Choosing a Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are ideal for many outdoor cleaning projects and make the task remarkably easy with a much better pay-off at the end, getting rid of dirt and grime that you could never hope to get off with a garden hose. Not only are they more powerful, your pressure washer will actually use less water so it makes sense as we continue to watch water consumption. Whether it’s cleaning cars, boats, driveways, patios or even outdoor furniture there’s the right accessory to help you get the job done.
As far as the pressure washer itself most of them work the same. A petrol engine or electric motor powers a pump, which increases the pressure of the water fed in from a garden hose. The pressurized water is then delivered through a hose and released through the wand where the spray pattern is controlled by interchangeable nozzles.
So what do you need to consider when you go to pick your new pressure washer?
Step 1 - Accessories
First, need to think about what you intend to clean. There is a huge range of accessories available across multiple pressure washer brands to help you for your specific job. These include patio cleaners, car brushes, auto nozzles and drain cleaners.
Step 2 - PSI and Water Flow Rating
Next important consideration is the PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) rating, which is simply the units cleaning power as measured by the pressure of water generated by the motor and pump.
We also need to throw into the mix the unit’s water flow rating. The water flow rating is the volume of water delivered through the pressure washer. This helps to determine how well the pressure washer will wash away dirt and grime and complete a task.
Step 3 - Choosing the Size for You
1300 to 1900psi
- Suitable for light duties or small household cleaning jobs
- Car or 4WD cleaning
- Removing light mildew or mould
- Cleaning windows or outdoor furniture
2000 to 3000psi
- Suitable for more heavy duty household applications in addition to those above
- Cleaning decks, payments or driveways
- Removing tough stains
- Ideal for frequent use
A word of caution, town water typically works fine, but tank water without an auxiliary pump may cause problems. Always check to see if the pressure washing you're looking at is rated to draw from a bucket or water tank.
Don’t forget if you are feeling spoilt for choice and you’d like a bit of a hand there is always a friendly team member who can help you in store.
*Important information* - Click here to read more about our How-To terms and conditions.