Pressure Washer PSI and GPM ( gallons per minute )
The following article presents the very latest information on Pressure Washer PSI and GPM. If you have a particular interest in Pressure Washer PSI and GPM, then this informative article is required reading.
If you have pressure washed before you understand the importance of GPM. But for those who will be pressure washing for the first time or for those who are buying a pressure washer for the first time, let me explain.
Most are very familiar with pressure washer PSI and how it works. The higher the number the more powerful the pressure washer. Typically the higher the PSI a pressure washer has the better.
Pressure Washer Tip: Gas Powered pressure washers are normally more powerful than electric powered pressure washers. High water pressure levels are ideal for cleaning large areas and removing tough stains. They are typically very portable, and therefore commonly found in industrial settings. Gas-powered pressure washers must only be used outdoors due to carbon monoxide emissions.
You can always adjust the pressure down for more delicate jobs, but you can not turn the pressure higher if you need more PSI on a machine that has less PSI than you require.
On the other end of the spectrum, most do not understand pressure washer GPM ( gallons per minute ). GPM is far more important than PSI. Why you ask? Let me tell you.
Suppose you are pressure washing your deck. Let’s say your deck is 2000 square feet and it is a beautiful sunny day ( the deck is hot ).
Pressure Washer Tip: Electric Powered pressure washers are lightweight and conveniently used around the home, or for light industrial projects. They are limited in cleaning power production, but are very safe and extremely efficient. They are ideal for cleaning patio furniture and cars. Electric powered pressure washers can be used either indoors or outdoors and are extremely quiet. Electric powered pressure washers are designed for occasional use, typically about 2 hours per week.
How long do you think it would take to pressure wash your deck using a 2000 PSI pressure washer that uses 1. 5 gallons of water per minute? Which is what your typical $200 pressure washer uses. Let me tell you from experience, you would be better off using a garden hose and scrubbing the mold and algae away on your hands and knees. In other words it would take a very long time.
Now lets say you have a $300 2000 PSI pressure washer that uses 3 gallons per minute. How long do you think it would take then?
Pressure Washer Tip: How do pressure washers work? Pressure washers connect to a standard garden hose (or another water source). Their engine, high pressure hose, and nozzle all work together to create an accelerated water stream which can be about 50 times more powerful than a garden hose.
Again speaking from experience, it would take about an hour. Why so much quicker you ask? Let me tell you.
Simple, GPM ( gallons per minute ). 2000 PSI is enough pressure to break lose most debris, but what happens to the debris once it is free? It needs to be washed away or gathered into a nice tidy pool of debris to be cleaned up when you are done. When you are pressure washing on a nice sunny day or any day for that matter 1. 5 GPM will produce almost no water build up, which is what you need to wash that debris away.
Pressure Washer Tip: How much horsepower do I need? If you are unsure about choosing the right sized engine for your pressure washer, just keep this in mind: a higher horsepower engine is required to produce higher PSI and higher GPM, resulting in more CPU.
So the debris will be lose but it won’t go anywhere. But if you add another 1. 5 GPM to the picture that debris will wash away to wherever you want it to. It really is that simple and absolutely a must if you want your pressure washing experience to be a good one.
Don’t limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about Pressure Washer PSI and GPM. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what’s important, using a pressure washer to clean hard surfaces efficiently.
Pressure Washer Tip: What does a pressure washer “plunger” do? Do I want Ceramic or Non-ceramic? The plunger is the part that rapidly moves back and forth within the pressure washer pump to actually create the high pressure water stream. Ceramic plungers are much more efficient and will extend the life of the pressure washer. Non-ceramic plungers will ultimately wear down, and hinder the overall performance of the unit.
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