If you want to remove dust and dirt from your outdoor furniture, car, oil stains on the driveway, or clean the fence, a pressure cleaner will do the job. This is a machine powered by an electric or internal combustion motor and a mechanical sprayer. Low-pressure water enters the machine, while high-pressure water leaves the pump through a hose and a spray nozzle. This is a valuable tool every home needs.
Types of Pressure Washers
With so many options on the market, it can be hard to make a decision. Before going out and buying from the big variety of pressure washers it’s advisable to think about the power source. Which one will be the best option for you? There are three basic types, electric, petrol and diesel. The power source has a huge influence on the price, maintenance, and mobility.
Electric Pressure Washer
These washers are available in different amperage as three-phase and single-phase. They’re restricted when it comes to movement because they depend on a power cable to work. But if you have a long power cable you can easily move it around. If not, you can mostly use it for objects that can be moved and brought in front of the machine.
Besides this restriction, these machines often dominate the market and are the top-selling variety. This is due to the low running costs. There’s no fuel involved so it’s less messy. Plus, there’s very low maintenance involved when it comes to electric motors. These machines are also quiet and don’t produce fume, which means they create no angry neighbours or pollution for the environment.
Petrol Pressure Washers
Petrol machines often come with four wheels. This makes them easy to manoeuvre and you’re not restricted by a cable as the electric type. On the other hand, they can be heavier to carry around because of the fuel they carry inside. When you add the water source as well, they become even heavier. But there’s a solution for the water. You can mount it on the cleaner or carry it around with a trailer.
Another thing that makes them popular is the low cost when buying them. The upfront cost is lower, however, the maintenance afterwards can be costly. A petrol motor requires more upkeep because of its wear and tear. With this machine, you can easily clean different parts of your yard, like the fence, garage door, stairs, or pavement.
You’ll get high-pressure water that’s able to clean old gum or even tree sap without using harsh chemicals. Compared to the electric type, the petrol one is noisier and the motor can overheat if you use it for a long time. And be careful during the colder months. You’ll need to add antifreeze to keep it working.
Diesel Pressure Washers
These machines have an advantage when it comes to their fuel type. Even though you have to buy diesel, and it can be more expensive than petrol, it’ll last longer in the pressure washer. They also have more powerful engines and a higher flow rate. Research shows that these machines also last longer that the petrol ones.
Industrial workers and businesses use these machines a lot because of their efficiency and high-water pressure. You can find them mounted on a trailer and most of them are working on hot water. This is because diesel requires hot water to perform. They have a lower maintenance rate but can come in a higher price tag at the store.
Battery Powered Pressure Washers
These machines are a more powerful option compared to a standard garden hose because of the lithium-ion battery. Most of them don’t generate a lot of pressure, making them a better option for lighter-duty cleaning projects like cleaning your car. Oftentimes, the batteries of the pressure washers can be used in other power tools produced by the same company.
What Water to Use?
Hot Water
Machines that operate on hot water are more expensive than cold-water ones. But this is an investment that will pay off in the long run because you won’t need so many chemicals for tougher cleaning. The hot water eliminates and breaks down substances quicker than cold water does. It can quickly deal with oil stains and grease. This makes them perfect for cleaning any type of machine.
Cold Water
Cold water machines are cheaper because they don’t require a burner or a heating coil to warm up the water. Usually, they’re also more practical and smaller so you can easily move them around. They don’t handle oil stains and grease well, but are perfect for loose paint, mildew and thick dirt. If you have to buy tons of chemicals to clean oil stains, you should buy a hot water machine instead.
Basic Terms
PSI
PSI or Pounds per Square Inch is used to measure the pressure of the machine. This is a thing that impacts the cleaning performance and it can vary depending on the usage. The 1,000-1,900 PSI is low pressure used for cleaning the household or washing your car. The 2,000-2,900 PSI is moderate and used for commercial cleaning and heavier residential jobs.
The 3,000 PSI is high and people use it to clean industrial equipment, boats or concrete. Lastly, machines with 3,000+ PSI are considered very high pressure and can easily damage the surface if you’re not careful. They’re most commonly used for cleaning graffiti or removing paint.
LPM
Litres per minute or LPM shows how much water the washer can pump out in one minute. This is an important factor to consider and will influence the cleaning performance. The higher the flow, the easier the cleaning and vice versa.
RPM
Revolutions per minute refer to the work of the motor. They fall into three categories:
- 3,400 RPM – domestic machines, shouldn’t work long;
- 2.800 RPM – commercial machines, longer periods but not continuously;
- 1,450 RPM – industrial machines, 8+ hours a day.
Accessories
A spray tip does a lot and different tips produce a different pattern for a specific cleaning purpose. They can range from 0-65 degrees and each of them has a different strength. The rotary turbo nozzle is very powerful and can carve in wood, but it doesn’t cover a wide surface. It reaches 3,000 rotations per minute and it can be made from ceramics, stainless steel, aluminium, plastic, brass, or alloy.
The surface cleaner is easy to use and cleans the surface evenly. It’s an enclosed disc that rotates which means you won’t get wet. A water broom is a combination of three nozzles. You don’t have to carry it because it has wheels, so fear no back pain or strain. Choosing the wand of the machine depends on the type of machine you have, whether it’s electric, diesel, petrol or battery powered.
