can a pressure washer be connected to the same tap as a washine machine?

Hi, i hope this question doesnt sound too stupid, i have just bought a Nilfisk c110 pressure washer, i bought it on the assumption that i can just connect it to the same tap as my washine machine, i read that the unit can have a pressure going in of up to 10 bar, what pressure would a washine machine tab be?

i do have the connecters for connecting to either a normal tap or the washine machine tap, i would prefer the washine machine tap though as our taps out fairly old and when a hosepipe is connected they tend to have water coming out of the taps (not sure if the washers need replaceing etc..)

Is it safe to connect to this washine machine tap or is it too nuch pressure?

thanks

james

 

You can connect a pressure washer to any tap.
The "pressure" is within the machine, there's no "back pressure."
The tap just feeds the machine. The pressure is generated by the pump. I use an "industrial" size Karcher. It'll run off any tap, but I've two in the garden, so I don't have to have a hose trailing through the house. My wife wouldn't stand for that!

Sounds as if your taps do need the washers replacing.

Mind, we're still waiting for "professional advice."

 

No such things as stupid questions James, only stupid answers!
You should be fine connecting to any domestic tap. The pressure from your washing machine connection will be about the same as your normal taps.
10 bar = 10x14.5 psi which is 145 pounds per square inch and is pretty high pressure.

 

A word of warning about pressure washers. Never ever spray high pressure on the skin, it can blast the water straight through into the flesh, NOT a good idea.

When I worked for BT we had 'flu vaccinations each year. this was done with a similar pressure gun which delivered a measured amount through the skin with a press of the trigger, no needles involved. It was like a wasp sting without the after effects.

 

I think my big fifteen year-old Karcher pressure washer might take the paint off my car if I were daft enough to use it on it. It could probably put a dent in it.

 

you say you plumb your washing machine from a tap?
do you mean one of these valves?



there is nothing to say it wouldn't work although its not ideal.
these valves are designed to run on mains pressure and feed a washing machine , as to how much abuse they can withstand? you can only give it a whirl.
can you not fit an outside tap , its a fairly easy thing to do and wont cost a lot.

Rob. (plumber)

P.S. where is the water coming from your taps? it sounds like it could be the packing gland as the washer shouldn't let water through the tap body if the tap is open , it will drip when the tap is shut.

have a look here

http://www.leakingtaps.co.uk/

 

For anyone who has never done any basic plumbing before (and for those of us who have) "Speedfit" was invented for you. No need for pipe-bending springs, Yorkshire fittings, blow torches, compression fittings, olives, spanners or ptfe tape. Just a hacksaw to cut the plastic pipe, all the connectors are "twist fit" and can be un-done and tightened up again many times. It's also possible to connect it up to existing copper pipe.

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/speedfit.htm

 

i wouldnt use a hacksaw , you can damage the O ring in the fitting and i doubt the manufacturer would foot the bill for any repair work to a flooded house if the cut wasnt sharp and flat.
these are what we use to get perfect cuts.



also its not as easy as it sounds ,for instance always cut on the mark and make sure the fitting is pressed all the way home , your warranty could be effected if its not all done properly.

 

Let's not put people off. It is that easy.

I'm no plumber, checkout my topic "Pop Up Sprinklers," a hacksaw works fine, just need to tidy the ends up a bit if with a Stanley knife if they aren't square or are a bit "woolly," just common sense.
Not everyone can afford to go out and buy a specific tool for a job they might only do once. But most people will have a hacksaw.
For cutting copper pipe I've a tool that's barrel shaped with a side slot to take the pipe, you just place it over the pipe and turn it a couple of times, produces a nice square cut, but it's pretty redundant now, didn't try it on the speedfit.

 

Duplicate post.
Deleted

 

i suppose it depends on what you are doing , if you are fitting central heating into a customers half million pound house then you wont be using a hacksaw , if you are fitting a sprinkler system into your own garden then a hack saw will do just fine.
plumbing isn't easy , if it was there would be no need for plumbers nor would there be a need to spend 4 years of your life in college learning the basics.

a sharp stanley knife would be a better option to use than a hack saw , it will give you a cleaner cut , just be carefull of your fingers.:thumb:

 

We're more likely to be talking about sprinkler systems and outside taps than fitting central heating systems in half million pound houses on this board. The average gardener is unlikely to be "Corgi Registered" are they?

Basic plumbing (which is what we're talking about) now is easy with speedfit equipment.

If it takes as you say, four years to learn just the basics, there's something wrong there.

By the way, the "fingers" remark is a bit patronising.

 

nope , nothing wrong there , thats how long it takes , really. you wouldn't know because you obviously don't even know the basics.
there is no corgi anymore , we are now gas safe.

 

Err..

I guess my idea of basics, which is what this thread's about is less basic than yours.

The point of my saying "Corgi regestered" (I guess my use of speech marks was lost on you), was to highlight how pointless it was to talk about installing a central heating system, on a thread about tap connections.


But there you go, it takes all sorts.