Pressure Washers: Perfect For The Tough Jobs!

Some home cleaning chores are simple and easy: the dirty laundry, the kitchen counter-tops, the bathroom. But some cleaning chores are just too hard for regular cleaning methods to work. And pressure washers are perfect for the tough jobs.

You've seen them before: pressure washers that shoot streams of water at very high pressures - they literally 'blast' your windows, vehicles, furniture and equipment clean of any dirt and grimy build-up. Pressure washers used to found primarily in industry, but new models are now available that are ideal for use by the homeowner and consumer. The consumer models are also easier to use as well as costing much less to purchase.

The basic components of a pressure washer are the following: a pump of some type, a hose (perhaps several - of different lengths), a trigger gun, and at least one spray nozzle (sometimes more). And the models for use at home are easy to lift and easy to move - not at all like their heavier industrial relatives.

Pressure washers for the non-professional (consumers like you and me) pump water at a high pressure, but do not change the temperature of the water that is pumped. The consumer models usually run off of household electricity. The professional models, designed for heavy-duty cleaning, will sometimes heat the water to high temperatures, to remove industrial-strength grime and greasy, oily dirt and stains.

Don't let your kids near your pressure washer - it is not a toy and should never be pointed at another person as if it were a high-tech squirt gun! Did you know that the force of the water from a pressure washer can literally strip skin off the body, or cause blindness if it is aimed into the eyes?

To prevent injuries, you should take some simple precautions. Always wear eye goggles or safety glasses to protect your eyes. Never, never point the stream of water at another person, or pet. And be careful when cleaning - if the surface you are cleaning has lots of loose objects, like stones or pieces of wood, they can fly up and hit someone. And if you are using a professional model - one that heats the water so that it is very hot - be careful not to burn yourself.

Perhaps you've been thinking about buying a pressure washer but are wondering just where you could use it? Well, you can use a consumer model pressure washer for such tasks as cleaning driveways, automobiles, trucks, SUV's and vans (especially underneath), car engines, walkways, basement floors, pools, windows, air conditioners and heat pump units. Once you begin using it, you will think of many more uses.

Most of the pressure washers you are likely to see or use are powered by electricity. This electric power runs a pump that squirts out the water at a high pressure. Steam-type models are sometimes used in industry that are more effective in those environments. If you're short on cash, you can look into purchasing a refurbished unit that looks and performs just like newly-manufactured model.