Fact Checked By Daniel Wood | Post Updated On: April 29, 2023
Having a pump between a tank and a pressure washer is not always recommended unless it’s severely necessary, and it’s important to keep an extra reservoir close to the pump. It’s really important to know do I need a pump between my tank and pressure washer. Is it really necessary for uninterrupted work, or we can just let it be? Can my pressure washer pull the water from a tank that is placed lower?
When your machine is placed higher than a static water source, you might need an extra pump to pull the water from source to machine. Machines that have a powerful machine will be able to draw water from lower sources easily.
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Do I need a pump between my tank and pressure washer?
A pressure washer engine and pump have a certain capacity to generate water pressure and send it through a high-pressure hose. Now, the point is that water has to come to the pump from a source, and then the pump can generate pressure on it.
So if the source of water is placed higher than your machine, it’ll not be a big issue. Because of the gravitation pull, the water will come down to the device without effort. The problem comes when the water source is in a lower position than your machine because the water needs to be pulled to the pump.
Not all machines have the capacity to draw water to a higher place. When this is the case, we need another supportive pump which will be placed near-source and send the water to the pressure washer pump.
This situation arises when the source has static water in it. For example, if you use a faucet, you might not need another pump because the water is already under pressure, which sends it to the power washer pump.
Do pressure washer tanks need a pump?
A power washing machine combines multiple different parts, and a pump is one of them. When you buy a complete machine, they will provide you with a complete setup. For this reason, you don’t need any extra pump for a pressure washer.
However, in different situations, you might feel the need for an extra pump when you see the water supply is facing some difficulty.
If you use an extra pump, it’s advisable to have an extra reservoir beside your pressure washer. It’ll help to cope up with the different water supply rates between the pressure washer pump and the extra pump.
The GPM rate of both pumps might be different. When the pressure washer pump gets a low water supply, it cannot provide appropriate water flow. On the other hand, if the water supply is more in the pressure washer pump, it’ll create pressure on both the pump and hamper the performance. So it’s important to have a balance between the two pumps.
Can you run a pressure washer from a water tank?
Yes, you can run a pressure washer directly from a water tank, provided the tank has to be placed on your machine’s same or higher level. It’s easier from a power washer to draw water from a similar or higher level source. So if you think of using static water from a tank, you must follow the method above.
When you have a powerful pump attached to your pressure washer, you can count on it to draw water. However, it becomes difficult for the cheaper residential machines to pull the water, and it’s better to add an extra pump to work without any trouble.
Can a direct-drive pressure washer pull water from a tank?
A direct-drive pressure washer pump is connected directly to the engine shaft, which means the RPM of the engine and the pump are the same. Because of this direct connection, the pump runs at a higher speed, and as a result, it produces much heat.
The vibration of the engine directly affects the pump and creates noise. Also, since it runs at a faster rate, it cannot draw water from a tank. This type of pump works better when water is forced into it.
If you compare a direct-drive pressure washer to a belt drive one, the later will be more powerful. A belt drive pump has a larger tank for fuel, and it can run for a longer time without giving any trouble. If you think about their price, a direct-drive pressure washer is cheaper than its counterpart.
Conclusion
Working with a pressure washer might become difficult sometimes if you don’t know how to tackle the situation. It’s always better to use your faucet as the source of water as it contains water pressure.
In some cases, such as if your machine is placed higher than a water source and the source contains static water, you might need an extra pump. A direct-drive machine cannot draw water from a tank to the pump. Even if you use an extra pump, it’s always better to have a reservoir beside your pressure washer.
