Chemical Application Made Simple: Which Watertek Pro-Applicator Is Right for You?
If you’re starting to use chemicals as part of your exterior cleaning setup, choosing the right way to apply them can make a much bigger difference than you might think.
It isn’t simply a case of getting chemical from a drum onto a surface.
You need to think about coverage, chemical strength, overspray, reach, dwell time and how much control you have while you’re working.
That’s exactly why Watertek developed the Pro-Applicator range.
Rather than trying to make one nozzle do everything, the range consists of three purpose-built chemical applicators:
- ProJet® – the versatile all-rounder
- ProFoam® – for wide, visible foam coverage
- ProCannon® – for maximum reach and projection
All three allow chemical to be proportioned into the water flow and have been designed and manufactured in the UK with professional exterior cleaners in mind.
So which one belongs in your setup?
First: Why Use a Dedicated Chemical Applicator?
When you’re applying a cleaning chemical, more isn’t necessarily better.
The aim is to get enough product onto the surface, at the right concentration, in the right place.
Putting too much chemical down can mean unnecessary product cost, more runoff and more work afterwards. Poor application can also leave you with areas receiving very different amounts of product.
A good applicator gives you much more control over the job.
The Watertek Pro-Applicators use interchangeable proportioning tips, allowing you to alter the amount of chemical being drawn depending on your machine and the application required. Each unit is supplied with a dilution chart and a range of proportioners to help you set the system up correctly.
The question then becomes:
How do you want that chemical to leave the nozzle?
That’s where the three applicators differ.
Watertek ProJet®: The Everyday All-Rounder
If you want one chemical applicator that can cover a broad range of exterior cleaning jobs, start with the ProJet.
The key feature is its adjustable spray nozzle.
You can move between a wider spray pattern for covering larger areas and a more concentrated pattern when you want greater control or reach.
That makes it particularly useful for contractors who don't know exactly what the next job is going to throw at them.
One day you might be treating a driveway.
The next could be a rendered wall.
Then fencing, cladding, patios or other exterior surfaces.
Instead of carrying a completely different setup for every application, the ProJet gives you a lot of flexibility from a single applicator.
Why choose the ProJet?
The ProJet makes sense if:
- You want a general-purpose chemical applicator
- You regularly work across different surfaces
- You want to alter your spray pattern while working
- You need both wider coverage and a more directed application
- You want chemical proportioning rather than simply applying one fixed mix
Its stainless-steel construction is designed to cope with the demanding environments chemical applicators are used in, while the outer head is protected with impact-resistant polypropylene. It is rated to a maximum of 300 bar.
For many exterior cleaners, this is the natural starting point in the range.
If you're only buying one applicator and want as much versatility as possible, the ProJet is probably the one to look at first.
Watertek ProFoam®: When You Want to See Your Coverage
Sometimes you don't just want chemical on the surface.
You want to see exactly where you've put it.
That's where the ProFoam comes in.
Rather than producing the adjustable jet-style application of the ProJet, the ProFoam produces a wide-angle foam application designed to give blanket coverage. Watertek developed it to increase dwell while helping reduce drift and unnecessary product use.
Foam has one very obvious advantage when you're working: you can see it.
That makes it much easier to identify where you've already treated and where you've missed.
On larger surfaces, that can be particularly useful. Instead of repeatedly going back over areas because you're unsure whether they've been covered, you've got an immediate visual reference.
Foam also helps the product remain on the surface rather than immediately running away, which can be useful when dwell time matters.
Why choose the ProFoam?
The ProFoam is likely to suit you if:
- You want wide, even blanket coverage
- Seeing exactly where you've applied chemical is important
- You're treating larger surface areas
- You want to minimise unnecessary overlapping
- You want increased dwell on the surface
- You specifically prefer applying your cleaning solution as foam
Like the ProJet, the ProFoam is built from stainless steel with a protective polypropylene head and uses proportioning tips to adjust chemical application.
If your priority is coverage rather than distance, this is where we'd look.
Watertek ProCannon®: When Reach Is the Priority
Then there are the jobs where the biggest problem isn't coverage.
It's getting the chemical where you need it.
The ProCannon is the long-range applicator in the Watertek range.
Its extended, slim design has been specifically engineered to project chemical over distance, allowing operators to treat elevated areas from ground level where the conditions allow.
Think:
- Upper areas of buildings
- High render
- Roof cleaning applications
- Agricultural or industrial buildings
- Large areas where additional projection is useful
The actual distance you achieve will depend on the pressure and flow produced by your machine, so there isn't one universal figure that applies to every setup.
But if your main concern is getting chemical higher or further, the ProCannon is the obvious choice.
It is supplied with both a Quad Jet and Sniper Nozzle, giving you options depending on the type of projection required.
Why choose the ProCannon?
Choose the ProCannon if:
- Reach is one of your biggest priorities
- You're regularly treating elevated surfaces
- You want to apply chemical from ground level where practical
- You work on larger exterior cleaning or roof-cleaning projects
- You want a dedicated projection applicator rather than trying to force a general-purpose nozzle to do the job
There is an important consideration with any long-range chemical application: wind matters.
The further you project chemical, the greater the potential for drift. Watertek therefore recommends the ProCannon for use in suitable open, clear areas, with particular care taken in windy conditions.
Being able to reach something doesn't automatically mean it's sensible to spray it.
Always consider the surrounding property, vehicles, people, plants and environment before applying any chemical.
ProJet vs ProFoam vs ProCannon: Which One Do I Need?
The easiest way to choose is to forget the product names for a moment and think about the job.
Want maximum versatility?
Choose the ProJet.
Want wide foam coverage that is easy to see?
Choose the ProFoam.
Want to get chemical higher and further?
Choose the ProCannon.
And there's nothing to say a professional setup has to stop at one.
A contractor carrying both a ProJet and ProCannon, for example, can switch between controlled everyday application and long-range projection depending on the property.
Likewise, someone who regularly cleans large elevations may prefer the visible coverage of the ProFoam for some work and the reach of the ProCannon for another.
They're different tools for different jobs.
Match the Applicator to Your Pressure Washer
Whichever applicator you choose, don't overlook the orifice size.
The Watertek Pro-Applicator range is available in different sizes to suit different pressure washer flow rates, including machines from around 7 litres per minute through to 30+ LPM.
There's another important point here.
When applying chemicals, Watertek recommends reducing the machine's flow to give you better control.
That can mean choosing an applicator orifice slightly below what you'd expect from the pressure washer's headline LPM figure.
For example, Watertek's guidance for a 21 LPM machine is that although it would theoretically sit within the Size 3 range, when the machine is turned down for chemical application, a Size 2 may provide better performance at the nozzle.
If you're unsure, speak to us before ordering.
Tell us what machine you're running and how you're planning to use the applicator and we can help you choose the correct setup.
Take Chemical Control Further With SwitchTip®
Once you're comfortable with the applicator itself, there is another upgrade available.
Watertek SwitchTip® replaces the need to repeatedly remove and change individual proportioning tips when you want to alter your chemical mix.
Instead, a six-position rotary selector gives you access to several commonly used proportioning settings, along with a closed position and an open position for the strongest available draw for the pressure and flow you're running.
In simple terms, it means you can strengthen, weaken or stop your chemical draw without messing about swapping tiny proportioners mid-job.
It's not essential to use a Pro-Applicator.
But once you're regularly changing chemical strengths throughout the working day, it can make the whole system considerably quicker and easier to use.
Built for Chemical Application, Not Adapted for It
The important thing about the Watertek range is that these haven't simply been designed as three variations of the same nozzle.
Each applicator solves a different problem.
ProJet gives you control.
ProFoam gives you coverage.
ProCannon gives you reach.
Behind that, you've got replaceable proportioners, multiple flow-rate options, chemical-resistant stainless-steel construction and a growing range of spares and accessories designed around the same system.
Whether you're just beginning to introduce chemical application into your exterior cleaning work or you're building a professional setup used every day, choosing the right applicator can make the job faster, more controlled and considerably easier.
Not sure which one you need?
Have a look through the Watertek Pro-Applicator range or speak to the Rutland Pumps team with the details of your pressure washer and the type of work you're doing.
We'll help you put together the right setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the Watertek ProJet and ProFoam?
The ProJet has an adjustable spray pattern, making it a versatile option for different exterior cleaning jobs. The ProFoam produces wide-angle foam coverage, helping you see where chemical has been applied and increasing dwell time on the surface.
Can I apply cleaning chemicals through my pressure washer?
Yes, with a suitable chemical application system. Watertek Pro-Applicators use proportioning tips to draw and mix chemical into the water flow. Always check chemical compatibility, dilution requirements and your pressure washer's suitability before use.
Which Watertek chemical applicator is best for roof cleaning?
That depends on the access and application required. The ProCannon is designed for long-range chemical projection, making it an option for elevated surfaces. However, chemical drift, wind conditions, the surrounding area and safe working practices must always be considered.