Alright folks, buckle up because my journey with that pressure washer and water tank combo started with pure frustration. See, I borrowed my neighbor Joe's old rig last summer, hooked it up to my garden hose like usual, and boom – barely any pressure. Water was just dribbling out. Turns out? My pathetic little outside tap couldn’t keep up. That’s when I finally decided to grab a decent water tank myself.

The Setup Comedy

First thing Monday morning, the shiny new plastic tank arrives. Look. This thing is HEAVY when full. Lesson number one: put it WHERE you need it BEFORE filling. My dumb self parked it on the driveway, filled it halfway already sweating buckets, then realized it needed to sit right next to the siding I wanted to clean. Had to drain some just to slide it over. Total rookie move.

Connecting the hoses felt like wrestling an octopus. There's the tank outlet, the suction hose for the washer to pull water UP, and the pressure hose to blast stuff. My washer manual might as well be written in ancient Greek. Here's the simple truth I figured out:

• Suck First: Stick the suction hose ALL THE WAY down into the tank. Don't just dip the tip in. I learned that the messy way when air got sucked in instead.
• Prime the Pump: The instructions mumbled about "priming." Basically, I turned the washer on for a second without pulling the trigger until water spit out of the pressure hose. Otherwise? Whining motor sound. Bad.
• Mind the Filter: Found this little mesh thingamajig inside the water inlet on the washer. Cleaned it out before starting. Wise move.

Spraying Like a Maniac (Safely!)

Okay, tank hooked up, pump primed, water flowing. Time for fun? Sort of. Started on low power first, pointing at a small patch of the patio. WOW the difference a steady water supply makes! Spray actually hit hard instead of whimpering. But... I got cocky.

Cranked it to medium to tackle some mildew on the shed. Forgot the cardinal rule: Keep the nozzle moving. Ended up gouging a streak right through the paint like I was digging a trench! Stared at that idiot mark for a solid minute. Big sigh. New rule: always test spray on an unimportant spot first. And start gentle, seriously.

Also, the weight of the pressure hose jerked back hard when I pulled the trigger. Wasn’t ready. Nearly sprayed myself in the face. My tip? Plant your feet, brace yourself, and get a solid grip before unleashing hell.

The Cleanup & Realizations

Job done (minus the shed scar). Shutting down wasn't just turning it off. I remembered Joe cursing about hoses freezing in winter. So:

• Turned off the washer.
• Released ALL pressure by squeezing the trigger until the hissing stopped.
• Disconnected the hoses from the washer first, letting any leftover water drain out.
• Emptied the tank right away. That standing water gets gunky fast in the sun.

So yeah, if you're starting like I did? Respect the tank weight, prime that pump properly, start on low power, TEST SPRAY, hold on tight, and clean up smart. Takes a bit of practice, but holy smokes it beats fighting a weak garden hose! My siding's clean, my patio looks new, and the shed... well, it has character now.