Low Pressure/Weak Flow From Spigot/Hose. Cheap Fix? Fire Hose Nozzle?

[Alpham911]

I live in Manhattan so I don't really have a place where I can wash my car.

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My solution was to wash my car whenever I visit my gf at her old house.
I bought a light duty hose and a nozzle from home depot.

I turned on the spigot and immediately noticed a weak flow of water before I even connected the hose. I believe this is due to the old piping since the flow of water is her bathroom and kitchen is also weak.
I started to spray down my car and it didn't do much for the wheels. If I let the water/pressure build up for about 10 seconds, I would get about 3 seconds of decent pressure.

Question:
1. I was wondering how I can increase pressure/output of water so I can effectively clean my car.

2. Would a fire hose nozzle help a little bit?

3. Can I just buy a cheap $6 fire hose nozzle from Walmart/Home Depot? I don't want to keep spending money since she might be moving in a few months.

Thank You!

[BobbyG]

Since this is your first post, To Autogeek Online!

Typically city water pressure is high and the volume is consistent. It appears that the water pressure in your girl friends home is low just about everywhere. I would suspect that somewhere between the street valve and the houses main line in is the root cause of the issue.

A firehouse nozzle is exactly what not to do. Most of these nozzles require both high pressure and water volume to perform properly.

Options

Is the street valve wide open?

Is the pipe clear from the street to the house?

Is there a valve inside that's partially closed or functioning incorrectly?

Find the problem and correct it at the source.

Place a pump and tank combo in the basement that would act as a pressure booster and a storage tank. Keep in mind that if when the sorted water is depleted you'll need to wait for the tank to refill and pressurize.

The hose is more than likely not the issue here and $6.00 won't buy you much of a hose.

[A4 1.8tqm]

Yeah, my first thought was the street valve. Sometimes they are awkward to get at, I could imagine some lazy worker only turning it just enough to open then saying eff it, good enough.

[ScubaCougr]

Since the pressure is low throughout the house, start at the main shutoff at curb or basement. If that is fully open, I'm betting on pipes narrowed with decades of scale. (especially if cast-iron)

You could get proficient at a 2-bucket rinseless wash which can be done in 5 gallons of water, or even waterless if you keep your car very clean. Either/both may be less frustrating than troubleshooting plumbing --in a rental--

[Setec Astronomy]

I have just two words to say to you...PRESSURE WASHER. As long as you've got a couple GPM coming out, that should boost you up. That's a cheaper/faster fix than a plumber to change out a crappy curb valve or stuck gate valve somewhere--which is of course the right way to do it.

[oldmodman]

I had a friend that had really low water pressure at a house he was renting. He put a pressure gauge on the last faucet and was only getting 15 psi.
So he went to the front of the house and spotted a pressure regulator. He got a wrench and turned it up to 50psi which is a fairly normal pressure. He went back to the backyard faucet and now he had no flow. He had blown up the really old, rusted iron pipes under the house.
So he turned the pressure back down and called the landlord.
To quote the landlord "I knew those old pipes were going to blow one of these days"
And the house was re-pipes with copper. Lots of pressure now.

[ScottB]

I have just two words to say to you...PRESSURE WASHER. As long as you've got a couple GPM coming out, that should boost you up. That's a cheaper/faster fix than a plumber to change out a crappy curb valve or stuck gate valve somewhere--which is of course the right way to do it.

I too thought one of those Karcher Pressure washers might be just the ticket, under 100.00 bucks.

[Bunky]

I too thought one of those Karcher Pressure washers might be just the ticket, under 100.00 bucks.

Mark has a new one !! (hint).

[IID]

I have just two words to say to you...PRESSURE WASHER. As long as you've got a couple GPM coming out, that should boost you up. That's a cheaper/faster fix than a plumber to change out a crappy curb valve or stuck gate valve somewhere--which is of course the right way to do it.

Excellent recommendation for the OP's issue!

[Alpham911]

Thank you everyone. I believe the pressure washer would be the best bet, but as of now, I'm going to save that $100 or so and wait until she moves.