How to Choose a High-Pressure Washer<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re ready to get serious about cleaning, you make your day with a pressure<\/p>\n
washer.<\/p>\n
These lean, mean cleaning machines pack so much punch they\u2019re now being used to clean<\/p>\n
everything from jumbo jets and auto engines to cathedrals under restoration and the gutters<\/p>\n
on your home.<\/p>\n
Pressure washers, with their hot- and cold-water blasting capability, are growing in<\/p>\n
popularity at the industrial, commercial and now even homeowner level largely because<\/p>\n
they\u2019re \u201cmoney machines.\u201d They:<\/p>\n
\u2022 SAVE TIME: Pressure washers put water under pressure so they clean 4 to 5 times<\/p>\n
faster than a garden hose or other traditional methods.<\/p>\n
\u2022 SAVE LABOR: Less cleaning time means less labor. Less labor means more<\/p>\n
productivity and less overtime by employees. It all translates to more bang for the buck.<\/p>\n
\u2022 SAVE WATER: Surprisingly a pressure washer uses much less water than other<\/p>\n
cleaning methods. For instance, the typical garden hose puts out between 6 to 10 GPM<\/p>\n
(gallons per minute). The typical pressure washer uses between 2 and 5 GPM<\/p>\n
–a 50% to 70% savings in water usage.<\/p>\n
\u2022 PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: Clean equipment lasts longer. That means a<\/p>\n
pressure washer helps protect and extend your investment in machinery, trucks, and<\/p>\n
other equipment, to say nothing of how a company\u2019s public image is enhanced when<\/p>\n
shiny rigs\u2014or \u201crolling billboards\u201d\u2014go down the highways.<\/p>\n
So how do you make sure you get the right pressure washer for your cleaning job?<\/p>\n
By asking three simple questions you\u2019ll ensure you make the right choice:<\/p>\n
(1) What are you<\/p>\n
cleaning?<\/p>\n
(2) Where are you cleaning? and<\/p>\n
(3) How long will you be cleaning?<\/p>\n
What are you cleaning?<\/p>\n
All pressure washers fall into one of two categories: hot water or cold water. If you\u2019re<\/p>\n
cleaning engines, automotive parts, or anything else with oil or grease, your best option is a<\/p>\n
pressure washer that generates hot water. Like the dishes in your sink, hot water cuts<\/p>\n
grease and grime; cold water only pushes it around.<\/p>\n
(It\u2019s not unusual to hear hot water pressure washers referred to as steam cleaners or steam<\/p>\n
jenneys. While there are a few applications–such as detailing an automobile engine–that<\/p>\n
require steam, it has been proven over the years that hot water under pressure is a much<\/p>\n
more effective method of cleaning than steam. Some pressure washers still have a \u201csteam<\/p>\n
combination\u201d option where the hot-water flow is restricted in order to create a \u201cwet steam\u201d<\/p>\n
effect.)<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if you\u2019re simply blasting away soil, caked-on mud, or even stripping<\/p>\n
paint, a cold-water pressure washer will work just fine. In fact, an estimated 80% or more<\/p>\n
of all pressure washers purchased today are of the cold-water variety. A cold-water<\/p>\n
pressure washer with the right detergent often can solve most cleaning problems.<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve decided whether you need hot- or cold-water, now you need to ask\u2026<\/p>\n
Where are you washing?<\/p>\n
That may seem to be a silly question, but whether you\u2019re cleaning indoors or outdoors can<\/p>\n
make a huge difference in your cleaning options, many of which can dramatically impact<\/p>\n
your wallet.<\/p>\n
Two related questions will further help your decision-making:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Do you need portability? In other words, do you need a pressure washer with wheels<\/p>\n
so you can move it around or are you cleaning equipment and vehicles that can be<\/p>\n
moved up close to your pressure washer?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Are you cleaning on a job site or do you have easy access to electricity?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s why those questions are so important:<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re cleaning indoors, you\u2019re limited on your energy sources. For instance, indoors<\/p>\n
you\u2019re confined to using an electric motor to drive the high-pressure pump. The electric<\/p>\n
motor limits your portability because you\u2019re constantly \u201ctethered\u201d to an electrical outlet.<\/p>\n
If you need hot water indoors, you\u2019re further restricted to the type of heating fuel you can<\/p>\n
use because of fumes from fossil fuels. You can use electricity (expensive), natural gas<\/p>\n
(requires hard plumbing and must be vented to the outdoors) or LP gas (liquid propane\u2014a<\/p>\n
popular source but there is a very limited selection of LP-heated models on the market).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re cleaning outdoors, you now have many more options. You can operate a pressure<\/p>\n
washer powered by electricity or gasoline, the two most popular power sources. Typically,<\/p>\n
the electric-powered models are more economical, but the gasoline-powered pressure<\/p>\n
washers are a lot more portable (no electric cord).<\/p>\n
For outdoor cleaning with hot water, you can heat the water with diesel (the most popular),<\/p>\n
kerosene and fuel oil in addition to the \u201cindoor energy sources\u201d of electricity, natural gas<\/p>\n
and LP gas. The most popular outdoor hot water pressure washers are powered by<\/p>\n
electricity (economical) and heated by diesel (economical and plentiful). However, another<\/p>\n
outdoor hot water model that is quickly gaining in popularity is one that is powered by<\/p>\n
gasoline (economical and plentiful) and heated by diesel. It is extremely portable and selfcontained.<\/p>\n
All you need is water and you can clean most anywhere.<\/p>\n
Speaking of water, pressure washers typically are fed by a garden hose from a spigot.<\/p>\n
However, most pressure washers are also capable of drawing water from a large tank or<\/p>\n
bladder, which makes on-site cleaning possible and eliminates the need to be \u201ctethered\u201d to a<\/p>\n
faucet.<\/p>\n
Finally, how long will you be cleaning?<\/p>\n
This question reaches the heart of how much quality you need in your pressure washer,<\/p>\n
which also effects the price tag. You get what you pay for or, as some say, you only pay<\/p>\n
once for quality.<\/p>\n
If you are operating a pressure washer for less than five hours per week, you will probably<\/p>\n
be satisfied with a less expensive model available in catalogs and do-it-yourself stores. But<\/p>\n
don\u2019t count on much service or warranty support.<\/p>\n
If you are operating a pressure washer from 5 to 20 hours per week, you will find some<\/p>\n
mid-range models that are typically identified by a direct-drive pump and a bare-bones<\/p>\n
design.<\/p>\n
For those who are serious users–washing for more than 20 hours per week–you will be<\/p>\n
dollars ahead to invest in quality.<\/p>\n
So how do you identify quality?<\/p>\n
Most pressure washers, regardless of brand, have similar components. They have an<\/p>\n
engine or motor that turns a high-pressure pump. Hot-water models also have a burner that<\/p>\n
heats the water as it races through a coil made of pipe or tubing.<\/p>\n
The quality differences are not always obvious, but significant nonetheless. Here are the<\/p>\n
questions to ask in order to identify quality in a pressure washer:<\/p>\n
Is it belt-drive or direct-drive? A high-pressure pump does not turn on its own; rather it<\/p>\n
is driven by an engine or motor. Pumps generally turn at 1100-1500 RPM while gasoline<\/p>\n
engines turn at a rate of 3000-3600 RPM (1450-3450 RPM for electric motors). There are<\/p>\n
two predominant ways to connect the pump to an engine or motor: directly (direct-drive) or<\/p>\n
with a pulley and belt (belt-drive).<\/p>\n
Direct-drive pumps are more compact, helping to keep the weight and cost down. Today\u2019s<\/p>\n
direct-drive pumps have been engineered to hold up very well, even under constant use.<\/p>\n
The weakness, of course, is that a pump turning at 3600 RPM will wear out faster than a<\/p>\n
pump that turns at 1500 RPM.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, a belt-drive pump, configured with a pulley and belt, allows the pump to<\/p>\n
turn at the slower rate (usually 1500 RPM). The belt also dissipates the build up of heat and<\/p>\n
absorbs vibration from the engine. The ultimate benefit, of course, is that downtime is<\/p>\n
minimized and the pump\u2019s life is extended saving you money in the long run.<\/p>\n
There are other features that say \u201cquality\u201d in the engine-pump connection. Dual belts and<\/p>\n
V-groove belts, which are notched and cogged, run cooler and provide a better grip for a<\/p>\n
more efficient performance. Some models mount the pump on a two-bolt adjustment rail so<\/p>\n
it is easy to tighten the belt tension and keep the pump operating at peak levels.<\/p>\n
Is the pump tri-plunger or axial? All quality pressure washers will have a tri-plunger<\/p>\n
pump, or a pump that is turned by a crankshaft, connecting rods and three ceramic<\/p>\n
plungers. The rotary design of the axial pump is known for being low cost, high<\/p>\n
maintenance and its life is typically rated for no more than 800 hours. On the other hand,<\/p>\n
quality tri-plunger pumps usually have warranties of up to five and seven years.<\/p>\n
Does it have high pressure or high volume? A little known secret is that there is more<\/p>\n
cleaning power in a pressure washer\u2019s volume (gallons per minute) than in its pressure<\/p>\n
(pounds per square inch or PSI). A pressure washer with 2 GPM and 3000 PSI won\u2019t<\/p>\n
clean as fast as a pressure washer with 4 GPM and 2000 PSI. The first pressure washer<\/p>\n
delivers 6,000 cleaning units (2 x 3000) as compared to the second pressure washer\u2019s<\/p>\n
8,000 cleaning units (4 x 2000). Despite what you see in advertisements or on a product<\/p>\n
label, volume is the deciding factor and a quality pressure washer will provide the proper<\/p>\n
balance of volume and pressure.<\/p>\n
Is the engine or motor size correct? As mentioned above, it is not uncommon for a<\/p>\n
manufacturer to sell the \u201csizzle\u201d of high pressure over the more important water volume. A<\/p>\n
reliable rule of thumb is to review the flow rate along with the size of engine or motor. For<\/p>\n
industrial cleaning, you will want a pressure washer with at least 4 GPM and is driven by<\/p>\n
an engine with a minimum of 11 HP (5 HP for an electric motor). For a quality hobby<\/p>\n
pressure washer, you\u2019ll want a minimum of 2 GPM driven by at least a 5 HP engine (2 HP<\/p>\n
electric motor).<\/p>\n
Is the frame or chassis solid? Steel is steel, so most frames or chassis will hold up fine<\/p>\n
over the life of a pressure washer. However, there are questions you can ask that will<\/p>\n
determine just how much quality is in a pressure washer frame or chassis.<\/p>\n
Such as:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Is the frame made of the heavier 10-gauge steel?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Does it carry a long-term warranty? (Some frames are guaranteed for life.)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Are the seams reinforced with a weld?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Is the paint an epoxy powder coat for long-lasting, all-weather protection?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Does the chassis have shock-absorbing feet to cushion the vibration and to prevent the<\/p>\n
pressure washer from \u201cwalking\u201d while in operation?<\/p>\n
Is it safety and quality certified? UL-1776 is a regulation specifically established in 1995<\/p>\n
to address high-pressure cleaning equipment safety issues. It describes in detail a variety of<\/p>\n
features that pressure washers should have to avoid injury, including safety relief valve,<\/p>\n
hose guard for burst protection, warning labels, ground fault circuit interrupter, rupture disk<\/p>\n
and specified lengths for the wand and electrical cord. It is believed that less than half of all<\/p>\n
pressure washers are certified to UL-1776. Manufacturers who care about quality have<\/p>\n
certified their equipment to this standard. Make sure the certifying agency is a Nationally<\/p>\n
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).<\/p>\n
There are three other telltale signs of safety quality. A pressure washer will:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be manufactured in a factory certified to the internationally recognized ISO-9001<\/p>\n
standards for quality manufacturing procedures;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Meet the Cleaning Equipment Trade Association Performance Certification; and<\/p>\n
\u2022 Carry UV-resistant, tri-lingual (English, Spanish, French) labels with operating<\/p>\n
instructions and warnings for liability protection.<\/p>\n
Is it backed by a solid warranty? Quality pressure washers will have at least a one-year<\/p>\n
warranty on the pump and frame (the more rugged brands have up to a 7-year warranty on<\/p>\n
the pump and a lifetime warranty on the frame) and a two-year warranty on the gasoline<\/p>\n
engine. Possibly, a more important question to ask is how many trained, warranty service<\/p>\n
centers are there and is one close to you?<\/p>\n
Is the hose of high quality? Of all the critical components on a pressure washer,<\/p>\n
manufacturers will often scrimp here to save a few dollars. Shiny, thermoplastic hoses are<\/p>\n
the lowest quality. High quality hoses are made of a rubber compound reinforced with steel<\/p>\n
wire. A hose rating should be imprinted on the hose itself. A single-wire hose (R1) is<\/p>\n
typically rated for up to 3000 PSI while a double-wire hose (R2) is usually rated for 4500<\/p>\n
PSI or higher.<\/p>\n
Despite their simplistic design, be assured that not all pressure washers are created equal.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, you can have confidence in making the right choice when you ask the right<\/p>\n
questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How to Choose a High-Pressure Washer When you\u2019re ready to get serious about cleaning, you make your day with a pressure washer. These lean, mean cleaning machines pack so much punch they\u2019re now being used to clean everything from jumbo jets and auto engines to cathedrals under restoration and the gutters on your home. Pressure … <\/p>\n