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Pressure Washers

For some jobs, a Pressure washers, sometimes called power washers, will spray water at some seriously high p.s.i., compelling anything you may have stuck on your deck, patio, driveway, or wall to flee with the utmost speed. These babies do not mess around. Pressure washers work by pure power: the higher the pressure (measured in pounds per square inch or p.s.i.) the faster you can do the job. They use a controlled flow routed through highstyle nozzles. By using high pressure, pressure washers actually save water.  There are two ways to divide pressure washers: gas vs. electric and hot water vs. cold water. You can start with the recommendations below if you already know more or less what kind of pressure washer you want. Or, scroll past the recommendations to read about the differences between the types of pressure washers.

Recommendations

ConsumerSearch has a list of recommended models; their top picks are discussed here. 

Gas vs. Electric

'''Hot Water vs. Cold Water '''

There are advantages to each type of washer.

Power Terminology

Pressure washer power is measured in gallons per minute (gpm) and pounds per square inch (p.s.i.). You might think the more power you have, the more dirt you'll get out. Well, that's true up to a point. Take washing your car for example. You'll want a power washer in the range of 1000-1300 p.s.i. You could use an industrial power washer (up to 5000 p.s.i. or more) to get it cleaner, but you'll strip off the paint job along with the dirt. (Not good!) More power usually means an increase in price and weight. On the other hand, if your washer isn't powerful enough for a big job, you might wear it out or not get the job done effectively or both. * '''P.S.I'''. Pounds per square inch. ** This is how much pressure the washer can apply at any given time. ** Your average is a good range for cleaning your deck. ** '''Gas-powered washers''' range from 1500 to 3500 p.si. ***Other Considerations * '''Temperature''' ** For some jobs, like removing tough grease and oil, only hot water and detergent will be effective. ** Most available pressure washers are meant to be used only with cold water. ** If you only need hot water for an occasional job, consider renting one instead of buying. ** Never use hot water in a cold water washer, you could damage it and hurt yourself. * '''Safety''' ** Any pressure washer comes with safety risks. ** You should always wear hearing protection is recommended as well. ** If you are using detergent, waterproof gloves are recommended to protect your skin. ** Always use caution when using a pressure washer. They can be dangerous if used improperly, with the possibility of skin lacerations or eye damage. NEVER point a pressure washer at a person, pet, or other living thing. A pressure washer is like a hose the way a gun is like tossing a rock at someone.  ** There is also a risk of electric shock or a burn, especially with gas-powered models. Always follow instructions carefully. * '''Features''' ** '''Soap tank ''' *** Some washers have a siphon that you can drop into an external container of cleaning fluid. *** Others have built just pour in soap and it is automatically added for you. ** '''Nozzle technology''' *** Certain ''attachments'', like a brush, can make cleaning easier. *** Some attachments give you a choice of spray sizes. *** ''Adjustable nozzles'' allow you to control stream size and intensity without changing parts. *** ''Replaceable nozzles'' in case your nozzle breaks, it's cheaper to replace the nozzle than to buy a new washer. ** '''Cord, tool and hose storage''' *** Loops and compartments to stow cords, tools and hoses can help keep your storage area neat. ** '''Wheels''' *** Save your back, especially with heavier gas-powered models. * '''Renting''' ** If you mostly need a pressure washer for small jobs (bikes, cars) but occasionally need more power (siding, deck), consider buying a small electric model and renting a washer for those big jobs. ** The cost is slightly higher, but consider all the maintenance issues involved with keeping a gas-powered washer; you might prefer the convenience of simply renting. ** You can also rent a hot-water washer for those occasional jobs that need high temperatures. ** However, it can cost between $50 and $90 to rent a machine for one day. It might be worth it if your storage space is limited or you don't want the hassle of maintaining a gas-powered machine.