What you need to know about pressure washer hoses

If your business has demanding cleaning needs, you should invest in a high-pressure washer hose that can get the job done right. Here are some things to keep in mind about these hoses so that you can extend the lifespan of your equipment and ensure it’s used safely.

Pressure washer hoses are specialized components used for cleaning in a variety of commercial industries. They can withstand high pressures between 3,000 PSI and 6,000 PSI, and they’re built to handle extreme temperatures ranging from -40 C to 135 C. When fitted with the right accessories, they can be used to clean stubborn dirt off roads and building sites, disinfect industrial kitchens and strip oil, grease, paint and rust from trucks and farm implements.

What makes pressure washer hoses so strong?

Pressure washer hoses have three layers made of heavy-duty, durable materials. This makes them ideal for demanding industries. Here’s a look at what’s in each layer:

• The inner layer. This is the innermost layer that’s exposed to the cleaning solvent or water. It’s usually made of oil-resistant synthetic rubber, such as neoprene, which can withstand exposure to a variety of solvents and extreme temperatures.
• The middle layer. This layer houses the hose reinforcement. It usually consists of one or two braids made of high tensile steel or high strength yarn. The wire reinforcement is responsible for holding the hose together when it’s under high pressure.
• The third layer. This is the outermost layer, commonly referred to as the hose cover. It’s usually made of a durable material such as carboxylate nitrile, which is pin-pricked to allow trapped steam and vapours to escape. This prevents blistering on the surface.

If you’re unsure about which materials are suitable for your specific needs, the expert team at Hotsy Water Blast would be happy to help. We can also offer advice on temperature and pressure ratings.

Tips for maintaining pressure washer hoses

Proper care and maintenance are important to extend the lifespan of your high-pressure water hose. Keeping a hose in good condition is also a matter of safety. When a hose blowout occurs due to worn out or damaged equipment, water and cleaning solvents under very high pressure (and often at extreme temperatures) are released, which can cause serious injuries.

Here are six tips for taking care of your pressure washer hose:

1. Use attachments that fit

If you plan to use spray wands, nozzles or pressure washer attachments with your hose, you need to make sure you have the correct fittings, couplers and adapters. Hose blowouts are often caused by improperly fitted attachments that come loose under pressure.

2. Don’t drag or kink it

Although pressure washer hoses are made to be flexible, you should avoid aggressively pulling on them, forcing them around corners or repeatedly dragging them over rough surfaces. Doing so can weaken the hose over time, making it more susceptible to failure and blowout. For example, kinks in the hose can compromise the braided reinforcement, and abrasion can wear away the hose cover, exposing the metal braiding and making it vulnerable to rust.

3. Don’t flatten it

Driving over pressure washer hoses with heavy equipment by accident can happen. However, they aren’t designed to frequently withstand this type of abuse. When a hose is flattened, the braided reinforcement can break, which could potentially lead to a blowout. Since the hose quickly regains its shape, however, you won’t be able to tell if it’s been damaged. That’s why it’s so important to avoid flattening it in the first place.

4. Use it correctly

Pressure washer hoses should only be used at their specific temperature and pressure rating. Temperatures that are too high can cause the rubber of the hose to harden and crack. Similarly, excessive pressure can damage the hose materials and compromise their integrity.

5. Keep it clean

As with any other type of equipment, pressure washer hoses should be properly cleaned after each use. For example, if you leave your hose lying around in liquid, solvents can seep through the pinpricks and degrade the wire reinforcement.

In addition, if you live in a climate where it regularly gets below freezing, you should winterize your hose by removing excess liquids after each use. If water or solvent sits in the hose and freezes, it can expand and cause damage to the inner rubber tube or wire reinforcement.

6. Store it safely

Storing your hose properly will help keep it safe from damage when it’s not being used. Investing in a specialized high-pressure hose reel will prevent your hose from getting stepped on, driven over, kinked or flattened. In addition, a reel can make it easier to use a flexible pressure washer hose since you don’t have to carry it around or wrap it up by hand.

Taking these simple precautions will allow you to safely use your hose for years to come.

Cleaning system experts in Western Canada

If you need a pressure washer hose for your commercial business, Hotsy Water Blast has you covered. Our Hotsy brand high-pressure hoses are the strongest and toughest in the industry. In addition, our Tuff-Skin™ hose is seven times more resistant to abrasion than standard pressure washing hoses and 20 per cent more flexible. If you have unique cleaning needs, we can create a custom cleaning system to ensure your daily operations run as smoothly as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our products.