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.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood. They work especially well for cleaning patios, sidings, roofs, decks, and fences. The medium-duty power washer is best for getting rid of stubborn stains and dirt that a low-duty pressure washer can't clean.
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.
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.
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.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
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.
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.
Use the PSI and GPM ratings to determine the cleaning power of a pressure washer. Light Duty: Perfect for smaller jobs around the home, these pressure washers typically rate up to 1899 PSI at around 1/2 to 2 GPM. These smaller, lighter machines are ideal for cleaning outdoor furniture, grills and vehicles.
The RYOBI 1800 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric Pressure Washer is the perfect powerful yet portable option to get the job done. This pressure washer is ideal for light duty applications like cleaning small driveways, sidewalks, decks, windows, patio furniture, campers, bikes, boats, and many other recreational applications.
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.
It's simply a measure of how much force the water hits with and helps you understand its ability to remove stuck-on debris. As you might guess, the higher the PSI, the more power the water has, so bigger is better in many cases.
When choosing a pressure washer, PSI and GPM are both equally important. The PSI refers to the amount of pressure produced and GPM refers to the amount of water flow. Each SIMPSON pressure washer is designed to have the correct combination of PSI and GPM to have the most effective cleaning experience for your needs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Less Durable
When it comes to durability, gas pressure washers trump electric pressure washers. Gas-powered units can last for ten years, easy. Electric pressure washers, on the other hand, tend to only last 3 to 5 years, depending on the maintenance.
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.
The quick answer is yes, power washing can degrade a concrete surface.