I read on the forums a while back about an aluminum extractor wand for hard floors people use sometimes to clean and reclaim water on hard floors inside buildings. Before I bought this cen-tec systems wand I called the manufacturer to ask him if this one would work with my 8 gallon per minute machine
He said it would work just fine as it’s rated for 3600 psi and I specifically asked if 8gpm would be too much and said no. Aside from having to change some of the fittings to work with our standard water pressure connections there is a couple other concerns. The flood jet spray tip has a very small orfice and will put out way too much pressure for my flow rate. I wanted to get a bigger tip to match my flow rate but then after speaking to a pressure specialist at Dultmier he told me that usually you want less than 500 psi on those extractors and that I should turn the pressure down. I’ve never messed with my unload her as I was advised to never do that. I know that many problems can happen quickly if you turn the pressure higher, but if I was to turn the pressure lower, then when returning it to normal pressure make sure I went back to the exact same spot, could that cause problems? I’ve never messed with my unloader as I was advised to never do that. I know that many problems can happen quickly if you turned the pressure higher. Basically want to be able to use the wand as intended but as of now I feel like I have a glorified $300 vacuum wand attachment that I can’t spray water through…
I mess with my unloader all the time to turn down the pressure on my surface cleaner for new construction concrete that is at least 1 year old. In order to do so safely though you have to have a pressure gauge. Not at the machine but at the end of your hose just before the surface cleaner.
I would start my machine, flip the SC over so it sprays up, and I would turn the unloader all the way down. Then I would hold the trigger down and turn my unloader up until I hit about 1000 psi on the gauge.
I also did this when I couldn’t find 4500 psi hose and had to buy 4000 psi hose because my machine is rated for 4200 and I just wanted to be safe. I just put the hose on, gauge at the end, and sprayed for a second then closed the trigger. I watched the gauge and made sure that it didn’t go above 4000 psi when the pressure built before the unloader kicked on to unload the pressure.
How low could you go on the pressure? What’s the reasoning for the turning the sc over so that it wouldn’t push back against the ground and show higher pressure?
I turn it over so I don’t tear up the sod or leave a ring in the concrete while adjusting. I mean you dont have to flip it over that’s just what I do to avoid leaving marks while adjusting. the pressure I’m measuring comes from the end of the hose just before the cleaner so water pushing the SC itself against the ground doesn’t change anything
I’ve realized that really anything under 1000 psi just doesn’t spin the bar enough to clean using the surface cleaner. You will see this if you do my method. The only thing is that if you choose to use a surface cleaner at that low of psi, you Have to really pull and push the heck out of it since here is no pressure to hover it around. I just can’t justify using a wand for larger concrete, even with a turbo
Just because it works doesn’t mean it’s the right way to go about it. Plenty of pump gurus say it’ll wear your pump out faster. There’s a reason why there’s a selection of nozzles and a nozzle chart. I would like to know a detailed explanation of how it causes faster wear or damage to the pump. I guess it could also have something to do with wearing out the unloader and in turn damaging the pump. Only takes a couple minutes to change out nozzles on a surface cleaner.
I know adjusting the unloader isn’t the best option, but I also don’t want to have to pull tools out to change tips and have to re-tape things. Turning the unloader takes seconds and is a temporary solution that works. I would love to learn is it really does damage anything ? Can’t see how it would as it is meant to be adjusted, that’s why they give you that big turn knob! If you do do it though, make sure you have a gauge so you aren’t adjusting in the blind.
Some concrete requires different pressure. 20
Year old concrete can take more psi then new concrete. I know many people are nervous using a surface cleaner on new concrete because of the cream. I have never had a problem cleaning new concrete as long as I adjust the pressure down.
Adjusted and the key word “set” once it’s set throw that knob out the window while travelling on the highway, you could hit somebody in the suburbs. Changing tips is part of the job. Thers a reason a screwdriver sets aren’t all flat heads.
A lot of unloaders for professional pressure washers don’t have a big turn knob. Even the ones that do usually have a stop nut that you tighten down once you get it properly set.
I know changing the tips is the preferred way. I just haven’t had any problem with adjusting the unloader when needed. Almost 98% of the time it is set and not moving. I haven’t noticed any odd sounds or damage changing the unloader once in a blue moon. I wonder if there is any background on why you shouldn’t change the unloader once you set your preferred working Pressure.
I’d also like to know the exact reasoning behind it. From what I gather it causes premature pump wear but I’m not positive. If it just causes premature wear you’re just going to lose some life expectancy. There might be other reasons too though. I’m sure we can find out.
