Pressure Washer vs Power Washer

The terms power washing and pressure washing is often used interchangeably as they both perform the same function. They both use the high pressurized water to remove dirt and other materials from the hard surface. Although they are similar processes, but there is a certain difference between the two processes.

Pressure Washer-

Pressure washer is similar to the power washer. They both use the same amount of pressure. But the slight difference between them is the temperature of the water. The Pressure washer uses the normal temperature of the water, unlike the power washer which has heated water.  In the pressure washer, the entire cleaning depends upon the temperature of the water. The pressure washer is a perfect choice for regular marks, dirt, and stains but it might not work on tough stains. A pressure washer is best suitable for home jobs like cleaning fences, driveways, walkways. They can be used for small places where the dirt is not too much.Pressure washers can are also a perfect choice to clean your car.

Power Washer-

Power washer is similar to any pressure washer but the difference in the machinery is that a power washer contains a heating element. A power washer uses a high pressurized hot stream of water to remove the dirt and materials from the hard surfaces. The added heat of water makes it easy to remove the substances which otherwise are very difficult such as chewing gums from sidewalks. Power washing is also great at handling grease stains on driveways and garage floors. A power washer is a heavy duty machine and is used for commercial purposes. It is recommended to use the power washer on hard surfaces as it can cause damage to soft surfaces because of hot water and high pressure.   

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer-

• Gas or Electric Motor-  There are both types of pressure washer available in the market and they have different mechanism to pressurize the water. An electric motor generates less power as compared to a gas motor, however, it is quieter than the gas motor. The gas motor provides you more energy and pressure which aids to the quick cleaning process. They quickly clean large areas such as decks, driveways, and sidings. On the other hand, electric motors are more portable and lighter and suitable for small cleaning areas like patio furniture and small decks. They are basically handy for removing stains. The drawback that the electric motors have is that they can cover the limited area because of the electric cord. Usually, gas-powered motors are recommended because of their efficiency in cleaning.

• Power Specifications-You can determine the power of a pressure washer with the help of certain technical terms. The most basic term is Cleaning Unit(CU). The cleaning unit is the product of PSI( Pounds Square Inch) and GPM(Gallons per minute). If you are buying a pressure washer for the home purpose, then the CU in the range of 6000-8000 is perfect for you.

• Nozzle- The pressure washer may vary from different brands, but the nozzles which are used are universal. They come with color code and serves different purpose according to their colors. Nowadays, an adjustable nozzle is also available in the market in which you can change the setting and can use it according to your purpose. So, technically it is all-in-one nozzle. Customers are preferring it over the color-coded traditional nozzles.

• Portability-It is better to buy a pressure washer that is portable. It will ease the process of cleaning and makes the job easier. Look for a pressure washer which is easy to roll around and store.

• Hot water or Cold Water-There are both hot and cold washers available today. The thing is that cold water washer relies only on the pressure of the water to clean the surface. Cold water washers are also more portable and less complicated. The advantage that hot water washer has over the cold water is that it can remove tough stains easily like that of grease. They also clean faster and use less detergent. Hot water washers are a great choice for commercial and industrial use but if you are looking for a washer for home purposes, then you should go with cold water pressure washer.