Understanding Your X-Jet better...

What Is an X-Jet?

An X-Jet is a specialized nozzle used in the pressure washing & soft-washing world, and is especially popular among soft wash and detergent application professionals. It allows you to apply chemicals or detergents at a low pressure without running them through the pressure washer pump, which helps protect internal components from corrosion.

How It Works

The X-Jet system pulls chemical from a separate container using the venturi effect (like a downstream injector), mixes it with water, and sprays it out of the nozzle. Unlike typical downstream injectors that dilute the chemical further, the X-Jet allows for stronger chemical concentrations, making it ideal for:

Mold and mildew removal
Roof cleaning (in some geographical areas)
All exterior siding treatments
Vehicle washing plus just about any other application where you need to spray a detergent onto a surface quickly.

Key Features

No chemical through the pump – Extends equipment life
Low-pressure chemical application – Better for tough cleaning jobs
Interchangeable proportioning tips – Adjust the chemical mix ratio easily
Long reach – Often used for 2–3 story buildings without ladders

The maximum hose length you can use with an X-Jet while still maintaining effective venturi suction (to pull chemical from the container) depends on a few factors, but here’s a detailed breakdown:

General Maximum Hose Length for X-Jet

Up to 100 feet of pressure hose (between pressure washer and X-Jet) is usually fine.
Chemical supply hose (the low pressure hose from the X-Jet nozzle to the chemical container):
- Standard length: 15–20 feet
- Max recommended: ~25 feet
  Going beyond this can reduce or eliminate the venturi effect, especially with thick or viscous chemicals.

Why There’s a Limit

The venturi effect relies on suction created by high-velocity water moving through a constriction. Longer hoses introduce:

Increased friction loss (lower pressure)
Reduced flow rate
More lift resistance on the chemical suction line

This means that once you go beyond ~25 feet of suction hose, the X-Jet may no longer be able to draw the chemical effectively — especially if the chemical container is below the level of the nozzle.

Tips to Maximize Suction

Keep the chemical bucket at or above ground level.
Use the proper diameter tubing that fits your X-Jet barb — larger diameter = easier suction. X-Jet always uses a 3/8" or 10mm hose.
Minimize bends and kinks in the suction hose.
Avoid thicker chemicals unless you’re very close to the bucket.
Keep the orifice clean and free of debris that could plug up and reduce the flow rate.
Use hot water if possible — it helps flow and suction (if chemicals allow it).

Summary Recommendations

Hose Type	Recommended Max Length
Pressure hose	100 feet (up to 150 ft possible, but with reduced suction)
Suction hose (chemical)	15–25 feet (20 ft ideal)

If you need to apply chemical over longer distances or need to keep the bucket far from the nozzle, a proportioning system or pump-up sprayer may be more effective.

Do you need an even stronger mix?

Using a smaller X-Jet orifice than recommended for your pressure washer's GPM output will generally result in a stronger chemical draw, but there are trade-offs to be aware of. Here's a detailed breakdown:

What Happens When You Use a Smaller Orifice?

The orifice in an X-Jet controls both the water flow rate and the venturi suction strength.

If you use a smaller orifice than specified:

✅ Pros:

Stronger venturi suction: Less water is flowing, which increases vacuum effect and pulls more chemical.
Richer chemical mix: The resulting mix hitting the surface is stronger (i.e., less diluted).

❌ Cons:

Reduced total flow: Lower water volume = less rinsing power.
Lower reach: The stream may not shoot as far.
Possible backpressure: If the pressure washer is pushing more GPM than the orifice allows, it may build up pressure and cause wear or trigger your unloader valve more frequently.
Risk to pump: Running under excess backpressure can eventually damage your pump or cause premature wear.

Key Principle: Flow Restriction = Stronger Mix, Weaker Stream

Using a smaller orifice restricts water, and since venturi action is based on velocity (not volume), you enhance suction at the cost of flow distance and power.

Best Practice Recommendation

If you're intentionally downsizing the orifice to get a stronger chemical mix:

Do not go more than 1 orifice size smaller than the rated size for your GPM.
Monitor pump pressure and ensure it’s not exceeding recommended limits.
Check spray pattern and stream reach before committing to that setup in the field.

Also, consider using proportioner tips (the colored metering inserts included with most X-Jet kits) to fine-tune your mix without needing to change orifices. That’s a safer way to control dilution.

✅ Summary

Action	Result
Smaller orifice	Stronger chemical draw, lower water output
Too small orifice	Backpressure risk, poor spray pattern
Correct orifice + metering tip	Best balance of suction + flow

Can Change The X-Jet Orifice to Work With A Pressure Washer With A Different GPM?

Yes, you absolutely can change the orifice in an X-Jet nozzle to adapt it to different pressure washer machines — but only if you're using the X-Jet M5 or adjustable model that supports interchangeable orifices.

Here's what you need to know:

Can You Swap Orifices in an X-Jet?

✅ Is your X-Jet is a modular model?

The X-Jet M5 and newer versions often come with removable orifice inserts.
These inserts can be swapped out to match the GPM output of different machines.
The orifices are sized to maintain correct flow and venturi suction depending on machine specs.

❌ No — if you're using an older or fixed-orifice model:

Some classic X-Jets are machined to a fixed size.
These cannot be adjusted without replacing the entire nozzle body.

Can I Just Make My Own X-Jet Kit?

Yes you can because at Big Shot Supplies Canada we carry all of the individual parts so that you can build your own setup. We also sell a bundle that has all of the parts included or you can buy the Kit that comes directly from X-Jet.