Best Pressure Washers Buyers Guide

Everyone needs a pressure washer for those difficult cleaning jobs from bicycles to cars and barbeque grills to patios. A good pressure washer will save you a lot of time and help you keep your garden, vehicles, and other hard-to-clean areas and items looking great, perform better, and even last longer. But, when it comes to what pressure washer to buy for home use, there are so many different features and types that it can quickly become a stressful decision. In this article, we will help you decide which is the best pressure washer for your needs without the stress. Pressure Washers 101 How Pressure Washers Work A pressure washer uses a motor and pump to expel water from a hose and nozzle at a higher pressure than a regular hose. This can literally blast dirt from whatever you are cleaning, saving you a lot of time and effort. Petrol/Diesel vs Electric Pressure Washers Diesel or petrol pressure washers tend to be more powerful than their electric counterparts. They also give you more freedom of movement because you won’t need to be near a power socket. Electric pressure cleaners though are usually lighter weight, quieter and cleaner – with no exhaust fumes. Finding The Best Pressure Washer Pressure washer power is determined and measured by PSI, which is pounds per square inch of pressure, and GPM, which is gallons per minute. The higher these two numbers, the more cleaning power your pressure washer will have. Light Duty With average PSI of between 1300-1900 and about 2 GPM, these pressure washers are good for small areas such as paths and patios, bicycles and small to medium sized cars. These are good for home use and unlikely to cause damage to paint, small parts or displace sand between paving slabs. Medium Duty For bigger areas or dirtier jobs, the next step up in pressure washers give you around 2000-2800 PSI and up to around 3 GPM. Better for larger sized and/or muddy off road vehicles and large gardens, driveways and patios. These pressure cleaners usually have longer hoses and are stronger and sturdier, which also often means heavier. Careful use is required to avoid injury or damage. Heavy Duty Heading into the commercial pressure washer zone, you can expect these pressure washers to have 2800 PSI and above, with between 3 and 4 GPM. These heavy duty pressure cleaners must be used with caution as they can easily cause injury and damage. Perfect for cleaning large commercial vehicles, grimy caravans after months of disuse, and large hardstanding areas. They can also be used to strip paint and remove graffiti. You can also expect them to usually come with a wider range of accessories, are heavier, larger, and more durable. Cold-Water vs Hot-Water Pressure Washers The majority of pressure washers for the home use cold water. This is sufficient for most uses, but some of the heavier duty and industrial pressure washers use hot water. Hot-water pressure washers can be a good choice for heavy duty cleaning when detergents need to be avoided. They also clean faster but can be more difficult to operate and must, like all high powered pressure washers, be used with care to avoid injuries or damage. Pressure Washer Tools & Accessories Washer Hose Important to check what size hose you will need to make your pressure washer easy to use. Many smaller, light duty pressure cleaners come with a 3m hose. Many people find this length makes even cleaning the car awkward. Our advice: get the longest hose your budget allows. Detergent Tank Some pressure washers have built in removable detergent tanks. Others, often light duty pressure cleaners, have bottles attached to the hose or lance for detergent. However, added weight at the end of a lance can make them more difficult to use. Variable Fan-Jet Variable pressure lances change the spread of water from the nozzle from a concentrated jet to a wider fan of water. Angled Lance Perfect attachment for cleaning underneath the car or other hard to reach places. Rotary Jet Lance The spinning action of the water as it leaves the nozzle provides extra cleaning power. Great for heavily soiled patios. Patio Cleaner Attachment The hood over brush attachment helps prevent dirty spray off covering the rest of the garden, house and yourself when cleaning your patio. Interchangeable Nozzle Tips These make sure you get the right spread and the right pressure for every job. Wheels Pressure washer units can be heavy, so sturdy wheels are useful, but be sure that you can still lift and carry your pressure washer as required to ensure you can get the best use out of it. Get In Touch For More Information Should you need any more advice on choosing the best pressure washer for your requirements then get in touch with us at Generator Pro.

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