Best PSI for surface cleaner

Hi guys, I have been researching in the forums about orifice size and it has really helped! Im trying to decide if I should buy 25025 or 25020 tips for my 4gpm 4000psi pressure washer. I just use a 16" BE surface cleaner with it.

I mostly do residential work and just want to make sure I am running the best setup with where I’m at currently. From what I saw, it looks like 25025 would run at around 2600psi whereas 25020 would run at 4000psi. But if I understood correctly, 2500psi might increase the gpm’s consistency and float better but 4000psi would clean dirtier spots?

If you were in my position, would you run 25025 or 25020 with this setup?
Thanks for the input!
Miles

1 Like

I run 2500psi on resi concrete, you don’t want much more than that to keep from stripping the cream off.

25025’s should be fine.

1 Like

I tried the 25025s on my 4gpm machine and it wouldn’t touch lichen and had to go super slow and multiple passes on really dirty concrete. My guage showed 2200 psi at the gun. Put the 2502s back in and it’s much better. Getting about 3000 psi at the gun now. I do have the nozzles adjusted as high as they go. Going on 3 years with this setup and is great, no issues with too much pressure.

I’ve only had one job with new conrete and it just gave it a 15 minute dwell with a strong hw mix and 1000 psi rinse with the wand

Genuinely did not know that you even owned a pressure washer. Let’s see that rig!

Lol, maybe 10% of my jobs do I use it. Rather not, but a lot of people want the driveway done with a house washing. It’s just a 4 4000 Simpson with a Honda 390 and Cat pump. Going on 3 years and it still runs great!

1 Like

I still have one of those, same configuration, with a belt drive, just not on cart, great little machine. I use it once in awhile if I want a strong mix and just for the heck of it. Only thing I’ve done to it in 7-8 years other than fluids is a new starter rope.

That was my exact first ‘real’ machine after the 2.3gpm fiasco.

lol my 1st was the 2.3. then the 4gpm, then 5.5, then 9.5, and 8.
I did getnout of that 2.3 the same $$ I bought it for, got it brand new and cheaply.

I have the same machine with CAT pump. It worked very good but am so glad for the 8gpm upgrade last year. I personally went in the other direction. The residential concrete in our area sucks and with 25025’s I was blowing concrete apart with 200’ of hose. I didn’t have a guage so I never measured it and that was with a 20" cleaner. I use 25030 or even 25035. I find the most important aspect of cleaning concrete is pre-treatment/wetting. This softens the organics and makes cleaning not only way easier but also lasts longer. This is my 4th year. There is a house up the street that you can barely tell i washed except for the residual 2 stripes. Another that I pre-treated is barely growing back. I generally put down 4%. Just what has worked for me. Would love to put on the higher tips for ease but I don’t want to destroy stuff either.

I have a similar setup. I have a 4400 PSI 4GPM pressure washer and I bought a 18” hammerhead surface cleaner.

I called the place I got my surface cleaner at and they said it comes with 25020 tips.

If I understand correctly this would be 4400 PSI to the surface cleaner, which is way too much PSI and would possibly take the cream off?

So I need to get 25025 tips? Which would bring it down to around 2500 PSI? If so can someone recommend / link the 25025 tips please?

I have the same setup, 4/4400 machine and 18" surface cleaner with 25020 tips. After 100’ of hose, I’m at 3000 at the gun. It’s been perfect for me. One thing to do is set your nozzles up as high as they go from the ground. I have no striping issues and never a hint of etching anything.

How do you calculate the PSI at the gun?

And I have 200’ of hose.

I’ve done the concrete at my house before and a couple times after for customers and it’s been fine, just wanted to be on the safe side.

I did have an asphalt driveway that I used it on :saluting_face: where I quickly realized I would have etched the whole thing if I cleaned all of it though lol

Attached my gauge right at the gun temporarily to test. And yeah, don’t pressure wash asphalt. Concrete, as long as it’s not new, will be just fine.

2 Likes