In a recent article on what to look for in a pressure washer nozzle, I wrote at length about the most important features to look for in the nozzle, itself rather than the washer in general. These items included understanding how to read the industry standard code on the nozzle, finding out the spray angle and nozzle diameters. I also went over some safety information relating to how to replace the nozzle. However, we still haven’t gone over the washer units themselves. In this article, I want to focus in on choosing a steam pressure washer.
Before covering steam units in detail, I want to start out by comparing the three main types of pressure washer:
- Cold water pressure washer
- Hot water pressure washer
- Steam pressure washer.
Cold water washers are considered the “weakest” of the three types, suitable for cleaning applications that do not require very much temperature. General dirt removal and other light jobs are ideal for these units. Hot water washers are a step up in power from their cold water counterparts. Reaching temperatures up to roughly 200 degrees fahrenheit, these units will allow quite a bit more cleaning power due to the heat. Additionally, the temperature will allow you to disinfect while you clean, great for applications which involve exposure to germs or other contaminants.
As you might imagine, the steam washer units are considered the most powerful. These units don’t just heat up the water in a predictable way. Instead, they use heavy duty heating coils that can get as hot as 350 degrees fahrenheit. These powerful pressure washers are great for the most heavy duty applications, blasting away stubborn stains and other materials including grease, gum on concrete, etc. Like the hot water washers, the steam units will certainly have some disinfectant properties thanks to the incredibly high temperature.
Although this video is an ad, it also has some great footage of a steam pressure washer in action as well as an informative rundown of important features.
Of course, such temperatures also necessitate even more caution when operating the washer (which really applies to the use of ANY pressure washer). Additionally, it is important to realize that a steam cleaner pressure washer will generate steam AND liquid, effectively dislodging the stubborn material and then washing it away from the affected surface!
The Most Important Considerations In Choosing A Steam Pressure Washer
The first question you should ask yourself is this: Where are you planning on using the washer? You’ll need to carefully consider what power sources you will have access to while using the washer. If you are going to be in a remote location where traditional outlet power is not an option, you will need either gas power or some other source that does not require the unit to be plugged in. Here are some options:
- Propane
- Gas
- Gas-powered power generator
Another locational issue is whether you are washing indoors or outdoors. If you are going to be outdoors, you will probably be fine with just about any pressure washer, assuming it generates enough pressure and temperature to get the job done. If you are going to be washing something indoors, you will need to be sure that you comply with any applicable laws which govern types of washing that can be performed, especially if the cleaning is occurring in an eatery or other location where strict health and safety regulations apply.
Last, you should be sure to properly match your steam unit to a pressure washer wand. Just make sure that the coupling that comes with the wand will fit your pressure washer, and that the wand can handle the kind of temperatures that steam washers can generate.
Local and Federal Regulations
Speaking of regulations, make sure you are aware of the laws not only on the federal level, but also in your local area! You do not want to risk undergoing stiff fines from an organization such as the EPA because you accidentally allowed pressure washer backwash to get into a sensitive area such as a neighbors pool or the sewer system.
Portability
This really applies when you start looking at the bigger washers for industrial applications. Many of these products allow trailer hitching, but this does not apply universally. Be sure to check up with the manufacturer of any products you have your eye on to assure yourself that you will be able to transport it when the cleaning day comes. If there is no trailer hitch, you should make arrangements to have a large truck or trailer to haul the equipment. While this may seem too obvious to mention, I’ve seen this vital consideration skipped over too many times not to know better. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in lots of technical information that you forget the most obvious things.
Solid Construction
Again, this applies mostly to industrial applications since these scenarios offer the most chances for damage to expensive equipment. If you are just going to be using the steam pressure washer at home, then normal construction quality is fine. However, a full on job site is going to require something a little more rugged. I recommend high schedule steel with as few plastic parts as possible. Pressure washer guns are generally long and slender, and no matter how solidly they are built, they are also easy to miss on a quick visual scan of the environment. If you back up a truck over the washer gun, you will be thankful that you got something made from quality components. Although this consideration means you might have to spend more money, you can see how the investment will pay for itself on a busy job site.
Safety Features
This is extremely important with steam washers because of the high temperatures involved. One fantastic feature that I see included on some of the higher end washers is the auto shut off valve which senses irregular swivels in the gun, turning off the steam feed so as to minimize (and hopefully avoid all together) any injury to people on the job site.
Readily Available Replacement Parts and a History of Dependability
If your steam washer breaks, will you be able to easily replace any defective parts? This is an extremely important question if you are purchasing a new washer as a long term investment. Take a moment to visit the company’s website to see if you can conveniently and quickly get new parts delivered. Furthermore, do a little research into the history of the company, itself. It used to be that tools were made with lots of care from high quality parts, and this was the norm. Nowadays, even the biggest companies are cutting corners because it’s expensive to do business in an economic downturn. That’s not to mention the fact that it’s common for these companies to cut corners and save on their bottom line. Most importantly, though, you want to choose a company will still be in business long after your initial purchase. Obviously, none of us have a crystal ball, but you can at least make some educated guesses based on the appearance of the company website and the experiences of other customers.
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If you’re looking for a device to clean indoors, too, you might want to check out this water vacuum buyer’s guide.
