Pressure Washer Nozzle Tips: What the Colors Mean

What the colors and angles mean

A nozzle changes the shape of the water leaving the wand. The degree number describes its spray angle: a straight jet at 0°, a narrow fan at 15°, and progressively wider fans at 25° and 40°. At the same distance, a wider fan covers more ground.

Color conventions and applications: SIMPSON’s nozzle selection guide.

The white tip is not automatically safe for every surface. A painted finish, deteriorated joint, or soft board still needs its own cleaning method. The color tells you the pattern, not a guaranteed safe pressure.

Choose a tip for the surface

Start with the surface’s care instructions, then the washer manual. A tool that is useful on a sound concrete driveway may be unsuitable for a weathered deck. If pressure washing is allowed, begin with a wider fan and plenty of distance. Test a small, inconspicuous patch and inspect it before continuing. Stop if the spray changes the surface itself. SIMPSON recommends this test-first approach.

• Driveways: identify whether you have poured concrete, brick, or concrete pavers. Sealer and joints matter as much as the visible dirt. See our driveway cleaning guide.
• Wood decks: choose a gentle method for the particular boards and finish. A brush and approved cleaner may do the job without high pressure. See our wood deck guide.
• Painted surfaces: distinguish cleaning from stripping. Removing paint is damage when you wanted to keep it.

If dirt remains, pause to identify the stain. An appropriate cleaner and brushing can be a better next step than moving the wand closer or fitting a narrower tip.

Spray angle is not the pressure setting

A 40° tip spreads the spray; it does not promise a particular PSI at the surface. The machine, nozzle opening, distance, and technique all affect the result. Do not choose a replacement by color alone: use the nozzle size and pressure/flow compatibility specified for your washer.

Keep the distance and movement consistent across each pass. Avoid holding a jet on one point while you look elsewhere. When a test patch shows a groove, exposed aggregate, lifted paint, or roughened wood, stop rather than trying to blend the mark into a larger area.

There is no useful universal rule that doubling your distance halves the cleaning force. Use the equipment instructions and the actual result of your test patch.

Soap, turbo, and adjustable nozzles

Soap tips

Many detergent injectors need the black low-pressure tip to draw soap. High-pressure tips will not activate that system; foam cannons and other attachments can work differently. Use only cleaning agents approved for the equipment. SIMPSON specifically prohibits bleach in its pump. Check its detergent guidance and your own machine’s manual.

Turbo or rotary tips

A turbo nozzle rotates a concentrated jet across a larger area. The coverage makes it efficient, but does not make it gentle. It is not a substitute for a wide fan on a delicate surface. SIMPSON explains the rotary pattern.

Adjustable tips

These combine settings in one attachment. Read the markings and instructions instead of assuming that each setting matches a separate colored tip.

Change and care for a nozzle

Shut the washer down and release trapped pressure as its manual directs before disconnecting a tip. On a compatible quick-connect fitting, retract the collar, insert the replacement fully, release the collar, and check that it is securely locked. Do not work on a pressurized connection. SIMPSON’s quick-connect instructions describe this sequence.

If a tip seems blocked, use the cleaning procedure and tool supplied or recommended by the manufacturer. Do not enlarge the opening to clear it. Inspect the connector and seals, replace damaged parts, and store loose tips where they cannot collect grit.