Making a Pressure Washer a Drain Jetter

[harveymasons]

question on converting pressure washer to a sewer jet

Hi all,

I currently have a briggs and stratton 1808 pressure washer which comes with 50 ft of 3/8 hose. 10 hp 4 gpm with 3400 psi.
I need to turn my pressure washer into a sewer jet for a 4 inch main sewer line I have that is backed up. My question is this, I know it is not reccommended to go over a 50 ft hose with my pressure washer, and I will lose pressure with the longer hose but with all that said do you guys think I am better off going with a 1/4 x 100 ft or 3/8 x 100 ft of hose.

I matched up the sewer jet nozzles based on my specs of my briggs and stratton pressure washer but I Am worried that with 1/4 x 100 hose I will be losing too much pressure??

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

thanks in advance,
Harvey

 

[harveymasons]

question on modification to pressure washer

Hi all,

I currently have a briggs and stratton 1808 pressure washer which comes with 50 ft of 3/8 hose. 10 hp 4 gpm with 3400 psi.
I need to turn my pressure washer into a sewer jet for a 4 inch main sewer line I have that is backed up. My question is this, I know it is not reccommended to go over a 50 ft hose with my pressure washer, and I will lose pressure with the longer hose but with all that said do you guys think I am better off going with a 1/4 x 100 ft or 3/8 x 100 ft of hose.

I matched up the sewer jet nozzles based on my specs of my briggs and stratton pressure washer but I Am worried that with 1/4 x 100 hose I will be losing too much pressure??

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

thanks in advance,
Harvey

 

[Larry L.]

Go ahead and add 3/8 hose when needed,it doesn't take alot of psi to unblock a backed up sewer line unless cutting though tree roots.Just be careful and not blow it out inside the house,wifey will get pissed if you do.

 

[Larry L.]

Now harvey I know I'm getting oldtimers pretty bad,didn't I just see the same post somwhere else on the board.No harm done,the mods on this board tries to place all post where needed to get the most info.

 

[squirtgun]

The pressure loss will not be as noticable as you think.If you get a jetter line that quick conects to a regular gun you can control the pulsing action.This eliminates the need to purchase a pulsation valve that has to be mounted on your pump.

 

[harveymasons]

Sorry for posting same message in two forums. I didn't buy a pulsing valve, just 100 ft of 1/4 hp hose and then some nozzles for sewer jetting.

Also I was wondering how I will control the flow of water, I guess soon as I start up the motor flow will begin??

Any tips or opinions are greatly appreciated.

regards,
harvey

 

[squirtgun]

The 1/4" hose should QC or thread into the business end of your gun.Once you have it connected start the machine and you'll have flow.Start feeding the hose into the clogged drain line while opening and closing the trigger on the gun.

The only other advice I can offer is "keep your mouth closed".Nothing worse that some unknown substance flying out of a sewer drain getting on your tongue.

 

[Larry B]

The roto guy I saw sewer jetting used a ball valve to control the flow. That way he could slowly open it and adjust speed as needed.

 

[Mike Gwas]

I set one up with a foot pedal so you can feed line into the pipe with both hands....

 

[harveymasons]

Thanks for the responses guys,

I would LOVE to be able to control the flow w/ a foot pedal or even just a ball valve, but I am not sure how. Can you please explain where I can install a ball valve and have it control the flow? Please excuse my ignorance.

The way it will be, the gun/wand will not even be hooked up, I will be just connecting the 1/4 x 100 house directly to the output end of the pump and then the sewer jet nozzle on the opposite end which will be fed into the sewer line.

The way I was planning was to feed the hose all the way in before starting the motor on the washer. TO have a ball valve to be able to start and stop flow would make life SO MUCH EASIER!!!

as always thanks in advance,

regards,
harvey

 

[Mark]

We have them available:

Hands free control of sewer hose operation!
FEATURES:

May be used with a variety of accessories
Inlet/outlet positioned to help keep hoses out of the way
Pedal and valve are in protective housing
Heavy gauge steel construction for durability and stability
Valve is easily repaired with standard kit


Technical Notes
SPECIFICATIONS: Maximum Flow: 8 GPM
Maximum Pressure: 3000 PSI
Inlet: 3/8" FPT
Outlet: 1/4" FPT

 

[harveymasons]

Hi Larry,

I already ordered the 1/4 inch size hose so I hope that will do.

I am facing another problem now, I have a 4 inch cleanout then I will be inserting the hose into, turns out the nozzles I will be using will be spraying forward and reverse, so I think I need a way to cap the cleanout with something and only allow for just the 1/4 hose to fit inside so I don't get sprayed with all that sludge and bacteria. ANy suggestions??

regards,
harvey

 

[harveymasons]

question on hooking up a ball valve to pressure washer

Hi all,

I have a question hopefully someone can answer, I will be hooking up a 1/4 x 100 ft. high pressure hose to my briggs 10 hp pressure washer to do some sewer jetting. This will be a first time experiment for me.
Unfortunately the only way I can control the start and stop of the water flow is buy starting and or stopping the engine, I will not be using the gun/wand at all in this configuration, instead I will have a sewer jet nozzle on the end of the hose. Is it possible to hook up a ball valve somewhere on the line so I can control the stop/start of water with the ball valve instead of having to stop and start the engine?? And can I do this without risking damage to the pump?

I am just not sure where the ball valve would need to go. ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in adavance,
harvey

 

[Doug T]

Mark,
What size is the opening for the foot? Looks small in the picture, will size 15 with winter boots over work shoes fit in the opening? $$$ ?
Doug

 

[PressurePros]

I think you are better off putting a gun in-line. Ball valves can be a pain-in-the-azz to open and close at will. It is much easier to pulse with a gun.

If you have to control flow, put both.

 

[MR ALAN]

The ball valve needs to go between the hose and the pump in a convenient place that you can control the valve and keep your hands on the hose. A foot valve is the preferred device to use for this, and they can be found for a reasonable price in many places. Check with Mark, as I am most certain he can get them. Easy Clean Systems 800-292-3279

If you must use the ball valve, or even a trigger gun, it would be wise to have a helper for the extra set of hands.

 

[Staff]

Harvey,

We have merged your three threads on the
jetter topic to become this one thread.

 

[Larry L.]

You will need a unloader for the ball valve or gun,if you have no way of controling the psi other then starting and stopping the water flow you'll blow a hose if you haven't a unloader on the pump.

 

[harveymasons]

Hi Larry,

Can you elaborate a bit on this for me?? When you say unloader I believe my pump has a built in unloader? What does the unloader do and if I don't have one is it feasable to install on for my application?

If not I apologize for my ignorance on this subject.

The main sewer line I need to jet out actually is indoors and being my pressure washer is a gas engine I cannot operate in my house so this will be a two man job, one to start the motor outside and another guy to feed the hose into the drain. Without having any way to control the flow but by starting and stopping the engine I am not sure what do do here.

any help would be greatly appreciatd.

regards,
harvey

 

[Larry L.]

When you let off the trigger or turn off the ball valve the unloader kicks in and puts the water into bypass and no flow or psi will come out of the gun until you pull the trigger again.You can leave the motor and pump on until you need the psi and flow again,which you pull the trigger or turn on the ball valve.