4 March 2010, 7:47 am
This is the main “safety” in your power washer system. The most commonly used is the “pressure actuated” type valve. When the pressure gun trigger is released (and there is no water flow) the unloader senses the pressure build up and diverts the water flow from the pump outlet back into the inlet side of the pump. This is called “bypass mode.” Without this critical component this closed-gun situation would build pressure to the point where it would stall the power source, rupture the gun, hose or even the pump itself.
When using a pressure washer there is a built in cooling system: the cool water passing through the pump. This cool water will carry away the heat that the pump generates. When the unloader valve is in bypass mode however, the water begins to heat up. It doesn’t take more that a minute or two before the water in the pump gets to a critical temperature. If this happens, damage starts to occur to the valves and seals. And if the pump is hot, and then cool water is pumped through again, the pistons can crack due to temperature shock. This is why most pumps have a thermal relief valve. Once the water in the system gets too hot, it dumps the water out of the system. If this happens, the thermal relief valve will have to be replaced.
3 March 2010, 8:45 am
For a pressure washer to work, the input in gallons per minute must be greater than the output. The average household garden hose delivers 5 – 10 GPM (you can measure yours with a bucket and stopwatch), so as long as the washer isn’t trying to pump out more than that you are OK.
The next concern is going to be teh quality of the water. You really need to make sure there is a filter in the system before the water hits the pump. At least make sure there is a wire mesh on the end of the garden hose, something that will stop a grain of sand. A few impurities in the water can rip up your pump valves and seals, costing you repair dollars.
2 March 2010, 8:02 am
Next is the core of the system, the high pressure pump. All pumps used in pressure washers are positive displacement pumps, either piston or plunger types. Plunger pumps are the most efficient and have a longer life, therefore they are the most commonly employed pumps found on a quality power washer today.
There are duplex and triplex plunger pumps; the triplex pump has become the most popular due to the smoother flow it creates. Plungers are typically made of ceramic, a very hard material with excellent wear resistance and heat tolerance characteristics. These plunger are driven up and down by a crankshaft or a wobble plate, depending on the type of pump.
These pumps are incredibly robust and virtually trouble free when properly maintained. There are only a few parts that will wear down over time (mainly the valves that hold the pressure and the seals around the plungers), but when taken care of, these pumps last for many, many years.
What is proper maintenance? Don’t let water freeze in the pump. That can cause all sorts of damage including fractured plungers. Don’t let debris into your water supply; use an inline water filter in the water supply hose before it hits the pump. Don’t let hot water in the pump (See the unloader valve section for more information on hot water).
1 March 2010, 7:40 am
The power source found on most pressure washers will be either a small, gas powered engine or an electric motor. In a direct drive pressure washer they are coupled directly to the pressure pump via a mounting flange. Think about your lawn mower. There is a power source that turns a blade that cuts the grass. Replace the blade with a pump and you get the basic idea; the power source turns a shaft that powers the pump.
Gas powered engines used in a pressure washer almost always operate at 3400 RPM (rotations per minute). Because of this high operating speed, your water supply will need some pressure behind it to get the pump primed and operating correctly. A typical garden hose hooked up to a household spigot will suffice. Gas powered machines will be able to give you a higher pressure output than electric, but are limited to working outdoors due to the noise and fumes. But they are highly portable since they are not bound to an external power source.
Electric motors can operate at different speeds, but will usually be 1750 RPM. As such, they can pull water from a standing water tank with little back pressure. Electric motor driven pressure washers are more compact and lighter, but are not as powerful as gas powered units. They can also be used indoors, due to the lack of fumes and quite operation.
Which is better? Well, that depends on how and where the pressure washer will be used. Typically, pressure washers with an electric motor are well suited to home owners. They are lightweight, portable, easy to use, and have the cleaning power to get the job done. As long as you have a power outlet close to where you are cleaning, then there are no problems.
Gas powered pressure washers can crank out the power, in terms of PSI and GPM. These machines are the right choice for people who are looking to use it often to remove heavy grime. They are heavier, but can be used anywhere outside since their power source travels with them.
28 February 2010, 8:36 pm
PressureWasherFinder.com is a website dedicated to helping you find the right pressure wash equipment, whether you are an occasional user with no experience or a professional who cleans all day everyday. This blog is an outlet for us to try to keep you updated with what is new. Whether that news is about new product, new happenings in the pressure wash industry, using a pressure washer, or information on marketing a local business.
“Wait,” you say, “information on marketing a local business?” Yes. We have some good marketing people who have some good ideas on using the internet in marketing. When we find interesting information that will help a company in the pressure wash business, we’ll post it here.
Our first series of posts will be on the topic of pressure washer basics. Hopefully this will be a good starting point for people who have never or rarely used a pressure washer.
Thanks for visiting.
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