Pressure Washers
Pressure Washers (also called power washers) are basically a pump (to pressurize water) that's powered by an electric motor or gasoline engine. The water flows through a wand with a nozzle at the end that controls how much the water spreads. A trigger turns the flow on and off. Pressure washers are rated by three specifications:
Even if your pressure washer has a very high psi rating, the job will take a long time if it has a low flow rate. For some jobs, too much pressure is a disadvantage, as it can damage car finishes and roughen wood. For the most flexibility, look for a pressure washer with adjustable pressure settings and interchangeable nozzles.
We suggest buying a bit more power than you need, since running a pressure washer at full blast can wear it out too quickly. By comparison, a garden hose delivers about 40 psi.
Gas vs. electric pressure washers Gasoline-powered pressure washers provide the most power -- important if you want to strip paint from siding, clean second-story siding or have huge expanses of deck and driveway to keep clean. However, the extra power comes with significant trade-offs. Gas pressure washers are louder, harder to start and more expensive to fuel. They're also worse for the environment because of engine emissions, gasoline fumes and the possibility of spilling gasoline while refueling. Electric pressure washers are ideal for small jobs, as well as being lighter and easier to move around than gas models. Plus, you can safely use them indoors. Last but not least, they cost less. You can get an electric pressure washer capable of efficiently cleaning a patio or small deck for around $200.They do, however, have their own set of drawbacks. They can only be used within about 100 feet of an outlet, and some require a 20-amp circuit. You need a ground fault interrupter on the circuit for safety -- often built into the cord. The lower price also means less durability; we refer to cheap pressure washers that use axial pumps as "throwaways."
- Pounds per square inch (psi): the measure of the dirt-loosening pressure (important for stain removal).
- Gallons per minute (gpm): the measure of the water flow that washes the loosened dirt away (important for speed).
- Cleaning units (cu): an overall estimate of cleaning power, calculated by multiplying psi by gpm.
Even if your pressure washer has a very high psi rating, the job will take a long time if it has a low flow rate. For some jobs, too much pressure is a disadvantage, as it can damage car finishes and roughen wood. For the most flexibility, look for a pressure washer with adjustable pressure settings and interchangeable nozzles.
We suggest buying a bit more power than you need, since running a pressure washer at full blast can wear it out too quickly. By comparison, a garden hose delivers about 40 psi.
- 1,000 to 1,500 psi: good choice for washing cars, bicycles, lawn furniture and grills
- 1,400 to 1,850 psi: appropriate for cleaning a patio or small deck
- 2,000 to 3,000 psi: more power for cleaning a large deck or washing siding
- 2,800 to 4,000 psi: best for cleaning stained concrete, stripping paint
Gas vs. electric pressure washers Gasoline-powered pressure washers provide the most power -- important if you want to strip paint from siding, clean second-story siding or have huge expanses of deck and driveway to keep clean. However, the extra power comes with significant trade-offs. Gas pressure washers are louder, harder to start and more expensive to fuel. They're also worse for the environment because of engine emissions, gasoline fumes and the possibility of spilling gasoline while refueling. Electric pressure washers are ideal for small jobs, as well as being lighter and easier to move around than gas models. Plus, you can safely use them indoors. Last but not least, they cost less. You can get an electric pressure washer capable of efficiently cleaning a patio or small deck for around $200.They do, however, have their own set of drawbacks. They can only be used within about 100 feet of an outlet, and some require a 20-amp circuit. You need a ground fault interrupter on the circuit for safety -- often built into the cord. The lower price also means less durability; we refer to cheap pressure washers that use axial pumps as "throwaways."
