Having a pressure washer for various household tasks isn’t a necessity, but it does make those chores a lot easier and a whole lot faster. But does this mean that any pressure washer will do? Of course not; you have to purchase the right one for it to be effective.
Since most experts agree that pressure washers for home use shouldn’t go above a PSI number, or pounds per square inch, of 3,000 to 3,500, you can save yourself some money by getting one that doesn’t cost much and which still can accommodate most of the tasks around your home.
- How often should you pressure wash your house
- Is it OK to pressure wash inside my house
- Should you use a special soap for your pressure washer
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What to Look for in a Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are not all alike, and as a general rule, the more powerful they are, the more they cost. But since you don’t exactly need a pressure washer with a PSI of 4,000 to get your household chores done correctly, you don’t have to get nervous about how much money you’re going to spend.
Instead of looking at the price, you can consider other features of the pressure washer instead. When looking for the right pressure washer for home use, make sure you take into consideration the following:
- Choose a pressure washer with a low GPM number if you wish to protect the environment. This indicates the gallons of water used per minute, and if it is a low number, this means the pressure washer is using less water to operate.
- For household chores, it’s recommended that you use either the black or white tips for surfaces such as concrete because the red and yellow tips could possibly cause etches or marks on those types of surfaces.
- Gas-powered versus electric pressure washers. While most homeowners choose electric pressure washers, in part because they tend to last longer than gas-powered washers, choosing a gas washer allows you to use it for up to 3,000 hours.
The best part about finding a pressure washer for home use is the price. Since you shouldn’t get a pressure washer that goes above 3,000 or so PSI, you can save a lot of money. One of these pressure washers – the Greenworks GPW 1602 – offers 1,600 PSI and 1.2 GPM (gallons of water used per minute) and is priced at just under $100.
Naturally, it is possible to pay more for a household pressure washer, but the point is, the prices on these washers are always reasonable.
What Is a Pressure Washer Good for?
Although it’s easy to assume pressure washers are unnecessary, the fact is they can make your life a whole lot easier. For instances, take a look at just a few of the items in your home that can be cleaned thoroughly with a household pressure washer:
- Boats and RVs
- Brick structures
- Cars and trucks
- Concrete or brick driveways
- Decks and patios
- Fences
- Floor in your garage
- Garbage cans
- Garden walkways and pathways
- Outdoor furniture
- Sidewalks
- Siding on your home
You can also clean most of these items with water alone, especially since the high power of the water coming out of the washer is enough to eliminate most gunk, dirt, and other debris found on items such as these. Still, many pressure washers come with a tank that you can fill with detergent if you want an extra-good cleaning.
Whether you use a cleaning solution or not, domestic pressure washers do an amazing job getting rid of tons of gunk that is sometimes hard to remove any other way. Even better, the longer you use your pressure washer, the more uses you’ll likely find for it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To help you learn a little more about the many advantages of owning a pressure washer for your household tasks, here are some questions a lot of people have about them:
Will pressure washers clean off large chunks of debris?
A: They usually can, but you should wash as much of that debris off as possible by hand before using your pressure washer. Otherwise, removing it with the pressure washer may take too long and be too difficult.
Are the pressure washers just good for aesthetic purposes?
A: Pressure washing around your home not only makes those items look fantastic, but it also extends the life of most of the items, especially if they are painted or made out of vinyl, wood, metal, and so on.
How often should I use my pressure washer?
A: It will vary depending on the item being cleaned, but in general, you should use your pressure washer for excellent cleaning once a week. This way, the dirt and grime don’t have time to build up too much and the item stays fresher longer.
Are pressure washers expensive?
A: For the most part, no. Most pressure washers made for household use cost less than $300, and they are meant to last a very long time. You can buy some as low as $100.
