In
order to get the best results from your pressure washing system, you need the
right high pressure hose and trigger spray guns to deliver the water or
solution to the surface you're working on. Selecting well can make the job go
much smoother.
With
trigger spray guns, you can choose from a number of different types.
"Pistol" style guns are the typical design, and they come in
different subtypes. But basically these are industry standard spray guns that
can stop the flow of water and have an "unloader" valve. Usually
these guns have an inlet port that the hose attaches to and an outlet port to a
wand. When the trigger is released, the gun is closed and water flow stops.
When the trigger is squeezed, it opens the nozzle, letting the water shoot through.
The
way it works is simple: when the trigger is released, a ball in the gun is
forced by the water flow and a spring to seat itself in a seal, stopping the
flow. When the trigger is squeezed, the ball is forced from the seat and water
can flow once again. Don't be tempted to use various rigs to keep the trigger
pulled to keep your hand from getting tired. You can get trigger guns today
that require a lot less of a squeeze to keep the trigger open if hand fatigue
is a problem.
More
expensive trigger spray guns don't have to be thrown away but can be rebuilt
with simple rebuild kits. Spray guns that are treated well can last around 250
hours unless you use a lot of bleach, which will shorten its life
significantly. But you can get guns specifically designed to accommodate
bleach. They cost a bit more, but they're well worth it if you use bleach
often.
As
for the high pressure hoses that deliver the water from the pump to the spray
gun, they must be specially matched to a pressure washing system. These hoses
have an inner core through which the water flows, a wire wrap surrounding the
inner core to protect it, sometimes an extra layer of wire wrap (for hot water
hoses and those with psi ratings of more than 5,000), and an outer cover of
rubber.
For
applications where a hose has to make extreme bends, you may want to check out
thermoplastic hoses. In regular applications, they won't last as long as
rubber, but for cleaning or unblocking sewer lines or other places where
extreme bends are necessary, they're great.
Most
hoses have an outer diameter (OD) of 3/8 inch and are used on pressure washers
rated for three to five gallons per minute flow rates. A larger diameter hose
may be better for systems with higher flow rates. If you're working on roof
tiles or concrete, beware of red and black hoses, which can leave marks. Blue
and gray hoses tend not to do this.
In
general if you choose hoses that are pressure rated for a slightly greater
pressure than your system, it will last longer. But don't get a hose rated for
a lower pressure than your system due to danger and accelerated wear and tear.
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