In previous articles we talked about parts of a pressure washers, and explained in more detail about pressure washer unloader valves. Here we explain about types of pressure washer unloader valves.
There are three types of pressure washer unloader valves.
I received an email from a new business owner looking at how to effectively wash a fleet of cars. See the email below;
I’ve heard many people give recommendations on what apparatus to use when washing a fleet of cars, but I would like some guidance on HOW to wash a fleet of cars?
What have you found to be the most effective method of rinsing down and the wiping off the cars?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
My answer to you is this….Use lots of pressure but keep a safe distance – remember the main reason behind using high pressure when rinsing cars is to remove the soap quickly!
In a previous article we talked about parts of a pressure washer, in this article we talk about specifics, namely pressure washer unloader valves.
Pressure washer unloader valves are the main “safety” in your power washer system. The most commonly used is the “pressure actuated” type valve. When the pressure gun trigger is released the valve senses the pressure build up and like a “traffic cop” it diverts the water flow from the pump outlet back into the inlet side of the pump this is called “bypass mode.” Without this critical component this closed-gun situation would build pressure to the point where it would stall the power source, rupture the gun, hose or even the pump itself.
I recently received an email from David, a concerned pressure washer from Florida. He asks:
Our deck is in good shape except in a few spots, it has mildew. I was going to pressure wash it
then seal it. Is this a good idea?Thanks,
David
Well David, if you have pressure treated pine as the surface of you deck , do not pressure wash it unless it is completely dirty and you have one of the smaller less powerful electric type washers. As they are less powerful, they generally wont have the power to do much harm.
In a previous article we showed the parts of a pressure washer, in this article we show how a pressure washer trigger gun works.
Generally the gun will have a 3/8? inlet port where the hose is attached and a 1/4? outlet port to the wand/lance (this is when 3/8? pressure hose is used). When the trigger is released the gun is said to be in “closed” position stopping the flow of water. When the trigger is squeezed it is in “open” position directing water to the nozzle once again.
With a compact design and inovative design, this Ryobi is ideal for cleaning around the home and garden. This model has a large 1600w motor and a flow rate of 360l per hour. Onboard storage. Usually comes with a 2 year warranty as standard.
Features:
Technical Specification of the Ryobi RPW-120E Pressure Washer
The Ryobi RPW1400E Pressure Washer is the new model from Ryobi. It has a 1400W motor and operates at a maximum pressure of 100 bar with a maximum flow rate of 360 litres per hour.
Although lightweight at only 8kg, this domestic washer (which comes with a 2 Year Warranty) is ideal for smaller cleaning applications. Due to the unique design it is a sturdy tool. The variable jet lance is fed by the 5m hose. It is usually supplied complete with detergent gun for the tougher jobs you may face.
Pressure Washing Companies work with pretty extreme pressure, temperatures, and some pretty nasty chemicals to do their jobs.
Take into consideration that some deck strippers are rated at 13 on the Ph scale. Some of the acids used are rated at 1 or 2 on the Ph scale.
Think about the amount of damage that 4,000 PSI can cause in inexperienced hands to wood, siding and concrete. Shouldn’t there be some type of protection for consumers against these extremes?
My house is 40 years old. The exterior trim – between the brick facing and the eaves – is painted wood, a dentil-molding. The trim has probably been painted 4 or 5 times, last time ten years ago. This trim is filthy and I’d like to clean it before winter. Can I use a pressure washer to clean it? Or is there a better way? Thanks.
A ryobi pressure washer will do fine. An experienced user will know what chemicals to use for cleaning as well as the pressure and jet sizes to use. To DIY just be careful and try to stay even with your cleaning.
If you are not aware of the safety steps to follow when using a ryobi pressure washer, read on:
More and more folks are purchasing ryobi pressure washer units for home use which is excellent. However, you should be wearing a suitable particulate mask (not the pedestrian sanding or sweeping kind) AND full eye protection whenever you clean. The water is customarily under a minimum of 1500PSI of pressure and part of the cleaning process is to remove stubborn and stuck on leaves, twigs, stones, bird poop, flaked paint, dirt, etc. courtesy of that pressure.
Often, cleaning or mildewcide chemicals are used in conjunction with the pressure washer. Any of these things – dirt, dust or chemicals – can seriously hurt your eyes if they strike them. Regular corrective lenses are not sufficient. Use a full goggle style of protective eyewear if possible but keep them properly shielded.
Homeowners and new or infrequent users should also realize that they’re possibly breathing in a lot of debris, dirt, pollen, bacteria and mold spores as a result of the pressure cleaning, especially since they’re usually standing closer to the surface being cleaned because of the shorter homeowner wands. They surely should NOT inhale the junk or dirty water vapor they’re shooting off of surfaces or any of the chemicals that they may be using. An N95 particulate mask that also handles nuisance vapors should always be used. The ones with the breathing valve in them are the more comfortable to wear, even though they cost upwards of $5 each. A box of 10 can be purchased for proportionately much less.
Be safe as you clean!