If your business is still using an old-school cold pressure washer, it may be time for an upgrade. Cold water commercial pressure washers may work for basic jobs, but for greasy, heavily trafficked areas, a hot water pressure washer or steam pressure washer will deliver far superior cleaning results.
To help business owners select the best pressure washer for their needs, this article lists machine features buyers should consider. We also group commercial pressure washers according to these key characteristics.
Important Features for Commercial Pressure Washers
Hot water. Pressure washer experts understand the huge impact water temperature can have on a machine’s performance. Heated water breaks up waxy greases, while cold water can’t begin to lift grease. (A cold water pressure washer will just push grease around, without actually whisking it away from the surface.) Moreover, as water is heated, all subsequent reactions with that water are accelerated – even if that reaction is something as simple as delivering soap to the surface being cleaned. If your business requires consistent, quick cleaning of greasy, tough stains, choose a pressure washer capable of cleaning with heated water.
Gallons per minute (GPM) and pounds per square inch (PSI). These statistics give some indication of the power of each pressure washer. The more gallons of water a machine sprays per minute, the more surface area you can clean in that minute. PSI, in contrast, describes how much pressure a machine can deliver. For most jobs, 3,000-4,000 PSI is more than enough. (Remember that using too much pressure can damage the surface being cleaned.)
Portability, as determined by fuel type. As you shop commercial pressure washers, think about how you will use your machine. For instance, a bakery might need a pressure washer for only one task: cleaning out enormous mixing bowls. If that’s the case, a stationary model will work just fine. Electric pressure washers are adequate in such situations.
More commonly, however, a machine must be portable – searching for an electrical outlet would be downright foolhardy in these pressure washing applications. As an example, consider the gargantuan task of pressure washing rail cars. In this situation, an extension cord would need to be ridiculously long to reach every section of the train. A portable power washer would work much better for this and similar circumstances; movable commercial pressure washers are typically equipped with gas-powered engines.
Along with fuel type, the mount for your pressure washer will go a long way in determining portability. Power washers may be mounted on hand trucks – this is a great option for flexible interior cleaning. Otherwise, a truck bed or trailer serves as a great mount for a power washer. It really just depends on where you will take your pressure washer.
Types of Commercial Pressure Washers
Professional commercial pressure washers tend to group power washing machines according to the important characteristics mentioned above. While comparing different machines, professionals consider output temperature, fuel type and the machine’s special cleaning capabilities.
Output temperature. Heated pressure washers typically warm up their own water with an on-board heating system. Note whether the hot pressure washer you’re considering must be plugged in to operate with the heated water setting; this will severely limit your portability. A steam pressure washer is a variation on the hot water theme. Steam is en extremely effective yet gentle cleaning agent. If you want the most powerful machine available, start looking for a steam pressure washer.
Fuel type. As indicated earlier, commercial pressure washers are typically gas- or electric-powered. To enjoy ample power in an electric system, you must plug it into a 220-volt or 440-volt electrical outlet; these are typically found only in industrial settings. Electrical power washers typically deliver 5 to 7.5 horsepower. In contrast, a gas-powered engine will deliver far more horsepower. The downside of gas-powered commercial pressure washers is that they are noisy and they can’t be used inside due to the threat of toxic fumes.
If you do choose a gas-powered washer, look for a belt-drive system. Belt-drive systems prolong pump life by slowing down the speed of the pump.
Special cleaning chemicals. Some commercial pressure washers are engineered to allow the user to spray chemical solutions in addition to water. Unless you expressly need a specific chemical to clean your business, most commercial pressure washers recommend sticking to plain old water.
Overall, commercial pressure washers are built to last much longer than their residential counterparts. Brass and stainless steel parts, for instance, can be found in commercial pressure washers; these metals will last far longer than the plastic parts one finds in residential power washing machines. So if you anticipate using your pressure washer for 100 to 1,000 hours per year, spring for a commercial model.
[ Photo by: I, Mschel, via Wikimedia Commons, via CC License ]