You were probably a kid when you first discovered the benefits of thumbing the open end of garden hose, likely to the detriment of your little sister or brother. But it did make washing the car or cleaning the dirt off Rover a little more efficient. Today’s home power washers use that same principle to pressurize water so it’s easier to break that bond between whatever you’re washing and the mud, algae, or even grease that covers it. Here are three things to consider when choosing a power/pressure washer for your home.
Pressure washers are rated by psi (pounds per square inch) and gpm (gallons used per minute) which, when multiplied, gives you an idea of the cleaning power of that washer. Typically, home power washers will feature a psi of from 1000 to 6000, with from one to four gpm. The better units will be adjustable, enabling you to match your psi to the cleaning power needed, and to avoid turning it into a power sander when all you wanted was to rinse soap off something.
Power washers can be powered by either a gasoline engine or with electricity. In general, a gas-powered washer will offer more power and enable greater efficiency when washing large areas. Gas washers typically cost more and are larger and heavier, making mobility more of a consideration. Electric washers are smaller, less noisy, typically cost less, and require less maintenance, but are less efficient when big projects are on the agenda.
How often do you plan to use your pressure washer, and for how long at a time? If you only trot it out once a year to clean your siding you don’t need the heavy-duty model that doubles as a paint remover. If you wash your car daily or have a large house, you might need a heavier duty model.
