Will a pressure washer thing work on a tap with a weak flow?

[HONK]

I am considering buying some kind of car washing backpack jet stream thing from the internet, it plugs into the tap or what not and is a pressure washing thingo.


My tap outside has a weak flow, as if the tap was only turned a quarter of the way.


Would that work with a pressure washer? I hear it uses less water than a normal hose, so...

[Citroënbender]

Is it on Temu?

[Crazy Dazz]

I don't know about backpacks, mine have always just had wheels.

Also not sure about using "less water"? The beam is concentrated, but it's very high pressure. Certainly I have discovered that if the flow is obstructed, eg the hose gets caught, the washer will "starve" and splutter.

These washers normally specify a pressure, and obviously the more expensive models can generate more pressure. So a smaller, lower pressure, unit, would require less water.

[LG17]

I'm on tank water and my pump is nowhere near the level of town water for pressure. My pressure washer works fine.

[marty351]

If water flow in is equal to or greater than waterflow out, you'll be fine.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

I don't know about backpacks, mine have always just had wheels.

Also not sure about using "less water"? The beam is concentrated, but it's very high pressure. Certainly I have discovered that if the flow is obstructed, eg the hose gets caught, the washer will "starve" and splutter.

These washers normally specify a pressure, and obviously the more expensive models can generate more pressure. So a smaller, lower pressure, unit, would require less water.

Ha ha, I highly doubt my pressure washer is saving me any water at 10.5-liters per minute using a 4.5 orifice.





From a normal town water supply by the way. I did need a 15-amp plug though.

[CyberWasp]

Some brands do.

Running one from a bucket would be the lowest pressure possible.

You still need a little gravity to get it to work hence putting the bucket higher than the pressure washer.

[swamp]

hi
Normal house mains pressure is 35-45 psi. Commercial upwards 65psi
Water flow is around 40ltr per minute for domestic house
flow is measured by how many litres in a 15 second duration . Then x 4 =Litres per minute.

For a pressure cleaner keep the supply hose [typical 1/2 inch ] short as possible
Most important use an inline water disc filter in the supply hose . The grit and occasional small pebble will damage the pressure cleaner . Warranty is also void if debris /damage is found internally .

[MITCHAY]

I have a cheap Karcher K2 from Bunnings years ago and always on tap water and just spent a couple of hours cleaning up mums pavers with shit flying everywhere

[roKWiz]

Smaller country towns around here tend to have a lower town water pressure supply.
(if they are on town water at all)

Certainly more than the average person needs but

I bought a used (Aussie pumps) petrol powered unit simply because it could boost the pressure up to 3800psi but is quite suitable for the purpose of washing the top and underside of my trucks along with long stored granite.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

I have a cheap Karcher K2 from Bunnings years ago and always on tap water and just spent a couple of hours cleaning up mums pavers with shit flying everywhere

All over the fence, and the neighbour’s windows/walls?

Thread reminds me of a mate troubleshooting his home installed EFI conversion fuel system. “I’ve got pressure, but no flow”. I suggested this was the Bachelor’s Lament.

[HONK]

Originally Posted by LG17

I'm on tank water and my pump is nowhere near the level of town water for pressure. My pressure washer works fine.

This is what I needed to hear.

[HONK]

I will give it a go.
Thanks for that.

[Trendseeker]

Further to what CB alluded to in his earlier post, make sure you buy a pressure washer like one of these types:



If you buy one like these below, you will be disappointed:



I’ve seen ads recently that claim all sorts of great things about these hose nozzles that cost about $49, and one of them was called a “jet washer” or something like that.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Smaller country towns around here tend to have a lower town water pressure supply.
(if they are on town water at all)

Certainly more than the average person needs but

I bought a used (Aussie pumps) petrol powered unit simply because it could boost the pressure up to 3800psi but is quite suitable for the purpose of washing the top and underside of my trucks along with long stored granite.

Same deal here, but in peak demand times 6AM-9AM water pressure drops significantly because of infrastructure issues, to the point it effects having a shower.

[Interceptor]

the average, hand portable size pressure washer should be fine with whatever you're getting from your tap.

once you get into bigger, commercial/pro grade stuff, then you need to worry about flow.

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Ha ha, I highly doubt my pressure washer is saving me any water at 10.5-liters per minute using a 4.5 orifice.

image



From a normal town water supply by the way. I did need a 15-amp plug though.

showoff!

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

the average, hand portable size pressure washer should be fine with whatever you're getting from your tap.

once you get into bigger, commercial/pro grade stuff, then you need to worry about flow.


showoff!

Show off? Well, knowing where this thread was going to end up, I couldn't resist!

In any case, my point being, if a commercial-grade machine can draw enough water from a normal town water supplied outlet, a crappy entry level machine won't have an issue. End of thread!

[351buzz]

My old karcher hot water washer outflows my gravity feed tap.
Was fine when on tank water, tank was high up a hill, but now gravity fed by a lower dam,no good. Problem is it has its own reservoir (5L) with a float valve in it. It will empty out the reservoir before the gravity feed tap can refill it.
Just dawned on me while reading this, i might just bypass reservoir and plumb straight into tap so it can suck from supply. Piston type pump like in pressure washer should do that easy enough.