Choosing a Good Pressure Washer

In this article, we will talk about what types of high-pressure washers (also called mini-washers) there are, what they can be used for, and how to choose them correctly. And at the end of the article, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions, as well as an overview of good models of high-pressure washers from different price categories. In general, everything you need to know about high-pressure washers, you will find right here. Yes, it is obvious to anyone why to buy this equipment, but with its help you can not only wash cars, it will also be useful in the summer cottage. The main thing is to choose the right model, and we will talk about how to do this below.

How a high pressure washer works and why it is needed

First of all, let’s talk about the design of a high-pressure washer, as well as its features. Of course, its main feature is clear from the name: it can provide water pressure of more than a hundred bars, which is tens of times higher than that of conventional pumps. Their main purpose is to wash cars, in fact, they were invented for this purpose. But they are also used for other purposes: you can wash garden paths, fences, various equipment, garden furniture and much more. Simply put, if you often need to wash something (not necessarily a car), and also deal with heavy dirt on large areas, then a high-pressure washer is what you need. Some dirt cannot be removed at all by other means except mechanically. And water under high pressure is one of them.

Structurally, it consists of an electric motor, a pump, a flexible hose and a gun with a spray nozzle. With the latter, you can change the shape of the water jet and its force, which allows you to effectively work with various surfaces and dirt. The pump is not ordinary, but one that can create high water pressure. When choosing a high-pressure washer, you need to start from the volume of work, frequency of use and type of dirt. After all, it is one thing if you sometimes need to wash a car, dust off a fence, and quite another if you need to remove old dirt from garden paths, clean a concrete mixer, etc. In the second case, you will need a much more powerful model, a weak one will either not cope at all, or it will take a lot of time.

It is worth noting right away that high-pressure washers are not only network electric, but also gasoline and battery-powered. However, the latter are not popular. Gasoline ones are not used in everyday life either, their purpose is to work on construction sites and in other places. Therefore, below we will talk exclusively about network models, which are the most popular. Among them, there is a wide range in both capabilities and price. Next, we will talk about how to choose the right high-pressure washer based on its characteristics. After all, on the one hand, you need to choose a model that will fully meet your needs. On the other hand, overpaying for features that you will not use anyway is also not worth it.

Parameters of high pressure washers

A high-pressure washer has few parameters, but all of them are very important. You should definitely look at them when choosing in order to buy the most suitable model for you.

The first indicator is the working pressure, this indicator is the key one, because it most of all indicates the capabilities of the wash. The higher the pressure, the faster the dirt will be removed. This is especially true for hard-to-remove dirt, some of which are extremely difficult to remove with low pressure. Inexpensive and compact models with a pressure of up to 110-125 bar are quite suitable for everyday life. Such can be a car, a garden path and furniture, as well as other objects and surfaces. It is also worth noting that such pressure guarantees that the paintwork will not be damaged.

Washers with pressure above 125 and up to 150 bar are more versatile. The difference seems small, but in fact it will be noticeable: dirt will be cleaned faster, you can clean it out of hard-to-reach and narrow places (various cracks, etc.). Above 150-160 bar is already professional and much more expensive equipment, which does not make much sense to buy for home use. Simply because such high pressure will be excessive, not to mention the fact that you can damage the surface being cleaned. For example, water under pressure of 160-170 bar can leave dents on a car. And a jet of 190-200 bar can make a hole in a board.

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Therefore, if we talk about household use, devices with a pressure higher than 130-140 bar are simply not needed. Most often, they are bought for specific purposes, for example, to clean industrial equipment. But there is also no particular point in looking at models with a pressure of less than 100 bar: their capabilities are very limited. However, there is demand for them, it all depends on your tasks. Some fresh and light dirt can be quickly removed with relatively low pressure.

For each sink, the manufacturer specifies the maximum working pressure, but most models (though not all) allow you to change this indicator. In addition, the pressure also depends on the nozzle, because it is one thing when it is one thin stream, and another when it is a fan. In the second case, the final pressure on the surface will be much lower. That is, even if the sink does not have pressure adjustment, it can still be changed using the nozzle. However, we will talk about nozzles below.

The second important indicator is the volume of water that a high-pressure washer can pump per unit of time. Usually, the number of liters per hour is indicated. Without a sufficient volume of water, the pressure itself will not be a determining indicator, especially when it comes to productivity. Models that can pump less than 300 liters per hour are considered low-power and low-productivity. However, for household use, this indicator will often be sufficient.

If you want to have a small reserve and buy a generally universal model, then you should look at 350-400 liters per hour. More is simply not needed, and those washers that pump more than 500 liters per hour are high-performance and professional models. The price for them is also appropriate. But it makes sense to buy such only when you need to regularly wash tens of square meters of surface in a limited time. Since such a need cannot arise in everyday life, in our opinion, overpaying here is simply not worth it.

The third is what we have already mentioned: nozzles. The nozzle is responsible for forming the water stream, different tasks require different nozzles. There will always be several in the kit, the main types that are used most often are:

Pinpoint. Creates a thin stream, which is convenient for cleaning hard-to-reach places or removing the most difficult dirt. On the other hand, you need to be careful with it, as soft materials can be easily damaged.

Fan. With this nozzle, you can create a wide stream that will have the shape of a fan. It is good for cleaning large areas. The pressure here can be adjusted even by simply bringing the nozzle closer to the surface or moving away from it. Yes, due to the spraying of water, the final pressure will be significantly lower, this is worth considering.

Mud. This is a nozzle that forms rotating jets with high pressure. Effective in removing complex contaminants.

There are others, such as a foam generator attachment (useful when washing a car), washing brushes, and others. There are even highly specialized ones, such as a narrow and durable hose that is used to remove blockages in pipes. Not all of these attachments are always included in the kit, most often these are the first three that we talked about. Others usually have to be purchased separately. Often it can be just one attachment, but “three in one”. That is, here it does not need to be changed, and the mode is selected by turning it. A very convenient and practical option that can definitely be recommended.

Another design feature that you need to pay attention to when choosing a high-pressure washer is the material from which the pump is made. The requirements here are in any case increased, since it has to create very high pressure. The loads here are not at all the same as those of the pump with which you pump water from a well. There are options made of metal or plastic, as well as combined ones. Some manufacturers can even apply a ceramic coating, which significantly extends the service life. But at the same time, it greatly affects the cost.

Plastic is used in low-power household models, although sometimes it can be found in more expensive ones. It all depends on what kind of plastic is used, some types are very durable. Yes, in general, it is believed that aluminum or stainless steel (other metals are used less often) is a more reliable option. But this opinion is somewhat outdated, we repeat, today there are very durable types of plastic. However, if this is a very cheap mini-wash from a little-known manufacturer, then the plastic can be of the appropriate quality.

Before we move on to talking about specific models of high-pressure washers, let’s pay attention to a few more points. Look at the length of the hose, it may not always be indicated, but often this parameter is in the description. If the hose is shorter than five meters, then you will have no problems cleaning one small object or a limited area. But if you need to wash a car, then here you will have to constantly move the washer from place to place: the hose length will not be enough. If it will be mainly used for such purposes, it makes sense to look at models with a longer hose. Or then separately buy one that is ten meters long. Do not forget that you cannot use any hose here, it must be strong enough, otherwise it may not withstand the pressure.

Another important factor is the method of water intake. Many models are designed to be connected to a water supply, for this purpose a step-down reducer can be used. But not everywhere there is a water supply, and what if you need a high-pressure washer at your dacha? In this case, you need to choose those models that can take water from a well or a barrel of water. Some may even come with a special water tank, which must be filled before work.