While most foam cannons work with a wide range, we seem to get the best results with at least 3000 PSI and 2.0 GPM. 3500 PSI is about the top of the pressure range, putting a lot of the big commercial models out of the picture. And just to reiterate a second time—don't pressure wash your car!
A 3000 psi pressure washer has the ability to produce up to 3000 pounds of force per square inch, making it an incredibly powerful.
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.
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 3000 psi machine can put out 5 gpm while the 4000 psi machine has to be cut back to 3.5 to 4gpm in flow. The 3000 psi machine has 14.4 (lb) of impact force which relates to 10 to 20% faster cleaning than the 4000 psi while using a similar amount of horsepower and fuel.
For hard surfaces, such as concrete and brick, a higher PSI pressure washer with 2000-3000 PSI of water pressure is ideal. Such a device can effectively clean dirt and grime from these hard surfaces.
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.
Car washes typically blast out their liquid at 1,000 to 1,200 PSI, although pressures can go up to 2,200 in some situations. For this reason, along with the squirts of hot wax and slaps from towels, we do not recommend going through a car wash on foot.
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. For harder woods, it can go up to 1200 to 1500 psi. Choose the right tip to use as well.
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.
Whether you're shopping for a gas or electric pressure washer, pay attention to the nozzle (or nozzles), hose, and (in the case of an electric model) power cord. We discuss nozzles below. As for hoses and power cords, the longer they are, the more mobility you have. Ideally, each should measure at least 30 feet.
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.
Selecting a pressure washer with a range of 2,000 psi to 4,000 psi will give you the most effective power for removing peeling paint.
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.
Choosing a Pressure Washer
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).
Most commonly used to remove tough stubborn dirt and debris from surfaces or for surface preparation and cutting.
This looks like very small raised wood grain fibers or hair on the decking boards. When you are prepping a deck you essentially remove a layer of oxidized or damaged wood cells. The more you need to remove, the greater the chance of making the wood look “fuzzy” or “soft”.
The answer is yes – you can power wash with just water! However, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind when doing this. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of power washing with water, and we will also give you some tips on how to do it correctly.
Beware Pressure Washing Damage
If you have timber deck boards, a power washer's pressure may cause splintering and damage to the timber fibres. If the timber surface already has some splintering, pressure washing will only exacerbate the issue.
Prolonged close-up use could affect the paintwork or at the very least strip away its protective wax coating. Don't spray the pressure washer at a single spot for prolonged periods, as this could cause marks. Keep the washer moving and if there are any stubborn spots, use a sponge to remove them manually.
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!
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
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.