Power washers. How do they function? How do I decide whether to buy a gas, electric, or cordless pressure washer? What is the distinction between a power washer, a pressure washer, and a power cleaner? What is the purpose of all of these various nozzles? What about pressure (PSI) and flow rate (GPM)?

This article focuses on “consumer-grade” powerwashers (mainly electric). These machines provide exceptional value at a low price point, are often used only seldom, and some even have PSIs comparable to semi-commercial and professional equipment, but without the price tag (or the quality parts that make up the price tag).

Pressure washers come in three different basic categories.

engines that run on petrol
Plug-in (electric) devices that operate at 120V and cordless devices that are powered by a battery, often a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery.

Every pressure washer type has benefits and drawbacks, and it can be exhausting to weigh all the pros and negatives in order to select the finest pressure washer for your requirements. Asking yourself which machine will complete 80% of your work with only 20% of your effort can help you utilise Pareto’s principle. That ought to provide you with a solid foundation.

PSI, which stands for Pounds per Square Inch, refers to the amount of force that the power washer’s water applies to a surface. The unit’s power should be sufficient to remove one material from another. For example, a high PSI can strip paint off a house, tar from a walkway, mold from concrete, or grime and dirt from a car. The more aggressive the pressure washer, the higher its PSI.

GPM, or Gallons Per Minute, also known as Flow Rate, is the volume of water that the pressure washer produces in a minute. Niagara Falls, for example, produces about 440,380,904 GPM, which erodes boulders into sand. Compared to a small decorative fountain’s flow rate, which barely makes a dent in the ground below, Niagara is more powerful. Similarly, a higher GPM or flow rate is needed to clean a larger surface area in less time.

This article focuses on cold water pressure washers, which are typically connected to a garden hose with water temperatures below 1040 F. Although there are pressure washer units that use hot water, they are reserved for commercial use. Running hot water through a cold water pressure washer will damage the high-pressure pump.

A cold water pressure washer consists of a high-pressure water pump, an inlet to attach the unit to a water source, and a pump that runs on either common house voltage (120V), a gasoline engine, or a Li-ion battery. The pump can be handheld or built into a unit with wheels for dragging it to the job site. Many units have onboard detergent tanks or a separate soap dispenser. The unit also has a high-pressure hose that goes from the water pump to the spray wand, which holds the nozzle. Typically, a pressure washer comes with an array of different spray pattern nozzles, such as 00, 150, 250, and 400, and may also include a soap dispensing nozzle. Some units may have a “turbo” nozzle included.

Regarding Pressure Washer Spray Tips

With the exception of “turbo” tips, most pressure washers intended for home use come with a set of tips. Each tip serves a different purpose, such as:

00 is a narrow, concentrated stream of water used for cleaning tight spaces that require a high-pressure blast. It’s ideal for removing tough substances such as tar, baked-on mud, and grime from the underside of lawnmower decks. It’s also useful for reaching high places like the overhangs on the second floor of your home.
150 is perfect for stripping surfaces. It can be used to strip everything from paint and mold to rust on steel and oil or grease stains.
250 is a good option for cleaning the sides of your house, patios, decks, and driveways.
400 is typically used for washing windows, outdoor furniture, cars, boats, RVs, and landscaping equipment.
Soap tips are used to apply detergent to surfaces before pressure washing. These tips fit onto the end of the spray wand and dispense a low-pressure stream of detergent.
Turbo tips have a spray angle of around 00 – 150 and rotate at a rate of approximately 3,000 RPMs (revolutions per minute). The pencil-thin and narrow cone spray spins at a high rate of speed, making it less damaging to surfaces than a straight 00 spray tip (mentioned above). The turbo tip’s advantage is that it can cover more area in less time, up to 50% faster. It can also be used as a universal, all-purpose tip, eliminating the need for the four standard tips (except for the soap tip).

Selecting the Right Tip for the Job

Using the wrong tip can damage the paint finish on valuable items such as boats, cars, and RVs. It’s important not to use aggressive spray patterns on these items. A 400 tip is recommended, but you still need to be careful not to hold the tip too close to the vehicle, as the clear coat (and even the paint beneath the coating) can be disrupted and ruined.

When power washing a vehicle, it’s often better to first apply a detergent specifically designed for use in pressure washers to help remove the dirt and grime from the vehicle. Then use the pressure washer to gently wash the detergent and dirt away.

Additionally, fine angled spray tips (00, 150, and sometimes 250) can cause severe damage to some surfaces.

Regarding High-Pressure Hoses

Most pressure washers come with a standard 20-foot hose that connects the pump to the spray wand. These hoses usually have an Inside Diameter (ID) of either 1/4″ or 5/16″. The 1/4″ ID hoses are generally rated up to 3200 PSI, while the 5/16″ ID hoses are rated from 2700 PSI to 3600 PSI. When purchasing a pressure washer kit, the manufacturer will provide the appropriate ID hose based on the maximum pressure of the pressure washer. When buying a replacement hose, ensure that you purchase the correct ID and PSI-rated hose for your unit.

If your garden hose has limited reach, and you need to clean something farther away, a longer high-pressure hose is the solution. A good option is a high-pressure hose from Flexilla (shown above). These hoses are bright green, highly flexible (ideal for coiling or wrapping around the base unit when you’re finished spraying), and come in various convenient lengths, including a 50-foot hose that can handle up to 3600 PSI (as seen above).

Electric Pressure Washers

If you don’t require the more costly semi-commercial and professional-grade units (which most gardening and weekend warrior landscaping enthusiasts don’t), an electric pressure washer is an excellent option.

Major Electric Pressure Washer Brands

We examined pressure washers from the primary players in the electric (120V & Li-Ion battery-powered) pressure washer market (categorized as consumer models):

Yard Force
Sun Joe
Greenworks

Pressure ratings ranged from 500 to 3,200 PSI. Some had individual spray nozzles, some had turbo nozzles, and one even had a unique adjustable nozzle that produced virtually any spray pattern from 00 to approximately 450.

What to know about consumer-grade electric power washers

These units are excellent at cleaning things like RVs, cars, BBQ grills, boats, windows, planters and pots, lawnmowers, landscape equipment, outdoor furniture, etc.
Some of the units we tested are capable of stripping paint, but only at very slow rates (with the exception of one Yard Force gasoline-powered 3200 PSI model we reviewed).
Electric power washers are typically less expensive than gasoline-powered units.
They can be used indoors (e.g., cleaning inside a shower stall or washing a garage floor) without the threat of carbon monoxide.

Cleaning Efficiency

The efficiency of cleaning is influenced by the flow rate (GPM) and the nozzle’s spray pattern. Holding the nozzle closer to the surface intensifies the removal of dirt, stains, and paint. It is essential to test different spray patterns on the surface to avoid damaging the underlying material. The standard kit usually includes four spray nozzles, ranging from 00 to 400, providing ample cleaning options. While a turbo nozzle is not a necessity, it is a useful addition that can clean up to 50% faster than a regular single spray angle nozzle.

[EXTREME TRIPLE-ACTION PERFORMANCE]: The Xtream Foaming, Xtream Cleansing, and Xtream Rinsing capabilities ensure victory over even the toughest grime!
[EXTREME RINSING]: The powerful 13-amp motor creates up to 2200 PSI (as per CSA internal pressure testing) of pressure and a flow of 1.65 GPM (with nozzle open at minimum pressure) to remove all dirt effectively.
[EXTREME FOAMING]: The onboard 33.8 fl oz foam cannon aerates detergent and shoots it up to 15 feet, providing an added boost to your cleaning power.
[EXTREME CLEANING]: Four quick-connect nozzles (0°, 15°, 25°, 40°) offer a range of spray patterns, from pin-point jet to fan spray, to handle heavy, medium, and light-duty cleaning jobs.
[TSS (Total Stop System) TECHNOLOGY]: The pump automatically shuts off when the trigger is not engaged, saving energy and extending the life of the pump