Product Overview
The DustDowner is an in-line fitting for 2 inch vacuum hose that sprays a constant fine stream of water into the airflow while you dry vacuum. Grit and dust drawn off the carpet, upholstery or duct go into solution before they reach the waste tank, instead of travelling through the line as abrasive dry debris.
It can sit in the line next to the machine, or between the hose and the wand, depending on how you want to work.
Why Dry Vacuuming Is Hard on a Machine
An extraction machine is designed to move wet air. Dry vacuuming sends dust and grit through the line and into the tank with nothing to carry it, and fine dust is the material most likely to reach the blower. Wetting the debris as it enters the hose turns a dry abrasive load into a slurry the machine is built to handle.
Applications
- Dry soil removal before extraction
- Duct cleaning
- Post-construction and builders clean work, where fine dust load is high
- Any dry vacuuming through a truckmount or portable that would otherwise pull dust straight to the tank
Compatibility
| Line size | 2 inch (50 mm) vacuum hose, in line |
|---|---|
| Position | Next to the machine, or between hose and wand |
| Water supply | Solution line feed to the jet |
It pairs with dry vacuum tools such as the Turbocat Zoom Vacuum Powerhead (AC160).
Jet Selection on Truckmounts with an Unloader
Hydro-Force advises that on truckmounts fitted with unloader valves, or where greater water flow is wanted, the standard jet is replaced with a K1 flood jet (Hydro-Force part B406).
CCW does not currently stock the B406 flood jet. If your machine runs an unloader and you want the higher flow, contact us before ordering so we can sort the jet at the same time rather than after the fact.
Operating Advice
- Turn the water on before you start vacuuming, not after. The first passes are the dustiest.
- Use enough water to wet the debris, not enough to flood the line. The aim is a slurry, not a flowing stream.
- Empty the waste tank more often on dusty work. Slurry settles and sets harder than ordinary waste water.
- An in-line waste filter (AC10) further down the line catches what the water does not.
Maintenance
Flush it with clean water at the end of a dusty job. A jet that has dried out with fine dust in it sprays unevenly on the next job, and an uneven spray is the same as no spray on the side it is missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it replace an in-line filter?
No, and the two work well together. The DustDowner wets the debris; a filter catches what is left. See Hydro-Filter Inline Waste Filter (AC10).
Is there a 1.5 inch version?
Hydro-Force makes one. CCW does not currently stock it — contact us if that is the size you need.
Where should it sit in the line?
Either at the machine or at the wand. At the wand it wets the debris earliest, which protects the whole line; at the machine it is out of the way and adds no weight for the operator.
Do I need it if I already vacuum with a separate dry vac?
No. It exists for dry vacuuming through the extraction machine. If your dry vacuuming is done on a separate upright or backpack, the extractor never sees the dust.
What if my truckmount has an unloader valve?
Hydro-Force specifies the K1 flood jet (B406) in that case. We do not stock it — talk to us before ordering.
Related Products
- Hydro-Filter Inline Waste Filter (AC10)
- Turbocat Zoom Vacuum Powerhead (AC160)
- Hose Cuff 2 Inch (AH44)
What We See in the Field
Dry vacuuming through the truckmount is done because it saves carrying a second machine up a flight of stairs, and the cost of that convenience lands on the blower months later. A fitting that wets the debris at the point it enters the hose is a cheaper answer than either the second machine or the blower rebuild.
