PRESSURE WASHERS

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Choosing the Best Pressure Washer to Purchase

Deciding which pressure washer to purchase can be a daunting task.  There are so many sizes of washer from many different companies.  If you purchase a washer that isn't powerful enough for your needs it will not be useful.  If you decide on a unit that is too powerful you will spend more money than was necessary and may even damage the surfaces you want to clean.

The following guidelines are designed to help you avoid these problems by walking you through the most important factors you should consider before purchasing your agricultural power washer.

Pressure and Water Flow

How much pressure and flow (water volume) are required to get your job done properly and efficiently?  The work value of a power washer is decided by two factors, pressure and flow.  Most people only consider pressure and disregard the equally important flow of the unit.

Pressure washers can be more correctly called power washers, since the ability of the unit to wash, or its power, is determined by both pressure and water volume.

Pressure

Pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) and determines how much power the unit has to clean surfaces.  The PSI of a washer determines how effectively it break the bonds of the debris to the surface being cleaned.

Water Flow

Water volume, also known as the flow of the unit, is measured in gallons per minute (GPM) or litres per minute (LPM.)  Flow is the amount of water being thrown at the surface being cleaned.  The water flow of the washer affects the time it takes to clean a surface.  A washer with a higher flow rate will take less time to clean than a lower flow unit.

The following examples list common tasks for pressure washers and the pressure needed to do them:

Car wash: 700 to 1,000 PSI

Cleaning decks / house sidings: 1,000 to 1,500 PSI

Heavy duty equipment and agricultural uses: 2,000 to 3,000 PSI

Concrete surfaces and heavy industrial uses: 3,000 + PSI

Agricultural applications rarely need 3,000 PSI.  A few years ago most farmers were purchasing 3,000+ PSI units but they have now opted for 2,000 to 2,500 PSI units that have higher flow rates.  This is because when cleaning a barn the debris being cleaned can be removed from surfaces fairly easily, but must then be flushed from the surface and moved.

How Often the Unit is Used

After deciding how much power you need to get your job done, you should consider how often you will be using your washer.  Residential users of pressure washers will use their units far less often than agricultural or commercial users.

Residential Washing

Most residential grade pressure washers are only rated for a maximum of less than one hundred hours of washing per year.  If your washing requirements are lower and you don't plan on using your unit one hundred hours in a single year then a residential model might be good enough for your needs.  You can find residential models at your local hardware store.

agricultural or commercial grade washers.  However, we do have a 1150 PSI, 2.2 GPM portable electric unit that should fit the needs of many residential users.

Agricultural / Commercial Washing

If you plan to use the unit more than one hundred hours per year then you will need to get an agricultural or commercial quality pressure washer.  They have higher quality parts, have more washing power and will last much longer than their cheaper residential units.  Commercial grade washers will typically come with gear drive, belt drive, and some cheaper direct drive models available.

Quality of Parts Used

The main difference in the price of residential and commercial brand washers is the quality of parts used in the units.  A common practice among some pressure washer manufacturers is to use the cheapest parts available so they can sell their units for the lowest price possible.

They then treat the washer as a ‘throw away unit.'  This means as soon as there is a problem with your washer you will be told to throw the unit away and purchase another one.  So it is very important that you check the quality of all the parts in the washers you are looking at.

Motor

• Motors should be continuous duty with a service factor of 1.0 or higher.
• Directly coupled pump-to-motor units are much safer, more compact, less complicated and allow better use of available horse power.
• When choosing to purchase a gas powered washer, choose a unit with a quality motor that has a  gear reduction system to operate the pump.  Some of these units have automatic throttle controls that extend the life of the pump.

Pumps

• Brass is the best choice for a pump head, as aluminum reacts to contaminants within water.
• All moving parts in a pump should be stainless steel for strength and durability.

Unloaders

• Most problems that you will experience with pressure washers are caused by the unloader.
• Make sure the unit has an unloader that presents a no load condition to the motor when it stops washing.  This is very important, many cheaper or older models present a load to the motor when it stops washing and this drastically reduces the life of the motor.

Valves

• Look for valves that are one piece, instead of multiple pieces.  They are much more easily replaced and are much more cost efficient.

Plungers

• Plungers should be constructed of ceramic, or stainless steel with a ceramic coating.  Having ceramic plungers increases the life of both the plungers and the seals.

Gun and Hose

• Carefully examine gun quality and the length of the hose that comes with the unit and be sure these accessories meet all of your needs.

Accessories

• Pressure washers can be easily adapted to complete secondary jobs such as disinfecting, sand blasting, sump pumping and clearing frozen or blocked drains.
• Make sure to select a unit that can use all the accessories required to do those secondary tasks.

Repairs and Maintenance

While it is very important to purchase a pressure washer that has quality components it is also important that your washer supplier has a good maintenance and repair program as well.  No matter how well made your unit is, there is still a possibility that something could go wrong with your unit, or the operator could mistakenly run the unit without water and then repairs will be needed.

• Purchase from a company that supplies replacement parts and can make repairs to your washer in a reasonable time frame.
• Investigate the prices of rebuild kits such as pressure seals, valves and unloaders to be sure maintenance costs are reasonable.

Summary

If you follow the steps outlined above you can feel confident that you will purchase a washer that meets your needs, that will last longer and will be hassle free when it comes to maintain or repair your unit.  Determine your washing requirements and how often you will use the unit to the best of your ability before contacting a pressure washer expert.

Make sure the pressure washers you look at are manufactured from quality parts; they will operate properly and last longer.  Double check suppliers maintenance and repair programs to make sure you won't pay extra to keep your washer running properly in the future.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, knowledgeable personnel are always happy to help.  If you still have questions about choosing a pressure washer that will suit your needs, feel free to contact BSM Agri Ltd and ask our pressure washer experts.  We would be happy to help you determine the best washer to suit your needs.