Pressure washers make light work of many outdoor cleaning jobs meaning no more scrubbing away at the built up dirt and grime from the winter months. Producing a powerful jet of directed water, they are great for cleaning a great variety of surfaces including patios, cars, bikes and garden furniture.
Pressure washers are really versatile and have become a popular garden power tool. They are much more efficient than a regular garden hose and generally use a lot less water, saving you money. There are several things to consider when choosing a pressure washer and we hope this simple guide will help you to choose one that is right for you and the tasks you require it for.
Electric Powered washers are more suited to domestic tasks. They can handle light to heavy duty work and are ideal for cleaning cars, driveways, patios and more. They are quite simple to operate, are affordable and they just need to be plugged into a mains power supply (remember to use an extension that is suited for outdoor use).
Petrol Powered pressure washers are much more powerful and considerably more expensive making them better suited to larger, heavy duty, professional tasks. The fact that they do not need to be plugged in makes them less of a trip hazard, highly portable and can be taken wherever they are needed.
The most important measurements to consider when choosing one of these machines is the water pressure and the water flow. It is best to focus on a washer that combines both of these measurements and match them to the use you have in mind.
There are generally three ways that measure the power of a pressure washer and these are:
The higher the bar (pressure) the more powerful the tool is, ideal for ground in, stubborn dirt. The water flow will impact the rinsing performance. Higher flows are great for car cleaning. Most pressure washers have settings to allow you to alter the pressure making them more versatile for jobs that require varying pressures.
This table may be useful to determine the pressure you will require for the most common tasks:
Pressure/bar Uses Wattage Light - less than 100 bar Wood such as decking, garden furniture & fences 1200W to 1600W Medium -
100 - 130 barCars, external paintwork, swimming pools, patios & guttering 1600W to 2000W High -
130 - 150 barLarge patios, paths, driveways, brickwork & metal 1800W - 2500W
As we mentioned earlier, pressure washers are generally quite simple to use. They will need to be connected to a water supply or a static water source like a water butt or even a bucket. When using a static water source you may need to use a filter to ensure no sediment enters the machine. You also need to make sure that the water supply does not run out as this could negatively affect the operation of the machine.
You’ll need a garden hose, a tap adaptor and an aqua stop connector to attach your pressure washer to a mains water supply. Bear in mind that whilst those with the highest pressure offer the most efficient clean, you will probably require a variable adjustment for more delicate and smaller tasks.
There is a fantastic range of accessories available at SJ Tools that will help you to get the most out of your pressure washer. You can choose from brushes, nozzles, patio cleaners, hoses and detergents as well as complete accessory kits. Each type of accessory has been designed with a specific purpose in mind to make your cleaning tasks easier and more effective.
When it comes to buying a pressure washer there are several things to take into consideration that you may not have thought about initially. The intended use will help you to choose the specification you need and the attachments and accessories that will be useful. You can browse our extensive range of Pressure Washers here. We hope you have found this buyer's guide beneficial and can make a well informed decision when choosing a pressure washer.
Sources:
https://pressurewasherreviewer.co.uk/buyers-guide-pressure-washers/
https://www.homebase.co.uk/ideas-advice/garden-and-outdoor/garden-power-and-hand-tools/pressure-washer-buying-guide
https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/pressure-washer-buying-guide/PROD_npcart_100253.art
