What you should note when you buy a pressure washer,Are you tired of removing grime and dirt from your household items, decks, patios and driveways using elbow grease?
You are fancying an efficient machine that would take care of this rigorous task? Well, you have come to the right place, because my pressure washer buying guide would lead you to buy exactly what you need to clean those stubborn buildups.
A pressure washer or power washer is a machine that uses high water pressure to clean. It pumps the water and forces it out through a concentrating nozzle to get rid off the hard to remove gunk and grime from a surface.
It could be your furniture, siding, cars, deck, grill, driveway, gutters, patio, and lawn equipment; paving slabs, etc. The pressure washer cleans them all. There are so many different types of pressure washers on the market.
Without knowing which one might be more suitable for your needs; you might get a bit confused while choosing a pressure washer. That is why my power washer buying guide is here to help you out when you finally decide to buy a pressure washer.
This pressure washer buying guide will inform you about the types of power washers that are available and their functions, proper PSI (pounds per square inch) for a pressure washer, different types of nozzles and their functions, price range and also give you a pressure washer guide.
Easy way pressure washer buying guide
There are usually two types of pressure washer, Gas-powered, and Electric.
Gas Powered
The gas-powered pressure washers run on gas and usually have a higher PSI ranging from 1950 to 3800, which can clean an area ranging from 40-190 square feet in 10 minutes. This machine can easily remove stubborn gunk like tree sap or chewing gum in a short time.
Among the home depot power washers, these are popular for medium to heavy-duty cleaning on larger areas like driveway, siding, deck, fence, etc. You can use an extension cord with it and attach a long hose to clean it comfortably even if you are away from the machine.
Even though it cleans faster it is not suitable for casual cleaning, making it a bad choice as a pressure washer for home use. Due to carbon monoxide emission, it must be used in a properly ventilated place. The machine can weigh up to 200 pounds, making it hard to carry around.
The loud noise can be hazardous to ears, and the extra cost of gas is not so convenient; also the maintenance is hard. You have to winterize the machine by anti-freezing the pumps if you live in a cold climate. Since it runs on gas, you can’t store it inside the house.
Due to the high pressure of water, there are also higher chances of injury. You have to tune it up quite often; it can overheat very quickly, especially if you keep it idle for more than 3-5 minutes. Also, don’t use this machine for delicate items because the strong water pressure will damage them.
If you want to buy a pressure washer that works faster and also cleans a broader amount of hard surface, then the Gas powered pressure washer would be the right choice for you. The cost of it would be ranging from 250$- 500$.
Electric Pressure Washer
In my power washer buying guide, I’ll emphasize on the electric-powered pressure washer a lot because it is, in my opinion, the best type of pressure washer for home use. If you want to clean your items instead of removing stains only, this machine can take care of that.
While choosing a pressure washer for the household items, you have to consider the PSI. The electric pressure washers PSI ranges from 1200 to 1900, which is a good PSI for pressure washer. It is better among the home depot power washers because it can handle delicate items.
This machine is lighter than the gas-powered one, the noise is less noticeable, and it doesn’t need much maintenance. You can store it inside the house, and it doesn’t emit any toxic gas. You can start and stop it easily, too, and the risk of injury is less due to lesser pressure.
Even though I’m raving about it in my power washer buying guide, it does have some drawbacks. As the water pressure is less, the time needed for cleaning is a bit more than the gas powered one. Also, you can’t extend the unit’s cord and hose, so your cleaning area is restricted.
If you want to buy a pressure washer that would clean your items without causing any damage to them and can be used for regular cleaning, then you can follow my pressure washer guide and buy an electric powered pressure washer. The price range of it is 100$-250$.
Nozzles
Nozzles are located at the tip of a pressure washer wand. Nozzles regulate the angle and force of the water. Replaceable nozzles can be interchanged to change the angle of water while adjustable nozzles can be twisted to change the water angle and force.
Adjustable nozzles are more convenient in my opinion because all the options to change the flow and angle of water are in the same place. If you are a beginner, you should always start with a higher degree angle to avoid unwanted injury.
The angles of the nozzles vary from 0 to 40 degrees. 0 degree is marked red, and you should never use it. Using a 40-degree nozzle might take up more time, but it is recommended in most power washer guides for beginners because it is safer.
Accessories
Broom attachments or rotating surface cleaner attachments work well with the still pressure washer. Also if you want to use a cleaning solution or detergent, most pressure washer guides would suggest that you buy a pressure washer with a soap tank instead of mixing it yourself.
When it comes down to buying your pressure washer, all you need to consider is what your expectations are and what kind of project you are doing.
My pressure washer buying guide has pointed out the pros and cons of each type of pressure washer with their price range and what kind of service you can expect from them.
Following this guide properly will help you understand the differences between each of the features and also help you decide which one you want to buy for your home.
