To clean concrete effectively, use a power washer with a pressure rating of at least 3000 psi and a flow rate of at least 4 gallons per minute (gpm).
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.
To get the job done right, you need a pressure washer rated at least 3,000 PSI with a flow rate of at least four gallons per minute (GPM).
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
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.
Powerful pressure washers with too much PSI will damage concrete when power washing. Most residential driveways require no more than 3000 to 3500 PSI for proper and thorough concrete washing. Heavy-duty commercial pressure washers and other power washing equipment are too strong for the average residential driveway!
Heavy-duty- These produce water pressure levels of between 2,900 and 3,300 PSI. They are perfect for cleaning big sections of concrete and can also reach the second floor of a story building.
3,000 PSI. The residential workhorse of concrete, 3,000 PSI can be used for driveways, patios and sidewalks. Its durability will help shrug off the freeze-thaw cycle of harsh winters. This is a fine choice for any general construction use.
The concrete curing time takes about 28 days to be fully cured. Differences in weather, mix, and other items can slightly change the timeframe of the curing period. The general rule of thumb for concrete drying is 28 days to dry for every 1 inch of slab thickness.
Concrete typically takes 24 to 48 hours to dry enough for you to walk or drive on it. However, concrete drying is a continuous and fluid event, and usually reaches its full effective strength after about 28 days.
A 3000 psi pressure washer has the ability to produce up to 3000 pounds of force per square inch, making it an incredibly powerful. A 3000 psi pressure washer is a high-powered cleaning machine that uses pressurized water to remove dirt, grime, and other debris from surfaces.
The more cement added to the mix, the higher the PSI rating of the concrete once it has cured. For example, a traditional 3000 PSI concrete mix contains 5 sacks of cement. To achieve 4000 PSI it takes 6 sacks of cement. The added cement is also why higher PSI mixes are more expensive.
To clean concrete, exterior siding or an asphalt driveway, you'll want at least 2,000 to 2,800 psi and 2 to 3 gpm (4,000 to 8,400 ECUs).
You need a high-quality pressure washer that can deliver about 3,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). The higher the PSI, the faster and more effectively you can clean your driveway.
2,000 to 3,000 PSI
The most common range for commercial pressure washers. Good for cleaning concrete surfaces with light to moderate oil stains, most automotive cleaning, pools, many industrial applications.
The quick answer is yes, power washing can degrade a concrete surface.
The hardening, or curing, continues as long as moisture remains in the concrete. If too much water is lost from the concrete through evaporation, the hardening process slows down or ceases.
Basically, 3000 psi is the flat slab of a home that has the dimension WxLxD (about 6″). This means that that slab of concrete will hold 3,000 lbs per square inch. Example: Semi-truck with a full load in a 40-foot trailer would weigh in at 115,000 lbs.
Traditional concrete walls and columns tend to range from 3,000 to 5,000 psi, while 4,000 to 5,000 psi is needed for pavement. Concrete structures in colder climates require a higher psi in order to withstand more freeze/thaw cycles.
Areas which experience large numbers of freeze and thaw cycles also require a higher psi concrete mix design. The typical concrete strength used for a driveway is in the 3000 psi to 4000 psi range, although temperate areas of the country may use lower strengths.
Garage Floors and Interior Floors
For both interior floors and garage floors, the minimum strength recommendation is 2,500 psi, however, similarly to slab projects, an ideal standard is 4,500 psi, especially for garage floors which must sustain much more wear and tear and heavy machinery.
Your pressure washer should have a minimum pressure rating of 3000 psi to effectively clean your sidewalk. There are a few situations where a higher pressure rating might be needed, but exterior cleaning experts all agree and recommend that 3000 psi is appropriate for residential use.
For most cars, a psi between 1200 and 2200 is recommended. This range provides enough cleaning power to remove dirt and grime without damaging the car's paint or delicate surfaces. Yes, you can use soap with a pressure washer.
Selecting the appropriate nozzle and properly holding the wand can prevent damage to your driveway. Use a wide nozzle for cleaning concrete that covers more surface area. The narrow nozzles are designed for removing tough stains in cramped spaces, but the stream can etch into the concrete if used on a driveway.