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.
Electrical pressure washers have the benefit of lower upfront costs and few additional maintenance needs. Electric pressure washers cost less on average, are easier to start and weigh less than gas models. They are also quieter than gas models, due to the lower psi.
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.
Yes, if it's concrete. Concrete driveways (and walkways) can readily withstand a powerful cleaning without etching. Generally, a finer nozzle will be more effective at spot-cleaning grease stains. For mold or mildew, use lower pressure and coat the surface in suds first.
For smaller jobs, an electric pressure washer will do the trick. These typically have about 1,000 psi to 1,500 psi, with a gpm no higher than 1.5. Quieter, lighter and cheaper than gas models and virtually maintenance free, they're good for washing stains off outdoor furniture and cleaning vehicles and vehicle tires.
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.
Mid-Range Power: 2,000 to 3,200 PSI
The most versatile category of pressure washers, those ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 PSI effectively clean cars (including the most well-used off-road vehicles), home siding, fences, boats and grimy garage floors. Those closer to 3,200 PSI work effectively on tough stains, too.
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.
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. I chose the 3,100-psi gas pressure washer and cut the job time in half.
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.
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.
2,000 - 2,900 PSI: This is a moderate strength unit used heavier residential tasks. These units are commonly sold as either electric or gas pressure washers. 3,000 - 6,900 PSI: These high pressure models are what professional pressure washers and contractors usually use.
Electric pressure washers require less maintenance.
They require lubrication for the pump, and general cleaning so that cooling filters don't get blocked, but they remain easy to live with. A gas powered pressure washer uses a motor that, like any other engine, requires regular maintenance.
The Bottom Line. Electric pressure washers are fine for light, occasional use around the home. But, if you want to take on the toughest grime with ease, do yourself a favor and invest in a gas-powered pressure washer.
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.
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.
Residential - yep. Commercial - probably not. As a caveat, you might be able to get by cleaning some commercial, provided that it's not totally filthy and you pre- and post-treat it. You won't be able to touch oil/grease stains or pop gum though.
You should also never set your pressure washer above 2,200 psi when washing your car. 1,500 psi is really all you need to get a good deep clean; any pressure higher than that won't make a noticeable performance difference.
2,000 to 3,000 PSI
Good for cleaning concrete surfaces with light to moderate oil stains, most automotive cleaning, pools, many industrial applications.
Although many electric pressure washers produce a pressure of about 1900 psi, you should only use a water pressure of 1500 psi or lower on your car. You'll need to look for a low-pressure machine that's a bit less aggressive than the standard.
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.
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.
Normal psi for a home pipe system is between 30 and 80 psi. While you don't want the psi to be too low, it violates code to be above 80. Instead, you should aim for a psi that's between 60 and 70.