Pressure Washing King

Servicing All Your Pressure Washing Needs. Residential & Commercial

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).

This is a very important part of you system and can often cause problems for you in the way of maintenance. Many people only focus on the power plant and do not take into consideration other important components like the un-loader. One choice to consider for a commercial machine is a low RPM belt driven pump or a direct drive system. Low RPM units cost more but typically last longer and are easier to repair. We will talk more about this later in the article. Another choice for the commercial buyer is the type of engine. A gas engine is available for smaller units but as you get higher in the food chain a diesel engine may make more since. Diesel engines will outlast gas engines in most cases, especially under conditions of constant use. Cast iron cylinder sleeves are a preferred engine component. Finally, maintenance is usually less for a hot water machine utilizing a natural gas or propane heating system as opposed to an oil fired burner.

Cold Water Or Hot Water?

Most users will not need a hot water machine. Cold water pressure washers can usually handle the majority of jobs needed both commercially and around the home. Pressure washing a house, cleaning a deck and getting mold and dirt off of concrete and driveways are easily accomplished with cold water. Even if a stain can not be removed with cold water alone, there are many cleaners and chemicals on the market to assist removing oil and grease which might not be removed with cold water and pressure alone. Another benefit of cold water machines is the cost. A cold water unit can be thousands of dollars cheaper. If you will be using this as a commercial unit it will be wise to get a machine with a minimum of 4000 psi and Most users will not need a hot water machine. Cold water pressure washers can usually handle the majority of jobs needed both commercially and around the home. Pressure washing a house, cleaning a deck and getting mold and dirt off of concrete and drivewasy are easily accomplished with cold water. Even if a stain can not be removed with cold water alone, there are many cleaners and chemicals on the market to assist removing oil and grease which might not be removed with cold water and pressure alone. Another benefit of cold water machines is the cost. A cold water unit can be thousands of dollars cheaper. If you will be using this as a commercial unit it will be wise to get a machine with a minimum of 4000 psi and 4 gpm or better. This will help compensate when cleaning tough situations and heat is not an option.

Hot water can be a life saver for the professional pressure washer. Just like you would never wash your greasy dishes without hot water, cleaning grease and grime is much easier with a hot water machine.

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