ranging between three and 30. Your specific needs will dictate what kind of cleaning heads to buy. When you purchase, be sure to have your pressure washer's GPM and PSI ratings handy to make a quick comparison. If you are having cleaning heads custom-built you'll need to give some additional information including the size of the cleaning job and what materials will be cleaned off your surfaces.
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Using a Power Washer Extension Wand
Using a power washer extension wand will make a large cleaning job much easier, but it can take time before you develop the knack. It's not a bad idea to do some practicing with your pressure washer wand before you attempt that first cleaning job. In time you will learn how to handle the pressure without fighting it. There are waist belts to help manage the weight of your pressure washer and attachments, but your freedom to move can be affected, so be ready to deal with the limited range of movement. A pressure washer exsion wand works best when you use the right pressure to let the water do its job. Too much make the unit tough to handle, too little and your cleaning isn't as efficient as it should be. Practice makes perfect.
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Pressure Washer Telescoping Wands
Pressure washer telescoping wands are great for cleaning hard-to-reach areas without a ladder. The wands are made in sections designed to be fitted together. The setup of these pressure washer telescoping wands depends on the amount of pressure the unit is rated to handle and the size of the hose. The additional length of the pressure washer attachments means you can experience a reduction in water pressure. One configuration allows a higher PSI by including fiberglass in the construction, but the added water volume and fiberglass adds weight to the unit. It takes some practice to get used to the additional weight. It's important to maintain control of the unit on the job, especially near windows that can break if you loose control of the power washer extension wand. When spraying with the pressure washer telescoping wand, you can find better control by balancing the pole using the force of the spray against the surface being cleaned. At the right distance, the balancing act is much easier. Get too close to the surface and you lose control of the balance.
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Telescopic Wands, Ladders, And Scaffolds
Telescoping wands are useful pressure washer attachments when dealing with large spray distances or heights. A pressure washer telescoping wand can replace scaffolds and ladders in some cases, making your job much safer. These pressure washer accessories will reduce your liability during the actual cleaning operation, but don't get rid of your ladder and scaffold just yet! You may need to inspect the areas to be cleaned for safety's sake. Will the cleaning heads blast a piece of loose masonry into the air? Is there a stubborn stain that didn't get clean the first time? Did you notice anything unusual after using your telescopic pressure washer wand? You may not need to mount a ladder with your cleaning equipment, but the ladder may come in handy to look over the job once it is done.
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Using A Turbo Nozzle
A turbo nozzle is a pressure washer attachment that focuses a tightly concentrated blast of water in the target area. The turbo nozzle should be considered an add-on to your pressure washer arsenal rather than the main tool as this pressure washer accessory is more fragile than other nozzles, and tends to wear out faster. A good application for a turbo nozzle? Cleaning driveways where weeds and sand are trapped in cracks in the pavement. If you plan on filling those cracks and repairing the surface, a turbo nozzle is an excellent tool to prep the driveway. Blast away the sand and plant debris, and the surface is ready for work. Once the turbo nozzle has done the job, you may discover the cracks in the pavement are larger than you first estimated! As with any pressure washer attachment, make sure the turbo nozzle is rated for your size pressure washer. Some turbo nozzles are designed for nozzle holder, but others are made for lance-style attachments. Know before you buy.
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Using a Cleaning Head to Clean Milk Vats
One of the best uses of a pressure washer accessory like a telescoping pressure washer wand is to clean without putting yourself in harm's way. Milk vat cleaning at a dairy is an excellent example. Cleaning at a distance is the recommended procedure because entering the milk vat is considered a safety hazard. When doing specialized jobs like these, be aware of special considerations that can affect the job. Milk vats in particular should be cleaned without running the pressure washer cleaning heads at extremely high temperatures. Those high temperatures will damage the milk vat's thermostat and temperature gage. Water that is too hot may cause the welds of the milk vat tank to crack, and refrigerant will leak to the compressor. Prevent this by using the cleaning head with warm water and an appropriate detergent. At the end of the job, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
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What Is A Lance Nozzle Kit?
A pressure washer lance nozzle kit is a pressure washer accessory to a turbo nozzle. It allows you to change the water flow from a pinpoint, high-pressure spray to a wider angle. You change the spray by twisting the end of the lance attachment. When the stream is in "pencil" mode, you get higher force from the water. When the water is fanned out, the pressure decreases but the area cleaned becomes wider. One very useful variation on this pressure washer attachment is the rotary jet lance, which takes the concentrated pencil-style jet, and rotates it in a circle to widen the cleaning area while keeping most of the force of the pencil jet. If you need a wand for a pressure washer, consider buying a lance nozzle kit and a turbo nozzle to enhance your cleaning abilities.
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Quick-connect Maintenance
Quick-connects are the metal connectors that allow you to attach and remove your pressure washer accessories and hoses from the pump and each other. They consist of a socket and plug, secured with a safety collar that locks into place once the plug is seated firmly in the socket. If you leave your pump running when the pressure washer accessories are not attached it may cause leaking at the quick connect. This is caused by a damaged or faulty o-ring, located inside the socket. Simply insert a replacement o-ring seal to fix the leak. You will need to know if you have an HP-style or a VHP-style quick-connect. Look at the end of the quick connect that is opposite either the socket or plug. If the end has a ridge that is smaller than the base you have an HP quick connect. If the end is the same size as the base, with a ridge in the middle it is a VHP type quick connect.
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Pressure Washer Accessories And Your Warranty
The old phrase "let the buyer beware" is very applicable when buying pressure washer telescoping wands, cleaning heads, and other pressure washer accessories. Read your warranty information very carefully before choosing the wand for a pressure washer, as some manufacturers include clauses in the warranty rendering it void unless you use only parts made specifically for that make and model. If you buy "non-approved" pressure washer parts and something goes wrong, you may wind up eating the whole cost of the repair or replacement. For best results, follow the instructions in your warranty to the letter, even if the price is higher than you'd like. The alternative of a voided warranty is far more expensive.
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Pressure Washer Attachments
You can add a range of pressure washer attachments to your pressure washer and increase the flexibility of your cleaning capabilities. Try some of these attachments:
Drain Cleaning Nozzle – This is a great attachment for clearing out clogged drains and pipes. The nozzle has jets which propel it forward through the pipe, cleaning dirt along the way.
Foamer – This nozzle attachment creates tiny air bubbles within the liquid detergent, thus enabling the cleaning agent to cling to the surface and clean more effectively.
Rotary Brush – This device mounts on the end of the lance and provides a spinning brushing action to gently remove dirt from objects without damaging the finish.
Sand Blast Head – To strip paint, you can use a small amount of sand with a minimum of 2 GPM at 1000 PSI or 3 GPM at 3000 PSI with this attachment.
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Soap Nozzle Maintenance.
If your chemical injector pressure washer attachment works fine without a nozzle, but stops working when the soap nozzle is attached, try checking the set screw that connects the nozzle to the injector. If you have made that adjustment to your pressure washer attachment and are still having difficulty, dismantle the soap nozzle, and check the spring and ball assembly inside. Sometimes left over soap or other build up can cause a blockage. You may also need a larger soap tip for your pressure washer attachment.
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One Size Doesn't Fit All
When selecting a pressure washer cleaning solution, make sure you choose the detergent that best fits the use. From deck cleaning to automotive parts, you can find the cleaner made specifically for your needs. Most residential use cleaners come in one-gallon containers and are available as pre-mixed or concentrate versions. For commercial use, five gallon containers and larger are common. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for use to maximize your cleaning efficiency.
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Go the Extra Distance
If your need that little extra reach, get a power washer extension rod. This attachment is perfect for hard to reach applications like underneath automobiles and gutters overhead. Depending on the model you choose, this useful attachment comes with features like high and low pressure controls, pressure ranges up to 5000 PSI, and withstands temperatures up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Long Lasting Pressure Pumps
If you're looking for durable pressure pumps, consider both the materials and the speed of the pump. Pressure pumps should have a brass pump head for durability. Avoid aluminum pump heads, as they tend to react with contaminants within the water. Look for stainless steel moving parts within a pump for both durability and strength. Also check the speed of the motor that drives the pump. A faster rotating pump like one that runs at high speeds and low torque does not tend to last as long.
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Reach New Heights
For those areas high above ground, you need a pressure washer telescoping wand to make cleaning easier. Whether you're cleaning trucks, building exteriors, or signs, this adjustable attachment is available in a length that will meet your needs. If you're concerned about pressure loss, you will lose some water pressure, but the amount is limited. For instance, if the end of your spray gun is 30 feet above the outlet of your pressure washer, you'll lose 13 PSI. The convenience and safety of being able to operate your pressure washer on solid ground is well worth some minor pressure loss.
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Cut Through Dirt and Grime
If you've got a deck that has caked on dirt and grime, you need an extra boost to help you get the cleaning job done. Get a pressure washer attachment like a floor brush attachment. You'll find that this add-on accessory will make it much easier to penetrate through the dirt and get your deck looking brand new.
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Don't Skimp on the Pressure Washer Cleaning Solution
Though cheaper pressure washer cleaning solutions may save you money upfront, look for the long term if you're going to be using a great deal of detergent. A quality pressure washer cleaning solution is highly concentrated and will give you a high level of cleaning per use. Cheaper detergents can also leave lime and soap build-up on your washer pressure components, resulting in higher maintenance and parts replacement costs.
