Pressure Cleaners - Knowing What To Look For
Sometimes when looking at pressure cleaners you can find there is a large range to choose from. To choose the right model for your application is very important, therefore the more information you have when purchasing, the better.
First of all water flow (referred to as liters per minute or LPM) that the machine pumps is one of the most important things to look at. The reason for this is the more liters per minute govern the time it takes to do the job, for example using a garden hose compared to a fire hose for washing down. Therefore the time you want to take to do the job is governed by the liters per minute the pressure washer pumps.
The higher the water flow the better cleaning effect and end result you will get as water is the element that actually does the cleaning. It is a common belief in the market that the bigger the pressure the better the machine is and the better cleaning performance is achieved, however this simply is not the case. Pressure cleaners delivering 10 liters of water per minute at an operating pressure of 1600 PSI will clean a lot better in less time while achieving greater results than a machine delivering 7 liters a minute at 2000 PSI. So this goes to show the water flow rate is an integral element to consider when purchasing a pressure cleaner.
The second element to look at in combination with flow rate is the pressure which is needed to remove whatever it is you’re cleaning e.g dirt, grease, mould. Whilst we’ve talked about flow rate being important, it is the combination of flow rate and pressure which gives you the results you are wanting. A pressure cleaner delivering a flowrate of 10 liters per minute at 1500 PSI will not clean as well as pressure cleaners delivering 10 liters at 2000 PSI which is different again to the previously mentioned example machine delivering a flowrate of 7 liters at 2000 PSI.
The next consideration is how much the pressure washer will be used. Will it be used to clean around the house, car or boat or will it be used in a business environment where it is used for 3 to 4 hours a day? This is where the manufacturing parts of the motor and pump need to come into consideration so you get what is suitable to you.
Typically, there are two types of motors which are used on most machines. There is the brush motor and the induction motor. Brush motors are found in cleaners which should be used for light application and not be run for hours on end. If heavy application and usage hours are what is required, the induction motor is a must as its built for robust usage.
Pump construction should also be considered when looking at machines. There are generally three different types of pump constructions found within the industry.
Constructions to consider are
Motor type and size e.g brush motor or induction motor
Brush motor for small domestic use
Induction motor for more heavier usage e.g large concrete areas and industrial use
Pump construction
Fibre anti lime - light domestic use
Alluminium - heavier usage
Brass - industrial
Be sure to buy the right machine for the right application not just on price.
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