One of the washer guys had a formula that was something like GPM x PSI =
some number. That was supposed to give you a way to compare.

It's an excellent question --w hat's the PSI or FPM at different distance.
My little washer is only effective for a couple feet from the nozzle, so
it's a real concern. I did get a chance to help pressure wash a house a
couple days ago. Like you say, needed the ladder for the high reaches.

Wish the nozzle people could make a REAL zero degree tip, not the scatter
spray they use.

--

Christopher A. Young
Do good work.
It's longer in the short run
but shorter in the long run.
..
..


"Charlie Bress" wrote in message
...
I have a pressure washer. It's a little electric Karcher. The price was
right. It was given to me by a contractor who was doing some repairs
required by the building inspection. He had a gas driven washer and asked if
I wanted the little electric job. As I said the price was right.

Now where I live the house are all vinyl sided and subject to the weather of
south Florida. Needless to sat cleaning the house is an expected chore. The
first couple of years here I had the house professionally cleaned. I just
used the little cleaner for the driveway, car etc. I was not happy with the
job the pros did. They are in a hurry to finish and get on to the next job.

So I started out with the Karcher. It is rated at about 1500 psi. It doesn't
have an extension wand so I find in a couple of spots I need to use a ladder
(to reach the gable ends, for instance) It takes me a lot longer, but I am
now retired and have more time than money so that is not a bad thing.

Here's the question. My washer puts out a stream at 1500 psi. I can get up
close to the siding, say 10 inches or less.
The pro washer puts out a stream at, let's say, 3000 psi but this spray
starts out up to 18 inches away from the siding.

Since in both cases the pressure starts to fall off immediately after
leaving the nozzle, what is the relative pressure at the siding in each
case.
/

This is not a trivial problem. My Google search only found lots of
motherhood statements about what cleans better, but in the real world there
are differences in applying the stream to the work surface.

Anybody out there "know" what the answer is or have a source of information
about it?


Charlie