Are Pressure Washers Efficient?
Despite dispensing more water per second, pressure washers are actually more efficient and can save you more money than the average household hosepipe.
Don’t believe us?
This article will explain why pressures washers are actually an efficient choice, helping your business save money and the environment.
If you need a pressure washer, give our team a call on 0800 859 5151
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Example Animation of the Karcher K 7
Is a pressure washer efficient?
Is a hot pressure washer more efficient than a cold pressure washer?
Can pressure washers recycle the water they use?
How does a pressure washer work?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to understand how a pressure washer works.
There are various different types of pressure washers — hot, cold, electric, gas — and while each type has its own advantages, they all work in the same fundamental way:
A hosepipe sends water from the input of the unit to a pump, which dramatically increases the velocity of the stream and pushes it through a narrow lance, out through the nozzle. The increased velocity of the water, coupled with the shape of the nozzle, causes the water to shoot out in a powerful but controlled stream. The nozzles are interchangeable to give you control over how much pressure is administered.
Example: the Kärcher K 7 Full Control
See below the animated diagram of the K 7 – from Karcher.com
The heart of every pressure washer is its electric motor, which drives the pump system [1].
In order for the pumps to work correctly, they need water, which is provided, for example, by a garden hose [2].
Before it is put under pressure, the water flows into a double-walled casing around the motor, which cools it down [3]. This reduces noise and also extends the device’s run time.
The motor drives a wobble plate, which moves the three pistons up and down [4].
The K 7 Full Control features a total of three pistons, which each work with one suction and one pressure valve. The downward motion of the pistons [6] draws the water through a suction valve [5] and into the cylinder or piston chamber.
When the piston moves up again, it pushes the water out of the piston chamber and through a pressure valve [7] towards the injector.
Cleaning agent [10] is added to the injector [8] if required. The water then flows out of the pump [9] to the high-pressure gun.
Is a pressure washer efficient?
By increasing the velocity of the water it dispenses, pressure washers dramatically increase cleaning performance. So while water is dispensed at a much quicker rate, less time is needed to complete the job.
Studies have shown that using a private pressure washer to wash your car consumes between 6-10 times less water than using a standard hose pipe at low pressure.
An identical cleaning task was carried out using two high-pressure washers, one operating at 1200 litres per hour and another at 700 litres per hour. The 1200-litre unit completed the cleaning task in just 26 minutes, compared to the 1 hour and 12 minutes it took for the 700-litre unit to complete the same task. Over 500 litres of water were saved by using the unit with higher pressure.
Is a hot pressure washer more efficient than a cold pressure washer?
It may seem intuitive to think that a pressure washer using cold water would be more energy efficient than an identical pressure washer using hot water, as the latter requires extra energy to heat the water. However, by virtue of the fact that water is heated, it is more effective at tackling stubborn dirt, meaning that the time it takes to clean is reduced.
For a typical cleaning job, the use of hot water can reduce cleaning time by up to 40%.
Hot water is also more hygienic than cold water, though the units are often bulkier and more expensive. Click here to learn more about how hot and cold pressure washers compare.
Can pressure washers recycle the water they use?
Many pressure washers can be operated with recycled or conditioned water. You will need access to a water recycling system to do this, but the number of these systems are increasing — especially in gantry car washes. Water recycling can save up to 98% of water.
Alpha Power Cleaners provide a range of pressure washers and other cleaning equipment to businesses across the East Midlands. If you want your business to operate at the highest performance and with the lowest costs, try our pressure washers.
Delivering an effective and efficient clean, our pressure washers are perfect for use across a range of industries. All our pressure washers are available for hire on contracts between 1 day and 5 years, and you’ll receive all the maintenance and support you’ll need to ensure your business runs smoothly.
To enquire further, give our team a call on 0800 859 5151
