What to Look for in a Commercial Pressure Washer

Pressure washers are one of the most effective machines for cleaning commercial premises. By shooting water at high speed, pressure washers forcibly remove stubborn grease, grime and dirt from a variety of surfaces.

Pressure washers clean small, medium and large premises in next to no time. It’s no wonder they’re so popular in businesses across the country. Interested in getting a pressure washer? You can buy or hire a pressure washer depending on your needs.

• Give our team a call on 0808 169 8529 for a free quote on hiring a pressure washer.

This article will serve as a buying guide for anyone looking to acquire a pressure washer. Read on to discover the perfect machine for you.

Why do you need a commercial pressure washer?

You might be asking yourself what a pressure washer can do for you. The truth is that achieving fast and effective cleaning is an indispensable investment for any business. By investing in a pressure washer you’ll be:

• Freeing up time
• Increasing productivity
• Making your work environment a healthier and safer place to work

What can pressure washers do?

The better question is what can’t pressure washers do. Okay, so they can’t make you a coffee or walk your dog, but they can offer powerful cleaning performance on almost every type of surface. Pressure washers are often used on:

• Floors, including interior and exterior floors
• Car exteriors
• Machinery
• Walls
• Pools

They are great at removing:

• Dirt
• Grease
• Peeling paint
• Graffiti

What industries are pressure washers best suited for?

Pressure washers can be found in a wide range of industries, but will be best suited for industries that are expected to get dirty regularly and require frequent and swift cleaning. These include:

• Automobile
• Agriculture
• Shipping
• Transport
• Manufacturing
• Logistics

What considerations should be made when choosing your pressure washer?

There are a huge selection of pressure washers on the market, and you’ll want to ensure you choose the right machine for your needs. Aside from the specifications of each model, you’ll also want to consider the following:

Pressure

Pressure washers have varying flow rates, measured in bars. A typical pressure washer will range from 110 up to 180 BAR. You should consider how powerful you need your pressure washer to be before you purchase. A washer with greater flow may be more expensive because it will be more useful for cleaning large, flat areas.

• Light usage – 100 BAR
• Medium usage – 110 – 130 BAR
• Heavy usage – 130+ BAR

Flow Rate

A pressure washer’s flow rate is the number of litres expelled within a given time, abbreviated to LPH. The flow rate can be changed on most commercial pressure washers.

The higher the flow rate, the less time you’ll spend going over the same surface, and the quicker you’ll get the job done!

Hose

If your pressure washer is particularly heavy, you may need to get a long hose so that you can still use your pressure washer while keeping it stationary. Most pressure washers come with a hose at least 4 meters long.

Pressure washers like the Karcher HDS 6/12 C (240v) come with a 10 meter hose.

For example, new pressure washers from Karcher come with their EASY!Force Triggure Gun:

• Improved ergonomics for easier cleaning
• Full ceramic valve for a longer lifetime
• Intuitive trigger for safe working
• Patented EASY!Lock for 5x faster connection

Portability and Size

There are several types of pressure washers, and they vary in size and portability. Generally, for the mid range models, they can be transported fairly easily, but with larger models, you might need a hand moving them.

Mid Range Pressure Washer Sizes

About the size of a large suitcase, you can load these into vans and trucks with ease. Plus the wheels make them easy to move around when you are using them. Most Karcher pressure washers are just over 1 meter in length, and just over half a meter in width.

Heavy Duty Pressure Washer Sizes

The larger heavy duty pressure washers do weight more, especially engine driven models and ‘cage’ models. When transporting these you might need a extra pair of hands. Most larger pressure washers still have transport wheels, but the cage models do not.

There are also the much larger ‘trailer’ pressure washers – as the name suggests, are built to be transported behind a car or van.

Static Pressure Washers

This type of pressure washer is designed to stay in one place. You can technically move them, but they require a water and electricity connection.

Accessories

There are various accessories and attachments that can be used to improve the efficiency and usability of your pressure washer. Consider which accessories you might need before you purchase, as these will most likely need to be purchased separately and may cause you to go over budget.

What are the different power sources for commercial pressure washers?

When it comes to pressure washers, you have three main types: electric, combustion or static.

Electric

Electric pressure washers are the most common of the three but will require there to be a nearby power source to operate. There are many benefits to using an electric pressure washer, including:

• Relatively lightweight
• Easy to handle
• Uninterrupted cleaning
• Can be used indoors or outdoors

Engine Driven

Engine driven pressure washers, powered by either petrol, diesel or gas, are the most powerful type of pressure washers but can be unwieldy and can’t be used in enclosed spaces. However, there are many advantages to using an engine pressure washer:

• Provide a powerful clean for quick and effective results
• Suitable for large outdoor areas

Static

Static pressure washers don’t move; they are fixed nearby to the equipment or machinery that needs regular cleaning. They are typically used by commercial clients who know that they will need pressure washing in one location regularly.

The benefits of a static pressure washer include:

• Installed so that they can’t be stolen or tampered with
• There are no trailing hoses, no need to carry the machine around
• Pressure temperature and detergent setting can be pre-set for a consistent and efficient clean

What is the difference between hot and cold pressure washers?

In addition to how the machines are powered, you also have the option of choosing a pressure washer that shoots hot or cold water. Both of these machines have their advantages and disadvantages.

Why choose a hot pressure washer?

• The main reason you might choose a hot pressure washer is performance. Hot pressure washers provide a more powerful clean. The heat softens dirt and debris, making it easier to remove.

Why choose a cold pressure washer?

• Though not as effective as hot pressure washers, cold pressure washers still offer a powerful cleaning performance
• Typically cheaper and require less maintenance than hot pressure washers
• The absence of a heating element means that cold pressure washers are typically lightweight and more portable

For more information, see our guide comparing hot and cold pressure washers.

Whether you require an electric pressure washer or engine driven pressure washer, hot or cold, find what you need from Alpha Power Cleaners. As leading providers of commercial cleaning equipment across the South of England, Yorkshire, East Midlands and West Midlands, we deliver the latest machines fast and on flexible hire contracts.

Hiring a machine instead of buying outright is a great way to save money, and we offer competitive rates for even the most premium machines. We also offer professional repair and servicing contracts on all our machines to ensure that downtime is kept to a minimum.

Get your next pressure washer from Alpha Power Cleaners and make cleaning your business easier than ever. We serve customers in Nottingham, Derby, Loughborough and many surrounding cities.

Contact our team today to find out more, give us a call on 0808 169 8529 for a free quote!