Top 10 Uses for Pressure Washers
Like many of you, I’ve used a lot of hand tools, power tools, and power equipment over the years. Table saws, routers, sanders, tile cutters, chainsaws, generators, nail guns, jack hammers, lawn mowers, pressure washers and more. Each tool has it’s own special function and appeal. Of course, running the jack hammer to take out my front concrete sidewalk was the big he-man moment of all time for me. Wow! I’m sure the kids were incredibly impressed with their old man, and you can’t even imagine what my wife thought. Ratta tat tat! But of all the above, nothing is as fun or satisfying to run as a pressure washer. Power washers do jobs that just can’t be done with any amount of scrubbing or elbow grease. Hot or cold water under pressure is just about one of the most powerful forces out there for cleaning, blasting or washing. The last time I used this tool it was to clean out 30 years of embedded dirt from the light colored brick on the front of my house. Worked like a charm, and gave me more bragging rights with the kids. When it comes to pressure washers, please realize that they are extremely powerful and can be destructive and even dangerous if not used properly. Like any power tool, use caution and follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Having said that, pressure washers can be used on many things; pretty much anything you need to clean or blast. Pressure washers come in various strengths and features, but today I just wanted to run down the top 10 uses for your pressure washer. Washing a Car, truck or RV – With the right wand and attachments, washing your vehicle will be something to look forward to rather than dread. Washing a Boat – You know that mystery discoloration on your boat. Sort of like hard water stains on a glass. Well, never fear, pressure washers to the rescue! And barnacles and other nasties are no problem. Your boat will thank you. Cleaning a Sidewalk – Sidewalk cleaning is easy with this tool. Just remember, pressure washers can be extremely powerful and will actually destroy the concrete if you aren’t careful. And remember, there is no more important safety rule than to wear these – safety glasses. (Any other Norm Abrams fans out there?) Cleaning Wood Decking – Here’s the thing on wood. Don’t linger too long or too close or you’ll ruin whatever you are working on. Cleaning a Fence – Iron, chain link, wood, plastic, or whatever. It doesn’t matter what your fence is made out of, a pressure washer will get into all the nooks and crannies no problemo. Cleaning Patio Furniture – Mold or dirt is no problem to remove from patio furniture. If you want to remove paint for repainting, there are pressure washers that will tackle the job. Watch for small bits flying and dream about how great your new furniture will look when you’re done. Hey, if you don’t like the color you can just hit it again! Washing Out a Gutter – No more yucky squishy goop to handle by hand. Just blast it out. Period. Cleaning a Driveway – Cleaning a driveway is really only done right with pressure washers. The right chemical cleaner with that right pressure washer and that oily dirty surface will become a thing of the past. Cleaning Siding – My personal favorite. It doesn’t matter what the siding is because when you get done it will look like brand new. Again, just don’t linger or get to close because you can harm the surface. Cleaning or Washing _____ – This is the best one because you get to fill in the blank. Just get creative and stay safe. Pressure washers are powerful, effective, fun, and your kids will be so proud of you!
Gas Pressure Washers for Commercial Use
Pressure washers are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners find all kinds of uses for them, and others start thriving business’s offering services from cleaning to stripping paint and unclogging drains. The biggest choice is whether to power the washer with an electric or gas motor. For light duty, cleaning patio furniture, cars, etc. , the typical homeowner is often better off with the electric type as they are quieter, lighter, and cheaper to operate. They also are cleaner than gas pressure washers. However, if you have larger projects in mind, or are going commercial, you will need the power of a gas pressure washer. The unit used in determining power of pressure washers is cleaning units (CU). This is calculated by multiplying the pressure per square inch (PSI) by the water flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM). Most home faucets deliver 5-8 gallons of water a minute. This equals 10 pounds of pressure per square inch (PSI). When you add a spray nozzle to a garden hose, you increase the pressure about 4 times giving you 40 PSI. A gas pressure washer can boost this pressure exponentially to anywhere between 1,000 – 4,000 PSI. No longer are you simply pushing dirt around—with a gas pressure washer you have real cleaning power in hand. Gas pressure washers are noisier and more polluting than electric powered washers, but the fact is that the smallest gas pressure washer is stronger than the largest electric models and can save you time on bigger jobs. Electric pressure washers can be used inside, don’t require oil, fuel, or spark plugs, while gas pressure washers can be used in any remote place and usually come with more durable pumps. Most Honda motors and some Briggs and Stratton models are already meeting the stricter emission standards due to go into effect by 2012. How much pressure do you need? For light household items, you can do with 1000-1500 PSI. For patio furniture and decks, 1400-1850 PSI will get the job done faster. For large areas, and cleaning house siding, you will need 2000-3000 PSI to be happy with the washer. For commercial use, or heavy jobs such as stripping paint or cleaning concrete, a gas pressure washer that can deliver 2800-4000 PSI is needed. Think of it this way, the difference from 1 GPM to 3 GPM will actually cut your cleaning time in half. Homeowners often over-buy and it is recommended to really consider your needs. If you are the average homeowner, you will only use your washer about 20 hours a year, for light cleaning. It may be more cost effective to buy a light duty electric washer and then rent a gas pressure washer on the occasion you may need one. With a large array of pressure washer accessories available, gas pressure washers can do many jobs. Along with the basic cleaning applications of toys, cars, furniture, patios and decks, siding, and more, there is the removal of gutter debris, cleaning of bricks and concrete, flushing of clogged drains, and even paint removal. There are hot-water tank add-ons (check manufacturer’s specs), and chemical infusion kits as well as sand/water blasting kits all of which make your gas pressure washer more versatile than ever.
Cleaning Agricultural Equipment with Pressure Washers
Cleaning agricultural and farm equipment and machinery can be a very challenging task. Tractors, irrigation machinery, fertilizer and pesticide sprayers, trucks and airplanes for spraying and transportation, harvesting equipment, and more are all exposed to the elements as well as the grease and oil turned out during operation. The proper functionality of each machine is essential for the success and productivity of the farm, as every machine serves a distinct, indispensable purpose. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure that the elements or the wear that accompanies frequent use do not cause failure. Pressure washers are ideal for the cleaning and maintaining agricultural equipment, as they are the most powerful and effective machine for virtually any cleaning application. Among the many features and options available on pressure washers, there are several necessary to consider for the demanding applications that face farm equipment maintenance workers. First of all, mobility is an essential aspect for any machine used for agricultural purposes. Farms are large in size and require the ability to use machines in a variety of locations. Therefore, pressure washers for farming applications must feature mobility. However, mobility extends beyond whether or not machines come standard in wheeled configurations. The most significant attribute affecting mobility is the power source. Pressure washers can be powered by electric, gasoline, or propane engines. Electric powered pressure washers can be used indoors as they produce no exhaust; yet, their mobility is limited to use in proximity to an electrical outlet. And, out in the fields, farm workers may not have the luxury of electricity. As such, the most beneficial power methods are gasoline or propane. Able to be operated without being tethered to an electrical outlet, these machines feature vastly enhanced mobility over their electric counterparts. Power is another essential aspect. The challenging applications of cleaning heavily soiled or greased farm equipment requires the use of powerful pressure washers. For such tasks, hot water and steam pressure washing machines are best suited. As temperature increases, the cleaning power increases. Thus, the additional cleaning power afforded by heat allows users to dissolve grease and other stubborn substances for quick and easy removal from machinery. Moreover, steam pressure washers actually sanitize while cleaning. Lastly, durability and longevity are essential. Agricultural users often require the use of pressure washers daily. This prolonged use can cause extreme wear and tear on models made up of low quality, aluminum components, causing them to break down. Therefore, it is necessary the only high quality pressure washers comprised with stainless steel heating coils and chip/chemical resistant, powder-coated steel are considered. Keeping the need for high quality, powerful, mobile pressure washers in mind will ensure that any agricultural or farm worker purchases a suitable machine for their specialized applications to get the job done right.
The Pure Power of Steam Pressure Washers
Pressure washers provide users with intense pressure levels and flow rates to handle even the most challenging commercial and industrial cleaning tasks. However, the various types of pressure washers offer a variety of power levels, each of which can meet the needs of a particular user. Temperature options are one of the most important aspects in considering a pressure washing machine for your business. Pressure washers can be purchased in cold water, hot water, steam, and triple function configurations. Cold water machines are designed for lighter commercial applications where the additional power afforded by heat may not be necessary. Hot water pressure washing equipment provides a higher degree of cleaning power, but still lacks the power afforded by steam. In fact, steam pressure washers are the most powerful on the market. They combine the extreme power of super-high temperature steam with high pressure levels and flow rates for the most effective cleaning capabilities available. At up to 330°F, steam pressure washers dissolve substances while blasting them off surfaces, effectively speeding up the pressure washing process immensely. Additionally, the use of such high temperatures let users to sanitize and disinfect surfaces while cleaning, allowing operators to keep even the dirtiest industrial facilities clean and safe for employees and customers. These industrial facilities, for which the pure power of steam is essential, can also benefit from the convenience of stationary pressure washers. Permanent pressure washers, like stationary units, may be installed in commercial and industrial settings that experience an abundance of pressure washing applications in a relatively close proximity. One of the greatest benefits of stationary units is their power method. Powered by electric engines, stationary pressure washers can achieve high pressure levels, high temperatures, and high flow rates while producing no exhaust. Additionally, though an electric engine may restrict mobility for pressure washers designed for exterior applications, industrial facilities requiring the permanent addition of a stationary unit should have no problem locating the unit in close proximity to an electrical outlet. To further enhance the capabilities afforded to industrial users, many pressure washers can be purchased with a variety of options and features to better suit the needs of any given application. By adding a wet sandblasting kit to a pressure washing machine, operators can remove layers of rust, paint, corrosion, and other heavy deposits more effectively than by using high pressure levels alone. The use of pressure washers with metal surface pre-treatment capabilities will allow users to actually prevent rust and corrosion and prepare surfaces for the application of powder coating or paint primer and paint. Multiple-user functionality is yet another option, available on many pressure washers, that extends the pressure washing capabilities by allowing for use by more than one user at a time. In light of the various options available, one thing is for sure – pressure washers are the right choice for handling the most heavy-duty commercial and industrial cleaning applications.
Why Choose Electric Pressure Washers?
Commercial and industrial users alike often face a variety of indoor pressure washing applications. After all, the facilities in which these users work and operate must be cleaned. However, many pressure washers on the market are not ideal for indoor applications. Gas pressure washers afford users immense power and mobility as a result of a robust gasoline engine capable of being operated far from an electrical supply. However, gas pressure washers are also incredibly noisy and produce exhaust. This noise and air pollution makes pressure washing machines powered by gas not well suited for the indoor environment. A much quieter and safer alternative is pressure washing equipment powered by electricity. These machines can generate the same cold water, hot water, or steam heating options and high pressure levels and flow rates as gas powered units without the added noise. In fact, electric pressure washers can even be used in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and more for a wide variety of pressure washing tasks. In many cases, in facilities where the level of noise must be considered, these tasks would remain incomplete if gas powered systems were the only option. Electric powered, industrial pressure washers offer an additional benefit – they produce no harmful exhaust. They can be used inside virtually any commercial or industrial facility without harming the indoor air quality or endangering the health of users, employees, or customers. Even though these electric machines are less noisy and produce no exhaust, they still pack quite a punch when it comes to getting the pressure washing job done. Like all pressure washing equipment, temperature options available with these units include cold water, hot water, and steam. Cold water pressure washers are ideal for lighter applications, but prove to be inefficient for heavier degreasing applications. For more challenging tasks, heated pressure washers are required. Hot water models are capable of reaching up to 210°F to dissolve substances and render them easy to blast away with the highly pressurized water. Steam pressure washers offer even greater power, capable of reaching temperatures up to 330°F. These machines sanitize and disinfect while cleaning to greatly speed up the process. This results in the cleanest environment for virtually any commercial or industrial application. Indoor operators of pressure washers aren’t limited when it comes to features either. Wet sandblaster pressure washers can be purchased in electric configurations for the removal of rust, corrosion, and other heavy deposits on metal surfaces indoors. Machines can also be purchased with an additional acid-feed or phosphatizing feature to pre-treat metal surfaces before the user applies paint primer or powder coating. When comparing models, make sure to shop at a supplier offering a wide variety of choices to ensure you find the right machine to suit your needs, no matter what the application.
Pressure Washers for All Sorts of Effective Cleaning
Pressure washers are a useful tool for all sorts of cleaning tasks.
A pressure washer generates tremendous force and is used to clean large surfaces. A pressure washer is a mechanical device to remove mold, filth, dust, mud and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles and concrete road surfaces that uses high-pressure water. The pressure washer is either electric or gas-powered and has different PSI ratings generally 1000 to 5000 PSI. For higher pressure applications the gasoline powered units will prove the most pressure.
A high-pressure cleaner’s ability to clean depends upon a combination of pressure and flow rate. Both are equally important. There are four basic elements of the power washing process regardless of what machine or method you use. The four elements are pressure, water flow rate, cleaning solution and heat. Water is used in many industrial cleaning applications requiring the removal of surface layers and dust-free cutting of some metals and concrete. Pressure washing is the process of breaking the link between the dirt and the surface being cleaned.
Pressure washers are for people who needs to save time on their cleaning or if they have serious cleaning needs. You should keep safe distance to the surface you are about to clean while starting out pressure washing. Pressure washer can be a quick easy way to clean your car, driveway, deck or siding. Pressure washers use water at high pressure for washing a variety of vehicles and machinery and for cleaning any type of washable surface or floor.
When choosing a pressure washer, the important factors are what you will be cleaning and how frequently. Most pressure washers have accessories available to make your machine more versatile. Pressure washers have a huge amount of uses, so as you use your machine you will find more jobs that can be tackled and discover just how valuable a tool it can be.
Best Pressure Washers
People put a lot of time and energy into cleaning their cars, boats, RV’s and even home exteriors. Stop spending hours every weekend spraying and scrubbing these large-scale items. Invest in a good quality pressure washer to make the job quicker and easier than you ever imagined. Choosing the best pressure washer for your needs requires knowing a few things. The first thing to ask yourself when looking for the best pressure washing equipment is: What am I going to be using my new pressure washer for? Will you be cleaning your car; windows, awnings, decks, patios, vinyl siding? Knowing how the pressure washer will be utilized can help you choose the very best pressure washer model available. What types of chemical will I be using? Certain pressure washers are designed to handle certain materials and chemicals. If you will be putting anything but water and standard cleaning chemicals into your pressure washer, be sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines for details. Otherwise you may think you are getting the best pressure washer on the market, but it will not be able to hold up to the job you have it intended for. What types of tips and nozzles will I need? In order to use your pressure washer efficiently, you must have the correct nozzles and tips. Most machines come with interchangeable spray tips that serve two purposes: to lower the pressure and draw the detergent; and to rinse at different angles. If you’ll be doing anything other than these two jobs, be sure to get the right accessories in order to get the job done right. How much pressure will I need? More is not always best, especially when choosing the best pressure washer for the job. Some cleaning jobs require high-pressure, while others simply do not. Be sure to choose a washer that offers the water pressure you need, not necessarily what other homeowners or professionals need. With hundreds of different types and sizes of pressure washers on the market today, it may seem impossible to choose the best pressure washer for your needs. Rest assured that there are professionals available to help you at ultimatewasher. com. A quick search of the manufacturer website can help you better understand what types of pressure washers are available, and what types of jobs they are best for handling. Next, speak with an experienced sales representative (or better yet, user); to see which models will best service your individual and unique power washing needs. Before seeking help, however, you will need to answer these important questions: What type of power source do I prefer? Most power washers run on electric, gasoline, diesel or oil power. Of course electric units must have an electric source, while the other three types use fuel tanks that can store diesel or gasoline, offering more flexibility and mobility. Will I be using my power washing unit indoors or outdoors? Diesel and gasoline powered units are not intended to be used inside. Do I prefer hot or cold water washing? Some units use heated water, while others do not. Once you have answered all of these important questions, you will be in a better position to choose the absolute best pressure washer to fit your current needs.
Karcher Pressure Washers Good Or Bad
A few weeks ago I was asked by a friend if I knew where she could get a good pressure washer for cleaning her greenhouse. I told her that recently it would seem Karcher are the word on the street when it comes to jet washes and pressure washers. But let’s investigate further. It would seem that Karcher have really gone to town with advertising over the past year. I don’t think I’ve seen a football game on TV all season with out seeing a Karcher advert on a bill board at the side of the pitch. Not to meantion there huge marketing ploy to clean Mount Rushmore in the USA. I bet that job took a large amount of pressure washing equipment. My local town counsel also use high pressure washers to remove graffiti and for use as gutter cleaners. I’ll bet you can guess which name is on there big yellow machines. They’re all Karcher pressure washers! Next Karcher have been touting recently that they’re going to be cleaning nelsons column with there high power pressure washers. Karcher say each machine used to clean the column is using a 3 high pressure extension hoses at over 60 metres in length. I think that’s quite a feet. As anyone who uses pressure washers recently will know. The long high pressure hose you have the more bars in pressure you lose. (Pressure is measured in bars, with lighter cleaning jobs such as a dirty car needing around 100 bar, while tougher and harder to reach jobs like the roof needing at least 120 bar. ) On of the great things about Karcher, is there innovation. I was talking to on of there reps a few months back and they have a great little idea on the horizon. Why pay all that postage and package for 10 litres of liquid detergent. Karcher have a better idea. Freeze dry the detergent. Hot water pressure washers clean faster and more thoroughly using significantly less both water and chemicals, while. Cold water pressure washers have power to quickly remove grime, dirt, debris, stripping paint, rust, mildew and other buildups in numerous residential and commercial applications. Generally, however, the more pressure the machine delivers, the more power it has to lift dirt. Hot water pressure washers are ideal for cleaning heavy equipment such as pumps, gearboxes, turbine blades and dams in hydroelectric plants If you want to wash large decks and clean siding a Karcher will suit you great. What about reliability? Expert reviews emphasize that the quality of the pump is the most important factor in how long you can expect a pressure washer to last, with motor or engine quality secondary. Karcher pumps and motors really do last for ever. So I wouldn’t worry about that. There are so many pressure washer models that there’s little consensus among reviews. However I’m not fence sitting. I’m pro Karcher and proud. I recommend you get one as soon as you can. Go get your Karcher today!
Power Washers
Power Washers
The power washers are the amazing tools which cleans a variety of outdoor items and uses up to 80% less water.
The power washer’s works on the principle of washing using pressurized water and comes in hydraulic, diesel-based, electric or gasoline-based. The utility of power washers are more in industries but it is being found more useful in household activities. They come at affordable price and very easy to operate and due to these features it has become a common household appliance. The cost of machine depends on the water pressure it can exert. The more the pressure of the water it can exert the more the price of the machine. The high pressure of the machine is sometimes 100 percent higher than that of garden hose and washes away grime and dust.
Your power washer can very well clean the grills, cars, houses, decks, driveways and even your dog’s kennel. But all of them have different cleaning requirements. The cleaning can be done either by hot power washer or cold power washer. The cold power washers are less expensive but not as effective as hot power washer, it cannot remove extremely dirty and greasy spots.
The power pressure helps the water to come out of the garden hose in the form of strong steam. This happens with the help of gasoline or electric-powered engine attached to the pump. The function of the pump is to compress the water which builds up pressure in the pump. The trigger in the hose is equipped with the option of spraying the water. You can spray the water in a continuous spray or in short bursts as per requirement.
Power washers functioning on gasoline can work with the speed of five to seven horsepower while some can be operated at twenty four horsepower. That proves it is more powerful; than the electric power washer meant for lighter cleaning jobs which involves cleaning of glass doors and windows with less pressure. If the same cleaning done with the gasoline-based washer it may lead to cracking or breaking of the glass due to intense pressure.
While buying a power washer you need to see certain features in the machine for smooth operation and efficient work: -
While buying a power washer check the PSI (pounds per square inch), it specifies power pressure and GPM (gallons per minute) indicates the flow of water. Want to go for machine with more pressure and greater powers choose the one with higher GPM and PSI. The power washer are available with various options for better use, the machine operation is fairly easy with simple adjustment. It has brush attachments with rotating brushes, rotating nozzles for covering large areas, detergent attachment and soap sprayers and many more.
Pressure washers are being designed with ergonomic handling options and easy adjustments. The main things to be considered while buying a pressure washer are the difficulty of the cleaning job, frequency of use and the cost. Pressure washers also come with various options like rotating nozzles for covering larger area, brush attachments including rotating brushes, detergent attachment and soap sprayers etc.
The Benefits of Gas Powered Pressure Washers
Pressure washers are highly beneficial cleaning systems for virtually any residential, commercial, or industrial user. The more powerful pressure washers can accomplish tasks that most cleaning equipment can’t even touch, like stripping paint, degreasing heavy-duty equipment, and removing the most stubborn oil, dirt, grime, and soil residues from concrete, walkways, driveways, sidewalks, brick, building exteriors, and much more. Some pressure washers can even detail cars! But, when it comes to the various applications these machines can be used, pressure washer operators are often limited by the lack of power connection in working in external environments.
Facing this problem should not be a deterrent to purchasing pressure washer equipment, as a solution is here: gas powered pressure washers. Pressure washing machines powered by gasoline afford users a great deal more mobility than standard electric pressure washing equipment. By using gasoline to generate power, these machines allow users to work in areas where an electrical supply is not necessarily present or available. Just think of all the applications that will benefit from this ability: agricultural, marine, construction, and virtually any commercial or industrial pressure washing application in remote exterior locations.
Noise can be a concern when using gas pressure washers, as they tend to be louder than models powered by electricity. Yet, in light of the increased noise, gas-powered models produce a great deal more power. Many pressure washers powered by gasoline motors feature anywhere from 3 HP to 50 HP of sheer power. Even though the power options have been narrowed down, when purchasing gas pressure washers consumers must understand the different types of models available. Pressure levels, flow rates, and temperature options are the primary modes of differentiation. Pressure levels range from 1500 psi for lighter tasks to 8000 psi and beyond for the most powerful pressure washing available. Flow rates offered can range from 2 GPM to 8 GPM. Choosing the proper flow rate and pressure level depends upon the application at hand. Generally the more powerful the feature, the more quickly the user can accomplish the task at hand.
The greatest degree of delineation among the various gas pressure washers available lies within the temperature options. Gasoline-powered cold water pressure washing machines can be used for a range of lighter, residential pressure washing applications, but do not afford users the advanced cleaning power associated with heated machines. Models with heat come in two variations: hot water and steam. Hot water pressure washing equipment is much more powerful than cold water pressure washers, as it can dissolve substances much more quickly.
As cleaning power increases with temperature, hot water pressure washing equipment, with temperatures up to 210 ºF, cannot reach the advanced power of steam. Steam pressure cleaners reach astoundingly high temperatures up to 330 ºF, which allows operators to sanitize and disinfect surfaces while cleaning, degreasing, and quickly removing even the most challenging substances.
Despite the wide array of features and power options available on gas-powered pressure washer equipment, one thing is for sure: all gas pressure washers afford users maximum mobility and power for tackling any commercial or industrial pressure washing application.
About Author
Daimer is a major manufacturer, importer and worldwide exporter of the industry’s leading line of KleenJet® steam cleaners; XTreme Power® carpet cleaners, hard surface cleaning machines, floor buffers/scrubbers/burnishers; Super Max® and Vapor-Flo® pressure washers; and the line of Micro-Blasting® Eco-Green® ecologically friendly green chemicals that employ unique technologies and a patented, proprietary chemistry.
For more information, please contact a Daimer Product Specialist at 1-800-471-7157 or by visiting http://www. daimer. com.
