If there’s one thing that many people hate to do, it’s cleaning stains. Some stains look like they never want to come out no matter what: motor oil stains on concrete, embedded mildew on brick, glazed soot on metal grills, all these will need hours of agonizing labor to clean off.
You may not even get everything out despite that. In desperate times like these, maybe you ought to consider getting a good pressure washer of your own.
What Are Pressure Washers, and How Do They Work?
Pressure washers consist of a pump that’s powered by a motor, and this pump builds up the water pressure in a reservoir. The user has a long nozzle in one hand, that they can activate to open up a concentrated blast of high pressure water. The results are immediate and satisfying – a strip of clean, pristine surface that’s now free of accumulated grime and dirt.
Many people will find pressure washers a joy to use, at least compared to the alternative of water, soap, a stiff brush, and lots and lots of elbow grease. Pressure washers save you time, effort, and even uses less water than using a garden hose.
That said, a pressure washer is still a power tool, and one that has considerable range. There is no comparison with a garden hose nozzle – the jet emitted from a pressure washer can easily blast through clothes and even shoes and cause you (or a bystander) serious injury. Pressure washers are a lot of fun to use, but they are not to be underestimated.
Which Type of Pressure Washer Should I Choose?
A pressure washer is a must-have if you are in the cleaning business, a contractor or even an avid DIY'er and owning one for your home makes sense if you want to have the ability to clean yourself without hiring someone to do it for you. That said, pressure washers are tools that require maintenance and quite a bit of storage space too, something to keep in mind as well.
Considering that any pressure washer you buy will be used for one specific task (pressure washing), the type of pressure washer you should consider is mostly a matter of what kinds of things you will be cleaning and your budget, of course.
Pressure washers can range in price from $100, to several hundreds of dollars and usually budget is a large determining factor in the decision process for pressure washers.
Rent One To Try It Out First: That said, if it seems that you cannot decide on the right pressure washer for you and your needs, you can always rent a pressure washer to get a feel for what to expect. It’s a good way to learn more about the tool and can help you decide if getting your own will be worth your time and money and to see how well the unit you rented performs around your property.
Pressure washers generally fall into three types – gas powered pressure washers, electric pressure washers, and the newly emerging battery powered pressure washers. Pressure washers can also be classified according to their cleaning power and capacity, from light duty washers to extra heavy-duty models.
Important metrics to take notice of are how much water flows through the pressure washer (measured in gallons per minute or GPM) and psi which is the total amount of pressure your pressure washer can pump out.
Electric Powered Pressure Washers
Electric powered pressure washers generally refer to a corded model and need a power outlet to operate. They are ideal for light duty pressure washing jobs such as washing off your patio (wood and rock), washing your vehicles and other general cleaning purposes.
Most electric pressure washers cost less than gas powered models and they also tend to be smaller meaning they will need less storage space. They are also much quieter, plus they do not need routine maintenance like fuel refills or oil changes, so they are essentially maintenance-free in many respects.
They do not put out any emissions and are pretty quiet compared to gas powered models, which makes them ideal for some people who may have strict regulations in their neighborhood.
On the flipside, they have limited range, since they can only go as far as their power cord allows them to go with extension cords, of course. Some models have an even more restricted range though since the powerful electric pressure pumps in some models draw so much current that plugging them into extension cords is inadvisable.
Aside from range, electric powered pressure washers are somewhat limited in the power department as well. That means less jet pressure and usually less water flow (GPM), which makes for longer cleaning times and shorter jet ranges.
Features to Look for In Electric Powered Pressure Washers
- Integrated detergent tanks allow you to use soap to improve the cleaning power of your pressure washer even further. Some models even come with more than one detergent tank so you can carry different detergents or even bleach for different cleaning tasks.
- Tool less spray nozzle changing features let you change the width of the stream, from pinpoint blasts to wider sweeps, to nozzles specifically designed for use with soap.
- Brushless Induction Motors are more energy efficient, run quieter and are more durable than the usual brushed electric motors.
- Long hoses and electric cords let you cover a wider area with your electric washer.
Gas Powered Pressure Washers
Gas powered pressure washers have the advantage of carrying their fuel with them, meaning you can power wash just about anywhere as long as you have gas in the tank. Gas powered pressure washers are also capable of higher pressures, which lets you do tasks that electric powered pressure washers will struggle with.
For cleaning the siding of two storey homes, you will need the power of a gas powered pressure washer to reach the top. The powerful pressure that some of the more powerful gas powered pressure washers put out also make them capable of surface preparation, including tasks such as stripping old paint and graffiti to taking on encrusted mildew and mold on porous surfaces.
Gas powered pressure washers have enough power to clean driveways and decks without the need to resort to chemicals or soap, in most cases and the more powerful models can actually damage the surface so you have to be careful. The jet of a gas powered pressure washer is strong enough to strip even tough watertight gunk like tree sap, chewing gum, and rubber burn marks.
That said, gas powered pressure washers have gas motors that will need maintenance, proper care when operating, and more storage space. Not only do you have to fill up your unit with gas, you also have to make sure it gets regular tune-ups, as well (spark plug, oil changes, etc.). Just like with other gasoline engines, your pressure washer motor will need to be properly winterized as well if you live in colder regions.
While most gas powered pressure washers have wheels and have no power cords to restrict them, towing them around can be heavy work, as well, seeing as how they usually weigh significantly more than their electric counterparts. Overall, gas powered pressure washers are more expensive to buy too and will run a couple hundred dollars to start and will go up from there.
Features to Look For in Gas Powered Pressure Washers
- Heavy gauge steel components, roll frames and wheels help you move around the heavy pressure washer.
- Maintenance-free pumps help cut down on the maintenance work you need to do (pump maintenance, anyways).
- Abrasion resistant hoses are helpful when you are dragging around the hose on concrete, asphalt or other harder surfaces.
- Quick-change nozzle tips should come with your unit (assortment pack) so you don't have to purchase them separately.
- Extension wands and spray tips extend the range of your nozzle, letting you reach the uppers floors of buildings you are cleaning, as well as allowing you to aim better at hard to reach areas like eaves and window edges.
Angled spray tips give you access to blind spots and gutters that can make it a lot easier on you. - You can find higher psi and GPM models available and are intended for really tough tasks.
Battery Powered Pressure Washers
For the utmost in portability, you can also have one of the new battery powered pressure washers that are now starting to make their way into the market. They are the smallest and most portable pressure washer options you can have, and some of them can fit in the trunk of your car
For now, at least, battery powered pressure washers have a ways to go before they can compare to electric and gas powered models in terms of power. Most battery powered pressure washers available right now have operating pressures just a step above what a strong faucet jet will give you, but that is bound to change as electric motor pumps develop further.
Comparing Pressure Washers
Pressure washers do one job, for the most part, so you as the buyer have (more or less) one major consideration to think about – how much power do you need? What counts when it comes to pressure washers is the power they have on tap, plus any convenient features that may appeal to you.
When it comes to power, pressure washers are often compared to each other in terms of pressure output, which is cited in terms of pounds per square inch or PSI.
To attempt to take the nozzle into account, pressure washer makers also mention the rate that their tool can expel water. This figure is usually given in terms of gallons per minute, and if the GPM of pressure washers look low to you, keep in mind that these machines are designed to conserve water as much as possible.
When it comes to the choice of pressure washer versus the job you need to do, your choice can fall into one of these categories.
Light-Duty Pressure Washers
These pressure washers are ideal for most jobs around the house that require light cleaning (small amount of staining or recent staining).
Most of these jobs will only need a pressure washer capable of 1,200 to 2,000 psi at most, electric pressure washers generally fall into this category. You can expect a water usage rate of about 1-2 GPM from a light-duty pressure washer.
Medium-Duty Pressure Washers
These pressure washers are perfect for cleaning house sidings, grimy driveways, and fences that have gathered years’ worth of dust and pollution. In short, these pressure washers are usually the ideal type for most homeowners because they have plenty of power to tackle the tougher jobs but are still affordable for most people.
You will need 2,000 psi to 2,800 psi to pull off these tasks and for that, you generally enter into gas powered pressure washer territory. Most electric powered pressure washers simply don’t make that cut yet in terms of GPM power, but they can have the psi rating.
For medium-duty washer jobs, expect to use water at a clip of around 2-3 GPM, as a general rule of thumb.
Heavy-Duty Pressure Washers
Pressure washers that fall into this category are exclusively of the gas-powered type, and at this level, you now step up to around the 3,000 psi range. With this power, you can strip a wall of paint or wash entire houses. If you are looking for a pressure washer for commercial use – for a house cleaning business, for instance, these pressure washers are right up your alley.
Remember that a heavy duty pressure washer has a water flow of 3.0 GPM and up. It is important to note that some "heavy duty" pressure washers can have a GPM rating as low as 2.5 GPM, according to some people but in my opinion, models with 3.0 GPM and up are truly "heavy duty" models.
Some users need more power than what heavy-duty pressure washers can provide. At this point, they can choose to invest in industrial machines that can cut through stuff with water jets in excess or 3,300 psi, or they can look into chemicals to make the job easier.
Hot water pressure waters are another option if you cannot use chemicals for the surface that you want to clean. These washers, when combined with soaps and chemicals, are some of the most powerful cleaners you can ever get your hands on but will often set you back a few thousand dollars as well.
A Few Safety Tips When Using Pressure Washers...
Clear the area you are about to clean first, and make sure there are no rocks, dirt or other debris that will get kicked up when you begin spraying.
- Never point the nozzle at people, animals, or any breakable or fragile objects.
- Use the right nozzle and pressure setting for the job. If a gentler jet can do the job in a reasonable amount of time, that’s preferable to using a stronger jet that’s liable to splinter wood, accidentally strip paint, or even cause injury.
- Always aim the nozzle away from power outlets, extension cords, and power lines.
- Do not leave a pressure washer or spray gun unattended while the pump is running, and always keep the spray gun away from children.
- Put on some ear and eye protection, especially when using a gas powered pressure washer.
