Pressure Washer Nozzles - Type and Size Guide
A Professional's Guide to Pressure Washer Nozzles
Pressure washers are incredibly useful and invaluable for many different tasks, from cleaning patios and hard surfaces to brickwork, removing marine growth from ship hulls, or cleaning agricultural or heavy-duty construction equipment.
Pressure Washer Nozzles are unsung heroes of the jet washer world and play a crucial role in the cleaning process. These unassuming attachments determine the water flow pattern and impact, significantly influencing cleaning efficiency and surface safety. This guide empowers professional pressure washer users to make informed decisions about nozzle selection, highlighting their important role in the cleaning process.
Nozzles do wear out. Due to the high-pressure water flow, the orifice or hole in the nozzle slowly gets larger, which causes a decrease in pressure over time. A new nozzle will restore the correct pressure and a clean fan pattern.
High-pressure nozzles are made from stainless steel, with options for much harder wearing ceramic nozzles for longer life and a more consistent spray pattern. Consider a ceramic nozzle as an upgrade when you replace or add to your nozzle selection.
Pressure Washer Nozzle Types:
The nozzle fan pattern can have a big effect on cleaning power and the potential damage the water pressure could cause. For example, you should not clean wooden surfaces with a 0° nozzle, as this would damage the wood grain. Similarly, trying to wash sticky clay from a digger with a wide-angle 40° nozzle won't work.
Standard Fan Nozzles: These colour-coded nozzles offer varying spray angles for diverse applications:
 | Red - 0° Fan Pattern | Pencil-thin, high-impact jet for stubborn grime on hard surfaces like concrete or stripping paint. Exercise extreme caution due to its high-powered nature. You can buy the Red - 0° Fan Pattern Nozzle here |
 | Yellow - 15° Fan Pattern | Narrow fan spray for blasting away heavy dirt and grime from paving, driveways, and plant machinery and equipment. You can buy the Yellow - 15° Fan Pattern Nozzle here |
 | Green - 25°Fan Pattern | Versatile medium-range fan spray - ideal for general cleaning tasks like decks, patios, and vehicles. You can buy the Green - 25°Fan Pattern Nozzle here |
 | White - 40° Wide Fan Pattern | Wide, gentle fan spray pattern for softer surfaces like wood siding, windows, and painted surfaces. You can buy the White - 40° Wide Fan Pattern nozzle here |
 | Black - 65° Low Pressure | A low-pressure, wide fan spray is used to apply cleaning solutions or rinsing soap. It is also used for low-pressure chemical pick-up injection. It is Perfect for applying TFR (Traffic Film Remover) or other soaps and cleaning agents. |
Turbo Nozzles or Rotary Nozzles
Rotating Turbo Nozzles combine the high impact of a 0° nozzle with the wider coverage of a 25° nozzle. Really efficient and Ideal for tough cleaning tasks on hard surfaces like concrete and brick, but caution is advised due to their intense power. Be careful with mortar joints and other softer stone and patio slabs as the power can be sufficient to remove surface material quickly.
Adjustable Pressure Washer Nozzles
Adjustable Nozzles: These offer variable spray patterns, allowing for quick switching between different cleaning tasks without changing nozzles. Usually, these nozzles use 2 steel plates at the nozzle tip ot vary the shape of the nozzle pattern, making it possible to adjust between narrow to wide to suit the task quickly.
High-Pressure Quick Release Fittings:
Invest in quick-release pressure washer fittings for efficient nozzle changes. This saves time and minimizes the risk of dropping or damaging nozzles during operation. Most quick release fitting use an 11.7mm fitting, known as an AR1
Special Pressure Washer Cleaning Attachments:
Beyond standard nozzles, consider these specialised attachments for specific cleaning needs:
- Flat Surface Cleaners: Flat or round attachments ideal for cleaning large, flat surfaces like patios, driveways, and garage floors with increased efficiency. These Whirlaway flat surface cleaners work so efficiently by positioning the nozzles just off the surface on a rotating bar, making large areas quick to clean with low user fatigue.
- Drain Jetters: Nozzles designed for cleaning clogged sewage drains and pipes. They have rear-facing jets to power the hose forward and forward jets to blast away the blockage and clean the pipework.
- Foam Cannon or Snow Foam Bottle: Creates thick foam by special detergent soap cleaning solutions, improving dwell time and cleaning efficiency. Popular with car detailers and valets for vehicle bodywork.
Whirlaway Flat Surface Cleaner | Drain Jetting Nozzle | Snow Foam Nozzle |
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Pressure Washer Nozzle Size:
Nozzle size refers to the orifice diameter and directly impacts the water flow rate. Choosing the correct size is crucial for optimal performance and safety. The pressure washer pump requires the correct size nozzle to match back pressure and flow rate, so regardless of the fan pattern, you need to match the nozzle size to the machine pump.
Use the following tables to match your washer's Pressure and Flow rate to get the correct nozzle size. Then, you can choose the type of nozzle or fan pattern required. Pressure in Bar from the Blue box, then look down to find the nearst flow rate to match. Then look to the left to get the nozzle size in the yellow boxes.
E.g. 200Bar at 10L/min with show a 3.2 nozzle size. Or 150 Bat at 15L/min. you would need to go to 15.3L/min for a 055 nozzle size.
Free download of the Pressure Washer Nozzle size chart 70Bar to 600Bar.
Remember: Always refer to your pressure washer's manual for specific nozzle compatibility and pressure limitations. By understanding nozzle types, sizing, and special attachments, professional pressure washer users can optimise cleaning performance, ensure safety, and achieve the best results on every job.
If you have any questions, please contact our friendly pressure washer experts for more information.