Lost in the forest of chem injectors for house washing....

Pat Norman said:
What the heck kind of spray gun do you have? Most guns stop the pressure at the gun. The nozzle on the end of the wand nor the wand has no flow or pressure after you let off the trigger gun.
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It's the one that came with the Milwaukee. So you're saying this is unusual I guess - I should get a different wand? The user manual says

Using the quick-connect collar, changing nozzles is quick and easy. (I imagine you are LOLing at that)

1. Place ON / OFF Switch in the OFF (O) position.
2. Shut off the water supply at the water main then pull the spray wand trigger to release water pressure.

To connect a nozzle to the spray wand:

1. Engage the lock on the wand by pushing up on the lock off until it clicks into the slot.
2. Insert the desired nozzle. Push until a “click” is heard. Tug on the nozzle to be certain it is secured properly before releasing the lock off on the wand.
 
Something is very wrong with this thread.

Has someone shown you how to use a pressure washer yet? This is one of the first, very basic things you should know before doing a job is changing out nozzles.

Your machine should have some kind of bypass to circulate the water so the hoses don't explode when you let go of the trigger gun.

When your pressure washer is on, can you let go of the gun trigger?

OR

Does some spray come out of the gun even when you let go of the trigger?
 
jeffnc226 said:
It's the one that came with the Milwaukee. So you're saying this is unusual I guess - I should get a different wand? The user manual says

Using the quick-connect collar, changing nozzles is quick and easy. (I imagine you are LOLing at that)

1. Place ON / OFF Switch in the OFF (O) position.
2. Shut off the water supply at the water main then pull the spray wand trigger to release water pressure.

To connect a nozzle to the spray wand:

1. Engage the lock on the wand by pushing up on the lock off until it clicks into the slot.
2. Insert the desired nozzle. Push until a “click” is heard. Tug on the nozzle to be certain it is secured properly before releasing the lock off on the wand.
Click to expand...
Jeff call me Monday and let me help you out. And please fill out your signature.
 
Christopher said:
Has someone shown you how to use a pressure washer yet? This is one of the first, very basic things you should know before doing a job is changing out nozzles.
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I simply follow the safey instructions in the manual. Are you saying the Milwaukee manual is wrong in some way?

Christopher said:
Your machine should have some kind of bypass to circulate the water so the hoses don't explode when you let go of the trigger gun.
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If you mean an unloader, yes of of course it has one.

Christopher said:
When your pressure washer is on, can you let go of the gun trigger?

OR

Does some spray come out of the gun even when you let go of the trigger?
Click to expand...

No, you can let go of the trigger and no water comes out.
 
You should be washing for free!!! I dont beieve I would have admitted I cant change nozzles. You really need some experience before you go on someones property selling your services. I compete with people all the time who price jobs with inferior equipment and all they know how to do is crank their machine and aim the wand at full pressure.
 
Good post Andy.

I was going to post something similar but it probably would have come across mean or rude but not intended that way.

You cannot run equipment by just reading a book, you need actual experience that a book is not going to explain and there are common sense things that are not in a book.

You need someone to show you how to use the equipment so you don't get hurt or damage someone's property and give the industry another black eye and have more people saying bad things about pressure cleaning professionals.

That is why I mentioned that there is something wrong with this thread but did not want it to come across as mean or rude but how can someone just read a manual on something like a pressure washer and expect to not get hurt or damage property without anyone showing them how to use the equipment properly or at least watch videos on how to use it.

You cannot learn it all from a book, the book will not teach you common sense, the book will not have all of the info in it that you need to know and it will not tell you how to use it properly on different surfaces.
 
Andy Hinson said:
You should be washing for free!!! I dont beieve I would have admitted I cant change nozzles. You really need some experience before you go on someones property selling your services. I compete with people all the time who price jobs with inferior equipment and all they know how to do is crank their machine and aim the wand at full pressure.
Click to expand...

Well I'm sorry my machine is "inferior" to yours. As I said I do "small time" pressure washing of small areas mostly, and it was the most expensive machine I could afford. I'm not in to compete with you or full time pressure washing services and 10 GPM units (as if that has anything to do changing nozzles), but am looking to increase my understanding, going beyond washing sidewalks and 1 story houses when I have to, for customers of mine that want me to do some pressure washing for them as well. So I don't always have to say "sorry, I don't do that" so often. My unit sprays detergent and pressure washes fine for the small jobs I've done so far. And it has a pressure knob to decrease pressure for lower pressure applications which is 1 reason I haven't tried larger orifices yet. The standard detergent nozzle obviously has a larger orifice, but also obviously is no X-Jet.

As far as "admitting" anything, as I said I follow the instructions in the manual and it works fine. I made a mistake twice (in 3 years), didn't follow those instructions, and did something unsafe. Are you here to help or just make yourself feel better by making fun of someone with a smaller penis than you?
 
Christopher said:
You cannot learn it all from a book, the book will not teach you common sense, the book will not have all of the info in it that you need to know and it will not tell you how to use it properly on different surfaces.
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I think that goes without saying Christopher. If I thought I could learn it all from a book, I wouldn't be here asking questions, right? Isn't it obvious I'm here asking for advice from people with more experience than I?

I bought the eBook from SunBrite to learn more, and I found it pretty lacking, and was looking for someplace such as this to ask more questions.

Now what common sense am I missing exactly? I've already said I change the nozzles according to the instructions in the manual. This is the only machine I've used so far, so I assume it works the way the manual says it works. If it says to turn off the engine and engage the trigger to release the pressure, that's what I do. And that works.
 
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Just got off the phone with Rance, and after bouncing it off someone, you guys are right about one thing: this nozzle changing thing makes no sense. Of course there shouldn't be any pressure at the tip when the trigger is off.

I think the instructions in the manual are written as they are just to cover Milwaukee's ass. After reading the manual, and since I had those 2 mishaps, I came to the wrong conclusion without thinking it through any further. Of course you should be able to change nozzles without turning the engine off.

Still makes me curious why those 2 problems happened. I went to change the nozzle once (engine off), and it shot off the end of the wand. Of course I was not doing that with water flowing. How could that have happened? And another time water shot out of the tip while changing. But between the manual and those occurrences, I have always wasted time turning off the engine to change nozzles! It's not as bad as it sounds, since I very rarely change nozzles while working. Even when spraying I usually use a pump sprayer to spray chemicals. I use the standard 40 for virtually all the things I do. How far I hold the wand from the surface makes more difference than switching to a 25 or whatever. So I've changed on the job maybe a handful of times in 3 years. I don't do the downstreaming you guys do, and have used the long extension on the rare occasions I have to get something high.

I'm at a loss now how that could have happened. I suppose it's possible that with the 4 foot wand, and having the trigger end on the ground while changing the nozzle, a stick or possibly my foot pressed on the trigger by mistake? I can't really think of anything else.

But anyway, thanks again Rance, and sorry for the confusion on this one!
 
Christopher said:
Good post Andy.

I was going to post something similar but it probably would have come across mean or rude but not intended that way.

You cannot run equipment by just reading a book, you need actual experience that a book is not going to explain and there are common sense things that are not in a book.

You need someone to show you how to use the equipment so you don't get hurt or damage someone's property and give the industry another black eye and have more people saying bad things about pressure cleaning professionals.

That is why I mentioned that there is something wrong with this thread but did not want it to come across as mean or rude but how can someone just read a manual on something like a pressure washer and expect to not get hurt or damage property without anyone showing them how to use the equipment properly or at least watch videos on how to use it.

You cannot learn it all from a book, the book will not teach you common sense, the book will not have all of the info in it that you need to know and it will not tell you how to use it properly on different surfaces.
Click to expand...
Chris made a very good point. You can go out and buy a book on brain surgery but that does not make you qualified. (Same goes for the firearm classes I have taught.) In this day and time with the internet you should research as possible before going into any business. And remember just because it is on the internet does not mean it is the correct information. There are many that think they are experts after six months. It would be wise for you to fine someone willing to mentor you for a few months or find a distributor that has worked in the field and not just in the office to help you. There are several ways to get the job done and many think their way is the best. Bottom line, which method you choose, the most important thing is using the proper chemicals at the right ratio's. If your method is too weak you are shortchanging yourself Chemicals are the way to be effective and do the cleaning. As far as the price of any piece of equipment It is not what it cost, it is how much is it worth. Time is money and anytime you can reduce your time on the job with chemicals or equipment you are making more money. Another thing to consider is why You are doing this in the first place. Are you wanting to do this for a living or as a way to pick up a few extra dollars? Most of these guys depend on this as their full time job and resent someone just doing it on the side without the true cost of running a business (license, insurance, workers comp. and such) as they are required to do by law. Most do not realize the liability they incur when they start working on someone's property.
 
jeffnc226 said:
Well I'm sorry my machine is "inferior" to yours. As I said I do "small time" pressure washing of small areas mostly, and it was the most expensive machine I could afford. I'm not in to compete with you or full time pressure washing services and 10 GPM units (as if that has anything to do changing nozzles), but am looking to increase my understanding, going beyond washing sidewalks and 1 story houses when I have to, for customers of mine that want me to do some pressure washing for them as well. So I don't always have to say "sorry, I don't do that" so often. My unit sprays detergent and pressure washes fine for the small jobs I've done so far. And it has a pressure knob to decrease pressure for lower pressure applications which is 1 reason I haven't tried larger orifices yet. The standard detergent nozzle obviously has a larger orifice, but also obviously is no X-Jet.

As far as "admitting" anything, as I said I follow the instructions in the manual and it works fine. I made a mistake twice (in 3 years), didn't follow those instructions, and did something unsafe. Are you here to help or just make yourself feel better by making fun of someone with a smaller penis than you?
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Ohhh Make no mistake about it. I never said your equipment was inferior or I had better equipment than You. The problem is the operator. The problem is you! We must constantly learn better ways to add value to our business and compete with companies that add pressure washing to their list of services. We have to educate the customer why its a better value to hire an experienced trained pro vs. an inexperienced individual whom they would be paying to experiment on their home. There is a lot more to pressure washing than just pressure washing. You need to learn how to properly use your equipment before you go blowing meat off your hand on somebody's siding
 
You mentioned earlier you had a knob on your machine to control pressure. That is very inefficient as it cuts down the water flow by the unloader. Using larger orifice tips you keep full flow while cutting pressure. Flow or gpm is your friend not pressure.
Edit... that unloader needs set properly and left alone.
 
Steven Rowlett said:
Another thing to consider is why You are doing this in the first place. Are you wanting to do this for a living or as a way to pick up a few extra dollars? Most of these guys depend on this as their full time job and resent someone just doing it on the side without the true cost of running a business (license, insurance, workers comp. and such) as they are required to do by law. Most do not realize the liability they incur when they start working on someone's property.
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If someone resents it.... well what can I say? I help people constantly in other fields that I know well.

I have a handyman service and home improvement company. I will never be full time at pressure washing. At the same time, I want to learn more so I can do the occasional jobs my customers want me to do, along with the other things I'm doing for them. So of course I have a business license, insurance, pay taxes, etc. If someone wants to sabotage my learning experience because they think I'm some sort of threat to their business... all I can say is "karma" - you live your life generously, good things happen to you. You live your life selfishly.... and not so much.
 
Andy Hinson said:
Ohhh Make no mistake about it. I never said your equipment was inferior or I had better equipment than You.
Click to expand...

Then what was the point of making the "inferior equipment" comment in the context of answering me?

Andy Hinson said:
You need to learn how to properly use your equipment before you go blowing meat off your hand on somebody's siding
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For some reason I can't fathom, you don't seem to understand that's exactly why I'm here. What exactly is your point? Are you trying to bully me out of pressure washing, or just make fun of someone cause you get a kick out of it? I ask for help, and your response is "You need help!" Seriously?
 
Pat Norman said:
You mentioned earlier you had a knob on your machine to control pressure. That is very inefficient as it cuts down the water flow by the unloader. Using larger orifice tips you keep full flow while cutting pressure. Flow or gpm is your friend not pressure.
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Understood. That's why I bought the highest GPM machine I could afford. My point in replying previously was to the person who implied I was going in with full pressure all the time. I want to use full flow, and that's why I'm here trying to get the larger orifice nozzles all figured out.
 
I see no need responding to you anymore. You have admitted your penis is smaller than mine and thats not acceptable.
You are the person that low balls. You are a LOWBALLER. You said you have a handyman service and want to add an occassional pressure washing job to your list of services. I think your incompetant. I think you are a Hack. I think untill you can quit thumpping buggers long enough to holler out down the street and ask someone to help you fill out your signature.
I cant imagine you being a successful handyman service. Hell you cant even operate a simple pressure washer much less fix something complicated.
What do you do? Go to someones home, look at their problems then go to the hanyman forums to ask how to fix it. Just so you know. I cant even find underwear that fits.
 
Jeff, all kidding aside, you need to realize how dangerous this type of work is and take it very seriously.

I had someone walk up from behind me just as I was changing a tip. They spooked me just enough for me to squeeze the trigger one second too soon. It was my fault that I was holding the grip and the trigger, but you live and learn. Oh... and it took me 10 minutes to find that damn tip (experienced people know what I'm talking about) - LOL.

Ouch_zps3184db78.png

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Need I say more?

If you haven't noticed, this forum has been around for a very long time as well as many of the people in this thread. They know their sh!t so pay attention to what they say. You will meet many different personalities here (which should be taken with a grain of salt), but these people do in fact speak the truth (albeit sometimes harshly).

Maybe in the future a PM (private message) would serve you better, just until you get to know the players better. My PM box is wide open, as I imagine many others are too. If you read something and you want more information it, don't be afraid to PM them and have a nice little chat.

Good luck to you Jeff.
 
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