Hose pressure loss Page 1 of 3

Pressure Loss Through Hose, Pipe and due to Height

Pressure Loss due to height - Telescoping Wand Application

It takes pressure to lift water to a height, so if a spray gun is at a higher elevation than the outlet of the pressure washer, a modest amount of pressure is lost in lifting
the water. The chart below gives the amount of pressure loss and it is independent of system pressure, flow rate and hose size.

Elevation of Gun Above Pressure Pressure Loss due to Elevation (in

Washer (in FT) PSI)
0 0
10 4
20 9
30 13
40 17
50 22
100 43
200 87

Hose Pressure Loss (per 100 ft of Hose)

The pressure loss is determined by the total amount of water flow produced by the pressure washer. Pressure loss does not depend on the operating pressure of the
unit. The chart below presents the measurement of 100 FT long hose. The pressure loss for other hose lengths is calculated proportionally to that length (100FT).
For instance, 50 FT of hose will have 1/2 of the amount of loss and 200 FT of hose will have double the loss of the amount shown in the chart. There are several
other factors that may cause pressure loss such as hose liner ID tolerance, hose inner liner smoothness, manner in which the hose is laid out during use, type of
fittings on each end, and sometimes the temperature of the water. Pressure loss will also decrease if the hose is positioned up hill. However, these factors are not as
essential and were not taken into consideration in these calculations.

Hose Friction Pressure Loss

(Pressure Drop in PSI per 100FT of Hose with Typical Water Flow Rates)
WATER Hose Inside Diameters, Inches
FLOW GPM 1/4" 5/16" 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 1"
1 54 20 7 2 - - -
2 180 60 25 6 2 - -
3 380 120 50 13 4 2 -
4 - 220 90 24 7 3 -
5 - 320 130 34 10 4 -
6 - - 220 52 16 7 1
8 - - 300 80 25 10 2
10 - - - 120 38 14 3
15 - - - 250 80 30 7
20 - - - - 121 50 12
25 - - - - 200 76 19
40 - - - - 410 162 42
60 - - - - - 370 93

Water Line Pressure Loss

(Pressure Drop In PSI Per 100FT)

Steel Pipe (Normal Diameter) Brass Pipe (Normal Diameter) Copper Tubing OD Type L
GPM 1- 1- 1- 1-
1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8"
1/4" 1/2" 1/4" 1/2"
1 8.5 1.9 - - - - - 6 1.6 - - - - - 120 13 2.9 1 - -
2 30 7 2.1 - - - - 20 5.6 1.8 - - - - 400 45 10 3.4 1.3 -
3 60 14 4.5 1.1 - - - 40 11 3.6 - - - - - 94 20 6.7 2.6 -
5 150 36 12 2.8 - - - 100 28 9 2.2 - - - - 230 50 17 6.1 30

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8 330 86 28 6.7 1.9 - - 220 62 21 52 1.6 - - - 500 120 40 15 6.5
10 520 130 43 10 3 - - 320 90 30 7.8 2.4 - - - - 180 56 22 10
15 - 270 90 21 6.2 1.6 - - 190 62 16 5 1.5 - - - - 120 44 20
25 - 670 240 56 16 4.2 2 - 470 150 40 12 3.8 1.7 - - - 330 110 50
40 - - - - 66 17 8 - - - - 39 11 5 - - - 550 200 88
60 - - - - - 37 17 - - - - - 23 11 - - - - - -
80 - - - - - 52 29 - - - - - 40 19 - - - - - -
100 - - - - 210 107 48 - - - - - 61 28 - - - - - -

Pipe Pressure Loss

The values in the chart below present the approximate calculations since the pipe pressure loss can be affected by other factors, including water temperature, pipe
ID tolerance, type of fittings, and pipe inner wall smoothness. In addition, schedule 40 and schedule 80 pipes have different IDs and, therefore, different pressure
losses.

WATER PRESSURE LOSS, PSI

FLOW GPM 1/2" STEEL PIPE 1/2" PVC PIPE
1 1 1
2 4 4
3 8 9
4 14 15
5 21 23
6 30 32
8 52 56
10 80 87

If you have any questions regarding hose and pipe pressure loss calculations please call our Customer Service Line at Toll Free 866-858-4982 or send us an email
at: info@ultimatewasher.com

Friction Loss in Pipe Fittings in Equivalent Feet of Pipe

FITTING FITTING SIZE

1/2" 3/4" 1" 1-1/4" 1-1/2" 2" 2-1/2"
90° Std Elbow 1.6 2.1 2.6 3.5 4 5.5 6.2
90° Long Elbow 1 1.4 1.7 2.3 2.7 4.3 5.1
90° Street Elbow 3 3.4 4.4 5.8 6.7 8.6 10.3
45° Std Elbow 0.8 1.1 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 3.3
45° Street Elbow 1 1.8 2.3 3 3.5 4.5 5.4
Square Elbow 3 3.9 5 6.5 7.6 9.8 11.7
Std Tee Straight Run 1 1.4 1.7 2.3 2.7 4.3 5.1
Std Tee Branch Run 4 5.1 6 6.9 8.1 12 14.3
Gate Valve - Full Open 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.5 1.7 2.2 2.7

Helpful Conversions

Volume & Weight

Gal X 3.785 = Liters

Gal X 128 = Ounces
Gal X 231 = Cubic Inches
Gal X 8.3453 = Pounds
Ltr X 61.02 = Cubic Inches
Ltr X 33.82 = Ounces
Ltr X .2642 = Gallons
Ltr X 1000 = CM2

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ML (CC) X .0338 = Ounces
Gram X .03527 = Ounces
PSI X .0689 = Bar
Bar X 14.5 = PSI
In. HG X .4912 = PSI
In. H2O X .8226 = In. HG

Horsepower

GPM x PSI
= Elec. Brake HP
1457
GPM x PSI
= Hydraulic HP
1714
GPM x PSI
= Gasoline HP (industrial grade)
1100
GPM x PSI
= Gasoline HP (standard grade)
900

http://www.ultimatewasher.com/hose-pressure-loss.htm 6/1/2010