Alright, let me tell you about my little adventure with power washer fittings. You know, those little things that connect everything and sometimes cause the biggest headaches?

So, it all started last weekend. I was getting ready to wash the deck, right? Spring cleaning and all that. I dragged out my power washer – a trusty old thing, but it's been sitting in the garage all winter. I hooked up the hose, went to attach the spray wand, and BAM! The fitting was stripped. Like, completely useless. Threads were gone, and it just spun around and around.

First thing I did was cuss a little. Okay, a lot. Then, I went inside to figure out what kind of fitting it was. I unscrewed the busted one, took it with me to the local hardware store. Figured they'd have something. This is where the fun began.

I showed the guy behind the counter my sad little fitting. He looked at it, scratched his head, and said, "Hmm, that looks like... maybe a M22?" I was like, "A what now?" He explained that power washer fittings come in all sorts of weird sizes and thread types. Some are metric, some are NPT (National Pipe Thread), some are quick-connect. It's a whole jungle out there.

He brought out a few different fittings that "looked close." I tried them on my spray wand right there in the store. One was too big, one was too small, and one seemed to fit, but it wouldn't tighten properly. I learned a valuable lesson: "close enough" is not good enough when it comes to high-pressure water.

Frustrated, I went home and did some digging online. I finally figured out that my power washer used a specific type of M22 fitting, but with a 14mm inner diameter. Apparently, there's an M22 with a 15mm ID, which is just different enough to cause problems. Who knew?

I ordered the correct fitting online – made sure to double-check the specs this time! – and waited impatiently for it to arrive. When it finally showed up, I practically ripped open the package. I screwed it onto the wand, connected everything, and held my breath. No leaks! The pressure was perfect! Hallelujah!

Here's the breakdown of what I learned:

• Don't assume all power washer fittings are the same. They are NOT.
• Take your old fitting with you to the store. It's easier to compare visually.
• Know your thread type and inner diameter. M22 is common, but there are variations.
• When in doubt, measure! Calipers are your friend.
• Don't cheap out on fittings. Get good quality ones that are designed for high pressure.

So, yeah, it was a bit of a pain, but I finally got my deck washed. And now I'm a (slightly) more knowledgeable power washer enthusiast. Hopefully, this little story saves you some trouble the next time you're dealing with those pesky fittings.