Pressure washers. How do I pick in between a gas, electrical, or cordless pressure washer? What’s the difference between a pressure washer, power washer, and power cleaner?
I respond to those concerns – and more – in this post. Plus, I share my leading choices based on substantial testing of different brand names and models.
The focus of this article is mainly on “consumer-grade” powerwashers (mostly electric). These machines provide great worth at an affordable price point, are normally utilized just periodically, and some even have PSI’s similar to semi-commercial and expert systems, simply without the price tag (or the quality parts that comprise the much heavier responsibility systems).
Units driven by a fuel engine
Plug-in (electric) units running at 120V, and
Cordless makers run by a battery, normally Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion).
Each type of pressure washer has its advantages and drawbacks, and you can go bananas trying to determine all the benefits and drawbacks to pick the very best pressure washer for your requirements. I advise applying Pareto’s guideline by asking yourself which machine will accomplish 80% of your jobs with only 20% of your effort. That should give you a good beginning point.
This is the amount of force that the water released from the power washer applies to a surface area. The greater the PSI, the more aggressive a pressure washer is.
GPM– Gallons Per Minute (likewise called Flow Rate).
Think for a moment about Niagara Falls, which produces about 440,380,904 GPM. This is a gigantic number. As all that water plunges over the edge, it falls 160 feet to the boulders listed below, slowly deteriorating them into grains of sand. Now think about the water dripping over the edge of a little ornamental water fountain. It has a fraction of Niagara’s circulation rate and hardly makes a damage in the ground below.
It’s the very same with a pressure washer. If you desire to clean a larger surface location in less time, you require a higher GPM or flow rate.
Anatomy of a Pressure Washer.
There are pressure washer systems that utilize hot water however these are reserved for industrial usage. It’s really crucial not to run hot water through a cold water pressure washer as it will harm the high pressure pump.
With that out of the method, lets talk about what makes up a cold water pressure washer:.
It has a high pressure water pump.
There’s an inlet to connect the system to a water source, typically a garden tube. A few of the brand-new cordless, battery-powered units draw water from a bucket rather of (or in addition to) a hose pipe hookup.
The pump is run by either common house voltage (120V), a gasoline engine, or (relatively brand-new to the marketplace) a li-ion battery.
The pump can be hand held (luggable) or developed into a system that has wheels for dragging it to the jobsite.
Lots of units have on-board detergent tanks or a separate soap dispenser.
It has a high-pressure hose pipe that goes from the water pump to the spray wand (the “gun” that holds the nozzle).
Normally, a pressure washer comes with an array of various spray pattern nozzles (typically 00, 150, 250, and 400) and might likewise consist of a soap dispensing nozzle.
It may have a “turbo” nozzle consisted of (more about that later).
About Pressure Washer Spray Nozzles.
With the exception of “turbo” nozzles, many customer grade pressure washers on the marketplace today consist of a choice of nozzles in their set. Each nozzle has a various function. These include:.
00 is a pencil-thin spray that develops extreme high pressure. It is used for reaching into tight crevices where an extremely concentrated great stream of water is required. It’s likewise exceptional for getting rid of things like tar, baked-on mud, crud from the underside of a lawnmower deck, grease discolorations and for reaching high places like the overhangs on the second story of your home.
150 is ideal for stripping surface areas. Utilize it on whatever from paint to mold, from rust on steel to oil/grease stains.
250 makes a good nozzle for cleaning up the side of your home, patio areas, decks and even driveways.
400 nozzles are usually used to clean windows, outside furnishings, vehicles, boats, recreational vehicle’s, and landscape equipment.
Soap nozzles are utilized to give cleaning agent to surface areas prior to being pressure cleaned. These nozzles fit into completion of the spray wand and give a very low-pressure stream of cleaning agent.
Turbo is a nozzle with a spray angle of approx. 00 – 150 that sprays in a rotary vortex pattern at around 3,000 RPM’s (revolutions per minute). Due to the fact that the pencil-thin and narrow cone spray spins at a really high rate of speed, it doesn’t attack a surface like a straight 00 spray nozzle (above). The turbo nozzle’s benefit is that it can cover more area in less time, like 50% less time. Plus, it can be used as a universal, versatile nozzle, consequently getting rid of the need for the four standard nozzles (except the soap nozzle).
Use the Right Nozzle for the Job.
Using the wrong spray nozzles can damage paint surfaces on valuable products like boats, automobiles, and RVs. It’s crucial not to use aggressive spray nozzle patterns on these items. A 400 nozzle is advised BUT you still need to be careful not to hold the nozzle too close to the automobile as the clear coat (and even the paint below the covering) can be interrupted and destroyed.
When power washing a car, it’s often better to first apply a cleaning agent specifically developed for usage in pressure washers to help get rid of the dirt and grime from the automobile. Use the pressure washer to gently wash the cleaning agent and dirt away.
Also note that great angled spray nozzles (00, 150 and often 250) can trigger severe damage to wood and other soft surfaces. It’s much better to utilize the recommended nozzle for the specific job.