Hot Water vs. Cold Water:<\/p>\n
Why the difference in pressure washers?<\/p>\n
All pressure washers are not created equal. In fact, they fall into one of two very distinct
\ncategories: hot water or cold water.<\/p>\n
Because both hot and cold water pressure washers have models with the same (1) flow rate,
\n(2) pressure and (3) capability of cleaning indoors or outdoors, it begs the question: why do you
\nneed a hot water pressure washer when everything else is the same?
\nThe answer is as close as the kitchen sink.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve just had a spaghetti supper and it\u2019s time to wash the dishes. Fill one sink with cold water
\nand the other with hot water. Even with a heavy dose of soap in the cold water sink, hot water
\nwill clean significantly better and faster.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a story as basic as the molecules that make up water.<\/p>\n
We learned in our early school years how everything is made up of atoms that bond together to
\nform molecules. These tiny molecules are in constant motion. Svante A. Arrhenuis (1859-1927),
\na Swedish chemist, researched the heat-energy relationship and concluded that the energy from
\nrising temperatures causes molecules to collide with each other. So as water becomes hotter the
\nmolecules move faster and faster eventually pushing out so far to convert the liquid water into a
\ngas, or steam. Conversely, as water cools the molecules slow until they become ice.
\nIn other words, hot water is packed with energy that is released into the cleaning equation with a
\npowerful punch. This energy also causes a reduction in the water\u2019s surface tension so that it can
\nnow penetrate more easily and effectively the molecules of grease and grime.<\/p>\n
Actually, there are three key elements–heat, agitation and soap\u2014that successfully remove grease
\nand grime. Here\u2019s how each works:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Heat, as described above, creates a high-speed molecular action that causes the cleaning
\nagent to be more active and reduces water\u2019s surface tension so it can effectively penetrate
\ngrime at the molecular level.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Agitation is the impact that comes from the water volume and water pressure hitting the
\nsurface\u2014similar to the action of hand scrubbing the dinner plate in your kitchen sink.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Finally, soap (often referred to by pressure washer users as \u201cdetergent\u201d) chemically breaks
\nthe bond between dirt and the surface, such as a floor or metal plate. It starts when the
\nmolecules of oil and grease attach themselves to dirt and keep them trapped or bound to the
\nsurface. Detergents use softening agents, technically referred to as \u201csurfactants\u201d (an
\nabbreviation for \u201csurface active reagents\u201d) to emulsify the oil and grease. Emulsification is
\nthe process in which two or more immiscible liquids, like oil and water, no longer repel
\neach other but actually mix. Once the oil and water are able to mix forming an emulsion, the
\ndirt–still clinging to the oil and grease–is carried away in the wash water.<\/p>\n
So what does all of this have to do with a hot water pressure washer? Hot water washers bring
\ntogether in perfect balance all three of these key elements\u2014heat, agitation and soap–to deliver
\ncleaning\u2019s ideal knockout punch.<\/p>\n
So how do you know when to use hot water?<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re cleaning engines, automotive parts, or anything with oil or grease, you\u2019ll need hot water.
\nLike the dishes in your sink, hot water \u201cmelts\u201d grease and grime; cold water only pushes it
\naround.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if you\u2019re simply blasting away sand, caked-on mud, or even stripping paint, a
\ncold-water pressure washer will work just fine. Combined with detergent, a cold-water pressure
\nwasher can be very effective in many applications.<\/p>\n
The rule of thumb is simple: whatever cold water cleans, hot water will clean better faster.<\/p>\n
Does a hot water pressure washer cost more?<\/p>\n
Yes, sometimes as much as two times more, due to the complexity of heating hot water while
\nunder pressure. Hot water pressure washers also require more preventive maintenance, such as
\nthe burner assembly, coil and redundant excess-pressure protection, all of which need annual
\ntune-ups.<\/p>\n
Still, hot water pressure washers easily pay for themselves in labor cost savings via faster, more
\neffective cleaning. Hot water also saves money by introducing such energy into the cleaning
\nformula that usually less detergent is needed, thus reducing the cost of a consumable.<\/p>\n
How is water heated in a pressure washer?<\/p>\n
Water enters a pressure washer from a spigot or tank via a garden hose. It first passes through a
\nhigh-pressure pump, which speeds the water on its way through a heating coil, consisting of up to
\n200 ft. of half-inch, schedule 80, steel pipe or tubing. The helical or circular winding
\nconfiguration allows the water to get maximum exposure to the flame (fueled by diesel oil or
\nnatural gas\/propane) as it roars through the center of the coil. [For all-electric models, the coil is
\nimmersed in a tank of hot water heated by electricity.] By the time the water rushes out of the coil
\nand through the wand and nozzle, it will have reached temperatures of up to 200\u00b0F.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t I need steam, too?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not unusual to hear hot water pressure washers referred to as steam cleaners. While there are a
\nfew applications such as deicing or disinfecting that require steam, it has been proven over the
\nyears that hot water under pressure is a much more effective method of cleaning than steam.
\nThat\u2019s because hot water washing has the additional benefit of agitation\u2014water volume under
\nhigh pressure pounding the surface.<\/p>\n
Still, some pressure washers offer a \u201csteam combination\u201d option where the water is super heated
\nto 280\u00b0F in order to create a \u201csaturated steam\u201d effect for those rare applications where there\u2019s a
\nsurface that requires higher temperature cleaning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hot Water vs. Cold Water: Why the difference in pressure washers? All pressure washers are not created equal. In fact, they fall into one of two very distinct categories: hot water or cold water. Because both hot and cold water pressure washers have models with the same (1) flow rate, (2) pressure and (3) capability … <\/p>\n