Pressure Washers

For some jobs, a hose  is all you need. Rinsing off dirty feet, washing your dog, spraying down your lawn chairs. Sometimes, things get really dirty, and even the power jet setting on your hose nozzle  isn't enough to scratch the surface of the dirt. If your cleaning needs serious firepower, settle for the next best thing: waterpower. Pressure washers,  sometimes called power washers, will spray water at some seriously high p.s.i., compelling anything you may have stuck on your deck, patio, driveway, or wall to flee with the utmost speed. These babies do not mess around.

Pressure washers work by pure power: the higher the pressure (measured in pounds per square inch or p.s.i.) the faster you can do the job. They use a controlled flow routed through high-pressure hoses and trigger-style nozzles. By using high pressure, pressure washers actually save water. 

There are two ways to divide pressure washers: gas vs. electric and hot water vs. cold water. You can start with the recommendations below if you already know more or less what kind of pressure washer you want. Or, scroll past the recommendations to read about the differences between the types of pressure washers.

Recommendations

ConsumerSearch has a list of recommended models; their top picks are discussed here. 

Top Pressure Washers
Karcher K 5.93  The best overall pressure washer for most homeowners. Uses an induction motor, so runs more quietly than most electric pressure washers Ideal for typical homeowner usage of roughly 20 hours a year. Enough power for a wide range of chores.  Costs about $280.	Sistema GT 11  A good choice for a light-duty powerwasher.  At 1400 p.s.i., this is good for smaller everyday tasks like washing off a bike or car. One of the few washers in its price range to use an induction motor, so it's very quiet. Not powerful enough for decks or siding. Costs about $125.	Karcher K 2400psi  A mid-range, gas-powered  pressure washer featuring a high-quality Honda engine. Good for cleaning large decks or siding and for stripping paint. Commercial-style spray gun with quick connect fittings to multiple nozzles. Price: $400

Gas vs. Electric

Gas Pressure Washers

Pros More powerful and durable. Usually between 2000 and 3000 PSI (pounds of pressure per square inch) , which is enough for the majority of heavy-duty tasks. Can handle big jobs like large decks and siding. Can also remove stains. Cons Gasoline-powered tools need more maintenance than electric ones and need to be winterized in cold climates. More expensive. Outdoor use only. May be too powerful, or more than you need if you mainly want a washer for your car, bike or occasional small jobs. More power means increased risk of injury to yourself or others.

Electric Pressure Washers

Pro Smaller and lighter than gas-powered models. Easier to store and maintain. Can be used indoors and outdoors. Less expensive. More powerful models, up to 1600 PSI, are sufficient for most jobs. Cons: Many inexpensive models are known as "throwaways" because it's easier to replace one than repair it. Not enough power to do big jobs and doesn't clean as fast. Need a few necessary safety features when using an electric washer around water. Double insulation and a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to help reduce risk of electric shock. Recommended to only run 100 hours a year (about two hours a week); this is more than enough for most people, but if you have a lot of large jobs, you may want to invest in a more powerful washer.

Hot Water vs. Cold Water

There are advantages to each type of washer.

Hot Water	Cold Water
Hot water washers  can clean more effectively and thoroughly. Use less soap to sanitize and degrease, which makes them ideal for industrial and other big jobs. You can rent a hot-water washer for non-industrial uses.	Cold water washers  are more portable and less complicated and better suited for home use and small jobs. Homeowner models will use cold-water washers. Temperatures above 104 degrees can damage the equipment.

Power Terminology

Pressure washer power is measured in gallons per minute (gpm) and pounds per square inch (p.s.i.). You might think the more power you have, the more dirt you'll get out. Well, that's true up to a point. Take washing your car for example. You'll want a power washer in the range of 1000-1300 p.s.i. You could use an industrial power washer (up to 5000 p.s.i. or more) to get it cleaner, but you'll strip off the paint job along with the dirt. (Not good!)

More power usually means an increase in price and weight. On the other hand, if your washer isn't powerful enough for a big job, you might wear it out or not get the job done effectively -- or both.

• P.S.I. -- Pounds per square inch.
• This is how much pressure the washer can apply at any given time.
• Your average garden hose  is at about 40 p.s.i. -- generally not enough for most cleaning tasks.
• The increased pressure of a pressure washer allows you to clean things faster, more thoroughly and with less water -- saving both time and natural resources.
• Electric pressure washers range from 1000 about 1600 p.s.i.
• 1000-1300 p.s.i.  is all you need for light cleaning tasks, such as cleaning lawn furniture or cars.
• 1300-1600 p.s.i.  is a good range for cleaning your deck.
• Gas-powered washers range from 1500 to 3500 p.si.
• 1500-2200 p.s.i.  is a good low-to-middle range for gas-powered washers.
• 2200-3500 p.s.i.  is the high powered range with the upper end of that range (3000-3500) considered heavy-duty/commercial.
• This upper range is useful for stripping paint, cleaning large areas or houses.
• Not recommended for use on painted surfaces that you don't want stripped.
• GPM -- Gallons per minute.
• How much water (in gallons) flows through the nozzle in one minute. (Obviously.)
• Gas-powered machines have more GPMs. This enables you to clean faster.
• CU -- Cleaning units.
• The PSI multiplied by the GPM gives the CU score.
• An easy way to compare several models, but check out both the PSI and the GPM as well.

Other Considerations

• Temperature
• For some jobs, like removing tough grease and oil, only hot water  and detergent will be effective.
• Most available pressure washers are meant to be used only with cold water. 
• If you only need hot water for an occasional job, consider renting one instead of buying.
• Never use hot water in a cold water washer, you could damage it and hurt yourself.
• Safety
• Any pressure washer comes with safety risks.
• You should always wear safety goggles.  For many models, especially gas-powered ones, hearing protection  is recommended as well.
• If you are using detergent, waterproof gloves  are recommended to protect your skin.
• Always use caution when using a pressure washer. They can be dangerous if used improperly, with the possibility of skin lacerations or eye damage. NEVER point a pressure washer at a person, pet, or other living thing. A pressure washer is like a hose the way a gun is like tossing a rock at someone. 
• There is also a risk of electric shock or a burn, especially with gas-powered models. Always follow instructions carefully.
• Features
• Soap tank
• Some washers have a siphon that you can drop into an external container of cleaning fluid.
• Others have built-in compartments -- just pour in soap and it is automatically added for you.
• Nozzle technology
• Certain attachments, like a brush, can make cleaning easier.
• Some attachments give you a choice of spray sizes.
• Adjustable nozzles -- allow you to control stream size and intensity without changing parts.
• Replaceable nozzles -- in case your nozzle breaks, it's cheaper to replace the nozzle than to buy a new washer.
• Cord, tool and hose storage
• Loops and compartments to stow cords, tools and hoses can help keep your storage area neat.
• Wheels
• Save your back, especially with heavier gas-powered models.
• Renting
• If you mostly need a pressure washer for small jobs (bikes, cars) but occasionally need more power (siding, deck), consider buying a small electric model and renting a washer for those big jobs.
• The cost is slightly higher, but consider all the maintenance issues involved with keeping a gas-powered washer; you might prefer the convenience of simply renting.
• You can also rent a hot-water washer for those occasional jobs that need high temperatures.
• However, it can cost between $50 and $90 to rent a machine for one day. It might be worth it if your storage space is limited or you don't want the hassle of maintaining a gas-powered machine.

External Links

• ConsumerSearch -- The most comprehensive discussion of pressure washers you could want, with brand recommendations, detailed buying tips, safety tips, recall information, and loads more.
• Lowe's -- A more generalized buying guide.
• Popular Mechanics -- Another buying guide along with product evaluations (only six products tested, however).