Thinking of buying a pressure washer? Check out this complete beginner's guide.
Pressure washers are a great addition to your equipment lineup. They're powerful and essential tools. At least if you know what to look out for when buying one! What's more, a pressure washer is a major investment. That's why choosing the right machine is of utmost importance. But that's easier said than done. You'll need to take a variety of (technical) factors into account. Which pressure washer best suits your needs? To answer that, start by asking yourself a few key questions. In this article, we'll take you through the basics of pressure washers and highlight the various factors to keep in mind before buying.
1. How often do you use a pressure washer?
Depending on the type of job you want to do with a pressure washer, look into whether a commercial or heavy-duty professional model would be right for you. These motors of these machines are designed for specific types of use. If you make a mistake here, you'll quickly end up with worn-out parts. This, of course, leads to unfortunate (and probably avoidable) repair costs. So based on how often and how intensely you plan to use it, you'll need to choose from three types of machines.
Commercial models
Do you just need a pressure washer a few times a year? If so, then a commercial model from a hardware store would a good choice. These machines are well suited for annual patio slab cleaning or the occasional car wash.
The motor in a commercial machine often contains lower-quality plastic components. It's perfectly fine for light-duty work. But if you use the pressure washer too often or for too long, it'll wear out
quickly. Repairs are usually costly and complicated, often resulting in you having to buy a new machine. In this case, an entry-level professional model would be a much better fit!
Entry-level professional models
These models are, of course, more expensive than commercial ones. And for good reason. The pump pistons are higher quality and perform far better than the plastic pistons in a commercial machine. That makes these pressure washers suitable for more frequent use. A maximum of two hours per day is the standard for these models. They're ideal if you use the pressure washer regularly, but not continuously.
Professional models
These are the machines with the longest service life and the ability to handle the toughest jobs. This makes them the logical recommendation for professional use.
Professional machines can easily run for up to 4 hours a day or even longer without any major issues. It's all thanks to how strong the motor and pump are. Professional pressure washers are often equipped with ceramic pistons designed for long, demanding tasks. The more commercial models are not usually equipped with those.
2. What type of dirt do you need to remove?
Depending on the type of job you want to do with a pressure washer, you'll need more pressure or a higher flow rate. It all depends on the kind of dirt you want to remove. Understanding the difference between pressure and
flow is crucial. Pressure simply refers to the force with which water is shot out of the pressure washer. This pressure is measured in bars. Flow rate refers to the number of liters your pressure washer moves per minute. Do you need to remove scattered dirt such as sand or mud? In that case, you need a high flow rate. If you're facing stubborn, embedded dirt, it will take more power to remove it. In that case, it's better to go with a more powerful pressure washer.
3. Do you need hot water or cold water?
The answer to this question is very simple. A higher temperature increases the cleaning power of your pressure washer. That means a hot water machine is better suited for removing stubborn dirt and grease. For all other applications, it's better to use a cold water machine.
4. What about electric or gas-powered pressure washers?
It all depends on your situation and facilities. Electric pressure washers don't emit CO2. However, keep in mind that many professional-grade pressure washers run on electricity and require a three-phase outlet. Most entry-level models and nearly all commercial models use a standard 230 V outlet. If you have enough outlets where you're working, an electric pressure washer is your best bet. If there aren't outlets everywhere and you frequently move the machine around, a gas- or diesel-powered pressure washer is probably a better choice. Of course, you need to take care of getting fuel yourself, but after that, you'll have complete freedom to work wherever you need.
5. What accessories do you need?
Pressure washer accessories allow you to precisely tackle any cleaning task. Always make sure these accessories are actually compatible with your pressure washer.
Nozzles
The nozzle plays an important role in the cleaning power of your pressure washer. There are different types of nozzles or spray tips that attach to your pressure washer lance. Each nozzle produces a specific spray pattern that delivers better results for certain tasks than other types do. We distinguish between three different spray patterns and their corresponding nozzles.
The pencil jet
The pencil jet is by far the most powerful spray your pressure washer can generate. This is because the nozzle opening is limited to a small point. As a result, all the water is forced through this tiny hole at a certain pressure, creating a highly concentrated jet. It's best not to use this nozzle for large surface areas. You'll spend more time on it and probably miss some spots, resulting in visible lines on the surface. So it's better to use this type of jet for highly targeted cleaning in a specific area.
The fan jet
The fan jet has a wider opening than the pencil jet. Water exits the lance through a 25-degree opening, allowing you to spread the same amount of water over a larger area. The fan jet is well suited for cleaning large dirty surfaces. You lose some pressure and precision, but it allows you to clean faster and more evenly than with a pencil jet. The risk of leaving lines on the surface afterward is also significantly reduced.
The rotating pencil jet
The rotating pencil jet combines the force of a pencil jet with the coverage of a fan jet. This means you can cover a much larger surface area while reducing the risk of streaks. The rotating pencil jet serves the same purpose as the fan jet. However, it is still technically a pencil jet. That means you can clean an area at least as large as with a fan jet, but with the power of a pencil jet.
It's ideal for removing stubborn dirt from large surfaces.
Hose reels
A hose reel makes it easy to wind up the pressure hose of your pressure washer. This is especially useful if the hose is longer than 10 meters. Most pressure washers without a reel generally come with a hose that is no more than 10 meters long. If it's longer than 10 meters, it usually becomes more difficult to store. A hose reel lets you easily use a pressure washer with a hose ranging from 15 to 30 meters. If you're thinking of buying a pressure hose longer than 30 meters, we recommend consulting an expert first. That way, you can be sure to choose the right pressure washer for your situation.
Surface cleaners
If you want to clean a surface evenly, nozzles aren't always the most practical solution. In this case, a surface cleaner is much more effective.
Do you have any other questions or comments?
You've finally found the right pressure washer. We hope you're satisfied with your purchase and the service that came with it. BOMA markets a full range of pressure washers and offers you high-quality services. We hope this guide has helped you find the ideal model for your situation.
Do you have any other questions or comments? Feel free to contact us without any obligation. We'll be happy to assist you! Besides a pressure washer, are you also looking for other cleaning machines or curious about the possibilities offered by flexible fleet management and our maintenance contracts? Explore all the options available with BOMA Machinery right here.