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

"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.

The real difference is in the volume of water that the gas one puts out.
Pressure plus volume does a better job. Not that yours will not do the job
it will just take longer.


-------SNIPPED----------

Agree! Volume of water flow is important. I got a 1300 or so PSI
washer from Home Depot. It does a nice job, an inch at a time! More
water flow would mean I could wash a wider path and get done quicker.

-Shaun
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for the Smart Mind (sm)

Whatever...
But Karcher is CRAP!!!!!
ds
"Shaun Eli" wrote in message
oups.com...
Agree! Volume of water flow is important. I got a 1300 or so PSI
washer from Home Depot. It does a nice job, an inch at a time! More
water flow would mean I could wash a wider path and get done quicker.

-Shaun
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for the Smart Mind (sm)

"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
:
:
I can't help you much, but I can tell you that if I used my 2,600
psi sprayer on pencil setting at ten inches from the siding, it'd
punch a hole it it real quick or at least create a tear,
depending on the temperature of the air!
I do use it to clean the house, but at a fan setting, not the
pencil. It sounds like you might not be aware of the nuances of
the sprayers.

To figure the force you'd have to know the nozzle dimensions,
actual pressure developed, air mix, devliery pressure, hose
length/dia, water rate, etc etc etc. In ohter words, I don't
think there are any easy answers to this question but it would be
nice to have some ballpark numbers, not because I think they'd be
very useful.
If you want to do a gross ballpark, decrease the pressure by
the square of the distance from the washer nozzle and you'll be
approximately approximate g.
I'm also surprised you're able to use even a 1500 psi sprayer
on a ladder; mine has enough punch behind it to actually push me
around the driveway in my wheelchair when I do the driveway. A
boy and his toys, I know g.

HTH,

Pop

"Pop" wrote in message
...
:
I can't help you much, but I can tell you that if I used my 2,600
psi sprayer on pencil setting at ten inches from the siding, it'd
punch a hole it it real quick or at least create a tear,
depending on the temperature of the air!
I do use it to clean the house, but at a fan setting, not the
pencil. It sounds like you might not be aware of the nuances of
the sprayers.

To figure the force you'd have to know the nozzle dimensions,
actual pressure developed, air mix, devliery pressure, hose
length/dia, water rate, etc etc etc. In ohter words, I don't
think there are any easy answers to this question but it would be
nice to have some ballpark numbers, not because I think they'd be
very useful.
If you want to do a gross ballpark, decrease the pressure by
the square of the distance from the washer nozzle and you'll be
approximately approximate g.
I'm also surprised you're able to use even a 1500 psi sprayer
on a ladder; mine has enough punch behind it to actually push me
around the driveway in my wheelchair when I do the driveway. A
boy and his toys, I know g.

HTH,

Pop

Yeah pop, lots of variables which is what got me wondering if there was any
info out there.
Of course the little Karcher only has a fan, no pencil setting for this toy.
When I am on the ladder it is an extension ladder and my weight is holding
it against the house and I am leaning forward.

To comment here on other postings that claim that the biggest factor is that
amount of water delivered fails one sanity test. I can deliver the most
water by simply taking the garden hose (5/8 in) and with nothing on the
output side just deliver a lot of water at minimal pressure and the idea
that all it takes is more water, doesn't hold water. ( I wish I hadn't said
that)

What gets me going on this whole kick is the though that my little washer,
because I get closer to the siding, is doing a better job that the pros who
go faster but from a greater distance. Probably that is why I had been
unhappy with their previous efforts.

Charlie

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

On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:23:17 -0400, "DS" wrote Re
Comparing pressure washers:

Whatever...
But Karcher is CRAP!!!!!

Ditto
--
To email me directly, remove CLUTTER.

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

================

Hi Stormie,

Actually they do make such devices. We have a so-called
"turbo" attachment for one of our powerwashers. This is a true
(nearly) zero degree tip which is amazingly powerful. Of course,
a spray area with a 1/32" diameter is pretty useless. This wand
overcomes that problem by having that tiny pinpoint spray pattern
randomly and continually moving about in a somewhat tight
circle. The area being cleaned by this turbo attachment is very
comparable to the area being cleaned by a typical fan spray
attachment, but with the turbo attachment you have an extremely
high pressure pinpoint area being cleaned at any given moment.

We use this attachment rather rarely, but when we need it, then
it is extremely useful. Sometimes the pinpoint spray will fail to
move in its random pattern, but this is easily "fixed" by releasing
the trigger and then squeezing again. That has always gotten the
tip working correctly.

Try a Google search with these search terms if you are interested:
powerwasher OR "power washer" turbo

Good luck,
Gideon

Thanks, didn't know that. I've heard of turbo, but you did good explaining
how it works. Wonder if it would work with my little 1.3 GPM unit?

--

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


"Gideon" wrote in message
. ..

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

================

Hi Stormie,

Actually they do make such devices. We have a so-called
"turbo" attachment for one of our powerwashers. This is a true
(nearly) zero degree tip which is amazingly powerful. Of course,
a spray area with a 1/32" diameter is pretty useless. This wand
overcomes that problem by having that tiny pinpoint spray pattern
randomly and continually moving about in a somewhat tight
circle. The area being cleaned by this turbo attachment is very
comparable to the area being cleaned by a typical fan spray
attachment, but with the turbo attachment you have an extremely
high pressure pinpoint area being cleaned at any given moment.

We use this attachment rather rarely, but when we need it, then
it is extremely useful. Sometimes the pinpoint spray will fail to
move in its random pattern, but this is easily "fixed" by releasing
the trigger and then squeezing again. That has always gotten the
tip working correctly.

Try a Google search with these search terms if you are interested:
powerwasher OR "power washer" turbo

Good luck,
Gideon

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Thanks, didn't know that. I've heard of turbo, but you did good
explaining how it works. Wonder if it would work with my little
1.3 GPM unit?

=======================

Yep. I'd guess that they are designed to increase blasting
power for small units. A monster-sized power washer that
can slice your leg open and send you to the hospital doesn't
really need a pinpoint turbo spray.