Introduction To The Best Pressure Washers
You are most probably here because you are looking to replace your old or damaged pressure washer, or are simply in the market for the first time. You may or may not have already noticed that there are literally hundreds of options when it comes to looking for the best pressure washer to suit your requirements. Not only are there multiple brands or pressure washers with varying features, but you will also need to decide how you will want your pressure washer to be powered.
To help you choose, below I have included a guide to purchasing a pressure washer, including what to look out for, what features are available and how you easily go about picking a pressure washer that will not only suit you requirements, get the job in hand done quickly and effectively, but also serve you for many years to come. Once you have determined and considered all of the options you require, it is time to shortlist suitable pressure washers using my pressure washer selection tool. This tool will enable you to quickly select your exact requirements, and then will shortlist suitable options with a link to detailed review. OK, so let’s get started fining you the best pressure washer in no time at all.
In A Hurry?
I understand that some of you may be in a hurry. So before we carry on looking at what makes a great pressure washer, I have listed my top picks below, they are categorised by most popular features.
Last update on 2022-06-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Last update on 2022-06-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Last update on 2022-06-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best 5 Pressure Washers & Why They Are Such A Blast
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10 Best Pressure Washer Reviews Complete With Pros & Cons
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Guide To The Best Pressure Washers
There are many powered pressure washers available on the UK market and it is hard to find the one that best suits your needs. The choice is always there to get a machine far beyond the capabilities of what is adequate for your needs. Not only is this going to unnecessarily increase the cost of the pressure washer, but also you will simply end up with a heavier machine full of features and accessories you will simply never use. Yes, you will need to think about any jobs you may want your pressure washer to tackle in the future, but don’t go overboard on accessories and power, also consider the build quality, warranty and aftersales support.
So how do you go about choosing a pressure washer suitable for the tasks and work you need it to do? Below is a short guide that explains what you should be looking out for when choosing your next pressure washer.
What To Look Out For When Purchasing A Pressure Washer?
Brands are a good starting point — but some good brands have now gone down the road of reducing manufacturing costs. And if the costs of the products are lower, it follows that the quality is likely to suffer as a result.
It is common to see brands put large casings around small motors to disguise the fact that the machine is not as powerful as it looks. Compare the power and pressure rating, and not the dimensions of the unit. You also want to consider the amount of pressure that will be needed to successfully perform during each session. A small less powerful machine can make 100-bar of pressure at the jet and is fine for washing your car without leaving marks. However for cleaning dirty and soiled patio something around or over 150-bar of pressure is going to be required.
In all of my reviews and in the selection table I will highlight the power rating, the maximum pressure and the water flow rate, so be sure to check this out. More on this later.
More Power – More Risk?
Some pressure washers are so powerful that they will dent and even remove paint off your car if you do not know what you are doing. These waterjets can be dangerous in the wrong hands — they demand a level of knowledge to ensure that suitable jetting nozzles are used for different tasks. All pressure washers will have instructions explaining the pressure / nozzle and its intended use.
As a rough guide of what to look for –
- Washing a car / garden furniture / tools – 100-bar
- Decking – 130-bar
- Washing a driveway – 150-bar plus
More details of the different uses and pressures are shown in the table below –
Task | Light Duty 50-110 Bar |
Medium Duty 110-130 Bar |
Heavy Duty 130+ Bar |
---|---|---|---|
Patio | ✅ | ✅ | |
Cars/Vans/Bikes | ✅ | ||
Block Paving | ✅ | ||
Decking | ✅ | ✅ | |
Fences & Garden Furniture | ✅ | ||
Commercial Vehicles | ✅ | ✅ |
Is A Bigger Pressure Washer Better?
It does not always follow that a larger machine is going to be noisier. In some instances, the reverse is true, since many larger machines have more material around the motor and pump. And larger machines can run longer pressure hoses, so you can leave them further away from where you are cleaning.
A bigger pressure washer will be able to scrub larger areas of concrete faster, but these assume more space and power. A small pressure washer is easier to store and move around. The other advantage of a larger machine is the fact that many will have on-board storage areas for the various accessories. Many will also include hose reels for tidy and convenient storage of the hose. Also larger machines, although much heavier, will normally have rear wheels allowing for easy transpiration to and from the storage location.
Again, you need to consider your needs and storage. For some owners a hand held lightweight and portable pressure washer will be more than adequate for their intended tasks.
Types Of Pressure Washer
Power Types
One of the first considerations will be how your pressure washer will be powered. Whilst it is true that the vast majority of pressure washers, sold to domestic users in the UK, are electric powered, there are two other options available. The first is petrol powered pressure washers which are ideal for larger properties and more demanding cleaning tasks. The second are cordless battery pressure washers that are ideal for portability, however are limited in battery run-time and pressure they can produce. All of these power types have their pros and cons, which are clearly stated in the individual reviews.
Water Source
Some pressure washers need a constant supply of mains water, and others can run off static water supplies, this is referred to as “Self-Priming” by the manufacturers. Due to water conservation in many areas, it is forbidden during certain times of the year to use mains water to wash a car. That is why some homeowners store rain run-off in large tanks to later be used by their self-priming pressure washers.
Some pressure washers can suck-up water from buckets, ponds and static pools etc. Zero-pressure sources allow you to recycle water and get around these legal limitations. So, if you live under these rules, it may be one of the first considerations to make when choosing a pressure washer.
What Can I Use A Pressure Washer For?
Pressure Washers For Vehicles
You can widen out the spray either with an adjustable lance or by attaching a suitable nozzle, for working on the windows and paintwork— and then focus the spray on the underside of the car, to remove stubborn mud and tar. Some pressure washers come with foaming add-ons, to prepare a target surface with soap. Once you have removed the dust and grit from the car’s bodywork you can then go about using a rotary or static brush to further clean the paintwork of the vehicle. If you would like to learn more about how to clean your car effectively see my article. Also I have shortlisted the best pressure washers for cleaning a car here for your convenience.
Pressure Washers For Garden Furniture
Garden furnishings get dirty over the winter months, and they can be difficult to clean. A pressure washer gets through the gaps and blasts away creepy-crawlies that have set up a home. A more powerful pressure washer can also remove loose paint and varnish — making the surface ready for repainting.
Pressure Washers For Patios
Most manufacturers make patio brushes for their pressure washers. These work by forcing water through rotating brushes that scrub the surface. If you think that you are going to do a lot of patio washing, look for the area performance figures, or that the pressure is above 130-bar. These brushes massively reduce the amount of splash and debris that is thrown up when using a standard lance. If you have ever used a lance to clean up your patio you will know that you can spend as much time cleaning the walls and area around the patio, as you do the patio itself. If you would like to learn more about how to clean a patio with a pressure washer read my article.
Pressure Washers For Decking
Over the winter months decking can become very slippery due to lack of sun and mould/algae developing. When wet this mould becomes slimy and very slippery and a pressure washer is the ideal tool to clean and remove this hazard. Just be aware, that if you have painted your decking, pressure washing too close or on a more direct/narrow jet may damage or remove some of the paint and even damage the wood. To assist, you could always apply and brush in a patio/decking mould remover first, and then lightly pressure wash off. To see the best pressure washers for cleaning decking and patios see my selection here.
Cleaning your decking should become part of your regular spring garden and lawn maintenance schedule.
Accessories
You would expect to have more accessories on a more powerful pressure washer. One of the most important accessories is a long pressure hose. A 5-metre hose is standard for a small pressure washer, but you will want to double that for a larger machine. Some pressure washers will come with additional extensions that can extend the hose up to 18 metres in length, such as the Wilks-USA RX550I electric pressure washer.
Other accessories that you may want to consider are –
Gutter Lance – gutter lance is a curved lance that allows you to clean and blow debris out of your gutter for fast and efficient cleaning.
Patio Cleaner – as mentioned above this is a round plastic disk with a rotating arm with jets, that effectively cleans patio or decking whilst eliminating splashing.
Turbo Lance – most pressure washers will be supplied with a turbo lance that has a small ball bearing that rotates in the head to increase the pressure output.
Multiple Spray Nozzles – the nozzle is the business end of each pressure washer and many come with multiple attachments to suit the job at hand. Other pressure washers may offer an adjustable nozzle as opposed to multiple separate nozzles. Again, consider the job at hand and your preference, to ensure you purchase a pressure washer with the spraying options you require.
Foam Sprayer – a foam sprayer is a great attachment that allows you to apply a layer of foam to your vehicle or garden furniture prior to jet washing.
Hose Reel – as mentioned above some larger machines will come with hose reels that allow the hose to be neatly stored. This not only reduces the amount of storage but also prevents a tripping hazard and them getting damaged.
Pressure Washer Features
Trolley / Wheels
A small pressure washer, below 6 kilograms, is lightweight enough that carrying it is not an issue. When the weight gets above 10 kilograms, you are going to want something with wheels and a handle to move the unit about. Most pressure washers are supplied with 2 wheels for easy transportation, but also consider the number of location of any handles should you need to lift the pressure washer.
Storage
Any pressure washer will come with a long pressure hose, a long cable, and some lances. Attachments will get in a tangle fast, so to make life easier, look for a unit with brackets to wrap the cables and hoses around. Other pressure washers will come with handy features such as sliding handles for reduced storage, and as mentioned above a hose reel.
Conclusion
In summary, firstly consider how you need your pressure washer to be powered. If you want exceptionally high power and you are going to be using your pressure washer on a regular basis, then you may need to consider a petrol model. Just bear in mind that with a petrol pressure washer comes maintenance and service costs as you would have with any other petrol powered tool.
Cordless pressure washers are great for portability and convenience, they can be taken on camping trips to wash down boots and bikes for example, but will produce less power compared to their petrol or electric cousins.
Electric pressure washes are a great middle ground, providing not only convenience, but also options for higher powered models that will deal with most domestic cleaning tasks. This is the reason they are currently the most popular pressure washer. Yes, you will have the cable to consider, however with extended hose lengths up to 18 metres, this should not be an issue.
Also, consider what you are going to use your new pressure washer for and the type of attachments you will need. Look at the prices of the attachments, if they are not included with the unit, and that the pressure is strong enough for the job in hand.
Finally, take into account the brand quality in terms of warranty supplied, aftersales support and most importantly the availability of spare and replacement parts. All of the above are covered in detail in all of my pressure washer reviews.
Are you ready to purchase? Use my pressure washer selection tool to make this process easier for you as not only you can select the accessories and features you require, but also the pressure, the water flow rate and the hose length. If you have any questions feel free to use the comments box below and I will be happy to respond.
Best Pressure Washer FAQs
How Do I Clean A Car With A Pressure Washer?
There are 5 main steps to cleaning a car with a pressure washer. Step 1, you will need to pre-wash and rinse away any surface dirt to avoid scratches. Step 2, you will need to add soap or detergent either via the detergent tank or better still, using a foaming bottle or snow lance. Step 3, you can now use the static or rotating brush to gently clean away more stubborn ground-in dirt from the vehicle’s body. Step 4, thoroughly rinse the off the soap using your pressure washer set on low power or simply move further away from the vehicle. Step 5, using a chamois leather or synthetic cloth, dry the paintwork to avoid any streaking or water marks.
How Much Pressure Is Good For A Pressure Washer?
The amount of pressure you need will depend on the type of cleaning task you are doing. However, as a rule of thumb, most domestic pressure washer users will need around 2000 PSI or 130 bar to cover most jobs.
How Do Pressure Washers Work?
Pressure washers are surprisingly simple pieces of equipment. Water is pumped into the machine via a source such as a hose and is then expelled using a high-pressure pump. A nozzle is used so that you can direct the jet of water at the surface you wish to clean.
Do I Need A Petrol Or Electric Pressure Washer?
Petrol pressure washers are significantly more powerful than their electric counterparts. Sometimes, it comes down to personal preference, but most people will judge the size of the area they’re cleaning to determine which they require. Moreover, if you do not have direct access to a power supply, then you may need to use a petrol model.
How Long Should A Pressure Washer Hose Be?
The hose which you attach to pump water into your pressure washer should be no longer than 100 metres. However, the high-pressure hose should be much smaller with a maximum length of 50 metres. These lengths will normally be more than enough for a domestic user.
Can You Adjust The Pressure On A Pressure Washer?
Yes. Some pressure washers come with the ability to adjust pressure, and this is usually done with a dial. Simply turn it and set the pressure to your liking. Other models have a nozzle that can be rotated to adjust the jet of water and subsequent pressure. Other models have interchangeable nozzles that can be attached as a way of increasing or decreasing the water pressure depending on the job at hand.
What Is The Most Powerful Pressure Washer?
There are some incredibly powerful pressure washers out there, but currently one of the most powerful is a petrol Hyundai HYW4000DE, which has a PSI rating of 4000. This is, however, a machine that is designed for more commercial use and therefore costs over £1,500. As a domestic user, you won’t need anything near this amount of power.
Why Does My Power Washer Keep Surging?
The reason that your pressure washer is surging is likely to do with an inability to cope with the flow rate. This is normally due to a lack of water supply, and therefore the flow rate is not adequate to support that of the pump. It’s important to deal with this problem as it can cause issues down the line, eventually rendering the pressure washer useless.
What Should I Look For In A Pressure Washer?
When choosing a pressure washer, there are several things you should look out for, but the most important is how powerful it is and whether this power meets your specific needs. You’ll notice that the pressure washer has a PSI (pounds per square inch) or Bar rate, and that tells you how much force the water comes out with. On the other hand, you’ll notice a l/hr (litre per hour) measure, which tells you how much water passes through the system, which is equivalent to the maximum flow rate. You will also need to consider the accessories, whether they come supplied or are optional extras.
Do You Need Good Water Pressure For A Pressure Washer?
It is possible to use a pressure washer in areas where the water pressure isn’t as high. However, there are a lot of models that require at least 20PSI from the water pressure to work correctly. Always refer to the instruction manual for your specific pressure washer.
Are Cordless Pressure Washers Any Good?
Yes cordless pressure washers are excellent, but only in certain situations and for certain types of cleaning. Cordless pressure washers are never going to compete with petrol and corded electric in terms of power, PSI and flow rates. This doesn’t mean that cordless pressure washers do not have their uses. The fact that they are cordless battery-operated means that you can take them to remote areas to be used for cleaning such as cleaning bikes before putting then back into the car, campsites for cleaning boots and other equipment. They provide a mobile and versatile solution as long as you have access to a static water source.
How Much Do I Need To Pay For A Good Pressure Washer?
Again, largely this will depend on the power type of your pressure washer, the accessories and power provided. A good budget electric pressure washer can cost as little as £80, a good mid range branded pressure washer with accessories will cost around £160, and a higher end premium model with a full set of accessories will set you back around £220.
What’s The Difference Between A Power Washer And A Pressure Washer?
There aren’t too many differences between power washers and pressure washers. The main one is that a power washer uses hot water to clean, while a pressure washer relies on cold water and high pressure to remove more stubborn dirt.
Is It OK To Run A Pressure Washer Without Water?
It is not advisable to run a pressure washer without any water, as this may cause damage to the machine if run for a longer period.