If you haven’t done any research into using a pressure washer, it’s best to get some advice from someone who has experience. And if you‘ve never used one before, we recommend checking out our guide for beginners.
Get ready to start working on your own project! Here’s a quick overview of power washing.
Which one is better, electric or gas pressure washers?
A pressure washer works by increasing the pressure of water flowing from an attached hose. It can be powered by either gas or electricity.
Both options have their ups and downs.
Electric washers typically provide lower PSI (pounds per square inch) and gallons per minute (GPM) than gas-powered models. That extra power means gas machines clean surfaces faster.
- Electric pressure washers can be used for cleaning just about anything from windows to concrete. They can also generate a variety of pressures and flow rates. However, gas-powered ones tend to be more powerful and efficient, but you may not have as many options.
- Cordless gas pressure washers are portable. If you don’t have access to an electrical outlet, you’ll still be able to use them.
- Small gasoline engines require regular maintenance. They need to be changed regularly, and they must be fueled properly.
- A gasoline engine means you need to change the oil regularly and perform other maintenance tasks.
- Electric motors are quieter than gasoline engines. They don’t produce any emissions, and you can use them anywhere.
Gas washers may not be as easy to use as electric ones, but they’re less expensive.
What Size Pressure Washer is Best?
You don’t necessarily need to decide between an electric or gas pressure washer; you just need to decide which type of engine you want.
Just like any other type of engine-powered machine, bigger means better. Larger engines generate more horsepower than smaller ones.
Pressure washers come in four different categories depending on their power source.
Light-Duty Pressure Washers
A light-duty pressure washer produces water pressures under 2,000 psi. If you’re going to use it for cleaning just one or two items, an electric pressure washer is fine.
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Medium-Duty Pressure Washers
You’ll need a medium-duty pressure cleaner if you plan to clean your home‘s siding, driveway, or fencing. A pressure cleaner of this size produces water pressures from 2,000 to 2,800 psi.
Heavy-Duty Pressure Washers
If you know you’ll need to clean large areas of concrete or if you’re going to need to get up to a second floor, a heavy-duty power washer may be your choice. Heavy duty power washers reach pressures of between 2,900 to 3,300 psi.
Professional Pressure Washers
Planning to do a lot of cleaning? Are you preparing your house’s exterior for an interior painting project? If so, consider purchasing a high-quality pressure washer. The heavy-duty engine is designed to handle large projects that require hours to finish. These powerful sprayers produce water pressure levels of 3000 psi and above.
Remember to measure both the GPM (gallons per minute) and PSI (pounds per square inch).
What nozzle is best for your job?
The size of the pressure washers’ engine determines its overall power, but the nozzle you select determines the angle at which the water stream comes out.
The angle is important for two reasons. First, it determines how powerful the spray is. Second, it affects what the spray can do. A narrow-angle spray has greater power than a wide angle one.
Nozzle Color Coding
Fortunately, pressure washer nozzle sizes are universally marked by colour.
Red Nozzles
If you want to create a fine mist spray, don’t use a red-tippled nozzle. You may get too close to surfaces and cause them to break down.
Yellow Nozzles
Use this nozzle when cleaning concrete around your house. It creates a stream of water at an angle of 15 degrees.
Green Nozzles
For general purpose cleaning, use a 25-degree nozzle. Use this nozzle for cleaning cars, patios, decks, etc.
White Nozzles
If you want to use a nozzle that’s easy to clean up afterwards, choose one that has a white tip. For window cleaning, you’ll need a nozzle with a white tip.
Black Nozzles
When using this nozzle, producing a spray angle of 65°, it is the gentlest. It usually doesn’t remove any dirt or stains. Instead, use this nozzle for surfaces which require just a bit of water.
Rotary Nozzle
A rotary tip creates a spinning zero-degree stream of water. It’s particularly useful for cleaning tough grime off surfaces.
Pressure Washing Broom
A pressure washer attachment works by dividing a single water jet into multiple jets for greater power and a larger cleaning range.
Expandable Wand
A telescoping wand will let you get into hard-to-reach spots without having to use a ladder.
Soap/Detergent Reservoir
Soap reservoirs attach to pressure washers and add cleaning solution into the jet. Make sure you’re using the correct nozzles for this task. If the water stream is too powerful, it could force soap onto the surface, causing damage.
What’s next?
If you’re not happy with how your current home looks, then why not consider a professional power wash? Many companies can provide pressure washing that will make your home sparkle like never before.
