Pressure washers have advanced significantly. The quality has improved over the past ten years as prices have decreased. A commercial pressure washer has excellent cleaning capabilities and can rapidly, effectively, and efficiently remove dirt, grime, and algae.
A pressure washer may significantly improve your ability to care for and clean your equipment and property, increasing their value. A pressure washer might be a wise investment if you value your time, but if you choose the wrong one, you risk being dissatisfied and wasting money and time.
To begin with, you must comprehend what a washer accomplishes and what to consider before making a purchase.
How a Pressure Washer Works?
A commercial pressure washer seems to be a relatively straightforward piece of machinery. A motor or engine turns a pump, forcing water through a hole (tip).
Similar to how a river runs more quickly through a narrow gorge, the water speeds up as it passes through the tiny hole, and this fast-moving water is excellent for blowing dirt and filth. The math is elementary. Each pump rotation forces a particular amount of water through the tip.
More pressure is created; consequently, more strength is needed as you push more water through the end. The water moves more quickly and hits the dirt more forcefully, the more significant the pressure, eliminating it from the area you are trying to clean.
What to Consider
The size determines the time taken to complete a job or how many jobs users can complete in a day. Life expectancy, which also helps determine how many hours of work you can meet per dollar spent throughout the machine’s life, are the two most crucial factors to consider when purchasing a pressure washer.
Pressure Washer Pumps
This component of the pressure washer is where your hose’s water enters and is pumped at high pressure through a tip. There are several standard impellers that you can find in both industrial and domestic machinery. Every pressure washer pump has pistons and valves comparable to an air compressor or a gas engine.
On some pumps, a plate at an offset (wobble plate) drives the pistons, while a crankshaft is used in other instances. Pumps powered by the crankshaft are often better made and have a longer lifespan.
Pressure washer pumps have bypass valves so that the water can bypass and return to the input side of the pump when you let off the trigger or the tip becomes clogged.
The water will heat up and harm the pump if used in this manner for any longer than the manufacturer advises. A thermal safety valve on a propane pressure washer pump pours hot water into the bypass loop. Most bypass valves are adjustable, allowing you to reduce pressure when cleaning delicate fabrics.
The pumps in low-priced pressure washers have a relatively short life expectancy; some are as low as 60 to 100 hours.
When looking to purchase a pressure washer, you must do your research and find out how long the pump is expected to last. If the data is not provided, you should avoid the product altogether because it is highly possible that the producer does not want customers to know what cheap the price is.
Hot Water Pressure Washers
Commercial pressure washers that use hot water have their water heaters integrated into the unit. The cleaning impact of the devices is noticeably better than that of a cooling water device with corresponding PSI and GPM.
This is because hot water cleans more efficiently than cold water, which is why the machines use hot water. Hot pressure water washers are superior to mean pressure water washers in terms of their ability to break down and release dirt and grime more quickly.
Additionally, hot-pressure water washers frequently reduce the need for costly chemicals. Do not use hot water in a pressure washer pump designed to work with cold water. The heat will cause the seals and o-rings to get damaged.
Detergents
With the aid of detergents, even the toughest stains can be removed much more quickly. The detergent will be drawn in via a bottle or bucket and added to the water stream using a venturi tube found on most pressure washers.
After applying the detergent with a pressure spray and giving it time to break down the filth, it should be removed with a regular high-pressure jet.
Gas Engine or Electric Motor
The engine, as well as the motor of a pressure washer, powers the pump. The pump’s PSI or GPM increases with an engine or motor power (measured in HP). Typically, gas engines are made to endure 300 to 3,000 hours. The motors often last longer than the pumps on electric pressure washers.
Electric Motors
Electric motors require extremely little upkeep and are generally quiet. Additionally, because there is no exhaust, they can be used indoors or in places with limited ventilation.
Because it is designed for the low-price market, a standard electric pressure washer with 115 Volts and 15 Amps would be a pretty light workload. The motor will not produce much pressure and volume. Even while light-duty electric pressure washers are portable and compact, most jobs take longer.
In comparison to gas engines, electric motors are rated differently for horsepower. An inexpensive electric pressure washer with a rating of 1 to 1 1/2 HP is similar to a 3 HP gasoline pressure washer in terms of power.
Heavy-duty electric washers are accessible for applications at which energy is available, portability is not a concern, and emissions from the gas engine are an issue (the horsepower of an electric motor must be double to equal the horsepower of a gas engine.
Gas Engines
Gas pressure washers are more significant, heavier, and placed on a wheeled cart. Some are more maneuverable and better balanced.
Because they do not need to be hooked to an electric power source, gas engines can generate more power and are far more mobile. Since gasoline engines can be more potent, the pump can produce significantly more PSI and GPM, allowing it to clean faster and more thoroughly than an electric pressure washer with a 115 V rating. However, they require a little more upkeep and are more expensive to run.
Because carbon monoxide emissions are released, they can only be used in well-ventilated locations.
Pressure Washer Accessories
Your commercial pressure washer is useless if you have no accessories. It would be comparable to owning a drill but having no drill bits.
Pressure Washer Hoses
Ideally, you want a hose that is 50 feet long. You will need to continue moving your machine if you go shorter. Ensure that your machine’s hose has the appropriate PSI rating.
A hose of poor quality will wear out more quickly, is more likely to leak and kink, and is typically less flexible and more challenging to work with.
Pressure Washer Wands and Tips
Various angles and lengths of wands were available for multiple uses, and the rod comprises a grip with a trigger valve. By altering the tip on the base of the wand, you may change the spray pattern.
Most pressure washers have a variety of angles, ranging from a skinny spray to generate more power just at the tip for deep cleaning to a more considerable rush to cover more ground. Low-flow information for dispensing cleaning agents is typically included in tip sets.
Other beneficial attachments are provided in addition to tips:
Dirt Blasters
Your wand’s end has a dirt buster or rotating nozzle attached. Its spray is skinny and rapidly rotates in a circle. When used correctly, dirt blasters may clean hard surfaces quickly and prevent the tiger stripping effect on your driveway using traditional spray tips.
Extension/Telescoping Wands
Look for just an extension broom that can be adjusted up to 24 feet in such situations if you need to clean hard-to-reach places. Extension or telescoping wands come in handy when reaching a high position. They can spare you the hassle of attempting to power wash while on a ladder.
Gutter Cleaners
A straightforward hooked extension that you attach to the base of your wand serves as a gutter cleaner. It enables you to clear out your gutters while allowing access.
Whirl-A-Ways
A Whirl-A-Way is a tool with two circular nozzles that resemble a lawnmower. They are excellent at cleaning broad, flat surfaces and come in sizes ranging from 12″ to 24″.
Choosing the Right Pressure Washer
When it comes down to it, you must purchase a commercial pressure washer that is appropriate for your needs. Pressure washers come in various designs, ranging from incredibly affordable to extremely potent industrial units.
You will not likely use a commercial pressure washer more than 50 hours a year if you own a home. In this situation, purchasing a machine with a 500-hour rating will, with regular maintenance, last anyone up to ten years. But if you are using it for work, you should look for something with a 2,000-hour or higher rating.
You can afford it if you value your time and invest in the most significant power washer. A modest commercial pressure washer will not be able to clean your driveway as quickly as a 13 HP gas unit. Because it does not need to operate for considerably longer to do the task, it will also survive longer.
Lastly, establish a list of any future accessories you might need and ensure the washer you choose has the strength to sustain them.
