While there are some jobs that can easily be cleaned up with a garden hose and maybe a broom, there are other jobs that call for more cleaning power. A pressure washer gives you the most effective, efficient cleaning power that you could ever ask for. Pressure washers can be used to clean up after outside painting projects, to remove grease from garage floors or to basically take on any type of tough mess that requires serious water pressure power.
Here are some things you need to consider as you are comparing the various pressure washers available for purchase today…
Types of Pressure Washer
There are two basic types of pressure washers: Gasoline powered pressure washers and Electric powered pressure washers. If you like being as mobile as possible, while getting the maximum cleaning power from your pressure washer, a gasoline powered model is probably what you’ll want to purchase. However, if you only have to take care of light clean up jobs for your at-home projects, and don’t mind a power cord getting in the way sometimes, you may want to choose an electric pressure washer.
Pressure Washer Power
Regardless of the type of pressure washer you decide to purchase, you must look at the power that your preferred model is capable of generating. Power is measured in PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch.) You’ll find pressure washers that deliver anywhere from 1,300 PSI all the way up to industrial powered models that give you upwards of 4,000+ PSI. Choose appropriately, and keep in mind that the more powerful models are typically only used by professionals for serious clean up jobs.
Gallons Per Minute
Another key feature to look for is the volume of water your pressure washer can put out. This little metric is measured in GPM (Gallons Per Minute) units. This measure tells you how good your pressure washer will be at rinsing away dirt, grime, grease and oil. Pressure washers offer GPM ratings that range from 1.5 GPM all the way up to 4.0 GPM. Again, the higher volume models are typically used by the pros. At-home users can usually get by with 1.5 to 3.0 GPM models.
Additional Features to Look For
You now know the most important things to look for in a pressure washer. However, here are a few more features you may want to be mindful of when comparing various models:
- Attachments. Pressure washers come with various attachments for different applications. If you want more versatility try to get a pressure washer that offers you plenty of cool attachments.
- Quick connect. Some pressure washers allow for quick connect for all your attachments. This feature simply makes it easier to pop on different cleaning accessories onto your power washer.
Buying Guide Conclusion
You should now be well-equipped with the information you need to make an informed, educated purchase when you order your pressure washer. Don’t forget to keep these tips in minds as you continue to search for the pressure washer that’s best suited for your unique clean-up needs.
Pressure Washer Use – Hints & Tips
Whether you need to clean up the deck, give the driveway a sprucing up or even get some of the dirt and grime off the garage floor, you’ll find that nothing beats a pressure washer. And while there are lots of different pressure washers available today – all with various features and power levels – we wanted to get you started off on the right foot when it comes time to put your pressure washer to work. Here, then, are some tips to help you use your pressure washer the right way.
Use the Right Attachments
Most pressure washers come with various attachments. These attachments can be used for applications ranging from spraying off the car to cleaning up tough grime off the garage floor. Make sure that you use the right attachment for the job at hand. Don’t just randomly pick an attachment and start working, as doing so may lead to you actually ruining the surface that you intended to clean, or you may end up taking too much time to do a job that would be made easier by simply using the appropriate attachment.
Start the Pressure Washer with Care
Think of your pressure washer as loaded gun when the time comes to start it up. Don’t point the pressure washer towards yourself or anyone else. Make sure that you have an idea of how to use any safety features that the pressure washer has and take your time to start the pressure washer up with care. Doing so may help you to prevent injury and to ensure that you don’t accidentally use the pressure washer on the wrong surface.
Keep Your Work Area Clear
This tip goes hand in hand with the last hint. Please make sure that your work area is clear of people, pets or anything that you don’t want to get wet. Make sure that you don’t have any power tools or appliances in your work area that may get damaged if they come in contact with water. This tip applies to pretty much any type of power tool use, so take a few minutes to make sure your work area is clear before you fire up the pressure washer.
Sweep Away Debris with Your Pressure Washer
When cleaning an area with your pressure washer, think of the process like you would if you were sweeping with a broom. Start off with smooth, controlled, “sweeping” motions. This allows you to maintain control over the pressure washer and should help you to take care of any pressure washing tasks in a more controlled, deliberate fashion for a better end result.
We hope these pressure washer hints and tips help you out as you put your new pressure washer to use on all of your toughest clean up jobs!
Since I live in a beach town, the humidity and sand seems to cause my fences and home’s exterior to dirty easily. One of my neighbors recommended I look into buying a pressure washer. I’ll probably get an electric pressure washer since it is for light clean up jobs at home like you mentioned.
I understand and sympathize with you, thanks!