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What does a Pulse Hose do on a Pressure Washer (Professional Tips)

Fact Checked By Daniel Wood | Post Updated On: April 29, 2023

A pump of a pressure washer has many things to face, and one of them is pulsation. It is the continuous chatter or vibration that happens during operation. Its scientific explanation is that when a pump works, its pistons rotate and push the water. A pump contains 2-3 pistons that work continuously while operating. There is an interval after each piston pushes the water, which creates a spike which is calls a pulse. To complete an entire cycle of 3 pistons, the pump generates 3 pulses which create vibration. These spikes need to be lowered to provide an uninterruptable supply of water. In many cases, a pulse dampener is used to absorb the shock and ensure continuous flow.

The pulse hose works like a dampener to reduce the spike of shock generated by the pump. It’s a slightly stretchable hose that expands when the forced water goes inside and contracts in less force. One side of this hose is connected to the pump outlet, and the other is the HP hose.

what does a pulse hose do on a pressure washer

What is a Pulse Hose

A pulse hose is a high-pressure hose that has a slightly expandable feature to it. When pressure is applied, it increases its size by a little, returning to its regular shape with no pressure. This hose is basically designed to absorb the shock of a pump and maintain a smooth and continuous flow of water. It works like a dampener, and because of that, people use it in their pressure washer.

This type of hose is expensive because of the material used to make it. This is why the manufacturers of pressure washers don’t provide pulse hoses with their devices.

If you want to use a pulse hose, you have to buy it extra. If you see a large pump that does big work, there is a good chance you will find a pulse dampener as well. It reduces the spike of water force and makes it smooth before the final output.

The Role of a pulse hose in a pump system

A pulse or spike in a pump is the reason for multiple damages and slow work performance. When the pulse is generated inside a pump, it creates immense pressure, and its uneven pressure damages the internal parts.

It makes the parts wear off easily and quickly, and to save them, this shock needs to be reduced. This is when a pulse hose plays its Role and absorbs the shock.

When pressurized water or water spike goes through a pulse hose, it increases its size to give extra room for the pressure. Again when the pressure is reduced, the hose comes back to its standard shape.

This process is continued throughout the operation at an immense speed. Because of this process, when the water gets inside the hose, it contains a big spike, but when it comes out through the other side, the spike is almost absorbed.

The pulse hose ensures the uninterruptable water supply to the spray gun so that the cleaning work is not interrupted or there is no jerk.

What does a Pulse Hose do on a Pressure Washer?

The work of a pulse hose is like a pulse dampener. Dampener takes in the shock of the water, and when it lets out the water, the shock is almost absorbed.

A pulse hose connects a pump to its water outlet through which pressurized water comes out. The other end of this hose connects to the high-pressure hose that is attached to the spray gun.

So while the pulse hose absorbs operation, the spike is generated by your pressure washer, but the water force is not reduced. Because of this reason, the machine’s performance will remain intact.

The GPM of a power washer measures the length of your pulse hose. This type of hose is very costly, and you definitely don’t want to put a long pulse hose.

Generally, 6 feet pulse hose is applicable for 1 GPM. If your machine has 2.8 GPM power, you should attach an almost 17 inches pulse hose to your pressure washer.

Some manufacturers suggest the users use a pulse dampener which is not possible in most cases. A pulse dampener can be a bulky part, and you need to put extra effort into carrying and maintaining it.

Conclusion

The pressure washer manufacturer always does extensive research to provide its customers with the maximum facility and safety at the lowest price. They don’t put a dampener in a pressure washer keeping its hassle and cost in mind.

For this reason, they make such a kind of pump where the minimum pulsation takes place. So, without a pulse hose, you can use your pressure washer. The pulse hose is not a mandatory component of your machine, but if you use it, you will be benefitted anyway.

Must Read: The top 7 pressure washer hose reviews, and guides


About Daniel Wood

Daniel has completed his graduation mechanical engineering from a reputed university in US. He worked as a technical engineer in a pressure washer manufacturing plant for four years. He has a great passion for mechanical devices and has opened a workshop where he does research on various machines in his leisure time. His high interest in technology made him an expert in commercial and residential pressure washers.

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