Repair & Improve

Power Washers

Making Water Work For You

by Tom Kraeutler

For faster yet effective cleaning, you can do a thorough job with a power washer.  You need the punch that a pressure washer packs to really clean the dirt and grime that can build up on your home over time. 

Pressure Washers are a good tool for cleaning a variety of items in and around the home such as cars, boats, patio furniture, decks and sidewalks.

Where to begin?  Just remember the “Three Ps” when looking at pressure washers:

• Water Pressure – how much pressure you needs depends on the type of job you’re going to be doing.  The basic light-duty pressure washer (1300 – 2000) is 30 times as powerful as a garden hose but a good choice for cleaning boats, cars and siding.  Medium-duty (2000 – 2600 PSAs) is great for cleaning grease and grime or heavy-duty (2,700 – 4,000 PSI) for stripping surfaces for repainting.
• Gallons Per Minute –  The larger the GPM , the more surface area a pressure washer can clean.  A higher GPM flow rate can clean a larger area faster.
• Price – Pressure washers range in price from a low of $100 to more than $2,000.

For additional tips on how to choose the right power-washer for the job and what to look for, check out www.pressurewashersdirect.com. The site offers diy-ers the opportunity compare more than 60 brands and models from leading manufacturers side-by-side.  Comparing features helps take some of the guesswork out of determining what model is right for you and in your price range.

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