You have probably utilized pressure washing at your home in the past. Although it doesn’t utilize heated water, it uses the same high-pressure water blast as power washing. While this water is still extremely effective at blasting away dirt, it is less effective when it comes to removing moss, mold, or other difficult to remove stuck-on materials. Although it still does a fantastic job, it could be unable to remove stubborn stains from concrete.
How do electric pressure washers work?
A power washer blasts dirt and debris from outdoor surfaces with a high-pressure jet of very hot water. It is more effective at removing all the actually stuck-on items off surfaces due to the high pressure and warmth of the water. It works wonders for cleaning outdoor patios, decks, roads, and other surfaces of residue like salt, mildew, and mold. Additionally, the additional heat makes it particularly effective in removing items from pavements, such as chewing gum. Power cleaning is also a superb method for removing grease stains from garage floors or driveways.
Using a forceful burst of hot water to kill weeds and moss and prevent their immediate regrowth is another practical use. Any circumstance where the surface is severely soaked or needs to be cleaned of a lot of dirt or other debris is best suited for power washing. In essence, power cleaning is the more robust choice.
The distinction between pressure washing and Electric washing
They both apply comparable pressure levels when it comes to the water. A household appliance won’t produce as much power as an industrial equipment; the amount of pressure really just relies on the type of machine.
A heating element is the primary feature that distinguishes a power washer from a pressure washer if we are only discussing the types of machines. Both devices produce a strong jet of water at high pressure, but a power washer may also heat the water. Although this might seem like a minor distinction, it actually has a significant impact on how each is used.
Steps of how to use pressure washers
- Through one hose, detergent enters from a bottle or container.
- Filtered cold water enters through another hose after entering from a faucet (tap).
- The washer is propelled by a diesel engine or electric motor.
- A water pump (impeller), driven by the engine or motor, takes in the detergent and water and combines them. The majority of washers additionally warm the water to a temperature of 125–155°F, or 50–70°C.
Pressure water system components
It’s simpler than it sounds to use a pressure washer. Actually, it’s just an electric motor-driven water pump. The washer draws regular water from a faucet (or tap, for you Brits), accelerates it to high pressure with a pump, and then shoots it quickly through a trigger gun from a hose. The hose’s end can be fitted with a variety of additional attachments for cleaning various objects.
1. Water intake
A hose that joins the main water supply to the pressure washer. To prevent dirt and debris from entering the washer and clogging the pipes, the inlet is typically equipped with a filter. The last thing you want in your washer is tiny grit particles, especially since they might shoot out the other end at a high speed!
2. Gas or electric engines
The majority of smaller pressure washers (such the extremely popular Kärcher machines) are powered by household electricity, although larger units use tiny gasoline engines. The engines are comparable to those in lawnmowers (typically power rated at around 3–4kW or 3.5–5.5HP). When working outside or in remote locations without access to electricity, gas engine types are ideal (or where a long trailing cable would be dangerous or inconvenient). The water pump is intended to be powered by the motor or engine.
3. Water pump
A pressure washer’s beating heart. It resembles a hand-operated ground-water pump in some ways, except the electric motor (or gas engine) drives it at fast speed instead of your hand. Water from the faucet is sucked in when the engine pulls the pump in one direction; when it pushes the pump in the opposite direction, water shoots out in a high-pressure jet. An average water flow through a pump is 4 to 8 liters (1-2 gallons) per minute.
4. High-pressure hose
This is the tube that exits the washer and connects to the cleaning tool of your choice. The immense pressure of the water running through an ordinary piece of tubing would destroy it. Wire mesh reinforcement and two or more layers of high-density plastic are used to create high-pressure hose. If your pressure washer came with its own hose, there shouldn’t be any issues. It’s crucial to use hose with a higher pressure rating than the pump in your pressure washer. Pressure-washer hoses typically have a safety margin of about 300 percent, meaning that if your washer is rated at 2000 psi, your hose should be able to handle pressures of at least 6000 psi.
5. Cleaning attachment
You can change from a basic trigger gun—basically simply a valve that only lets water through when you grip the handle—to a spinning wand spray or a rotating brush to scour your drive, depending on what you’re cleaning. The force of the water flowing through powered attachments powers them.
Pros of using pressure washers
1. They can sanitize virtually any outdoor surface.
There isn’t much that pressure cleaning your surfaces can’t handle, which is one of its best qualities. You can use it to restore practically any outside surface, such as the siding of your house or the back deck, to the condition it was in when you first moved in. With a pressure washer, you can clean all the surfaces on the exterior of your home without having to switch between different cleaning instruments. Get your home cleaner than ever while also cleaning the porch furniture to restore it to the way it appeared the day you first brought it home.
2. Incredibly user-friendly
The usage of pressure washers is incredibly simple. Even if you have never used a pressure washer before, learning how to use one does not take very long. It is a simple equipment that only needs to be plugged in, the hose connected, and the nozzle lever pushed before you can start cleaning. Remember that even though pressure washers are straightforward and easy to operate, they are still highly powerful instruments, and you should observe the suggested safety precautions to avoid the danger of injury while using them. In conclusion, pressure washers are excellent tools since they are straightforward, easy to operate, and powerful all at once.
3. Expedites the cleaning process for you
Utilizing a pressure washer speeds up your cleaning process at least five times, which is one of its best features. Cleaning your home’s exterior and all of its surfaces without a power washer might take days or even weeks. It might still take some time to completely wash it off if your exteriors are really huge or very unclean, but your pressure washer will speed up the process considerably. Everything can be cleaned with a pressure washer in a lot less time than it would take to clean it by hand.
Cons of using pressure washers
1. If you don’t use it correctly, you can get hurt.
Even while you can use water from your garden hose to fill your pressure washer, a conventional hose’s water pressure cannot compare to that of a pressure washer. The force of the pressure washer can knock you back and perhaps gravely hurt you if you have never used one before because it is far more powerful than a conventional hose. In addition to the risk of injury from the force of the water, pressure washers are machines as opposed to hoses. Like with any machine, you must carefully study the user manual in order to use it correctly and prevent injury from the machine part itself.
2. For some surfaces, pressure washers can be too powerful.
Due to their extreme force, pressure washers may be too much for some surfaces to handle. Exterior surfaces that can’t withstand the pressure, such as loose vinyl siding or loose wood, will start to decay, break off, and may even split. The pressure washer may also damage painted surfaces and make the paint peel off. Research the surfaces you intend to clean before starting your pressure-washing endeavor to ensure they can resist the pressure and not be harmed. This will ensure that you end up with a beautiful, clean home outside rather than an expensive disaster.
3. Keep an eye out for the weaker members of your yard
In addition to the water that comes out of pressure washers to clean surfaces, a lot of chemicals are also released along with the water, and these chemicals are utilized to kill and remove difficult-to-clean elements like mold and mildew that frequently develop on outdoor surfaces. On the other hand, they are not so wonderful for more delicate items you keep outside. These chemicals are great for making your targeted surfaces as clean as they were the day you acquired them. The harshness of some of these compounds can cause painted surfaces to peel. The chemicals that are misted and sprayed outside of the targeted area, however, run the risk of destroying the shrubs and flowers in your yard. You can wind up dying a significant portion of your yard if you don’t remove the flowers from the area and try to prevent getting any spray on your shrubs or grass. This can be an unsightly and expensive problem to solve. Despite how powerful the pressure washer is, you must be careful where you spray it.
Don’t forget!!
Using a pressure washer to clean the exterior of a property can often offer more benefits than drawbacks. You can achieve fantastic results and have a beautifully clean home’s exterior if you carefully study the instruction handbook and use extreme caution. Asking around in your neighborhood for recommendations on a reliable pressure washing business that can come to your home and perform a professional cleaning service may be worthwhile if the drawbacks of utilizing a pressure washer worry you. A pressure washer will assist in getting your outside back in top condition whether you take on the project yourself or hire a professional.
The best applications depend on the job.
Now that you are aware of the key distinctions between pressure washing and power washing, it is time to decide which is best for your house. The approach you choose entirely depends on the task.
Pressure washing is the preferred method for everyday household use. It works well on surfaces like masonry, brick, and concrete since it is less abrasive to the surface. This is where you should look if you want to quickly clean your patio or deck.
Use power washing for any major chores, such as cleaning a sizable business space or a sizable driveway or patio. Since heat helps to loosen the dirt, using warm water usually helps to complete the task more quickly. You must be cautious about the surfaces you apply it on for the same reason. When power washing, it’s advisable to stick to concrete and other hard surfaces because the force of the hot water can harm softer ones.
Remember that it’s always ideal to engage a professional to handle the cleaning for you, regardless of the sort of cleaning procedure you choose. Inadequate training could result in you damage the surface you’re working on if you use a pressure washer or power washer. Being safe is preferable to being sorry.
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Written by Bermon O. Ferreras
