So, you’re in the market for a new pressure washer? We understand it can be overwhelming with how many options are out there today. Well, luckily you’ve come to the right place. When selecting a pressure washer, there are two main factors that you need to consider: Water pressure vs volume.
Under Pressure
Pressure is measured by PSI (pounds per square inch) which simply means how much force water leaves the nozzle with. As you might imagine, more force equals more cleaning, but how much is too much?
Just about any machine size PSI can be used and adjusted with nozzle size, but 2000-2500 PSI is fairly average and typically safe for paint & decals.
If going above this recommended range for something really persistent, make sure to test it and perhaps consider using a different detergent to help you achieve your results instead of increasing pressure.
Nozzle size will vary based on the GPM, the PSI of the machine, and desired application PSI. There is also a range of nozzle angles to use based on the desired fan spray.
Turn Up the Volume
Volume on the other hand is the amount of water that leaves the nozzle, so the speed or water flow in other terms. Volume is measured by GPM (gallons per minute). Interestingly, volume is actually more important than pressure when it comes to cleaning trucks.
A general range to use is 4 GPM – 5.5 GPM and is considered ideal for fleet washing due to the consumption of water and detergent. If you’re ever faced with an option of more pressure or more volume when choosing a washer, it’s often best to choose more volume.
Sometimes we get asked if a strong garden hose will do the job. A garden hose can be between 7-19 GPM but only around 40 PSI, so not only are you losing all of the pressure that is needed, but unnecessarily using up to five times as much water. The combination of the right PSI and the right GPM is what helps make cleaning easy and efficient.
Water Pressure vs Volume: Finding Balance
With these tips, you’ll hopefully be able to narrow down your list of power washers or be more selective in your search criteria. There are a lot of choices out there and we know that you want to get it right the first time.
Our team at Hydro-Chem Systems has worked with customers in situations similar to yours every single day for over 50 years. We’re confident we can help you find the right tools for the job at hand and be the right partner to get you there.
Give us an email or call today. Even though we love pressure, there’s zero when it comes to working with our team!
