Pressure washer hose fittings are items that connect pressure hoses, pumps, and trigger guns to pressure washers. Pressure washer hose connectors have to be sturdy enough to resist high pressure and to hold the connected parts together without causing leaks.
Pressure washer hose fittings are divided into five main types: swivels, splitters, couplers, adapters, and quick-connect fittings. Pressure washer hose connectors come in various sizes and can be made of brass, plastic, or stainless steel. The price of a pressure washer hose fitting ranges between $5 and $15. This pressure washer hose fitting guide discusses all these factors in detail.
Why Do You Need Pressure Washer Fittings?
Pressure washer hose fittings, adapters, and couplers are needed to connect the pressure washer to pressure washer accessories such as pressure washer hoses and enable the cleaning process.
When Do You Need Fittings?
Pressure washer fittings are needed in the following situations:
- To turn screw fittings to quick connect,
- To attach surface cleaners, foamers, or pressure gauges to the hose,
- To prevent hose kinks by using swivel fittings,
- To replace a high-pressure hose or extend the one that is already attached to the pressure washer.
What Are Pressure Washer Hose Fittings Made Of?
Pressure washer hose fittings are made from materials that can tolerate 1,000 – 4,000 PSI and that are resistant to corrosion such as brass, stainless steel, or plastic.
1. Brass
Brass pressure washer hose fittings are resistant to corrosion and high pressure because they contain copper and zink that have low melting points. Brass pressure washer hose fittings are easy to mold to different shapes, more expensive than plastic pressure washer hoses and less expensive than stainless steel pressure washer hoses.
2. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel pressure washer hose fittings are strong and resistant to pressure, corrosion, and chemicals.
3. Plastic
Plastic pressure washer hoses fittings are light and cheap and can only be used with light-duty electric pressure washers. Plastic pressure washer hoses fittings are not as resistant as brass or stainless steel pressure washer hose fittings and can crack if extremely high pressure is applied.
What Are the Types of Pressure Washer Hose Fittings Available?
The main types of pressure washer hose fittings available are swivel and quick connect fittings.
1. Swivel Fittings
Swivel fittings prevent the pressure washer hose from kinking and enable spinning of the swivel tube without twisting the spray wand or the pressure washer gun.
2. Quick Connect Fittings
Quick connect fittings allow connecting and removing the pressure washer hose within seconds and prevent leaks. There are male, also known as the plug, and female, also known as the socket, quick connect pressure washer hose fittings.
How Do You Measure Pressure Washer Hose Fittings and Connections?
To measure pressure washer hose fittings and connections, measure the external and internal diameter of the fitting, measure female and male fittings, and get informed about the thread standard of a pressure washer fitting.
1. Measuring the External vs Internal Diameter
Internal and external diameters of the pressure washer hose fittings should be measured so fittings match the pressure hose. Some M22 screw connections have a 14mm internal diameter on gas pressure washers and a 15mm internal diameter on electric pressure washers.
2. Female and Male Fittings Measurement
Female pressure washer hose fittings look like sockets and they connect with male connectors and lock them in place. Male connectors have plugs or pins that allow inserting them into female sockets.
3. NPT vs BPT/BSP Pipe Thread
NPT or National Pipe Thread is the U.S. technical standard for screw threads. BSP or British Standard Pipe is the British technical standard for screw threads.
According to NPT standards, a 3/8” pipe size has an outer diameter of 0.675 inches (17.145mm) and a thread pitch of 0.05555 inches (1.411 mm). According to BSP standards, a 3/8” pipe has an outer diameter of 0.6560 inches (16.662mm) and a thread pitch of 0.0526 inches (1.337mm).
An NPT screw connection can’t be connected to a female BSP connection or the connection will lock up.
What Are the Different Sizes of Pressure Washer Hose Fittings Available?
Different sizes of pressure washer hose fittings available are the ⅜” BSP thread size, M22 threads, and quick connect plug and socket sizes.
1. 3/8” BSP Thread Size
A British Standard Pipe thread of 3.8” in diameter is sized at around 16.66mm (~2/3-inch).
2. M22 Threads (M22 pressure washer hose fittings)
The inner diameter of M22 pressure washer hoses is 14mm for gas pressure washers or 15mm for electric pressure washers and the outer diameter is 22mm. An O-ring should be used on the M22 female connections to prevent leaks.
3. Quick Connect Plug and Socket Sizes
Quick connects are sized at 3/8” and have male and female fittings that don’t have threading on the inside and easily snap into one another.
How Are Pressure Washer Hose Fittings Used?
The instructions on how are pressure washer hose fittings used are explained below:
- Dual M22 Male Coupling to Increase the Length of Two Hoses
Dual M22 pressure washer hose connectors can be used to extend the length of two pressure hoses. Two M22 female hose ends can be connected by using dual M22 male coupling.
- Quick Connect Fittings for Easier Connection of the High-Pressure Hose to the Pump
A pressure hose can be connected to the pressure washer pump by using an M22 male thread and a female ⅜” quick connect socket and then attaching a fitting with a male quick-connect plug to the pump outlet.
- Multiple Fittings for Insertion of the Pressure Gauge between Spray Gun and Hose
A pressure washer hose can be connected to the spray gun by attaching the M22 female hose connection to an M22 male connection, then a quick connect male plug, a 3/8” QC female, a 3/8” QC make plug pressure gauge, 3/8” quick connect, M22 female, and M22 male connector.
- Quickly Connect Hose to Spray Gun
The pressure washer hose can be connected to the spray gun by using the M22 male thread and the 3/8” quick connect socket that should be attached at the end of the spray gun and make it easier to install and remove the spray wand.
Are Pressure Washer Hose Fittings for Electric and Gas Pressure Washers Different?
Yes, pressure washer hose fittings for electric and gas pressure washers, such as the M22 screw connections, can be different.
How to Maintain Your Pressure Washer Hose Fittings?
Maintenance of pressure washer hose fittings involves lubricating O-rings that easily get dry and twist and tear. Regular oil and silicone plumber’s grease should be applied to O-rings every five uses.
What Pressure Washer Hose Fittings Are the Best to Have?
The best pressure washer hose fittings are gun swivels and quick connect couplers because they prevent hose kinking and facilitate connecting and disconnecting pressure washer hoses to pumps and spray guns.
Good info, thank you, Adam.
Hi Calvin,
Thanks for the kind feedback.
Cheers!