# Setting Unloader to lower psi **URL:** \ **Category:** Machine Repairs\ **Created:** [June 23, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547 "2019-06-23T03:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chinoltw](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@chinoltw](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/chinoltw)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/1 "2019-06-23T03:53:54Z")
Hey guys, tried searching around before writing this. Just have a quick question i need some confirming. I have a machine thats a 4 gpm, 4k psi. I find most of the time its way too much pressure. If i lower the pressure on the unloader and set it say 3500 psi, will i lose gpm or will it just lower the psi but keep gpm intact? Any help much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![marinegrunt](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/marinegrunt/32/9556_2.png) [@marinegrunt](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/marinegrunt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/2 "2019-06-23T03:55:54Z")
Set the unloader properly and leave it. You adjust pressure via nozzle selection. ![Nozzle%20Chart](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f32030a539cf8af3ebcde6c850cf32948f975715.png) ---
**Author:** ![DisplacedTexan](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/displacedtexan/32/29182_2.png) [@DisplacedTexan](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/DisplacedTexan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/3 "2019-06-23T03:55:59Z")
Always lower your pressure by using different nozzles or tips. Never lower with the unloader. Like never ever. ---
**Author:** ![chinoltw](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@chinoltw](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/chinoltw)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/4 "2019-06-23T04:01:15Z")
Just an update. When i mean lowering with the unloader i do not mean just twisting it manually, i mean actually setting it at 3500 psi ---
**Author:** ![Sasquatch](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/sasquatch/32/26940_2.png) [@Sasquatch](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Sasquatch)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/5 "2019-06-23T04:09:54Z")
Nozzles! Leave the unloader set properly. ---
**Author:** ![DisplacedTexan](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/displacedtexan/32/29182_2.png) [@DisplacedTexan](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/DisplacedTexan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 4:15am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/6 "2019-06-23T04:15:23Z")
The unloader should be set with the amount of hose you intend to run most often and it should be set to bypass just a trickle. The psi it’s set at is not important really. If you want to lower the psi use a different nozzle ---
**Author:** ![chinoltw](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@chinoltw](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/chinoltw)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/7 "2019-06-23T04:25:49Z")
Yeah thats what i figured. Was just trying to see what other ideas i could do. ---
**Author:** ![anon26752184](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@anon26752184](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/anon26752184)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 11:07am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/8 "2019-06-23T11:07:50Z")
You will lose flow. Pressure sensitive unloaders should be bypassing about 5% of your flow rate to protect the pump 👍🏻 Screwing it in will increase bypass and therefore reduce flow. If you’ve screwed it in or out - best to set it again. On a 4@4 the “spike” of the needle movement on your pressure gauge (when you let off the trigger) should be at 4000psi (or just a bit over) no more. Then use the chart previously posted and buy the correct nozzles to lower the pressure - but not the very important flow 👌🏻 ---
**Author:** ![dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/dcbrock/32/38857_2.png) [@dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/dcbrock)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/9 "2019-06-23T16:58:44Z")
Interesting. When i bought my 5.5/3500 I asked if the unloader needed to be set and they said it was already done at the factory. When off the trigger my bypass hose to the tank _really_ blasts, I’d say it’s at least half flow if not more. Maybe I need to adjust it a bit? ---
**Author:** ![PristineGC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/pristinegc/32/30362_2.png) [@PristineGC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/PristineGC)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/10 "2019-06-23T17:26:05Z")
@dcbrock An unloader diverts full flow during bypass. Setting the unloader only affects flow directed through the high pressure outlet. If your bypass water is blasting out then increase the bypass hose size and/or make sure it is exiting near the bottom of the tank. 3/8” hose should be sufficient ---
**Author:** ![anon26752184](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@anon26752184](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/anon26752184)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/11 "2019-06-23T22:15:55Z")
> [@dcbrock](#): > > When off the trigger my bypass hose to the tank _really_ blasts, I’d say it’s at least half flow if not more. Maybe I need to adjust it a bit? The blast is normal when off the trigger 👍🏻 The bypass when ON the trigger should be a trickle/5%. I found this old webpage, 9 years old - but it’s still pretty good… [http://www.epowerwash.com/wp/archives/631](http://www.epowerwash.com/wp/archives/631) ---
**Author:** ![LoganWashesStuff](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/loganwashesstuff/32/44068_2.png) [@LoganWashesStuff](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/LoganWashesStuff)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/12 "2024-06-23T23:12:29Z")
How can you set it to bypass just a trickle? ---
**Author:** ![Anton\_C\_K](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Anton\_C\_K](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Anton_C_K)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/13 "2024-06-24T01:50:36Z")
> [@Setting new unloader](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-new-unloader/13390): > > I’ve been doing a lot of research with the search feature about this. I’ve never set an unloader before and will be setting one tomorrow with new 5.5 gear drive pump connected to gx390. I’ve seen a few different opinions on here…but I’m just wanting to be sure since you guys have set a million of them. Correct me if anything is wrong here: Use a max pressure tip matched for your pump (7.0) for me. Start machine…squeeze trigger and don’t let go. Adjust unloader up or down until slight trickle … ---
**Author:** ![LoganWashesStuff](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/loganwashesstuff/32/44068_2.png) [@LoganWashesStuff](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/LoganWashesStuff)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/14 "2024-06-24T02:21:27Z")
How can I know if it’s just trickling though? My bypass line isn’t plumbed to my buffer tank yet ---
**Author:** ![dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/dcbrock/32/38857_2.png) [@dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/dcbrock)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2024, 3:01am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/setting-unloader-to-lower-psi/20547/15 "2024-06-24T03:01:59Z")
I guess just pop the bypass line off where it loops back into the supply fitting, maybe. Temporarily cap off that fitting it would normally feed back into. Honestly the sooner you can get a belt drive the better, even a little 20 gallon buffer tank will work wonders for a small 4gpm unit. It’s a shame all these beginners rush to get a 4k/4gpm without knowing the pitfalls of direct drive.