TIPS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE BUYING A PRESSURE WASHER

Pressure washing is a reliable method to make sure that the surface is absolutely clean. The process of cleaning by means of pressure washing helps to get rid of dirt, mold, and mildew, particularly in sheltered areas. Regular cleaning helps you remove grease, dust, and residues of chemicals that have developed over time. If you fail to clean the sides of your house on time, the same will result in fading or staining the beauty of your house.

A pressure washer is actually a fairly simple piece of equipment with a motor or engine, which makes water to push through the pump by means of tremendous pressure. If the pressure is higher, the flow of water will be faster. The pressurized water hardly hits the dirt smeared surface, and completely removes the grime from the surface you want to clean properly.

If any of your family members suffer from allergies, it is essential for you to make sure that your home is as clean as possible. Pressure washing is the ideal solution to lessen many of those troubles. Pressure washing helps to get rid of those dust and dirt, and clean off surfaces ensuring healthy environments in your households.
However, for purchasing a suitable pressure washer you have to consider certain vital factors. Here, we have furnished some essential factors in such a way to help you find the right pressure washer that fulfills all your major cleaning needs.

Consider Size and life expectancy

The two most significant factors you have to consider when buying a pressure washer are size and life expectancy.  Size of the pressure washer determines the timeframe needed to carry out a particular job or the number of jobs that can be performed in one day, whereas the life expectancy determines the hours of work for a particular amount spent throughout the life of the machine.

Understand the Basic Ratings

Horse Power (HP): - This is the magnitude of the power produced by the motor or engine. Horsepower is a significant rating because it directly represents the capacity of pressure and volume that can be produced by the pump.

Pounds per Square Inch (PSI): - The pressure produced by a pressure washer is represented in pounds per square inch or PSI. The pressure from the pressure washer signifies the force of cleaning.

Gallons per Minute (GPM): - The volume of water utilized by a pressure washer is determined in gallons per minute or GPM. Volume of water also has a role in generating the cleaning force.

Cleaning Power Units (CPU): - Cleaning Power Units evaluate the cleaning ability of a pressure washer. For knowing CPU, you can multiply GPM with PSI. If the CPU is higher, the cleaning ability of the machine will also be greater. So, a pressure washer with greater CPU can carry out cleaning deeply as well as effectively.

Importance of Pumps

Pressure washer receives water from your hose by means of pumps, and enables pumping through its tip at high pressure. There are several such common types of pumps that you can come across in commercial and home-owner type machinery. All pressure washer pumps are constituted with valves and pistons similar to a gas engine or air compressor. The pistons of some pumps are driven by a plate called a wobble plate on an angle, whereas in some other pumps the pistons are driven by a Crankshaft. Pumps driven by Crankshaft are generally assembled in a better way and hence, they last longer.

Bypass Valves: - Pressure washer pumps are constituted with bypass valves, so that when the tip of the pump gets blocked, then the water coming through the pump will bypass, and go back to the bay of the pump. If the pressure washer machine is left in this manner for a longer duration than suggested by the manufacturers, the water will be heated resulting in harm to the pump. Most bypass valves are adaptable, so that you can bring down the pressure when you carry out cleaning on sensitive materials.

Thermal relief valves: - In the case of a gas-powered pressure washer, the pump is featured with a thermal relief valve which discards hot water into the bypass loop. Life expectancy: - Generally, cheap pressure washers are provided with pumps having very low life expectancy. So, when going to a shop to buy a pressure washer, make sure that the life expectancy of the pump is satisfactory.

Availability of parts: - Another very important factor to consider is the availability of parts. So, before buying a pressure washer, ask the dealer where you can collect the parts whenever you require them. If parts are not available, then it is better to buy a disposable pressure washer model. Disposable machines can be used for only one season, and you will have to spend hours together to get the task done by the machine.

Direct Drive and Belt Drive

The drive illustrates the manner how the pump is connected with the motor. Among pressure washer machines, direct-drive systems are very common. The pump is directly locked up with the engine or motor by means of a shaft coupler. If a direct drive is compared with a belt drive, the direct drive needs only fewer parts and space ensuring a more compacted design. Moreover, the direct drive is noticeably more economical than the equally categorized belt-drive machine.

Belt-drive arrangements are normally considered on industrial platforms. The pump on a belt-drive system functions at a much lesser speed. The belt takes up vibration that would make the unit get tired at a faster rate. As the valves as well as the pistons in the pump are larger, the pump functions at a lesser speed. All these features help the machine to offer a long-lasting service than the corresponding direct drive version. However, you will have to spend some extra money for its maintenance work. If you are a pressure washer machine user, then it is better to consider buying a belt-drive system also. Nevertheless, a comparable direct-drive machine is capable of offering the similar range performance for a lesser cost.

Gas Engine and Electric Motor

On a pressure washer machine, either the engine or motor has to control the pump. If the engine or motor is more powerful, then the pump produces greater PSI and GPM. Gas engines are characteristically designed to function between 300 and 3,000 hours. The motors used on electric pressure washers generally have longer life than the pumps used in them.

Electric Motors

Electric motors need only meager maintenance. As the chances to wear out are very less, they are capable of operating indoors and also in areas where only little ventilation is available. When compared to a gas engine, the rate of HP is dissimilar on electric motors. It has been found that the HP of the electric motors can be double of the corresponding gas engine HP. Heavy-duty electric pressure washers can be used in places where power is available in plenty.

Gas Engines

Gas pressure washers are larger and heavier, and they are placed on a cart constituted with wheels. Some are better balanced and comfortable to move. Gas engines are capable of producing more power, and they are movable as they are not needed to be plugged into an electric power source. As the gas engines are more powerful, the pumps are capable of generating significantly more PSI and GPM. Therefore, their capacity to clean speedily and thoroughly is more than any other 115 Volts rated electric pressure washer. Because of the discharge of carbon-monoxide fumes, it is mandatory for them to be used in perfectly ventilated areas.

Accessories

Without accessories, your pressure washer model will be useless.

Hoses: - Generally, 50 ft. length hose pipe is used for pressure washers. While choosing pressure washers, you may make sure that you have got a quality hose pipe with appropriate PSI rating to match your machine.

Wands and Tips: - The wand consists of a handle with a trigger valve, while the diverse lengths and angles of wands are considered for dissimilar applications. You can alter the pattern of the spray by varying the tip at the end of the wand. Almost all pressure washers are available with an assortment of tips. They include a contracted spray to produce higher force at the tip to bring forth deeper cleaning. Other spray is a wider one featured with less force and covers more area.

Go through the aforementioned guidelines carefully before deciding to purchase a pressure washer. This awareness will surely help you find out the right option with respect to your requirements. Also, consider your financial conditions before buying a pressure washer of your choice. Plan a proper budget in advance, and make the purchase accordingly.