FAQS: Pressure Washers

General

• How does a pressure washer work?

  Water from a suitable supply is supplied through a garden hose to the inlet
  of pressure washer. An electrical motor driven high pressure (piston driven) pump
  increases the water pressure through a high pressure hose which delivers to
  the pistol and the lance. With the trigger of the pistol open, the water leaves
  the nozzle of the lance as a sharp, concentrated jet with high cleaning power.
  

• What size pressure washer do I need?

  Electric pressure washers are suited to clean small to medium-sized projects
  like car washing and outdoor furniture very well.

  Petrol powered pressure washers, which are generally more powerful than
  electric models, and are very well suited to cleaning larger projects like decks,
  large driveways, patios, exterior walls, etc.

• I have lost my manual. Where can I get another one?

  An archive of discontinued model instruction manuals will be available shortly.
  Otherwise, all current models have an instruction manual available to download
  as a Acrobat PDF on their web page.
  

Ratings

• What does the term BAR mean?

  This is similiar to PSI but is the older historical measurement which is
  still commonly used for rating a pressure washer.
  
  1 BAR = 14.5 PSI
  

• What does PSI mean?

  Pounds per square inch.
  
  This is the measurement of water pressure.
  The higher the value the better the cleaning efficiency.
  

• What does L/min refer to?

  Litres per minute.
  
  It refers to the amount of water flowing out of the nozzle every minute.
  
  
  

• How are pressure washers rated?

  Pressure washer are generally rated in several ways:

  • Operating Bar
  • PSI
  • Litres per min (l/min)
  • Wattage (W)

• What is the difference between the rated and maximum ratings?

  Generally manufactures will quote the "Maximum Rating" on their packaging.
  This is the initial specification when the trigger is first pulled which is different to the
  actual specification when the pressure washer is operating which is known
  as the “Rated” value.
  

Cleaning

• What are some common applications for a pressure washer?

  • House exterior cleaning
  • Painting surface preparation
  • 4WDs
  • Boats
  • Trail / Dirt Bikes
  • Garage floor
  • Fences
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Lawnmower / Garden equipment
  • Rubbish bins
  • Decks
  • Patios
  • Driveway and paths and brick walls

• How do I know which spray setting to use?

  The actual cleaning is done by the nozzle or tip of the lance.
  The spray angle of the nozzle is adjustable to fit the cleaning need.
  The wider the spray, or fan, the lower its ability to cut through dirt.
  A zero-degree nozzle provides intense power.
  
  Fan angles of 15 to 25 degrees cover larger areas, combining stripping
  and washing power. Fans of 40 degrees or more are generally used for
  simple washing. Rotating nozzles are used for some cleaning applications.
  
  

• How far away should I stand from the dirty surface I’m trying to clean?

  I always recommend standing at least 1 metre away when you begin pressure washing.
  Remember, you’re using highly pressurised water which can gouge or fray surfaces.
  So it’s always best to start further away from the surface, using the widest spray nozzle.
  You can always move closer or adjust the nozzle, if you need to adjust the cleaning action.

Features

• What does TTS stand for and what does it do?

  Total Stop System is a flow sensitive switch that switches on and off the pump
  when water flow is detected. This prevents the motor from over heating and
  the safety cut out switch (if fitted) from activating.
  

• Which electric pressure washer motors are better - induction (brushless) or standard brush?

  Induction motors are very quiet and long lasting with no wearing parts.
  Please refer to our pressure washers models regarding what type of motor is standard.
  

Water Conservation

• Instead of using a garden hose, can I draw water from my pond or my holding tank?

  Pressure washers can to be hooked up to a garden hose or draw water
  from a bucket as long as the water is clear from impurities.
  It is not recommended if the water is dirty and if  full of contaminants as
  they can clog and stop your pressure washer from functioning properly.