Pressure washing or power washing is the use of high-pressure water spray to remove loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles and concrete surfaces. The volume of a mechanical pressure washer is expressed in gallons or liters per minute, often designed into the pump and not variable. The pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch, pascals, or bar, is designed into the pump but can be varied by adjusting the unloader valve. Machines that produce pressures from 750 to 30,000 psi (5 to 200 MPa) or more are available.
The terms pressure washing and power washing are used interchangeably in many scenarios, and there is some debate as to whether they are actually different processes.
A pressure washing surface cleaner is a tool consisting of two to four high-pressure jets on a rotating bar that swivels when water is flowing. This action creates a uniformed cleaning pattern that can clean flat surfaces at a rapid rate.
Hydro-jet cleaning is a more powerful form of power washing, employed to remove buildup and debris in tanks and lines.
Areas of use
Pressure washing is employed by businesses and homeowners to reduce allergies, minimize hazards, and improve aesthetics. A pressure washer is used to clean surfaces such as:
- Parking lots
Depending upon the surface to be cleaned, higher or lower pressure should be used, as well as the appropriate nozzle.
Pressure washer nozzles alter the direction of flow and velocity of the water. Nozzles allow users to reach a greater distance or apply more pressure to a difficult to clean surface, however, they can be dangerous. Nozzles are color coded for easy identification, with black nozzles covering the widest degree (65°) and red nozzles covering the least (0°). Great care should be taken when using a 0° nozzle as it can cause injury to both the user and passerby, alongside damage to surfaces.
- Briggs & Stratton – American manufacturing company
- Kärcher – German family-owned worldwide company that is known for its high-pressure cleaners
- Nilfisk – Danish cleaning equipment company
- Reverse graffiti – Method of creating images on surfaces by removing dirt
- ^ "Flow Rate is Key When Choosing A Pressure Washer". goodway.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Hochdruckreiniger Test". bautomatik.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ Blaxter & Russell; J. H. S. Blaxter; Frederick S. Russell (1984). Advances in Marine Biology, Volume 21. Academic Press. p. 33. ISBN 0-12-026121-9.
- ^ "Pressure Washer Safety". cdc.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- Steel Structures Painting Council (1995), Surface Preparation and Cleaning of Steel and Other Hard Materials by High- and Ultrahigh-Pressure Water Jetting Prior to Recoating. Pittsburgh, PA. SSPC
- U.S. Water Jet Technology Association, Recommended Practices for the Use of Manually Operated High-Pressure Water Jetting Equipment, St. Louis, MO: US Water Jet Technology Association, 1987