Power washing equipment makes many jobs easier. Homeowners cherish pressure washers for their ability to quickly lift paint and dirt. Business owners rely on pressure washers for any number of tasks. For instance, trucking companies use pressure washers to clean their fleets.
Oftentimes, regular cleaning with an industrial pressure washer prolongs the life of critical equipment, thus providing an excellent return on investment. Going back to our trucking company example, vehicles that are consistently cleaned are faster (because they weigh less and have less air drag) and more reliable (because their engines don’t get clogged with road gunk.) If you’re hoping to buy power washing equipment for your business, the following considerations will help you choose the best machine for your needs.
Material Price Points: Brass vs. Aluminum, Plastic vs. Stainless Steel
As you choose a high pressure washer for your business, ask yourself how much you anticipate using the unit in a year. If you will only need the machine for a couple of hours each week, you might be able to get away with purchasing less expensive power washing equipment.
The basic divide here is between residential and commercial pressure washers. Units designed for home use are typically less expensive because their components are cheaper to manufacture. For instance, a home pressure washer usually features plastic valves and aluminum pump heads, whereas an industrial pressure washer that’s designed for as many as 2,000 hours of use each year typically has much stronger brass pump heads and stainless steel valves.
Water Temperature: Hot Water Required?
Pressurized cold water is all that’s required for many cleaning tasks. For instance, a high pressure washer spraying cold water can effectively clean exterior siding. However, tougher stains, greasy materials and tricky cleaning situations will require power washing equipment that can spray hot water. Gum, oil, grease and concrete stains will be much easier to remove with hot water. As you’d expect, a heating component adds weight, complexity and maintenance requirements for power washing equipment; expect to pay more for this valuable feature.
If you’re not sure whether the higher price is worthwhile, consider how much time a hot water unit will save. For instance, commercial bakeries usually rely on enormous mixers to combine ingredients. With a cold pressure washer, it might take an hour to remove all the sticky dough from an industrial mixer; the same task could be accomplished in minutes with a hot pressure washer. Therefore, a bakery might decide that it makes good financial sense to invest in an industrial pressure washer that can blast hot water, so its employees can spend less time cleaning and more time baking. Consider your labor costs when determining return on investment for a hot water high pressure washer.
Understanding Pressure and Flow Rates
For most residential applications, water pressures of 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) should be sufficient. Industrial pressure washing applications, however, will require higher pressure ratings – 3,000 PSI usually suffices for heavy-duty jobs such as cleaning concrete and removing barnacles from ship hulls. Higher pressure more effectively lifts dirt and stains.
Once the dirt has been lifted, water flow helps push it off the surface being cleaned. High-flow power washing equipment will allow you to more easily move heavy dirt. For instance, if you plan on using your high pressure washer to clean animal enclosures, a high-flow machine will make it much easier to push dirt across the horizontal surfaces on stalls. In pressure washers, flow is measured in GPM – the number of gallons that the machine emits in a minute. As you select an industrial pressure washer, compare PSI and GPM ratings to find the best machine for your needs.
Cleaning Locations: Indoor vs. Outdoor, Portable vs. Static
Another important consideration when purchasing an industrial pressure washer is where you will be using the machine. A pressure washer with an electric motor is best if you’re planning on cleaning indoors. (Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if gasoline-powered pressure washers are used in constricted spaces.) Indoor pressure washers are often limited in their mobility, since they must be tethered to an electrical outlet. Alternatively, indoor units may also be powered by natural gas, which necessitates hard plumbing and reliable ventilation to the outdoors. Finally, there are a small number of indoor pressure washers powered by liquid propane.
On the other hand, outdoor pressure washers can be powered by electricity or gasoline; a gas engine is much more portable, but electric machines are typically more affordable. Hot water machines may use diesel, electricity, natural gas or liquid propane to heat the water. The most mobile (and many say convenient) option is a pressure washer that uses gasoline to turn the engine and diesel to heat water; in this case, the only thing restricting movement is the availability of water.
[ Photo by: Pgdp124, via Wikimedia Commons ]