3,000 - 6,900 PSI: These high pressure models are what professional pressure washers and contractors usually use. They are commonly used in commercial and industrial settings, and can run on either gas or diesel. 7,000 - 50,000 PSI: These ultra-high pressure washers are also known as water blasters.
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.
PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is a unit of measurement used to measure the pressure of a liquid or gas. A 3000 psi pressure washer has the ability to produce up to 3000 pounds of force per square inch, making it an incredibly powerful.
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 those looking to clean industrial equipment, such as vehicles or airplane components, even more power might be required – up to 4000 psi or higher. On the other hand, one important thing to note when selecting your pressure washer is that too high of a PSI can also damage certain surfaces if used incorrectly.
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.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI. But, there are quite a few factors at play influencing your ideal PSI rating.
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.
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.
Medium Duty: Medium-duty pressure washers generate between 1900 and 2788 PSI, typically at 1 to 3 GPM. Best for home and shop use, these sturdier, more powerful units make it easy to clean everything from exterior siding and fences to patios and decks.
A 4000 PSI pressure washer is ideal for heavy equipment, concrete surfaces, brick walls, construction sites, stripping paint and lifting oil stains. Again, a 4000 PSI pressure washer should not be used on house siding; 4000 PSI is strong enough to cause some serious damage!
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.
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.
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.
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).
Gas-powered models typically put out 2,000 to 2,800 psi of pressure compared with 1,300 to 1,700 psi for electric models. Much higher pressure allowed the top-performing gas machines to clean a grimy concrete patio three times faster than the fastest electrics.
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). Determine whether you will rent or buy your machine.
Use Larger Pressure Washers for Concrete
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.
Yes, because a pressure washer is 30-80 times stronger than your hose, it can cause damage if used improperly. If your concrete becomes etched during the pressure wash, you should stop before causing further damage and reduce the pressure.
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!
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.
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.
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.
5,000 PSI. Used in special construction applications, including some large-scale commercial and industrial properties, 5,000 PSI can withstand heavy impact and extreme wear and tear.
Concrete typically takes 24 to 48 hours to dry enough for you to walk or drive on it.