Pressure washers are an immensely valuable instrument to have in the building. These robots intensify the vitality of your garden hose, using water on a number of surfaces to blow away all manner of rough stains. Without even needing to pull out a scrub brush, you can use a pressure washer to clean your vehicle, strip mildew from your porch, get oil from the driveway, wash the siding on your house, and much more.
How do pressure washers perform these functions with such ease? The system uses either gas or electricity when attached to a hose to operate a pump that amplifies the pressure of the water, shooting water out with 30 to 80 times more pressure than it would have just from the hose. This force will loosen soil, grime, paint, and more from a number of surfaces efficiently, helping to streamline many of your household chores. For still more cleaning strength, some versions even have built-in soap tanks that blend with the spray.
However, it can be a little frustrating to shop for a pressure washer, particularly if you’re not familiar with the common terms. To make this choice a little simpler, pressure washers are sometimes defined as light-, medium-, or heavy-duty, you will need to choose a pressure washer with a sufficient water volume and cleaning intensity, measured in GSM and PSI, respectively. In addition, you’ll have to pick between choices that are gas-powered and electric-powered, each with pros and cons.
The following guide will help you understand the complexities of pressure washers better, supplying you with the knowledge you need to select the right choice for your home.
What to Look for in a Pressure Washer?
When you browse for a pressure washer, there are some qualities you’ll want to remember. These variables will not only decide how well the system performs and what functions it is best used for, but also how costly it will be.
Water Pressure
How much force it produces is one of the most important considerations to remember when purchasing a pressure washer. More pressure, after all, equates to more strength for washing.
In PSI, or pounds per square inch, this pressure is measured. Lower PSI means, generally speaking, less pressure. That doesn’t mean, though, that you can only buy the highest PSI machine you can find, a lower PSI can be ideal for your needs based on how you expect to use your pressure washer.
At about 1,300 to 1,800 PSI, market pressure washers frequently launch. For small residential jobs such as washing vehicles, cleaning shutters, washing down lawn furniture, and spot-cleaning mould or mildew, this type of light-duty machine is perfect. The next step is about 2,000 to 3,000 PSI, and since they can be used to scrub house siding, driveways, decks, and other rough stains, these devices are also called heavy-duty. Finally, 3,000 + PSI devices are called professional-grade and are used for factory washing, paint scraping, demolition of graffiti, and more. These high-end pressure washers are the most costly, because most homeowners don’t need as much electricity in general.
Gallons Per Minute
GPM, or gallons per minute, is the other critical element that goes hand-in – hand with PSI. This tests, as you may have guessed, the amount of water that flows through the water under pressure. Since they use more water, versions with a higher GPM can clean quicker and more easily.
The greater the load, the more water the system uses per minute, the more GPM is directly proportional to PSI. Just 1.5 GPM can be used for light-duty equipment, while professional-grade versions may go up to 4 GPM.
You’ll want to look at PSI first while looking for a pressure washer, but keep an eye on GPM, too. You may not be able to support a high-GPM system depending on what you’re using for a water supply.
Power Source
You’ll also want to look at how to power various pressure washers. Both gas and electric versions are available, and each of these types has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Usually, electric-powered pressure washers are less pricey, smaller, and simpler to maintain. In comparison, they run more softly and do not cause toxic air emissions. Electric models, though, are normally less efficient than gas models, and you have to use them close to an electric socket. For small jobs around the house, such as washing vehicles, outdoor furniture, and grills, this sort of pressure washer is also easier.
A gas-powered pressure washer is the other alternative. This machines are much more efficient because they’re more compact and flexible so you’re not limited by a cable. The downside is that gas engines need frequent servicing, and for the environment, they are louder and worse.
Pump Type
The pressure washer pump is arguably the most important part of your tool, as it’s what creates the high water pressure. There are two types of pumps that are commonly used: axial pumps and triplex pumps.
Axial pumps are great for beginners, as they’re easy to use and require little maintenance. They’re best for small tasks around the house and ideal if you only plan to use your pressure washer once in a while.
Triplex pumps, on the other hand, are a bit more heavy-duty and will serve you well if you plan to use your pressure washer frequently. However, these pumps require more maintenance.
Water Supply
What kind of source of water do you expect to hook your pressure washer up to? Water from the municipality? Water well? You do not have a water supply at all!
When buying a pressure washer, this is an important factor, but often ignored, since the machine’s GPM needs to be equal to the water supply pressure. If you buy a pressure washer that uses 2.5 GPM, for example, the water system needs to be able to deliver that much water regularly. Otherwise, the engine of your latest instrument is likely to flame out.
In general, most pressure washers on a city water source can be run safely, but the same cannot be said for well water. If you intend to hook the pressure washer up to well-supplied water, you may want to weigh the GSM to ensure that for the length of the time you use it, it can meet the machine ‘s needs.
What if you have no source of water? You’ve got few choices. Firstly, to run your machine off, you might invest in some kind of water tank. Second, there are several small pressure washers that have water tanks built-in that you can top up in the sink or tub. Bear in mind that you will be given a short runtime for all these solutions.
