How to Use a Pressure Washer With a Rain Barrel
Rain barrels allow you to use water around the yard without an increase in your water bill. Pressure-washers can use a costly amount of water, the cost of which can be mitigated by using water collected from rain runoff. Smaller pressure-washers (1.5 gmp, 1650 psi) can be connected to a typical rain barrel and used for cleaning projects. As rain barrels have much less pressure than a garden hose, however, you must take some extra precautions to ensure that your pressure-washer is not damaged.
Read the manufacturer's guide to your pressure-washer. There is a variety of models and each operates differently. Confirm that the motor is small enough to feed from a rain barrel.
Make sure that you have enough water for your job. A pressure-washer can only operate from a rain barrel until it draws down to two-thirds full. At this point, gravity is not sufficient to supply the water needed for the machine and the motor will begin to break down. Use the largest and fullest rain barrel available to ensure that you do not run low on water.
- Read the manufacturer's guide to your pressure-washer.
- A pressure-washer can only operate from a rain barrel until it draws down to two-thirds full.
Connect a hose filter to the hose bib of the rain barrel. The particulates from asphalt shingle roofs make their way into the water of rain barrel. These granules are abrasive to the pump on your pressure-washer and you must filter them out. Purchase a filter at your local hardware store for less than $20.
Run a hose between the filter and the pressure washer. The hose must be sound. Old or stressed hoses can burst under pressure. Verify that all connections are tight so that water is not lost to leakage.
- Connect a hose filter to the hose bib of the rain barrel.
- These granules are abrasive to the pump on your pressure-washer and you must filter them out.
Start the pressure-washer and use a test spray to determine if water is flowing through the filter and hose correctly. Listen for any unusual high-pitched sounds that might indicate that the motor is starved.
Commence pressure-washing while keeping an eye on the water level in the rain barrel. With a 55-gallon rain barrel, this can occur in less than 10 minutes. If the level drops past two-thirds full, stop the pressure washer and reconnect to another water source.
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Tips
- Wear protective clothing including eye wear and ear covering.
Writer Bio
In 2000 Kat Halpenny began working on the "Small Press Collective" literary magazine editorial staff. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Reed College and an Master of Public Administration from Portland State University.
