Operating Source Most pressure washers work the same. A power source, gas engine or electric motor, utilized to power a pump.  The pump is either direct-driven or power transferred by pulleys and belts.  The pump is spun at a given speed to develop a specific volume of water, which is fed to it by tank or garden hose.  The pump pressurizes the water.  The horsepower of the power source determines the amount of pressure.  The pressurized water is then delivered through a hose to a shut off device (trigger gun) and released through a wand. At the end of the wand is a nozzle, which makes the spray pattern.

PSI (Pounds per Square Inch): The pressure of water generated by the pressure washer. Use the PSI rating to help you determine how powerful the water stream will be.

GPM (Gallons per Minute): The volume of water delivered through the pressure washer. This volume will help you determine how fast the pressure washer will clean, as well as how effectively the pressure washer will rinse debris away.

The Energy Developed is Cleaning Power or Cleaning Units Cleaning power is measured by the pressure washer’s PSI rating and GPM rating.  By multiplying GPM x PSI=Units of cleaning power.  This number isn’t always the perfect way to buy a machine.  If you are trying to clean an area with a large amount of dirt then you need a higher volume of water to move that mass.  Simply if I have 2GPM x 10,000PSI = 20,000Cleaning Units.  If I have 10GPM x 2000PSI = 20,000Cleaning Units.  Both the same but one will drill nice little holes in the dirt and the other will move the dirt.
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Determine whether you need hot or cold.  Most applications of cleaning do not require much cleaning chemicals when using hot water.  In most cases your operating speed will be much quicker with hot water vs. cold water.  How ever your cost of the machine will initially be more but in most cases your return on investment should be more readily achieved.

If you are only occasionally trying to clean up then maybe a cold-water machine is all you need.

Don’t buy without having the answers.  Talk to a Hydro Tek Systems specialist   and get the answers before you buy. Call us at 800-274-9376.