Extension Cord for Pressure Washer: Can You Use One?

If you’re questioning the compatibility of your pressure washer with an extension cord, you’re not alone. This is a frequently asked question, and we have the answer. Our comprehensive research will provide you with the information you need.

You can safely use an extension cord with your pressure washer if it is 14-gauge or thicker and no longer than 60 feet. Keep the plug away from water and never exceed the cord’s wattage rating.

What if we told you that the key to a more effective pressure washer could be as simple as choosing the right extension cord? Intrigued? Join us as we explore this often-overlooked aspect of pressure washing.

Safety Precautions You Must Follow While Using an Extension Cord With Your Pressure Washer:

Always keep the plug away from the standing water, sprinkler system, spray, and runoff. Ensure a safe distance between the plug and the object you might be pressure washing.

Fit this power cord and the pressure washer you use snugly and plugin tightly to keep the connection safe and solid. It is important to remember that just pressure washers can’t do the job alone; you need a good extension cord gauge, too—never plug in extension cords together.

Extending the length of your 25-foot extension cord by daisy-chaining may lead to overheating your extension cable. This may create a severe fire hazard. Joe always says, “Absolutely never daisy-chain extension cords!”

• Understanding the Risks of Chaining Extension Cords

By chaining them together, you also reduce the electrical current and gauge to a great degree. You will probably be left with your pressure washer not getting sufficient power to operate correctly and give the desired results. Installing an additional electrical outlet instead is the safest option. 

Outlets are a better solution than daisy-chaining. Never exceed the rating of your extension cord. All extension cords have certain wattage limits. It would be best if you always respected the wattage limits. If something goes wrong, you should move to plan B, which could use generators.

Never connect a space heater and a pressure washer into the same extension cord, as a one thousand and five hundred watt space heater typically draws 12.5 amp. It will overload a sixteen-gauge extension cord.

• The Risks of Forcing an Extension Cord into a Two-Prong Outlet

Never use the adapter plugs to connect three wire plugs to a two-prong receptacle without grounding. You can find good outdoor extension cords for your electric pressure washers in this room. And remember, never try to use a recipe with an extension cord!

If your extension cord has three prongs, you must use all three. One prong is hot, the second is neutral, and the third is the grounder. If you force an extension cord to plug into a two-prong outlet, you risk electrocution.

The third prong of your extension cord drastically minimizes the fire risk by giving power surges a safe place to dissipate. Never plug your sensitive devices into any standard extension cords.

• Preventing Extension Cord Hazards: Placement Matters

Minor surges can damage sensitive machines, so connecting them to extension cords with a built-in surge protector is very important. Never allow your extension cords to become a trip hazard. Lay it out of the way of foot traffic.

Always avoid running your extension cord over a high-traffic area like the lobby, aisle, corridor, or lounge of your home or office. If your extension cord is loosely hanging, it can be tripped over. It will get hooked on and will be ultimately disconnected.

Not only is it a tripping hazard, but it will also pull down the machines connected to it, causing a life-risking accident, resulting in a burnt extension cord and the pressure washer being damaged beyond repair. Never hide your extension cord under your carpets or furniture.

– Understanding the Risks of Overheating Extension Cords

This will overheat the extension cord and start a fire. If the area or object you plan to pressure wash is too far away, consider setting up an additional electrical outlet near that area or object. Never rely on staples or nails to mount your extension cords.

If you want to prevent it from loosely hanging and getting unplugged again and again, metallic staples or nails are not safe either.

They will puncture the rubber or plastic protective cover, and the current will flow through these metal nails or staples, causing electrocution and fire. Here, you can find good outdoor extension cords.

• Proper Storage of Extension Cords and Pressure Washers

If you pressure wash the areas outside your home, you must buy an extension cord for outdoor use. It is more rugged and even weather-resistant. It will withstand the beating of the elements. Remember that the National Electrical Code does not permit using extension cords as permanent wiring.

Always store your extension cords and pressure washers indoors. If they are left outdoors, unattended, and unsupervised, they are just accidents waiting to happen. Always choose the right type of extension cord for your needs. There are three types of extension cords: for frequent, occasional, and rugged use.

Seven different designation letters show the difference:

S: Indicates an extension cord ideal for indoor applications only.

W: Indicates an extension cord ideal for outdoor applications only. Insulation is the main difference between indoor and outdoor extension cords. Extension cords ideal for outdoor applications have bright orange plastic, rubber, or vinyl covers.

J: Indicates an extension cord that has three hundred-volt insulation. If you can’t see the J letter, the extension cord has insulation heavier than six hundred volts.

P: Indicates an extension cord that has a parallel wire construction.

T: Indicates an extension cord with a jacket made up of vinyl thermoplastic.

E: Indicates an extension cord with a jacket made up of thermoplastic elastomer rubber (TPE)

O: Indicates an extension cord that is oil-resistant.

Here, you can find good outdoor extension cords.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Are electric-powered pressure washers as powerful as a gasoline-powered pressure washers?

An electric-powered pressure washer is limited by how much electricity it can get from your wall outlet or extension cord. Meanwhile, gasoline-powered pressure washers are determined by size, make, and model.

When it comes to portable powers like pressure washers, those powered by gasoline are more efficient than electrical ones. In residential areas, your pressure washer is limited by the electricity available from your home wall outlet or extension cord.

Your house has a breaker in its electricity distribution board that can blow if you attempt to draw extra current. While a gasoline-powered pressure washer has no breakers to blow, it needs a larger combustion chamber for more energy.

2. What safety precautions must you observe while pressure washing?

Always read, understand, and follow your user’s manual before operating your pressure washer. Always use proper eye protection. It can cause muck and grit to fly around at a very high speed.

Never allow the water and the electricity to mix. Always use a power supply protected by RCD. Make sure the joints of your extension cord are well off the ground.

Unwind your extension cord from its drum or reel to maintain safety.

Remarks

To conclude this response post, I would say that you can safely use an extension cord with your pressure washer. Remember that the extension cord should not exceed the recommended limits.

The extension cord you plan to use with your pressure washer must not be lighter than fourteen gauges and not more than sixty feet long. If you read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, you will prevent yourself and your loved ones from danger.