Electric pressure washers are lighter, more nimble, and far quieter than their gas counterparts. And like all electric and battery-operated tools, they start instantly and are significantly better for the environment because they don't produce any emissions.
Because electric pressure washers have to be plugged in, they have less mobility on a job site than a gas model. They are also less suited to heavy-duty cleaning. Pro Tip: More power means more noise.
An electric pressure washer is a great option if you're looking for a practical tool for general cleaning jobs. As we've explained earlier, electric machines are powerful enough to clean off most dirt and grime, including old paint, mold, grease, plant residue, and much more.
Ease of Use
Gas pressure washers are more powerful and easier to use for heavy-duty cleaning. You won't have to worry about tripping over a power cord as you work, but gas pressure washers are loud and produce harmful emissions, so they should only be used outdoors.
Gas or electric pressure washer? Any machine capable of producing at least 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure can clean concrete, but the work will go much faster if you choose a model producing 2,500 to 3,000 psi, like the gas-powered option below.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
This classification ranges from as low as 2,000 PSI to as high as 2,800 PSI. You can use a medium-duty pressure washer for almost any surface. They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood.
Concrete cleaning calls for powerful pressure washers featuring high pressure levels of 3000 PSI. However, if you will be using the power cleaner to maintain a range of surfaces in addition to concrete, choose one with adjustable pressure levels and set it to about 3000 PSI when you need to clean concrete.
Heavy-duty tasks like stripping paint or removing graffiti require 2,800 psi or higher and a gpm of 3 to 4 (8,400+ ECUs). Commercial-grade pressure washers, intended for regular use and built and powered accordingly, start at 3,100 psi.
Electric units have several advantages like lighter weight, easy startup, low maintenance, and suitability for indoor use. Pressure washers with an electric motor also cost less and are quieter than gasoline-powered versions. On the other hand, electric pressure washers offer less power, water pressure, and water flow.
Machine Type: Gas pressure washers can typically run for about 30 minutes before they need a break. Electric models can usually go for an hour or more. If you're using a hot water pressure washer, you'll need to give it breaks more frequently – about every 15 minutes.
Power washers can be powerful enough to carve into brick or gentle enough to remove a few cobwebs. For cleaning a wooden deck, you'll be best served by using the lowest pressure setting that's still effective. For soft woods like cedar or pine, this is usually about 500 to 600 psi.
Using a Pressure Washer to Clean Vinyl Siding
Pressure washers are easy to operate and are perfectly safe for cleaning your siding, contrary to what you may have heard before. The trick is to use lower water pressure so the water doesn't get behind your siding or damage the surface.
While gas pressure washers require more maintenance, they're not the only kind that needs a little TLC. Electric pressure washers are famous for being convenient and maintenance-free, but that doesn't mean they can be left in service during the off-season.
The main difference is that power washing uses highly pressurized steam to do the cleaning while pressure washing just uses unheated tap water, without the help of a heating element.
The strength of a pressure washer is measured in bars, for wooden decking you can use anything up to 130 bars and for stone or brick patios anything up to 140 bars.
1000-2000 PSI
Good for light cleaning jobs or for jobs where the surface to be cleaned is soft and easily damaged. This pressure range is good for cleaning decks and siding and for light-duty auto cleaning.
Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi). Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi). Determine whether you will rent or buy your machine.
If you want to clean your driveway quickly and efficiently, use a pressure washer of at least 3100 PSI. Using pressure washers with pressures ranging from 1000 to 2300 PSI will also help you clean your driveway, but it will take a long time.
Concrete and asphalt require more cleaning power. You'll want to use the turbo nozzle on the 1600 PSI for hard-to-clean driveways, sidewalks, and patios as well as brick paving. For wood decks and painted surfaces, switch to the gentler 40-degree nozzle.
A medium-duty pressure washer is strong enough to blast greasy, grimy stains from residential areas. Homeowners can safely clean sidewalks, concrete driveways, decking, and siding with a 2,000 to 3,000 PSI washer.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
There's no doubt that electric pressure washers from 1,300 to 2,300 psi can wash a concrete driveway, but it'll take longer. If you have a large driveway with lots of stains, you'll want more power to do the job faster.