By Matt Weber

A Guide to Pressure Washers and Accessories for the Toughest Cleaning Tasks

Why spend time and energy scrubbing something when you can blast it clean? The high-pressure water of a power washer can spay clean your home, your tractor, your driveway-you name it. Pressure washers transform a standard garden hose into a lean, mean cleaning machine. But, there's a lot to consider when spec'ing the best washer to suit your demands. When shopping, you should weigh aspects such as PSI versus GPM, gas versus electric power, belt-drive versus direct, and camshaft versus axial pumps. Here's a guide to the particulars, and some advice on how to a put a pressure washer to good use.

Water Power

The PSI (pounds per square inch) rating of a power washer refers to the pressure that the washer unit is capable of producing. Pressure washers rated up to 2,200 PSI are generally used only for light-duty tasks, like cleaning away mud and dirt from automobiles and lawn equipment. Washers rated 2,200 to 3,000 are intended for more frequent use or larger jobs, like cleaning the siding of a house. Washers rated up to 3,500 or more PSI are the heavy-duty units for professional applications at construction sites and paint-prep jobs. Pressure can usually be adjusted at the pump, but some nozzles feature adjustable pressure at your fingertips.

The GPM (gallons per minute) rating refers to the rate of water flow through the unit. Generally speaking, the higher the GPM, the more surface area the washer can clean. So, if you have large areas to clean, then pay close attention to the GPM rating. A washer with a 3-GPM flow rate can clean almost twice as much area as a 2-GPM unit in the same amount of time.

Gas or Electric?

Although electric washers offer the benefits of low maintenance and quiet operation, they are intended for occasional light-duty cleaning chores. They are also notably less expensive than gas-powered units. Plus, electric units are more compact than their gas-powered counterparts, which comes in handy when working in tight spaces. Of course, for an electric unit, you need to run a cord to a nearby power source. Also, the National Electrical Code requires ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to be used when operating an electric model.

Electric washers
offer
quiet operation.

For more power, gas is the way to go. Paint prep and heavy-duty cleaning, for applications such as stained concrete, require a gas engine to power the pump. Gas units offer pressure ratings up to a whopping 4,000 PSI, and they offer easy portability because they aren't tethered to a power cord. All gas models are built with 4-cycle engines that run on unleaded gas.

In fact, for the toughest, professional-grade chores, some gas units are designed to operate with heated water. Most power washers use cold water, but for applications such as removing heavy, caked-on grease, some pressure washers employ either a propane or diesel burner to heat the water. However, a hot-water pressure washer is a high-priced, top-end unit for commercial use, and not recommended for most homeowners or DIY'ers because of the cost and maintenance required.

Simply attach your garden hose,
and a pressure washer becomes
a lean, mean cleaning machine.

Pumps-What to Look for

The heart of the pressure washer is the water pump. Belt-drive pumps run at a lower RPM than direct-drive pumps and are insulated from motor vibration, which may extend the life of the pump. Direct-drive pumps are mounted directly to the motor. However, this direct mount saves the cost of a gearbox, pulleys and belts, which can result in up to a 30-percent cost increase for a belt-driven unit with the same power output. Aside from that, there isn't much difference in the performance of the pumps.

Basic pump designs come in three models: wobble, axial and camshaft. A wobble pump must wrestle against piston spring resistance on each stroke, which makes it the least efficient of the three models. An axial pump offers a bigger oil reservoir, larger bearings and larger cylinders, which equate to greater PSI and GPM. But piston spring resistance is still an issue, so an axial pump still doesn't offer the efficiency of a camshaft pump. Like a car engine, a camshaft pump uses connecting rods and positive-action pistons, which can result in as much as 85-percent more efficiency than an axial pump. Because this design generates much less heat, a camshaft pump can provide more than 1,000 hour of operation before requiring maintenance. A wobble or axial pump typically has a lifespan of only 200 to 600 hours.

The Way to Wash

The fundamental setup of a power washer can blast away all sorts of dirt and debris using the water jet alone. But for more cleaning power, use a cleaning solution. Most pressure washers include an injection container that mixes a cleaning agent with the jet stream. For example, Campbell Hausfeld offers a full line of cleaners and detergents, including a Concrete Cleaner, Deck & Fence Cleaner, House & Siding Wash, Car & Boat Wash, and general-purpose cleaner and a heavy-duty degreaser. The rule of thumb for using these solvents is to make sure the label is marked “approved for pressure washer use.”

Various nozzles can be used to change
the spray pattern such as this concentrated
stream for high-pressure cleaning.

Another type of nozzle
produces this fan-like pattern
to apply cleaning solution.

The right nozzle also makes a big difference in washer performance. Most manufacturers offer color-coded nozzles for easy selection, and they attach to the end of the washer wand through a standard quick-connect coupler. Some nozzles spray a fine fan of water for easy coverage when spraying a cleaning agent. When you need to blast away stains on concrete, switch to a zero-degree nozzle, which shoots a concentrated jet that can cut through stubborn dirt and discoloration.

Most nozzles attach
with standard quick-coupling connections.

Although a pressure washer creates much higher pressure than a standard garden hose, you may often need the extra cleaning power of a brush or other accessories to power through the toughest cleaning jobs. Available are multi-purpose cleaning brush kits, as well as brush extensions for easy reaching.

New among pressure washer accessories is Campbell Hausfeld's new Deck N Drive Surface Cleaner. This attachment cleans consistently in a single pass by spraying at an even distance and in area 8 times wider than a regular nozzle. Patented pressure regulation system allows you to adjust pressure for best results on all surfaces. It works with any pressure washer rated up to 2,500 PSI at 2.2 GPM, and includes a lance extension and adapters-perfect for cleaning decks, patios and driveways.

Campbell Hausfeld's
Deck N Drive
pressure washer attachment
is ideal for cleaning decks,
patios and sidewalks.

So, check the store aisles and the internet when shopping for your next pressure washer. There's bound to be a model to suit your needs, and they make a great tool for cleaning a home's exterior and boosting its curb appeal.

Side Note
Pressure Points
Wash it right with these pressure washing tips.

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