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.