Editorial & technical standard

Compatibility Methodology

PressureWasherMatch.com separates manufacturer-listed fitment, documented specification matches, conditional relationships, incompatibility and unknown combinations. This page defines how those conclusions should be made.

Source hierarchy

Current manufacturer product page.
Current manufacturer manual, data sheet or service documentation.
Manufacturer compatibility chart, parts diagram or fitment tool.
Manufacturer FAQ, service bulletin or engineering resource.
Authorized distributor technical documentation reproducing manufacturer data.
Reputable specialist retailer documentation.
Community reports only as discovery evidence until independently verified.

Compatibility statuses

Verified — manufacturer listed

The manufacturer explicitly documents the combination.

Verified — documented interface match

All required interfaces and operating requirements are documented and match, even if the exact pair is not named together.

Conditional

Core criteria match, but one or more variables still require verification.

Not compatible

A documented requirement conflicts with the proposed combination.

Unknown

Reliable documentation is insufficient. Unknown is preferable to a guess.

What a pump match must consider

Pressure and flow alone are not enough. A replacement-pump decision can depend on engine or motor orientation, shaft diameter and style, mounting pattern, RPM, required power, inlet/outlet orientation, connection type, integrated or external unloader configuration, temperature limits and physical clearance.

What a hose, gun or fitting match must consider

Thread type, M22 subtype where applicable, quick-connect size, gender, working-pressure rating, temperature rating and the interfaces at both ends all matter. Similar-looking connections should not be treated as interchangeable without documentation.

What a nozzle match must consider

Spray angle and nozzle orifice are separate decisions. Nozzle size is matched from per-nozzle GPM and intended working pressure using a manufacturer-published relationship, while the nozzle connection, pressure/temperature rating and accessory-specific requirements must also fit. Multi-nozzle accessories require flow to be divided across the identical nozzles before sizing.

What reels, unloaders, injectors and jetters must consider

Hose reels require published hose capacity plus swivel/fluid-path pressure, temperature and port data. Unloaders require valve type, flow, pressure, bypass plumbing and thread-standard matching. Downstream injectors require flow-range and back-pressure validation. Sewer jetters require machine GPM/PSI, hose rating/length, total nozzle size, inlet thread and drain-application limits. A shared maximum PSI is never enough by itself.

Brand pages preserve model and generation boundaries

Brand compatibility is not inferred from a logo. Current examples include RYOBI electric/gas/EZClean boundaries; SIMPSON pump-model and shaft/orientation matching; Kärcher proprietary vs. newer universal-connection systems; CRAFTSMAN current/legacy and V20 power-cleaner boundaries; DEWALT documented M22/quick-connect professional interfaces; Greenworks pressure-class/SKU limits and separate 24V power-cleaner handling; Sun Joe SPX bayonet/M22 adapter and model-family boundaries; Generac consumer M22 vs. professional quick-connect hose paths; and Troy-Bilt exact model fit lists for replacement accessories. The Honda-powered guide treats the engine family as one input to pump matching rather than as proof of a complete-machine fit.

Calculators and heuristics

Calculators should use a published technical relationship and state their assumptions. Rules of thumb—such as surface-cleaner sizing heuristics—must be labeled as heuristics rather than presented as manufacturer requirements.

Commercial independence

Affiliate availability does not change a compatibility result. The technical conclusion is established first, its source is shown, and a merchant path may then be offered separately.

See the methodology in practice

The Pressure Washer Pump Finder keeps plausible pump candidates conditional until machine-specific mounting, plumbing and power checks are completed. The Fittings & Quick Connects guide applies the same principle to M22 subtype, quick-connect size, gender and operating ratings. The Nozzle Calculator uses a published nozzle relationship and keeps its theoretical result separate from equipment ratings and measured system pressure. The Downstream Injector page calculates dilution only from measured draw, the PSI vs GPM assistant labels its task ranges as planning bands rather than compatibility standards, and the Sewer Jetter page treats nozzle size as a complete manufacturer-defined jetter-nozzle class rather than inferring individual jet orifices.

Corrections and freshness

Model generations, accessory families and manufacturer documentation change. Pages should retain verification dates and be corrected when better primary-source information becomes available. Use the contact page to report a source update or possible compatibility error.

Methodology FAQs

What counts as a verified manufacturer-listed match?

A match is manufacturer-listed only when current manufacturer documentation explicitly identifies the accessory, part, model or supported combination.

What is a documented-interface match?

It means the manufacturers document all interfaces and operating requirements needed for the relationship and those requirements match, even if the exact pair is not listed in one compatibility table.

What does conditional mean?

Conditional means core requirements appear to match but at least one variable still needs to be checked, such as orientation, physical clearance, connector subtype, model revision or another published limit.

Why does the site sometimes show unknown?

Unknown is used when reliable documentation is not sufficient to establish compatibility. The site should not convert missing evidence into a confident recommendation.