My Handy House Man

Pressure washers are expensive, but they can be used to clean buildings, patios, driveways, cars, and trucks. You can even use it to power wash your house’s walls to make them look new.

But just like every other machine, you can expect your pressure washer to have some maintenance issues. Unfortunately, they are not cheap to repair. These tips will show you how to maintain your pressure washer and how to prolong the lifespan of your pressure washer and save you from costly repairs. If you own a pressure washer, you must know how to take care of it.

Clean the Pump After Each Use

Keeping water in the pump may cause mineral deposits and rust, which can damage pump seals and cylinders (a $200 fix). It’s a good idea to rinse the pump after each use—a simple and short process.

First, buy a pump lube/antifreeze product. Attach the garden hose connector to the pump’s inlet and push the trigger until bubbly liquid shoots out the other port. That indicates the pump is adequately lubricated and freeze-protected.

After each operation, flush: Connect the water hose outlet to the lubricant. For roughly two seconds, press the trigger until water and the solution goes out the opposite port.

Store Your Pressure Washer Properly

Pressure washers for home use have tiny engines expected to last for a maximum of 200 hours.  However, following these easy pre-storage procedures may prolong their life.

Empty the crankcase oil and replace it with new oil, even if you use it for only a few hours. Then, turn the engine to cover all internal components with clean oil and new anti-corrosion agents. This will give the optimum storage protection and prepare the machine for the following season.

Always begin running the washer with a new treated gas and clean fuel. Start the engine and let the treated gas reach the carburetor.  Then, drain the tank and run it to dry. Before storing the pump for the winter season, properly flush it out. If you keep the pump with water and store it in a cold place, the engine may break. 

Use Hose Extension

When cleaning a large surface, you definitely want to pick a pressure washer that can go the distance. Most residential pressure washers come with a 25-ft. hose. That means you must lug the machine up the stairs to wash your deck or constantly shut down the engine so you can move the device as you work. These steps can cause damage to the machine.

Continue reading “Prolong the Lifespan of Your Pressure Washer with These Simple Tips”

Adding a deck to your home can significantly increase its resale value. In some cases, many real estate agents that a handsome wood deck is responsible for a third of the value of the property. Not only that, but a well-maintained wood deck can be a beautiful and inviting addition to your home, perfect for entertaining guests all year round.

Pressure washing your deck regularly is the best way to keep it looking its best and increase its value. If you’re thinking about selling your home, or just want to enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest, be sure to keep your deck clean and well-maintained. Also, make sure to avoid common mistakes when cleaning a wood surface.

How to Keep Your Wood Deck Looking Gorgeous?

Wood, like any other home element, is prone to natural and man-made damages over time. This wear-and-tear course can make your home look dull overall. Keeping the deck clean using best maintenance practices is the best way to removing moss and making it look nice and shiny for years.

Cleaning treatments and brighteners often work nicely. If your deck uses South American hardwood like Tigerwood or Ipe, you can use a pressure washer. A basic garden hose with a sprayer can do the job well. But if you live in a place where the deck always gets dirty, having a pressure washer can always go in handy.

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Pressure washers are helpful tools for almost anything, from cleaning deep-seated dirt and oil to removing paint. But buying the wrong brand might cause more trouble than help. How will you know that what you’re buying is right for you?

Don’t worry; we got you covered. We tested some of the most popular brands today to see which stand out. You can use our suggestion to determine which model can help do your cleaning tasks.

Types of Pressure Washers

Before giving you our top picks for the best pressure washers in 2022, you have to know their different types. Each type has its own pros and cons that you must consider.

Continue reading “Top-Rated Pressure Washers in 2022”

Pressure washers are handy equipment for everything, from heavy-duty cleaning to paint peeling. But if you buy the incorrect model, it can also slow you down. How will you know that you’re buying the best brand with all the features you need?

Don’t worry, we’ve already done the legwork. We tested some of the best brands in the market today and compiled them in the list below. You will get a detailed evaluation of each pressure washer, considering design, power, pricing, features, and warranty.

This guide can help you make an informed decision. Whatever you’re searching for, there’s the right pressure washer for you.

Commercial Pressure Washer Types

Before naming the best commercial pressure washers this year, you must understand the general types of pressure washers. The contrasting styles are:

• Direct Drive Pump vs. Belt Drive Pump
• Gas vs. Electric Powered
• Hot vs. Cold Water

Let’s discuss their differences first.

Direct Drive Pump vs. Belt Drive Pump

A direct-drive pump is one where the pump is connected to the engine through a hollow shaft. This design means that the pump and the motor operate simultaneously, and it is near the hot engine. For these reasons, the pump gets faster. Over time, this mechanism reduces the life of the bearings and other components.

But because it has a simple design, this model is less costly and smaller than a belt-drive pressure washer. Choose a direct drive pump washer if you will use it as secondary equipment since it tends to overheat quickly. On the good side, it’s cheaper, portable, and efficient.

On the other hand, a belt-drive pump is attached to the engine drive shaft through a belt and pulleys. This design enables the pump to revolve at a third of the speed of a direct drive model. Since the pump is located away from the hot engine, this mechanism allows the pump to operate cooler, extending its lifespan.

But because of the additional friction of the belt and pulleys, it is less efficient. Also, the extra pieces need more maintenance. This type is ideal if you’re going to use the washer for a long time.

Gas vs. Electric

If your pressure washing area is near an electric outlet all the time, choose electric. It takes less maintenance, produces less noise, and is great for indoor cleaning. You can save time and money since you don’t need refueling. The disadvantage is that it’s less capable than the gas-powered model.

Get gas if you are looking for maximum portability. If you’re a mobile professional cleaner, a gas type is more convenient because you can clean outdoors. Gas also provides excellent power at a lower cost.

Hot vs. Cold Water

Hot water cleans more quickly because it induces oil and grime to come off the surface. The soap “pulls” the grease and dirt away from the surface. Hot water plus the pulling power of the detergent give the most complete clean in the shortest time.

However, working with the burner and fuel might be challenging. Also, the hot water production features cost $800 more than the cold-water counterpart.
Continue reading “Top 5 Commercial Pressure Washers for 2022”

Choosing a pressure washer that fits your needs is not that easy. You need to keep an eye on many things like its purpose, frequency of use, surface material where you will use it, and your budget. You also have to understand contrasting features like hot or cold water, electric or gas, and belt or direct drive technology.

If you mix all the factors above with other specs like PSI (pounds per square inch) and GPM (gallons per minute), choosing becomes even more complicated. To make it easier, you have to understand the pros and cons of each type, like in the case of a direct vs. belt drive pressure washer.

Direct Drive Pump

A pressure washer with a direct drive pump has simpler mechanisms. In this setup, the pump is directly mounted on the motor.

Pros

• In terms of price, the direct drive is cheaper than the belt drive model. The reason is apparent- because it doesn’t have extra parts used by its counterpart.
• It’s more compact, which makes it ideal if you’re going to work in a tight space.
• Provides powerful blasts to quickly get rid of stubborn dirt.

Cons

• More vulnerable to wear and tear. Because of its design, the direct-drive pump spins faster compared to the belt drive pump. Since the pump is connected directly to the motor, the engine’s number RPM (revolutions per minute) is the same RPM on the pump. This mechanism tends to wear out the pump faster, resulting in more maintenance costs on your part.
• Things that happen to the motor directly impact the pump, and vice versa. If the engine is damaged, there is a big possibility that the pump is also damaged.

Continue reading “Direct vs. Belt Drive Pressure Washer: Pros and Cons”

Using a high-powered electric or gas pressure washer has its truly effective advantages, but not in terms of cleaning tight spaces. It also becomes challenging if you do not have sufficient storage capacity in your house. But it’s a different story when you’re using a portable pressure washer.

Portable pressure washers aren’t that superior compared to high-performing gas or electric power washers, but they can still yield promising cleaning outcomes. They’re also much more practical in terms of mobile cleaning.

Compact cleaning equipment such as these portable washers has a lot of benefits. They’re customarily made out of lightweight materials. Moreover, these portable washers are affordable – you can even purchase a good-quality washer that’s less than a hundred dollars!

If you’re a fan of pressure washers, you’ll doubtlessly love these highly practical portable pressure washers as most of them are still efficient and powerful enough to provide rigorous cleaning results. Some of them are even more convenient to use as they’re cordless!

In this article, you’re about to read some of the top-pick portable pressure washer models you can obtain in the market. Enjoy reading!

Top 7 Portable Pressure Washers

• Sun Joe SPX1000

When purchasing a portable pressure washer, what you’re usually going to check first is its versatility. Well, that’s actually the first thing that makes the SPX1000 by Sun Joe preeminent.

It works ideally with medium-duty cleaning tasks. It’s exceedingly effective in terms of cleaning deck, concrete, cabin, patio, windows, driveway, sidings, boat, patios, etc.
Its spray wand is also adjustable and it’s incorporated with an easy-twist nozzle that allows you to effortlessly control the water pressure just by using one hand.

The 5-amp electrical motor that’s integrated with this portable power washer produces a maximum water pressure amount of 1450 PSI. Its paramount flow rate is 1.45 GPM.

Another cool feature that makes this unit an excellent selection is its Total Stop System (TSS) function. It’s a safety feature that allows the device to disable the pump automatically when the trigger isn’t activated. The purpose is to extend the pump lifespan and save energy.

Other details:

Product weight: 5.3 kilograms
Maximum pressure rate: 1450 PSI
Maximum flow rate: <1.45 GPM
Source of energy: Electric

• Sun Joe SPX200E

This multifunctional portable washer is also designed by Sun Joe and it’s also ideal for perfecting cleaning tasks such as washing concrete, windows, patios, and many more. It’s powered by a high-performing 10-amp motor that can produce up to 1350 PSI of water pressure.

It also has a safety feature called the Total Stop System to help the unit save energy and expand the pump’s longevity. It comes with various accessories such as a 20-feet top-grade hose, garden hose connector (adapter), 35-feet GFCI-protected cord, and an extension wand.

Other details:

Product weight: 4.15 kilograms
Maximum pressure rate: 1350 PSI
Maximum flow rate: 1.45 GPM
Source of energy: Electric

• Sun Joe SPX6000C-XR iON Cordless Pressure Washer

If you’re searching for a well-equipped portable power washer that you can rely on cleaning hard-to-reach cleaning areas, this cordless pressure washer by Sun Joe is undoubtedly a wonderful selection.

Its 600W motor can generate a maximum water pressure of 1160 PSI. Its topmost flow rate is 0.79 GPM. No wonder it’s a good option for light-duty cleaning tasks. It comes with an innovative detachable 5.3-gallon bucket with an 8.5-ounce detergent container.

This cordless washer is also incorporated with 4 quick-connecting spray heads. It also comes with a 2.8 feet extension wand, 20-feet top-quality hose, garden hose connector, and a needle clean-out gadget. If you wish to clean with ease and convenience, this might be a fantastic option!

Other details:

Product weight: 8.9 kilograms
Maximum pressure rate: 1160 PSI
Maximum flow rate: 0.79 GPM
Source of energy: Battery-powered (Cordless)
Continue reading “Why Using a Portable Pressure Washer is Beneficial”

Manually scrubbing or brushing a specific dirty place can drain you physically, and here’s why pressure washers are invented. What a pressure washer can masterfully do is blast thick dirt and grime from your decks, patio, garage floors, parking lot, etc.

Its high-pressure water spray is so powerful that it can efficiently eliminate paints, molds, chewing gums, from each surface in no time. If you wish to eliminate grease or oil buildup, using a hot water pressure washercould be the perfect choice as it uses the power of hot water, soap, and high pressure. Yes, a pressure washer is quite necessary and useful.

If you’re already getting tired of cleaning outdoors manually, well, maybe you’re starting to think about whether to buy or rent a pressure washer. In this article, we’re going to talk about what’s more practical – to buy or rent a pressure washer?

What are the benefits of obtaining your very own pressure washer? Will it be worth it? Are there any benefits too if you’re just going to rent one from time to time? Let us discuss these questions.

Advantages and disadvantages of buying a pressure washer

To be quite honest, pressure washers are pricey especially if you’re going to select a very high-powered unit from a well-known brand. Nevertheless, acquiring a pressure washer can produce numerous benefits too. What are those?

• If you are the type of person who loves to preserve the utmost cleanliness of your outdoor area, purchasing a pressure washer will be much more practical. Having to rent a pressure washer 5-7 times or more every year, it could already pay to own a decent one.
• If you wish to rent a pressure washer from a rental center, it’ll cost you around $50 to $100 a day. An electric-powered washer can be bought from around $100 to $450, and a gas-powered washer can be bought from $300 to $700. If you’re going to rent one once every month, it’ll cost you around $600 to $1000! So why not just obtain one?
• Having a pressure washer lets you freely clean your targeted objects or places in your very own procedure and strategy.
• Owning one can help you discover the uses and features of a pressure washer. You’re free to adjust the nozzles, replace them, without having to worry that you might break them since it’s already your property.
• You can use it anytime and anywhere you want. You can even start your own small business by letting others rent your pressure washer! So in instead of renting one, you can acquire one and let others rent yours. It’ll be like hitting two birds with one stone – you get to have your pressure washer and use it anytime and earn money at the same time. Just make sure to legalize your business.

Yes, there are lots of advantages if you’re owning a pressure washer. What could be the disadvantages?

• These advanced machines require proper engine conservation and room for storing it. If you do not have enough knowledge about maintaining a pressure washer and you have no room for storing it properly, purchasing one could be burdensome.
• If you’re just using a pressure washer very occasionally (like twice or thrice a year), owning one won’t be a wise choice.

Continue reading “Buying or Renting a Pressure Washer – What is More Practical?”