If you have ever worried about how to make your car all neat and clean or that oil stain on your floor that just wouldn’t come off is driving you crazy, then maybe you are in need of a pressure washer. A pressure washer uses high-pressure water to clean and remove mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles, and concrete road surfaces. They use around 75% less water than that of standard water or garden hoses because their output pressure is about 50 times higher than a garden hose. Cleaners can be added to the pressurized spray to clean faster.
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Types of Pressure Washer
There are several types of pressure washer available on the market such as electric pressure washers, diesel Pressure Washers, Gas Pressure Washers, ultra high pressure washers, Hydraulic high pressure washers and high pressure steam cleaners. Not all types of washer are suitable for every chore.
There is also classification based on water pressure and gallons per minute. Water pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch, can range from about 750 p.s.i. to 30,000 p.s.i. Washers with lower p.s.i is mainly for simple household chores whereas pressure washers with more than 4,000 p.s.i are used for commercial and professional purposes. ‘Gallons per minute’ is the volume of water a machine produces at a given pressure. For household units the gallons per minute ranges from one to four. For a given maximum pressure, models with greater water flow rates can clean larger areas faster.
Electric pressure washers are generally of lower p.s.i. They are mainly used for household cleaning purposes. Some electric pressure washers can even be mounted on the wall. The main disadvantage of an electric pressure washer is that you have to run a cord to it which makes it difficult to move around with.
If you are looking for more pressure and quicker cleaning you should certainly consider fuel powered pressure washers. They can be of various p.s.i’s. A high performance gas or diesel pressure washer can be used for high profile jobs like removing colors from iron and wood or unwanted graffiti.
There are also some pressure washers which use warm and hot water. In addition to using detergents or cleaners this feature may prove handy when dealing with some extra sticky stains.
Which Pressure Washer Is Right For You?
So far it is clear that there are enough types of pressure washer to make your head spin. And they come in a price range of $90 to $15,000. So, which power washer is suitable for you?
If you are planning to purchase a light duty washer for cleaning garden tools garden furniture, motorbikes, rubbish bins or similar chores you can go for a 1,000-1,500 p.s.i washer. You can purchase either an electric one or a fuel powered one depending on your preferences.
For chores like washing cars, lorries and boats, wooden fences, washing spa pools and hot tubs you may want to go for a medium duty washer of 1,500-2,000 p.s.i.
For really heavy duty jobs like cleaning brickwork, decks, patios and concrete driveways you will need a pressure washer with at least 2,000 p.s.i. Bear in mind though that it is best for you not to go beyond 3,500 p.s.i. because these Pressure Washers are dangerous to work with and they can be harmful both for the surface and for human beings. For these types of heavy duty power washers you have to go for the fuel powered washers.
Of course you may want to do some more heavy duty jobs like removing colors from iron and wood or removing graffiti. Then you have to look for a fuel powered washer with a high g.p.m. and a water pressure around 4,000 p.s.i.
There are also other things that you might want to consider. The type of nozzle on the wand is also important for efficient and effective cleaning. The spray from various nozzles can range from a pinpoint zero-degree to a 40-degree pattern. Spray patterns under 20 degrees can strip paint, cut weeds from patio cracks, etc. You may want to go for a washer with changeable nozzles so that you can use a variety of them depending on your need.
Top 3 Recommendations
Many companies like Campbell Hausfeld, Delco, Pressure-pro, Ridgid etc. offer a range of power washers. Following are the three top rated pressure washers, which are all available online.
Campbell Hausfeld PW181000AV
The Campbell Hausfeld PW181000AV is an electric powered pressure washer that has a quiet durable induction motor and is convenient to use. It has useful dual detergent tanks and adjustable nozzle. The handle, wheels and on-board storage are also very useful. For blasting tougher stains, the turbo nozzle boosts the pressure from 1,800 pounds per square inch (psi) to 2,050 psi. It is a good power washer for tough household chores. The only downside maybe is the low 1.6 g.p.m flow rate.
Briggs & Stratton Professional Series Gas Powered
The Briggs & Stratton Professional Series Gas Powered is a gas powered power washer that provides enough pressure at 2,700 pounds per square inch to tackle most homeowner tasks such as washing big decks and even siding. The flow rate is a is comparable to other models at this price point, but otherwise this is a great pressure washer. It comes with a 175cc Briggs & Stratton professional series engine and two-year warranty.
Ridgid RD80701
The Ridgid RD80701 is a pressure washer that is designed to last. Experts say the quality of the pump on a pressure washer, as well as the length of the warranty are key measures of quality. The powerful Ridgid RD80701 passes on both counts. The powerful Cat triplex pump is very rare on a consumer-grade pressure washer. Pressure, rated at 3,000 p.s.i. is powerful enough for removing tough stains or even stripping paint, and the flow rate of 2.6 g.p.m helps speed up the cleaning process.
The Last Word
Lastly, you have your own budget and your own preferences. But before you purchase a power washer weigh your needs and preferences, then go for the buy. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a Pressure Washer that is not good for your needs.
