Pressure Washer – How To Buy The Right One?
So your thinking of purchasing a pressure washer. Whether you are
purchasing a unit for commercial use or for personal DIY use it is important
that you consider several different points before you decide upon a unit.
Don’t get into a situation where a salesman pressures you into buying a unit
you don’t need or that will not be up to the tasks that you will perform.
Some points that you will want to consider include
1. Type of use – home or commercial?
2. Hot or Cold Water?
3. How much PSI and/or GPM do I really need?
4. Belt Drive Units vs Direct Drive.
Home or Commercial Use?
The first consideration should be centered around the type of use the unit
will be exposed to. Will you be using the washer for home use only or do you
plan to use it in a commercial or industrial setting? This will make a big
difference in the type of machine needed and the cost involved.
Home Use. For occasional use around the home you can invest
in a less expensive machine. Since the unit will not be used very often
manufacturers can use less expensive components. As an example you might
find aluminum pump heads and plastic valves on a lower priced home unit
while a more expensive commercial grade unit will have brass pump heads and
stainless steel valves. Since you will not need a machine with excessive
output capabilities this too helps in keeping the cost down. A home machine
is usually a cold water unit. It can be either a gas engine unit of 5 to 8
HP or an electric unit. Most home units produce between 1000 and 2000 psi.
The electric machines tend to be at the lower end of the power scale.
Commercial Use. If you plan to use your machine for
business purposes such as a pressure washing business you will definitely
need to spend the extra money and purchase a machine that can withstand the
rigors of heavy use and will perform quickly and efficiently out in the
field. Be sure your commercial unit has quality components throughout such
as brass pump heads. You should also be sure to buy a machine known for
quality in all parts of the machine. For instance, be sure to have a quality
un-loader valve (this releases the output pressure when you release the wand
trigger and loads the pressure back to the hose when you squeeze the trigger
again).
Article part 2 continues on this page Pressure Washer 2