A pressure washer is a great investment for carrying out some outdoor cleaning. The equipment not only saves money by cutting water bills, but also it saves a lot of time because the water pressure can get rid of oil stains and caked-on grime. The best thing is that a decent pressure washer doesn’t have to break the bank, especially if you will be doing light-duty cleaning outside your home. However, you must understand the features to look for to improve your experience using a pressure washer.
A pressure washer is an awesome device to have and is great for many tasks around the home, such as cleaning cars as well as cleaning paths and patios. However, there are many different brands you have to grapple with if you are looking for a decent pressure washer. You need to look for a good one that can help with heavy cleaning jobs as well as eliminate grass clippings, blistered paint, and mildew.
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What Is a Pressure Washer?
A pressure washer is a piece of equipment that pushes water through a narrow tip under high pressure. The pressurized water blasts dirt on the surface you wish to clean with the fast-moving water. Pressure washer power ratings come in two units GPM (gallons per minute) and PSI (pounds per square inch).
A pressure washer expels water under very high pressure of a spray gun. This pressure offers amazing and effortless cleaning power for your outdoor furniture, vehicles, deck, and driveway. A pressure washer is not just a tool but an investment. It lets you use very limited water almost 20 times less compared to a garden hose as it expels pressurized water with cleaning power.
Types of Pressure Washers
Pressure washers fall into two categories:
Corded-Electric
These are environmentally friendly since they do not generate toxic exhaust fumes that pollute the air. Also, these are more affordable than gas-powered pressure washers. They run quietly and smoothly as well they have a pleasing appearance compared to gas-powered pressure washers.
Electric pressure washers are compact and lightweight. However, the mobility of these pressure washers is limited by the length of the power cord. Also, it is important to note that even the most powerful electric pressure washer is nowhere near the weakest gas-powered pressure. So, electric pressure washers are suited to light-duty cleaning tasks.
Gas-Powered Pressure Washer
If you are after pure cleaning power, then you should consider getting one of these bad boys. Gas-powered pressure washers can easily churn out water at 10,000 PSI which is great for heavy-duty cleaning. These are very portable. However, these powerful pressure washers come at a premium price. So, if your budget is under $200 you are better off foregoing these powerful monsters. Also, these are very heavy and noisy compared to electric counterparts as well.
Things to Consider in a Pressure Washer
There are many pressure washers available today which makes choosing a decent one that will meet your needs a bit difficult. That’s why we are lending you hand as you look for the best pressure washer for your needs. As you go about with the search for a decent pressure washer that is within your budget, there are some things you need to consider. For more details on pressure washers, check this video.
Price
Most professional pressure washers are expensive. The quality and price of a pressure washer also depend on the brand since there are a few brands that offer amazing pressure washers at an affordable cost.
Efficiency
This depends on the power generated by the pressure washer. The bigger the combination of GPM and PSI, the more efficient the pressure washer. Pressure washers have varying levels of efficiency. For instance, there are light-duty pressure washers which are suitable for smaller cleaning tasks around the home. These have a PSI that ranges from 1300 to 1900 and a flow rate that hovers around 2 GPM.
Medium and heavy-duty pressure washers are often gas-powered. The PSI for medium-duty pressure washers ranges from 2000 to 2800 and their water flow rate varies from 2 to 3 GPM. Heavy-duty pressure washers have a PSI rate that is above 2800 and water flow rate that ranges from 3 to 4 GPM.
Power
How powerful a pressure washer is determined by the strength of the pressure output. Powered is measured by PSI and GPM.
Adjustable pressure
Even the power generated by the pressure washers under $200 can hurt the skin. So, it is important to look for a pressure washer that has a way of adjusting the pressure of the water jet. There are 2 systems that let users control the spray area and pressure of a pressure washer. These are quick-connect nozzle tips and twisting wands. Quick-connect nozzle tips are more common but twisting wand lets you change the pressure of the spray jet on the fly. These systems are a matter of personal taste.
Maneuverability
The fact that an electric pressure washer has a power cord doesn’t mean that is not portable. Depending on the brand, a pressure washer can be taken from one place to another, carted around on two wheels or four wheels. Based on your preferences select that suits your taste but take note of how balanced the tool is as you move it around. Some can easily tip over even four wheelers because of a slight tug.
Soap Dispenser
You don’t have a better way of applying soap on a surface than with a pressure washer. As such, you have two ways of doing so. One entails using a soap applicator and the second entails using an onboard tank. Usually, a soap applicator is an attachment connected to the spray gun that dispenses soap along with passing water through the hose.
In case you opt for a brand that comes equipped with a soap tank, these don’t require swapping any wand pieces. You only need to switch to soap mode then press the trigger. It is recommended to go for a pressure washer with a soap tank since they have a very little downtime. A soap applicator is great if time is not a factor for you.
Final Thoughts
When looking for a decent pressure washer, think about the tasks you need it for an how far away from a power outlet you might be. Pressure washers come with a variety of accessories and in a range of power levels. So, first identify your use-case, then it should be simple to find a cheap pressure washer that meets that need.