Hey guys. Long time lurker, first time posting. I’ve been downstreaming residential homes for a about 5 years and I’m still on my original equipment and things are starting to get nasty. I wanted some feedback from you all regarding corrosion/clogs in your equipment.
I have a 4gpm 4000 psi trailer mounted rig. I HAD a gp hose reel but have bypassed the plumbing and use it exclusively for reeling. Last week I couldn’t get soap to draw when having my ball valve installed, so it’s now been eliminated from my set up. Today, I show up to downstream a home and I can not get soap to draw. Exception is only after start up and for about 2 seconds. I come home to start the process of elimination. I was able to get great soap pulling after replacing 3 x 50’ hose sections with one relatively new “spare” 50’ hose. Is it safe to say the hoses were getting clogged with rust, black gunk? I realize bleach is going to destroy everything it touches but has anyone or everyone experienced these type of events? Ie. One component causing issues, then another, then another. I’m assuming the clog(s) is keeping the pressure differential from dropping to create the suction.
Wait what? You’ve been washing for 5 years and you’ve never had an injector stop working? Stuff breaks, or stops working all the time. Nothing built for pressure washing has razor thin tolerances other than the pumps and unloaders.
Sometimes hoses build up rust and you have to drill them out.
It could be your injector. I go through injectors one every month or two. Some only last a week.
It could be your gun.
The lesson here is you should never have one of anything. Ever. Always keep spares and spares for them. Especially injectors. They are your money maker. Without injectors you’re pretty much worthless. (Except for all you x-jet weirdos out there)
Get a new injector. I had an injector this week pull soap with ball valve but not from jrod or M5. I put new injector on and good to go.
This may be my second injector, surprisingly. I have replaced the spring and ball as well. Thanks for mentioning drilling the hoses. I spent the better half of the morning removing all the fittings and drilling into all of the hose ends, most were caked with black gunk but didnt solve my issue. I ordered three new hoses so I’m anxious to see if thats the issue. I also ordered a 2.1 and 1.8 oriface injectors. I tried my pistol (no wand) and another gun. All were no help. Only the rarely used hose did the trick. I would love to get back to being able to have my hose reel and ball valve plumbed in.
That was my first thought. And immediately where I started tinkering. I put one of those adjustable injectors on that I had, not sure of its condition. Nothing. So I replaced the ball and spring from it into the currently installed one and nothing. Again, unless I was only using one hose. My assumption is that the blockages are making the pressure too high to siphon. Was getting around 5-700 psi when on the trigger with 2540 and 0040 and no nozzle.
Injectors ordered, fyi.
Another related question, do any of you use bleach neutralizers? Aka, The mix you run through the system at the end of the day to reduce corrosion. For those that do, have you noticed any difference?
Run water through your system (injector) you don’t need bleach nuetralizer. The adjustable injectors suck. They get real finicky. I use to love them till I found GP high draw. I had an injector last all season last year and went through 4 in 3 months this year. Buy a bunch and don’t get bogged down trying to clean or fix them. It’ll save you a ton of headaches. Always have 2 spares because one will crap out after a week.
I just have to say, 5 years and you’re still on your original hoses, injectors and machine?
Shoot, in one year I went from separate 50’ sections to a 200’ continuous on a reel, replaced that already and bought about 5 injectors, along with an 8/3000 machine.
Your hoses are…hosed. Cut one in half once you get a new one, you’ll be amazed what’s going on in there.
I wash about 50 houses a year. Definitely not full time. But I agree. I feel like I’d be replacing hoses left and right. I’ll take an angle grinder to one in a day or so. I’ll try to remember to share some pics.
Replace the Orings, and check the old hoses again.
