What to look for when buying a pressure washer?
Pressure washers are used for a wide variety of purposes. It doesn’t matter whether you want to use them to remove pesky weeds from paving stones, clean your barbecue or even clean your car – it is particularly easy to do so with such a device.
The great advantage of a high-pressure cleaner is that it can even be used to remove deposits from stubbornly dirty areas. A pressure washer is practical in places that are difficult to reach, such as on house facades or between paving stones. The water jet hits the respective spot with high pressure and removes the dirt in a targeted manner.
If you want to buy a pressure washer, however, there are a few things to consider – we present the most important aspects here.
Buying a pressure washer – the purpose is decisive
Before buying a pressure washer, it is important to think about the tasks that are to be carried out with the powerful device. For example, if you want to buy a pressure washer to clean the patio, it is practical if there is a power connection nearby. In this case, it is a good idea to buy an electric pressure washer.
If, however, surfaces are to be cleaned that do not have a power socket nearby, then a petrol-powered pressure washer is usually the better choice. We will present the exact features and advantages of both variants in more detail later in the text.
Another important factor is the size of the surfaces to be cleaned. If, for example, you only want to remove dirt from the barbecue or the car from time to time, an inexpensive high-pressure cleaner will suffice. Very powerful devices usually cost a little more and are more recommended if you want to use them frequently and for more extensive work. This applies, among other things, to cleaning driveways, gutters, the terrace or house facades.
Other important considerations when buying a pressure washer
Storage is another issue to consider before buying a pressure washer. Some units are relatively large and therefore require more storage space. It is therefore important to think about where you want to store the pressure washer before you buy it. If it is already clear that there will not be much space available, a compact model is recommended.
You may also have to plan for the cost of cleaning agents. Depending on what you want to clean with the pressure washer and how dirty the surfaces are, warm water may not be enough. Then there are special cleaning agents that can be added.
Last but not least, the price also plays a decisive role for many prospective buyers. If you consider beforehand how much budget is available for the purchase of a pressure washer, it is easier to make a decision. On average, however, between 200 and 1000 pounds should be budgeted for a model.
Buying an electric or petrol pressure cleaner – which is the better choice?
Basically, a distinction is made between petrol-powered and electric pressure washers available on the market. The respective advantages and features should therefore be considered in advance.
Electric high pressure cleaner
Electric pressure washers are ideal for smaller jobs, such as cleaning the car, patio furniture or individual paving stones in the driveway. Working with an electric pressure washer is particularly easy because it is comparatively lightweight, environmentally friendly and poses no health risk. The devices are ready for use in no time at all and only require a power connection. In the long run, this makes them a cheaper solution than petrol high-pressure cleaners.
Petrol-powered pressure washer
On the other hand, there is the issue of buying petrol-powered pressure washers: they are characterised by a powerful engine, robustness and efficiency in operation. If you want to use a pressure washer several times a week and clean even heavily soiled surfaces, you should opt for this type.
For most types of soiling, it is not necessary to add additional cleaning agents or chemical products. Here, the pressure is so high that even heavy dirt can easily be removed by warm water at high pressure. Furthermore, petrol-powered high-pressure cleaners offer maximum flexibility and can be used anywhere – theoretically even in the forest without any electricity connection.
Although petrol pressure washers are somewhat more expensive to buy, they usually always pay for themselves. The service life of a petrol-powered high-pressure cleaner is usually much longer than that of an electric model.
Most devices are larger, weigh more and require some practice in handling. Furthermore, it must be ensured that there is sufficient storage space for them. It should also be remembered that petrol is a fuel that emits harmful emissions and thus pollutes the environment to some extent.
Conclusion
If you want to buy a pressure washer, you should think carefully about which type is right for you. Both petrol-powered and electric pressure washers have advantages and disadvantages that need to be weighed up. However, you should also consider beforehand what tasks you want to do with the pressure washer. For the occasional removal of dirt from a bicycle or car, for example, a smaller model is sufficient. For regular cleaning of the terrace, on the other hand, you need a somewhat more powerful model.
