Gas Or Electronic Power Washer?
Until recently, only professional cleaning services used power washers. This
year, homeowners are buying them in huge numbers.
They're the new must-have for those who already have a riding mower in the
garage. Before you head for the hardware store, however, decide how you will use
the power washer so you know how powerful a machine to buy.
For tough jobs such as cleaning the siding on the house, removing grease spots
on garage floors, or stripping paint from a fence, you'll need 2000 to 3000
pounds per square inch (PSI) of power driven by a gas engine. They cost $250 to
$500.
For lighter duty, electric models have 1000 to 1500 PSI and cost $100 and up.
They have an adjustable nozzle. To begin, you set the nozzle wide open and be at
least a few feet away from what you're cleaning. You can move closer or close
the nozzle tip somewhat to achieve the effect you want.
Product testers for Business Week say safety must be considered. Keep
power washers away from children and wear shoes and safety glasses.
Lower PSI models are good for cleaning dirt from cars, lawn furniture, and
first-floor windows. Indoors, they can be used to clean soap scum and mildew
from tile in a shower stall.
The gasoline engine models are best for bigger projects, like washing boats and
second-floor windows. They have a wide swath, which means you can clean
driveways three times as fast as you could with an electric model.
A gas-powered washer requires more maintenance and takes more skill. A new user
could put grooves in a redwood deck or punch a hole in wooden siding. And they
require more maintenance than electric models.
