Outdoor hard surfaces such as patios and wooden decks are prone to dust and may require thorough cleaning regularly.
Imagine cleaning them endlessly with a bucket of water and liquid soap. You would rather let them remain dirty. Isn’t it?
This is when a pressure washer comes into play.
But before you empty your wallet on buying one, ask yourself if you really need one.
Typically, hard surfaces require cleaning once in a while. Should you buy a pressure washer, you will only use it occasionally, which means it will be gathering dust most of the time.
Similarly, renting one may not be ideal since the cost adds up with every rental.
Okay, so what options are you left with— nothing better than turning your garden hose into a pressure washer. Let’s explain this further in the steps below.
Materials Required
- Water hose.
- High-pressure spray nozzle.
Steps To Turning Your Garden Hose Into A Pressure Washer
Before we talk about the steps, you need to know the pros and cons of this method.
First off, you want to ensure your spigot pumps water with enough pressure or force. For instance, removing molds from the house’s exterior surfaces requires some serious power.
A typical pressure washer serves this purpose well since it contains a pump that produces at least 500 pounds per square inch of water pressure.
Specific nozzles may turn your water hose into a makeshift pressure washer. However, it won’t be anything near an actual pressure washer.
Step 1: Inspect Existing Water Hose
The water hose in contention must meet certain conditions to function optimally.
Check if this is true by inspecting the end of the hose. Its design should be able to screw onto a faucet.
Also, check the rubber washer for any cracks. Should you notice any, change it to a new one.
You also want to check the entire length of your hose for any damages.
Any leak will cause the pressure to drop significantly. Using a very long pipe also does the same.
Work with the shortest possible length you can for cleaning effectively.
Step 2: Attach The High-Pressure Nozzle
For the best results, you want to attach the fireman type nozzle. We recommend purchasing the 250 psi variant. It’s affordable and readily available in retail stores.
You can also use “Little Big Shot Super Nozzle” which produces 40% more pressure with 40% less water usage.
Once attached, you are ready to use the makeshift pressure washer. Use safety glasses to avoid the flying dust and debris from getting into your eyes.
Step 3: Adjust The Nozzle
High-pressure nozzles are usually equipped with settings that alter the water’s pace and shape.
You can alter these settings depending on the surfaces you intend to clean. For example, if you want to clear up grime from concrete surfaces, you can adjust the nozzle to a pinpoint shape.
Make the spray water wide for delicate surfaces like windows to avoid damage. The other thing is to avoid wasting water by starting slowly and gradually increasing the pressure.
Other Ways To Increase Water Pressure In A Garden Hose
- Check the connection between the garden hose and the outdoor faucet. Water should not be dripping at this junction.
- Use a water hose with a large diameter. The medium hose diameter is 5/16″.
- Do not confuse flow rate with pressure. A small diameter doesn’t increase water pressure, but shorter pipes do.
- Low water pressure could also be caused by clogging, leakages, or corrosion in the spigot valve.
- Avoid twisted and kinked sections on the water hose.
Wrap Up
You don’t have much to think about if you can afford a pressure washer. However, it is expensive, bulky, and consumes tons of electricity. Besides, you will have to grapple with a loud noise.
On the contrary, using an improvised water hose for the same purpose is more convenient and pocket-friendly.
