You can use a pressure washer in a number of ways. These useful deep-cleaning machines can help you tackle just about anything in your patio, decking, and backyard. They are incredibly effective at getting rid of slippery mildew, oil stains, and even carbonized cookout rubbish on your grill. You can say goodbye to the daunting task of manually scrubbing and brushing dirt and grime on your surfaces.
However, before jumping on board, keep in mind that you should always use a pressure washer with the utmost care. These handy tools can deliver a powerful and strong high-pressure flow of water that can cause serious damage to your property and injury to users. That’s why it’s vital not only to get the right one for your needs but to learn everything you need to know how to use them properly so that you can harness their power to your advantage.
Understanding How A Pressure Washer Works
Whatever you call it, power washers or outdoor cleaners, every pressure washer operate the same way. All units come with either a set of interchangeable pressure washer nozzles or an all-in-one variable spray wand allowing you to adjust its water pressure with a simple twist. Water will enter your machine at low pressure, the electric or gas motor will then pump the water through its hose and nozzle at a higher pressure.
You can instantly blast away all the dirt and grime that have accumulated on your backyard and surfaces like patios, driveways, and decks. They’re also ideal for cleaning siding and outdoor furniture as quickly as it would take you to find a scrubbing brush and fill your bucket with soapy water. When your garden hose can’t take care of the job, you can turn to a pressure washer to provide you with an efficient and powerful cleaning ability you need.
Aside from knowing what you want to get out of a pressure washer is not enough. You need to ensure that you’re getting the best one suitable for your needs. Will you be using it frequently or do you only need it to handle a relatively small range of different cleaning jobs?
Power
When shopping around for a unit, you want to know first their power since it’ll determine the types of tasks it can handle. The pressure output of a power washer is measured by PSI of pounds per square inch and GPM or gallons per minute. Units with higher PSI and GPM rates can offer faster and better cleaning power but are often more expensive.
- Light-Duty. These power washers are best for light jobs around your home with a typical rate of 1300 to 1900 PSI at 2 GPM. These machines are lightweight, compact, and ideal for taking care of vehicles, grills, patio furniture, and small patios and decks.
- Medium-Duty. These are usually gas-powered that can generate a PSI ranging from 2000 to 2800 at 2 to 3 GPM. It’s perfect for both residential and commercial use. They are powerful, sturdier and come with premium components for easy cleaning of your fences, exterior siding, driveways, and walkways.
- Heavy-Duty. These professional-grade units are ideal for daily commercial uses. They offer 2800 and higher PSI at 3 to 4 GPM. They’re also gas-powered and very durable. They’ll make large-scale jobs seem light such as removing graffiti, washing powder your two-story home, and paint stripping.
If you only need one to clean off your outdoor furniture, patio, fences, sidewalks, decks, cars, and driveways, you may want to opt for a light-duty pressure washer with a PSI that doesn’t even reach 2000. But if you’ll be performing these tasks frequently, you may need to go with a medium-duty with a PSI ranging between 2000 to 2800.
Purchase a heavy-duty model if you’re planning on some home improvement projects with a PSI of up to 3300. These power washers are hard to use and manage though, but for some people, they are the perfect equipment for their cleaning needs.
Electric Pressure Washers Vs Gas Pressure Washers: Which Should I Get?
Water is pressurized differently by gas and electric power washers. But the main difference between the two is their strength and speed.
Electric pressure washers are more suitable for home use. They operate quieter and cleaner with a simple push of the button. They are also more lightweight and can provide you with the power you need for tackling the usual garden and home pressure washing cleaning jobs.
Its biggest drawback though is that you need to plug them into a power source or an extension lead compatible to them. This means that your cleaning area will be limited to the length of its power cord. You also have to make sure not to get their electrical connection wet and trip over their cables.
If you’re looking to purchase one, get the facts about corded-electric pressure washers first to ensure you’ll end up with the best one.
Gas pressure washers, on the other hand, works well for regular use at home and commercial purposes. These machines are heavy duty compared to the electric type and are more powerful most of the time.
They’re recommended for large scale cleaning jobs since you don’t need to plug them into a power outlet, thus providing you with more mobility. However, gas-powered washers tend to be loud, so if you have sensitive ears, you may need to wear ear protection when using them.
Features To Lookout For
- Water Flow Rate. This is measured in liters per minute or hour. A pressure washer with a high water flow rate combined with a high PSI means it offers an extremely effective cleaning and rinsing ability.
- Engine or Motor Size. Make sure to check the horsepower on gas-powered models and watts on electric-powered units. The higher these features are, the more heavy duty and powerful your unit will be.
- Water Butt Connectivity. This connection lets you buy a compatible accessory for connecting your unit to your water butt. This means you will be able to utilize the collected rainfall in your water butt for pressure washing, which can save you money as well.