How a Pressure Washer Works

Every year homeowners receive a nasty load of dirt, mud, leaves and other debris on the surfaces of their houses sidewalks and driveways. In addition, their automobiles are caked with the results of road salt, mud and oil. The simplest pressure washers just transform an ordinary garden hose into a monster which blasts away dirt, oil and debris.

An ordinary pressure washer can put up to 20 times more pressure onto a surface than the garden variety hose.

When you are searching for a good choice in a pressure washer, you need to consider water pressure. A pressure washer surface cleaner in a light pressure model will be more effective than a garden hose, but you shouldn't expect it to do heavy jobs effectively. A typical garden hose will emit 40 pounds per square inch of water pressure, while light duty pressure washers will be rated at around 1300 to 2000 pounds per square inch. A light duty pressure washer surface cleaner is suitable for cleaning cars, awnings and patio furniture. Pressure washers rated at 2000 to 2600 pounds per square inch are great for concrete cleaning, including mild stains, grease and grimes on larger surfaces. Heavy duty pressure washers emit 2700 to 4000 pounds per square inch and work well if you have stubborn grease or stains on concrete, or if you need to remove flakes, dirt and debris from surfaces in preparation for painting or sealing.

Electric pressure washers

Electric pressure washers are made in all three levels of pounds per square inch--light duty, medium duty and heavy duty. Ratings by one of the major online sellers of pressure washer parts, pressure washer pumps and pressure washer equipment don't show a preference between an electric pressure washer and a gas pressure washer. The ratings distinguish only good, better and best within size categories. An electric pressure washer can be found to do any of the residential jobs which the average homeowner is likely to need. The disadvantage of the electric pressure washer if any is the problem of electrical outlets available to the job which needs to be completed.

Gas pressure washers

Gas pressure washers are more portable, but they are also noisier and may emit more noxious fumes while operating. There is also the inconvenience of having to store gasoline fuel when the equipment is needed. These pressure washers also are available in light, medium and heavy duty models, as well as an even heavier and more powerful contractors' model. Honda pressure washers rate high among the gas pressure washers, with better and best ratings for both mid-sized and large sized capacity washers and Honda pressure washers captured all three categories in the contractor's model. A Ryobi pressure washer is another favorite of residential users. It's heavy duty range (3000 pounds per square inch is quite affordable) and will do most jobs with a vengeance. The Ryobi pressure washer is available at Home Depot stores, which is another plus factor in its favor.

Hot water pressure washer

Another even more exciting innovation in pressure washers is the new hot water pressure washer. This tool would be perfect for those really difficult jobs where nothing else will cut through the dirt. Heated pressure washers are more difficult to find, but Honda makes portable oil-fired hot water pressure washers at the high capacity end of the scale. Mi-T-M makes electrically heated hot water pressure washers, also at the high end of the capacity scale.

Whichever type of residential pressure system you choose, you should be sure that the merchant also carries a full line of pressure washer parts and pressure washer pumps. It can be really frustrating to be in the middle of spring or fall cleaning and have to wait for replacement of a part or a pump.