Does your home have unsightly stains on it? Do you want to remove these stains without having to do much work? If so, you’ll want to check out a pressure washer! Pressure washers are specially designed products that use a large force of water (and sometimes soap) to help remove these stains from a home’s exterior. However, you’ll find that pressure washers come in a variety of styles which can make shopping for them a bit difficult. If you’re looking to invest in one of these devices, you’ll want to check out our pressure washer buying guide, also, don’t forget that instead of buying a pressure washer you can hire pressure washing service from Friendswood TX, which can be much more affordable.
Below is some helpful information you can use to help ensure you buy the right washer for your needs.
Pressure Washer Buying Guide
A pressure washer is a machine that uses a high force of water to help remove stains, such as mold and mildew, from a home’s exterior. This device usually can be transported around with wheels, and most units have built-in wheels. You can use the washer’s attached hose to help reach certain areas better to ensure a full, deep clean.
Pressure washers can be used safely on a variety of surfaces to help clean them off.
While pressure washers are usually sprayed on buildings, they can also be super helpful to clean surfaces like sidewalks, decks, driveways, and even some furniture pieces. While pressure washers can easy enough for the average home-owner to use, many people still choose to use a professional service, like Mclean Family Power Washing for their home’s exteriors. If your home has ornate features or you have an older home that has gathered mildew or grime, calling a professional service might best suited to your situation.
The Benefits of Using a Pressure Washer
They Can Give an Intense Clean
If you’re looking for a way to help give a certain surface an intense clean, a pressure washer can help you. These units spray a strong blast of water which can help to quickly remove stains and discoloration from areas so they look almost new.
Some can be mixed with soap for an even more impressive clean.
It Can Keep Pets Safe
If you have a pet, you want to make sure they’re safe when outside. A pressure washer can help with this as it will destroy any deadly bacteria on a surface they commonly walk on or in an area they tend to play in.
The pressure washer can remove these germs so that your pents can sniff freely without you having to worry about them catching something.
It Can Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Because power washing will remove mildew and other stains from your home, it will help to make it look as good as possible. Virtually all homes gradually get coated with mildew, dust, grass clippings, and general grime, and an occasional cleaning can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal.
Drawbacks of a Pressure Washer
Too Much Pressure
It’s easy to get carried away using a pressure washer. They’re very satisfying cleaning apparatus, and once you’ve started, it can be a real treat to see dirt and grime just blasted away instantly. However, if you use too much pressure, you can remove the finishes from wood, plastic, metal, and even stone!
Most pressure washers have adjustable power, but users should test their washer on an inconspicuous area, as virtually all pressure washers can eventually peel paint off of wood, metal, etc.
0-Degree Nozzles and Safety
All pressure washers are at least somewhat dangerous and need to be used with care. Pressure washers put a lot of power into a very small area, and need to be respected. Some pressure washers include a 0-degree nozzle, meaning that all of the power is condenced into a single point (typically a red nozzle). This is almost like a scalpel, and when used carelessly, can cause serious harm.
Certainly, users need to employ serious care when working with a 0-degree nozzle, and we suggest not using these units whenever possible. You can always use a wider angle nozzle, and just take a little more time to finish your cleaning project.
Gas vs. Electric Pressure Washers
There are two main types of pressure washers you can buy: electric and gas-powered. In general, our opinion is that most homeowners should stick to electric pressure washers. They’re easier to deal with, provide sufficient power for typical uses, and are safer to use. Electric units will generally clean as well as gas powered units, however the cleaning may take a bit longer.
Homeowners should focus on electric units for ease of use, safety, and price reasons.
If you’re a professional using a pressure washer frequently or a homeowner who has already bumped up to the limitations of an electric pressure washer, then a gas-powered model probably makes more sense.
Electric Pressure Washers
Electric pressure washers typically don’t supply as much pressure as gas-powered ones, typically landing in the range of 2,000 PSI. However, these sprayers can be used safely on more surfaces than gas-powered ones can.
This type also is a bit quieter when running.
The Sun Joe SPX3000, which we reviewed here, is a great example of an electric pressure washer.
Last update on 2024-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Gas Powered Pressure Washers
A gas-powered pressure washer is ideal if you need to get the cleaning done quickly. While it runs much more loudly than an electric one, these units can often spray 3,000 PSI and up.
However, keep in mind that this type is a little heavier as well and they tend to be a bit pricier.
The Generac Speedwash 7122 is a good example of an excellent gas powered pressure washer.
Last update on 2024-12-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pressure Washer Power Ratings
The most prominent number featured in most pressure washer listings is the PSI level, which shows the maximum amount of water pressure the specific model is capable of putting out. However, the PSI number is not the only number to keep in mind when considering a pressure washer — the water flow rate is often just as important as the PSI when considering the relative power of each unit.
Here, we will explain the two numbers, and how they interact.
The PSI Level
It’s extremely important to check the PSI (pounds per square inch) of a pressure washer. The higher the PSI, the stronger the force of the water being sprayed will be. The higher the max PSI, the higher the maximum power level of the pressure washer. Of course, most pressure washers have an adjustable power output, and having a higher maximum power level is generally desired.
However, if your pressure goes too high, you can start to blast the finishes right off of the item you’re cleaning, which most people typically don’t want. So be careful with delicate items when using a high powered pressure washer.
Once you’ve found the right level of PSI for your specific task, upping the power isn’t really going to help at all. Instead, it’s best to focus on the water flow rate (GPM).
Water Flow Rate (GPM).
The second major aspect to consider when purchasing a pressure washer is the flow rate (GPM). This tells you how much water is running through the unit.
The higher the flow rate, the more quickly water flows through the unit, providing more cleaning power.
Flow Rate and PSI Interaction
Once you’ve found the appropriate PSI to clean the material you want, adding more PSI isn’t going to help the situation (and will eventually harm things: peel paint, etch surfaces, etc.). In these cases, the more important consideration is the flow rate. The more quickly water is flowing through the unit at a given PSI, the more quickly the cleaning will go.
For example, if you know that 1,800 PSI level will clean the material you want to clean, then an electrically powered unit with a higher flow rate (even with a lower max PSI) will clean more quickly than a gas unit with a higher max PSI but lower flow rate.
But, if you need 2,600 PSI to clean a given piece of equipment, then an electric unit that maxes out at 2,000 PSI just won’t do the cleaning job very efficiently.
For this reason, it’s important to consider the interaction of both PSI and flow rate, and it’s important to keep in mind that the Max PSI number doesn’t tell the whole story on overall pressure washer power.
Click here if you need more information on how these numbers interact.
Other Pressure Washer Aspects to Consider
In this section, we’ll consider some of the other factors that go into picking the right pressure washer for your needs.
Ease of Movement
One thing to consider when shopping for a pressure washer is how easy it is to move around, and how big is the unit itself. Are the wheels heavy-duty? Is there a handle you can use to push the pressure washer?
You’ll want to keep these things in mind, as well as the general weight and size of the unit. If you have a lot of stairs to go up and down, even if the wheels on the washer are good, you’re still not going to want to be lugging a heavy pressure washer up and down the stairs.
Gas powered units are generally significantly heavier than electric powered units, and generally larger units are more powerful. Some, like the Greenworks GPW1501 pressure washer, are light enough to be practically hand-held.
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Hose Spigot and Plug Locations
You’ll want to consider where your garden hose spigot is located, and where your outdoor electric outlets are (if you are using an electric pressure washer). You’ll be drawing water through a garden hose that needs to be connected to a spigot, and power through a power outlet, so your pressure washer will need to be able to connect to both of those inputs.
Ensure that your pressure washer can be located in a place that will enable it to connect to the inputs it needs and can reach all the areas you want to reach. Otherwise, you’ll need extension cords for the power cord or the pressure washer hose.
Hose Length
Most pressure washers include about 20-30′ of sprayer hose. If you need more than that, you’ll likely need to purchase an extension hose. These are almost always unique by brand, and for example, a Generac pressure washer hose extension will not necessarily fit a Simpson pressure washer.
Power Cord Length
Electric pressure washers need both power and a garden hose input in order to function properly. Typically a pressure washer will have about 20-30′ of power cord, and if you need more than that, you’ll have to get an extension cord that can handle the amperage of the unit. Often these cords are pretty expensive, but it’s best not to skimp here — using an inappropriate extension cord can damage the washer, and gradually burn out the motor.
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Be sure to confirm that the extension cord you’re using can handle the power output of the pressure washer.
Cord Storage
Pressure washers have very long cords. While this is helpful when it comes to moving it around, storing it away can be a bit of a burden. The long cord can be a problem and take up quite a bit of space.
It’s a good idea to check to see if the pressure washer has cord storage built into it. While not a vital feature, it’s a good one to have as it can help to keep the pressure washer compact and easy to move around when not in use.
Nozzle Types and Availability
Virtually all pressure washers come with various types of nozzles. The type of nozzle necessary depends on your needs. Different nozzles have different spread amounts. Some nozzles will spray water in a wider V-shaped pattern, while others spray in more of a line | that puts a lot of pressure on one specific point.
Additionally, some nozzles are compatible with soap dispensing, while others really aren’t. In the case of the Sun Joe nozzles shown above, the black nozzle is for soap, while the other nozzles provide different angles of spray.
As mentioned above, be very careful with 0-degree nozzles (typically red) that put all the power output in one point. these nozzles, in particular, are quite dangerous when used carelessly.
Soap Dispensing and Mixing
Most pressure washers will dispense specially-designed pressure washer soap that works in tandem with the pressure to provide extra cleaning power. Many of these soaps come as concentrated liquids that are automatically mixed with water to the appropriate amount.
Most brands have their own soap to specifically go with their pressure washers. For example, Sun Joe recommends this pressure wash soap with their washers.
Last update on 2024-12-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What to Wear When Using a Pressure Washer
You should wear good quality boots, gloves, and eyeglasses when running a pressure washer. Under no circumstances should you wear flip flops or open toed shoes, as it’s very easy to hit your feet with a pressure washer as you’re shutting it down and turning it on.
This can lead to bruising or worse if you’re not careful.
What to Keep in Mind when Using a Pressure Washer
While pressure washers are somewhat easy to use, there are few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
Washing Cars
Pressure washing your car isn’t a great idea, for the most part. Yeah, lots of people pressure wash their car, but scratches in the cars finish can be exacerbated by pressure further cleaning out the materials around the scratches. This can further weaken the areas around the scratches and ultimately lead to rust spots where there might not have been rust otherwise.
If you do want to pressure wash your car, keep your pressure low. You want to stay under the 2,000 PSI quantity and use a wide angle nozzle. This will hopefully prevent you from harming your car at all.
Decks and Porches
Most decks made of CPVC trex-like materials, Ipe, Pressure Treated Pine, Cedar, Fir, and the like can be pressure washed. Just be gentle with the PT pine, as it is softwood.
Also note that CPVC and Polywood-like materials are often can be cleaned without pressure washing. A standard cleaning should be attempted first on Trex-style decking, CPVC furniture, Adirondack chairs, and the like. If that doesn’t work, start with a pressure washing on a low setting.
Concrete and Brick
As you might imagine, concrete and brick are pretty hardy materials, and can handle some pretty serious PSI without harm. These materials are great for pressure washing.
Siding
Most siding types can be pressure washed, but there are a few aspects to keep in mind, depending on the format and the material.
Shingles
It’s best to not pressure wash shingles, as these pieces can be jostled loose.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl Siding can be pressure washed pretty safely. The color is permeated through the material, and there’s nothing to strip off. Be careful not to allow water to get behind the siding, and don’t blast water into seams, holes, and other areas where it might filter behind the siding.
Cement Board/Hardi Plank
These materials can typically be pressure washed without issue. However, some paints are baked on, while others are painted in the field. It’s best to test on an inconspicuous location to ensure you’re not stripping paint off your siding.
Aluminum Siding and Trim
Aluminum siding can dent, so it’s not a great choice for pressure washing. Best to stick with conventional cleaning with aluminum siding and trim
Wood Siding
Wood siding can be pressure washed, but you need to ensure you’re not blasting it to the point where you’re stripping the paint off. Start low, and start in an inconspicuous area.
Also, if your house was built before 1978, the exterior paint may well have lead in it. If you remove that lead paint, it will remain in the soil around the house essentially permanently, so be careful. Also, don’t eat it, FYI.
Roofing
It’s not a good idea to pressure wash roofing materials, especially while on a ladder. A pressure washer is a jet, and you don’t want to go flying off of the roof in an accident!
Also, a pressure washer can damage the integrity of the shingles, which are often formed of asphalt and small rocks and pebbles that can be jostled loose.
Windows
You can pressure wash windows, though you should check to ensure that the caulking and seals are in good shape before you start. If you need to do any touch-ups, it’s best to do this before you blast everything with high-pressure water and soap! Once you’re ready, it’s best to hit the windows with concentrated soap, and then rinse with water.
Accessories
Another thing to keep in mind is that you may want to pick up some extras for your pressure washer to make it more useful. Common accessories include different types of spray nozzles, soap tanks, deck cleaning accessories, hose extensions, and the like. They often can help to make a pressure washing job go by much faster and with good results.
Conclusion
Pressure washers are a great device to have on hand to help clean off tough surfaces. Their powerful features can help to ensure that your home and other surfaces are perfectly clean.
This guide included some helpful information you should keep in mind before you invest in a pressure washer. We hope you have used this information to help you pick a model that is high quality, useful, and safe.
Happy cleaning!
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