Pressure washing

A home-use pressure washer

A pressure washer is a mechanical device that uses high-pressure water to remove mold, grime, dust mud and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles and concrete road surfaces. Equipment can be rented or bought that produces pressures of 4000 PSI (around 276 bar) or more.

The most basic pressure washer consists of:

• a motor which directly drives a water pump
• high pressure hose
• trigger gun

Just like a garden hose nozzle is used to increase the outflowing pressure of the liquid, this machine adds its own power to force high pressure, when a regular nozzle would slow the flow, due to its restricting nature. Note that the pump does not draw more water from the pipe to which the washer is connected than that source can provide; therefore, the water supply must be adequate for a given machine to be connected to it: its flow must be equal, and should be superior, to that of the washer, so that the pump never be starved (which can damage it, see Cavitation).

Several different types of nozzles are available, each useful for a particular application. Some nozzles cause the water jet to be ejected in a triangular plane, while others emit a pencil-thin jet of water, which spirals around rapidly. Most nozzles attach directly to the trigger gun.

Some pressure washers, in combination with a particular nozzle, allow detergent to be introduced into the water stream, assisting in the cleaning process. Two types of chemical injectors are available, a low-pressure injector and a high pressure injector.

Pressure washers are dangerous tools, and should be operated with due regard to safety instructions. The water pressure near the nozzle is powerful enough to strip flesh from bone. Objects in the water supply can be ejected from the nozzle at great velocities. The cleaning process can propel objects from the surface being cleaned, also at great velocities. Pressure washers have a tendency to break up asphalt if aimed directly at it, due to high pressure water entering cracks and voids in the surface.

Most readily available consumer units (commonly found either online or at hardware stores) are electric or gas powered. The electric ones plug into a normal outlet, and use/produce cold water. Some models can generate hot water, which can be ideal for loosening and removing oil and grease.

Uses

A pressure washer cleaning oil-logged asphalt

In its extreme high pressure form it is used in many industrial cleaning applications requiring surface layers removed from some materials as well as dust free cutting of some metals and concrete. High pressure water at medium pressures with the aid of special chemicals aids in the removal of graffiti. This process (especially when the water is hot) is used as a quick rinser of the softened graffiti. Sometimes people use a pressurized mixture of air/sand or water/sand to blast off the surface of the vandalized area thus etching the surface making it extremely difficult for anyone to ever use high pressure cleaning as a follow up process. Sandblasting when used in graffiti removals often overcleans a surface and is capable of leaving a permanent scar on the building surface. Compare to sandblasting.

Other names

In Australia the Pressure Washer is commonly called a Gernie.

External links

• The Power Wash Network. Pressure Washing Community / Forums - Educational and research site,with contractors from around the world. FREE pressure wash Bulletin Board / Forums
• Pressure Washers - Educational and research site, has tips on comparing pressure washers
• Projects - Before and after ( picture gallery )
• Sanblast With Pressure Washers - Information about sandblasting and pressure washer equipment