When pressure cleaning, using the correct nozzle can have a significant effect on the safety and effectiveness of the washing. Choose the appropriate nozzle according to the surface you’ll clean and the directions of the manufacturer. If you’re not quite sure which nozzle to use, it is always advisable to begin with a wider spray nozzle and test it from a distance on a small, hidden area. Check for the effects before proceeding. Your best bet is to estimate the force and width of the fan spray according to the universal color-coding typically used by nozzle manufacturers. When shopping for nozzles, you’re likely to find five different colors. Here’s how to understand how they work.
Red Nozzles
Red nozzles spray at 0° or have no width. They direct the velocity of the water in a straight, hard stream at the surface. Such sprays cover a very small area and should be used with caution because of their extreme force and concentrated spray pattern. Use it to remove hardened mud while pressure cleaning in construction sites or to remove rust stains from tough concrete. You can also use it to reach surfaces at a height from the ground where you’re standing such as below the roof’s eaves or fascia boards. Red nozzles are sharp enough to scratch the metallic surfaces of cars and grills and gouge out holes in delicate surfaces.
Yellow Nozzles
Yellow nozzles deliver a 15° spray pattern that is not as sharp as the red nozzles. They produce a 15° wide sheet of water spreading the force on a larger area and are perfect for heavy-duty pressure cleaning. Use them at a 45° angle on surfaces to remove peeling paint when preparing them for a fresh painting job. You can also use them to wash off the tough caked mud from heavy-duty vehicles. Washing garage floors, walls, roofs, and drains and other similar concrete areas becomes very easy with the yellow nozzles.
Green Nozzles
Green nozzles give you a 25° fan spray and deliver medium force on all surfaces. Since these nozzles have a wide spray pattern, they can clean larger surfaces quickly by providing the ideal amount of Gallons per Minute or GPM and Pounds per Square Inch or PSI. You can use green nozzles effectively for clearing trash, dirt, and debris from your sidewalk, patio and patio furniture, driveway, deck, boat, and car and other vehicles. Removing old paint from surfaces can be easily get done with green nozzles.
White Nozzles
White nozzles deliver the least velocity and are the gentlest of all nozzles with a 40° fan spray. You can safely use this spray to wash delicate surfaces like stucco, glossy surfaces, and home sidings. By holding the wand at a safe distance, you can also clean glass windows and blinds.
Black Nozzles
Black nozzles give you a spray pattern of 65° thus delivering the minimum velocity among all other nozzles. They have a wide diameter outlet and are perfect for blending water and cleaning solutions as you pressure clean surfaces. These nozzles are typically used to spray cleaning chemicals, solutions, and detergents and are more effectively used to wet surfaces than actually clean them.
Turbo Nozzles
Consider the turbo nozzles as the perfect combination of the 0° nozzle along with a circular rotating pattern than is very efficient in cleaning surfaces. Turbo nozzles can give you a wider cleaning area of a 25° nozzle with the sharp force of the red nozzles. While they can clean concrete surfaces easily, you might want to be extremely careful when washing wooden surfaces because of the possibility of erosion and damage. Keep in mind that the rotating water with its pulsating action works at a speed of 1800 to 3000 rpm and gives the impression of a cone-shaped spray.
Adjustable or Variable Nozzles
Adjustable or variable nozzles are also called pivoting nozzles. These nozzles combine the functions of the 5 tips into a single device that can deliver spray patterns ranging from 0° to 60°. Such nozzles allow you to reach inaccessible and hidden areas such as deep cracks and crevices, below the deck areas, wheel walls, and gutters. You can bend the wand in either direction at the top and choose from the appropriate force to clean the hard-to-reach surfaces.
Precautions to Take When Choosing Nozzles
Now that you have a clear understanding of the different kinds of nozzles and how they work, here are a few precautionary tips to keep in mind. Spraying from a distance can reduce the force of the water hitting the surface. Watch the effects of the nozzles carefully when spraying and back off if you notice the nozzle causing damage. Also, remember that using the wrong nozzle can have disastrous effects like scraping the paint off the car, eroding the wood of your deck or patio or chipping away at the concrete and mortar when cleaning driveways, brick walls, and other such surfaces.
By using the proper manufacturer recommended nozzle and exercising appropriate precaution, you can use the nozzles to perform any pressure cleaning tasks efficiently and thoroughly.
References:
1. “Here’s Everything You Ought To Know About The 7 Pressure Washer Nozzles.” Pressure Washr. n.d. Web. 18 Sep. 2016.
2. “How to Use a Pressure Washer.” The Family Handyman. n.d. Web. 18 Sep.2016.
3. “Pressure Washing Your Home’s Exterior.” The House Painting Guide. n.d. Web. 18 Sep. 2016.
4. “Using The Right Tips.” PressureWasherCritics.com. n.d. Web. 18 Sep. 2016.