Car High Pressure Gun

Size

“Selecting the right machine is pretty simple,” says William Alexander, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Simpson Pressure Washer in Elk Grove Village, Ill. “First, decide on the kind of work you’re going to do, then select the right machine from one of three categories. They’ll handle most residential, light-commercial, and, in some cases, professional cleaning jobs. Being aware of your cleaning goal will help you make your purchase decision and provide you with the best pressure washer for the application.”

Electric: 1300 to 1900 psi

Home use: car washing, outdoor furniture, grills, plastic play sets, small decks and patios.

Look for: Compact size and lightweight, flexible high-pressure hose; a variety of nozzles; pro-style steel spray wand; onboard detergent tank; onboard storage for spray gun; wand; nozzles; hose; and power cord.

Gas engine: 2000 to 3100 psi (2 to 2.5 gallons per minute)

Home and shop use: Decks, patios, siding, fences, vehicles, boats.

Look for: Premium overhead cam or overhead-valve engine; axial cam pump with an aluminum or brass head to handle higher pressures; heavy-duty frame; large wheels; poly-braided or steel-braided high-pressure hose; pro-style steel spray wand with quick-connect coupling; and a variety of spray tips.

Gas engine: 3200 to 4200 psi (2.8 to 4 gallons per minute)

Professional-duty: Paint stripping and surface preparation, graffiti removal, construction-site cleaning jobs, fleet maintenance.

Look for: Commercial-series engine; commercial-duty triplex pump; heavy-gauge welded steel frame and solid-steel axle; steel-braided high-pressure hose; heavy-duty pneumatic tires on steel hubs; pro-style steel spray wand with quick-connect coupling; and a variety of spray tips.

Tips

A few simple ways to get the most out of your pressure washer:

• When cleaning vertical surfaces, wash from the bottom up, and rinse from the top down.

• Pressure washer nozzles are color-coded to indicate the narrowness and forcefulness of their spray pattern: White is 40 degrees, green is 25 degrees, yellow is 15 degrees, and red is 0 degrees. Black is a low-pressure nozzle used for dispensing soap.

• As a general rule, use the broadest, lowest-pressure nozzle that will deliver adequate cleaning, because using too narrow a nozzle can cut into the surface you’re trying to clean.

• Spray in an inconspicuous area to test the nozzle before pressure-washing more visible areas. This way, if you are using too narrow a nozzle or find that you need to refine your technique, at least you won’t harm a noticeable surface.

• Hold the tip of the pressure-washing nozzle at an angle above the surface you are cleaning and at a distance to prevent damage.

• Always avoid spraying water behind or under vertical surfaces such as lap siding, and into light fixtures or air-conditioning equipment, electrical outlets, soffit vents, or attic vents.

• Keep the nozzle moving to prevent the water from cutting into the surface.

• Add fuel stabilizer to the gasoline before filling the pressure washer’s fuel tank.