Pressure washers come in a lot of different strengths, which are measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). If you’re looking for a pressure washer, it’s a good idea to take PSI into account; with a pressure washer, there is such a thing as too much power. A stream that’s too powerful can damage fragile or soft surfaces and objects. Also, the more pressure you have, the more collateral spray you’ll have as well. So, it’s important to have a good plan for how you’ll be using your pressure washer.
Electric pressure washers usually have about 1200–1900 PSI. These are ideal for most home cleaning applications like washing your car, grill, patio furniture, and smaller decks or patios.
Higher-grade, gas pressure washers have about 2000–3000 PSI, and are better for heavier jobs like cleaning large decks and patios, the siding on a house, boats, or utility vehicles. If you do a lot of off-roading with your truck or ATV and get it caked with mud and dirt, you’ll want one of these, but if you use a pressure washer to wash your car, use a low-pressure nozzle.
If you’re using your pressure washer to strip flaking paint, you want as much pressure as possible. Commercial and industrial grade pressure washers boast streams of up to 4000 PSI. Don’t use this on your car, as it can dull the clear coat on your paint. These washers are able to remove graffiti from most surfaces.
Remember, a lot of the actual pressure of your stream has to do with the nozzle you use. Most pressure washer nozzles are color-coded:
As a general rule, you should use the lowest pressure nozzle that can still get the job done. If you use too high of a pressure, you could cut or scratch the surface you’re washing. For more information on which pressure washer is right for you, check out our Pressure Washer Buying Guide.
