Pressure washer extension

[jack_c]

Just reading the tractor cleaning thread and it got me thinking.

I currently have the hot wash in its own dedicated shed but would like to set up a wash bay somewhere else. Not seriously far away but maybe 150ft away.

Can I pipe the pressure washer to this area without loosing pressure? I currently have lots of extensions as it is but was wanting to do a fixed set up to new point of use.

Do I increase the pipe size then step it down at point of use? Better to use rigid pipe or stick with hydraulic hose that I'm using currently?

The washer is an Erle 923 if that makes any difference?

 

[mo!]

Just reading the tractor cleaning thread and it got me thinking.

I currently have the hot wash in its own dedicated shed but would like to set up a wash bay somewhere else. Not seriously far away but maybe 150ft away.

Can I pipe the pressure washer to this area without loosing pressure? I currently have lots of extensions as it is but was wanting to do a fixed set up to new point of use.

Do I increase the pipe size then step it down at point of use? Better to use rigid pipe or stick with hydraulic hose that I'm using currently?

The washer is an Erle 923 if that makes any difference?

Rigid large bore would be best, you'll lose lots of heat over that length unless you insulate it well. By the time you've done it properly you'll be halfway to a second washer.

 

[Lincs Lass]

I've done it with big single phase karcher ,,not that length though and it hasn't made any diference .

 

[jack_c]

Rigid large bore would be best, you'll lose lots of heat over that length unless you insulate it well. By the time you've done it properly you'll be halfway to a second washer.

Would be mostly used on cold really but had thought that too.

Would lag the pipe anyway.

 

[jack_c]

I've done it with big single phase karcher ,,not that length though and it hasn't made any diference .

What bore pipe did you use?
Currently it's on 5/16 hose

 

[Exfarmer]

Flow rate of a pressure washer is not that high , so drag losses would be low

 

[Lincs Lass]

What bore pipe did you use?
Currently it's on 5/16 hose

Think it's 1/4 bore

 

[Wisconsonian]

Don't take my word for it, look up the pressure drop charts. The pressure drop required to flow a certain volume of water through a certain length and size of pipe does not vary with the pressure of the water, as far as I know. If you're buying a new length of hydraulic hose for this purpose, then I'd guess 1/2" would be plenty to keep the pressure drop to a minimum and not cost much more than 3/8", but do the numbers and see.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Why not just t off the mdpe from the tap and run it to the point you want?

 

[blackisleboy]

Don't take my word for it, look up the pressure drop charts. The pressure drop required to flow a certain volume of water through a certain length and size of pipe does not vary with the pressure of the water, as far as I know. If you're buying a new length of hydraulic hose for this purpose, then I'd guess 1/2" would be plenty to keep the pressure drop to a minimum and not cost much more than 3/8", but do the numbers and see.

Correct....the pressure drop in the pipe will be tiny compared to the pressure at the pump. Pressure drop is a function of velocity in the pipe....if you use a larger diameter pipe the friction losses are smaller and the pressure drop is smaller. Its not easy to calculate accurately unless you know the technical details of the pipe - but as a rule of thumb keep the water velocity to below 2 metres/second and you wont have anything to worry about.

 

[jack_c]

Why not just t off the mdpe from the tap and run it to the point you want?

I don't want to move the washer was my thoughts

 

[jack_c]

Flow rate of a pressure washer is not that high , so drag losses would be low

Don't take my word for it, look up the pressure drop charts. The pressure drop required to flow a certain volume of water through a certain length and size of pipe does not vary with the pressure of the water, as far as I know. If you're buying a new length of hydraulic hose for this purpose, then I'd guess 1/2" would be plenty to keep the pressure drop to a minimum and not cost much more than 3/8", but do the numbers and see.

Correct....the pressure drop in the pipe will be tiny compared to the pressure at the pump. Pressure drop is a function of velocity in the pipe....if you use a larger diameter pipe the friction losses are smaller and the pressure drop is smaller. Its not easy to calculate accurately unless you know the technical details of the pipe - but as a rule of thumb keep the water velocity to below 2 metres/second and you wont have anything to worry about.

Thanks for the replies,

Was thinking 1/2 should be enough, would you just go rubber hydraulic pipe? If going steel it would need to be stainless to stop it rusting.

Have already got more than this distance in 3/8 but was thinking if making it a permanent affair the 1/2 would be better.