Are multiple jets really better?

I was doing a little cleaning today and realized that I had a jet streaking. Flipped over my 6-jet and found a dead jet on the end. Replaced it and then had one near the other end with a poor fan pattern as well.

I switched wands and when I got home proceeded to soak my jets in CLR and cleaned them all up...each jet was clear and tips looked good. I fired the wand up to flush out the manifold with clean water and noticed something that I didn't realize before...more water came out of the jet openings on the ends of the manifold then the center openings.

I thought that maybe the manifold was plugged up, but it flushed out cleanly, yet there was a clear bias of flow to the ends of the manifolds. Maybe it doesn't matter when under pressure with the jets installed, but now I am wondering if the pressure or flow is different between jets?

I still had a poor spray pattern to those jets, so I replaced them with a new set and life is good again. I'm just starting to wonder if having all these jets is really the right approach? The greater number of jets, the greater the cost to replace and the greater chance of a having a jet develop a prostrate problem during the job.

My 4-jet wands don't have a bias to the ends of the manifold and seem to spray true for a much longer time than the 6-jet wands that I use....maybe it is just a coincidence as I don't use them at the same regularity either.

Still, I am starting to think that a 4-jet is the better balance on a wand. Any thoughts?

Mine seem to streak at high psi I think Ill soak mine tomorrow. I use 4 jet 6 flow.

My 6-jet wand runs at 12 flow and my 4-jetter at 8 flow. I clean residential at 300 psi and commercial at 450 psi.

I don't see any streaks with the 4-jet wands, just the 6-jet. I also rarely have a bad fan pattern or plugged jet on the quad wands, just the 6-jets.

I'm noting this based on the following wands with 8 month old jets:

PMF Mach 15 Ti (6 jet)
Mytee Bentely (4 jet)
Prochem Quad (4 jet)

I should also mention that the PMF and Prochem have high shear kits, but the problem doesn't exist on the Prochem wand.

I just ordered a VT-12 wand for apartment cleaning which will have the 4-jet system, but I am getting to really wonder about the larger head wands.

I hate to say it, but I'd be surprised if you end up using that VT wand, with all those high end wands at your disposal.

What do you say, DP??

Davey Cracker wrote:I hate to say it, but I'd be surprised if you end up using that VT wand, with all those high end wands at your disposal.

What do you say, DP??

I hope that isn't the case. I like the PCQ on berbers and short piles while the Bentely is nice on high fibers and for getting into closets. If the VT-12 gets me a lighter replacement for the PCQ, I will be happy.

Why do I feel like I am about to hear the other shoe drop.......

I use my VT all day. I love it. I have 5 jets and runs a 15 flow. Try that on your apartments and rat nasties you will not believe how much better/faster you can rinse with a 15 flow.

Screw those wands... Go with an RX20

Davey Cracker wrote:I hate to say it, but I'd be surprised if you end up using that VT wand, with all those high end wands at your disposal.

What do you say, DP??

I can't say anything cause I left my VT wand on the electric pole by the sidewalk a few weeks ago after cleaning an area rug for a customer and didn't even realize it until a few days later, went back there and of course it was gone
I agree with Rob though, when I used to use PCQ it's good, never had streak, I think it has something to do with round piping instead of square as in hsk ? But PCQ is like a tank compare to titanium wands, now my wand choice is pmf titanium, I'm going to contact Tony soon, been thinking about getting one of those prochem titanium knock off. Don't judge me ! Lol.

milspec6 wrote:I was doing a little cleaning today and realized that I had a jet streaking.  Flipped over my 6-jet and found a dead jet on the end.  Replaced it and then had one near the other end with a poor fan pattern as well.

I switched wands and when I got home proceeded to soak my jets in CLR and cleaned them all up...each jet was clear and tips looked good.  I fired the wand up to flush out the manifold with clean water and noticed something that I didn't realize before...more water came out of the jet openings on the ends of the manifold then the center openings.

I thought that maybe the manifold was plugged up, but it flushed out cleanly, yet there was a clear bias of flow to the ends of the manifolds.  Maybe it doesn't matter when under pressure with the jets installed, but now I am wondering if the pressure or flow is different between jets?

I still had a poor spray pattern to those jets, so I replaced them with a new set and life is good again.  I'm just starting to wonder if having all these jets is really the right approach?  The greater number of jets, the greater the cost to replace and the greater chance of a having a jet develop a prostrate problem during the job.

My 4-jet wands don't have a bias to the ends of the manifold and seem to spray true for a much longer time than the 6-jet wands that I use....maybe it is just a coincidence as I don't use them at the same regularity either.  

Still, I am starting to think that a 4-jet is the better balance on a wand.  Any thoughts?

Mil,
The water flow going towards the last jet is going to happen just because the water enters the manifold (NO JETS) and jumps the other jet holes hits the end and no where to go but out the last hole, when jets are in place it will balance out.
Yes you are correct about 4 jet vs 6 jets, stock setting a 6 jet wand will have smaller jets 01's theses smaller jets will wear faster than say a 4 jet 1.5's or 4 jets 02's
The more precise the opening the quicker, and more noticeable its wear is. Also they plug much easier and then get messed up by us trying to clear it out on the job with some make shift jet cleaner.
Jets are not cheap, so the less you have to buy the better, the fewer the jets the bigger the opening less PITA you have with them.
6 jet wands can really give you a larger amount of flow when you start getting to the point of tweaking your wand with high flow, but I don't think your average cleaner even messes with flow, so that being said I do believe a proper 4 jet wand is better.

Quick note use a piece of stranded copper wire to clean jet tips. Just find the right gauge that a single strand will fit cut it at a angle then strip back about one inch now you have 10-15 tip cleaners that will not damage the orifice of the jet.

ACE Services wrote:Quick note use a piece of stranded copper wire to clean jet tips. Just find the right gauge that a single strand will fit cut it at a angle then strip back about one inch now you have 10-15 tip cleaners that will not damage the orifice of the jet.

Good tip