Choosing the Right Pressure Washer

Find out what to consider when making a purchase

What will you be cleaning?

Outdoor furniture, grills, cars, decks, houses, garages, driveways, and other equipment can all be cleaned more efficiently with a pressure washer.

1200-1500 PSI

This amount of pressure will be adequate to clean your outdoor furniture, cars, and grills.

1500-2200 PSI

If you planning on cleaning your deck and driveway, you will need more pressure to rinse off dirt and grime that has accumulated.

2200-3500 PSI

A pressure washer with this much power is most likely a professional unit meant for cleaning siding, large patios/driveways, and industrial equipment.

How often will your pressure washer be used?

As a general rule of thumb, gasoline powered pressure washers will last longer than electric and are meant for medium to heavy-duty applications.

A light user will probably use their pressure washer 1-3 times per month at the most. Residential users will usually fall into the category of light-user. As a light-user, an electric pressure washer should be adequate for your needs. If you are planning on cleaning the siding of your house, your driveway, and/or patio; you may want to consider a medium-duty electric unit or even a gas-powered washer.

If you are planning on using your pressure washer weekly, it may be a good idea to upgrade to a gasoline-power cleaner. If you are a commercial user cleaning daily, you will want to purchase a heavy-duty pressure washer meant for professional users.

Is mobility an issue?

Gasoline-powered pressure washers are generally more portable because they have built-in wheel. Some electric units also have a built-in cart and can be more versatile. Please remember that gasoline-powered pressure washers can never be used indoor and must always be used outside where there is ventilation.

Common pressure washer terminology.

PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch)

This is one of the most common specifications you will find relating to pressure washers. This will indicate the amount of pressure the unit will create if concentrated on one square inch of surface area. To give you an idea, a typical garden hose will put out about 40 PSI; a pressure washer can be anywhere from 30-75 times more powerful.

GPM (Gallons Per Minute)

This specification will tell you how much water (volume in gallons) will flow through your pressure washer (flow rate). This is a very important and often overlooked specification. A higher flow rate will cut down on your cleaning time.

CU (Cleaning Unit)

This unit of measurement is calculated by multiplying PSI by GPM. The number alone will not tell you a whole lot, but are very useful in comparing models you are considering.

Power

Gasoline pressure washers are powered by gasoline engines are rated in terms of horsepower (HP). Electric units are powered by an electric motor and are rated in amperage (amps).

Pumps

Pressure washer pumps are driven by the motor/engine and actually push the water through your pressure washer but do not create the pressure. There are 2 types of pump available; direct drive and belt-driven. Belt-driven pumps are more durable and are meant for heavy-duty applications.

Nozzle

As stated in the last section, pumps do not actually create the pressure in your cleaner. Pressure is created by forcing a stream of water through a smaller cavity. This smaller cavity is found on the end of your pressure washer gun/lance and is referred to as a nozzle.

General information.

Detergents/Cleaners

In most pressure washers, using a detergent will mean that is passes through the pump of your unit. If this is the case, it is best to only use detergent that is specifically designed for pressure washer use. Using a harsh cleaner like bleach would eat away at the rubber fittings in your pump. Some pressure washers have special lances that will add detergent to your water after it has passed through the pump. In this case, you have more leeway and could possibly use a detergent not meant for pressure washers. *Always check with your manufacturer warranty; using a cleaner not recommended could damage your pump and void you warranty.

How far to stand from cleaning surface?

It is a good idea to start 4-5 feet back and then move forward slowly; especially with surfaces that could potentially be sensitive to high pressure. Move forward until you have obtained the necessary cleaning power.

By: Jordan Wilcox of Improvement Direct, Inc.