People who plan to buy pressure washers usually come across two different kinds of advice.

The first goes like this - If you plan to buy a device for cleaning the interior and surroundings of your home, then buy a low-power and low-cost cleaning machine. You would be using the machine rather infrequently in comparison to commercial and industrial users; therefore, you do not need a high-power and expensive machine, which is intended for rigorous and frequent use.

The second piece of advice is somewhat an addendum to the first. If you plan to buy pressure washers for commercial or industrial use (perhaps you run a professional cleaning agency or oversee the cleaning process of a large commercial organization), opt for durable, more expensive, and high-power machines. While one cannot detect any flaws in this advice, experienced cleaning professionals know that there is more to consider when purchasing a pressure washer.

What to Look for When Buying Pressure Washers

When you plan to buy pressure washers, you have to look into several other factors that affect the performance of these devices. Output temperature, pressure level, and flow rate are all important factors to consider, as is the source of power (electricity, gas, or propane).

An often-overlooked factor is the requirement of the user. What is the purpose for purchasing a pressure washer machine — for cleaning the interior of the house, cleaning heavy machinery, auto detailing, or for another application? The desired application can dictate the various options required in a pressure washing machine.

The following are some tips to help with selecting pressure washers for cleaning delicate surfaces.

Not All Pressure Washers are Suitable for Soft Surfaces

Electric Pressure washers are synonymous with high power and heavy duty cleaning jobs. The modern machines can provide an output pressure levels up to 8000 psi and a temperature levels up to 330°F. Quite simply, delicate surfaces cannot withstand the high pressure and temperature of these pressure washers. An example of one such delicate surface is an automobile body.

A majority of new-generation pressure washers provide a variety of different temperature, pressure, and flow rate settings. As such, users can purchase machines with lower temperature levels for heat sensitive surfaces or lower pressure levels and flow rates for delicate surfaces.

Flow Rate

Flow rate is an important specification of pressure washers, usually expressed in gallons per minute (GPM). Normally, the higher the flow rate, the higher the power and usage of water will be.

Soft surfaces absorb water more readily and take a longer time to dry than hard surfaces. Therefore, it is better that soft surfaces are subjected to less quantity of water, so they may reach a faster drying time. Additionally, delicate surfaces, like auto detailing exteriors, cannot withstand washer the additional power afforded by high flow rates.

For cleaning these delicate surfaces, one can opt for pressure washers that have a flow rate as low as 0.5 GPM. This would ensure three things. First, the power applied on the surface is manageable for that type of area. Second, the surface dries quicker. Third, minimal water output ensures less water is wasted.

Whether you are looking for a pressure washing machine to handle heavy-duty, rugged industrial applications or to clean delicate surfaces, the best option is to purchase from a reputable supplier who offers a variety of options to match the ideal machine to your needs.

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