After being involved in the pressure washing business for decades, I can honestly say most people do not give enough thought to the subject of finding the “right pressure washer” for their purpose.
Going back a few years, there really wan’t too much of a variety of pressure washers to consider when shopping. But today, no matter if you are searching for a power washer machine for just occasional home use or a full blown commercial model for professional use, your choices are almost unlimited.
The key is to determine exactly how your machine is going to be used.
For example, if you are a typical homeowner who will only use their machine around the house doing light duty jobs such as washing siding or decking, then you should consider the electric machines. These machines are light weight, very portable and cold water under sufficient pressure should clean any common area of the home. But always remember that the machine has to be connected to an electrical outlet. So you are limited in so far as the distance from your electrical outlet as to where you will use your machine. Another point many homeowners worry about is using electrical power in what will normally become a very damp environment.
If you have a larger property and want greater portability I always recommend stepping up to the entry level gasoline engine powered models sold in most any Home Depot or Lowes home store. The entry level machines will range anywhere from $275 to $350 but will offer more power and mobility. Although you’ll always be concerned the location of a water source, you don’t have to worry about finding an electrical outlet. Plus, I’ve found even the basic machines are capable of using a larger variety of accessories and will last for years. A basic machine of this type will also serve as a great backup machine for any professional use.
If you are starting a pressure washing business, then you should shop with a commercial pressure washer machine in mind. But the first question to ask yourself is if you will be “regularly” washing heavy equipment or engines? In most cases this type of work accounts for less then 1% of any pressure washing business. Personally speaking, I think I’ve had one such job in the last five years as an example. This is important because equipment companies will want you to buy their expensive hot water machines and lead you to believe this will be an important part of your business. In the real world, hot water machines are significantly more expensive then cold water machines and are much more expensive to repair. In fact, over the years I’ve heard of many professionals who have these machines sitting in their garages since they don’t want to waste money on repairing equipment they never use.
For the other 99% of your business, a good quality cold water machine will perform flawlessly for years with proper care. You’ll find some great machines in gasoline and diesel power for just over $1000. Remember this will be the work horse of your business and be running several hours each day so this is one area a professional should invest their capital.
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
