How dose a Pressure Washer Works?

The pressure of a pressure washer is about 100-200 times the pressure of the air around us (i.e. 1500-3000psi). They do well on patios, driveways, lawn furniture, grills and a variety of other exterior dirt. Let's take a closer look at how they work!

There's a good scientific reason why water makes things so clean: its molecules are slightly electrically polar (positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other), so they tend to stick to things themselves. Detergents (chemical soaps) help water work better by breaking down gums and oils and making it easier to wash away. But no matter how hard you try, some dirt on the ground won't budge.

This is where a pressure washer comes in handy. It uses a narrow jet of high-pressure hot or cold water to remove dirt. Because the water is so fast, it hits the dirty surface with high kinetic energy, constantly hitting dirt and dust like a tiny hammer. It's just water, though, so it won't damage most hard surfaces. That being said, it's a good idea to test the pressure washer in an inconspicuous area before starting work to make sure it won't damage the surface you're cleaning. Be sure to read the instructions before using your pressure washer!

Pressure washers are not as complicated as they sound. It's really just a water pump driven by an electric motor. The pressure washer sucks in regular water from the faucet, the pump accelerates the water to high pressure, and it shoots it out of the hose at high speed via the trigger gun. You can install various other accessories on the end of the hose to clean different things.

Well, these are the main components you'll find inside a pressure washer:

Water inlet: The hose that connects the pressure washer to the mains water supply. There is usually a filter at the entrance to stop dust and debris from entering the washer and clogging the work. The least desired gravel in the pressure washer--especially because they may rush out at high speed from the other end!

Electric motor or gas engine: Most smaller pressure washers use a domestic electricity supply, but larger models are powered by a compact gasoline engine. The engine is similar to what you'd find in a lawnmower (usually rated around 3-4kW or 3.5-5.5HP). 

The gas engine model is great if you're working outdoors where it's hard to find an electrical supply (or where long trailing cables would be dangerous or inconvenient). An electric motor or engine is designed to power the water pump.

Water pump: This is the heart of a pressure washer. It's kind of like a hand-operated subterranean pump -- only it's driven at high speed by an electric motor (or gas engine) instead of your hands. When the engine pulls the pump one way, it sucks water from the faucet; when it pushes the pump the other way, water is ejected in high-pressure jets. The pump is designed to handle a flow of approximately 4-8 liters (1-2 gallons) per minute.

High-pressure hose: This is the tube that runs from the faucet to whatever cleaning accessory you decide to use. An ordinary pipe cannot withstand the high pressure of the water flowing through it. High-pressure hoses are reinforced with wire mesh and have two or more layers of high-density plastic. It's important to use a hose with a higher pressure rating than the pump in your pressure washer, but if your washing machine comes with its own hose, you don't need to worry about it.

Generally, pressure washer hoses have a safety margin of about 300%, so if your washer is rated at 2000psi, your hose should be able to handle at least 6000psi.

Cleaning attachments: Depending on what you're cleaning, you can switch from a simple trigger gun (essentially just a valve that lets water through only when you squeeze the handle) to a rotating stick spray or a rotating brush to scrub the drive. Power attachments are driven by the force of the water flowing through them.

Some pressure washers have additional features. Water and electricity are not a good combination, so many electric washing machines have ground fault circuit breakers, also known as residual current devices (RCD), built into the power supply to protect you in the event of an electrical fault. Most washing machines work the same way and do the same thing, but the more expensive ones tend to run at higher water pressure (and have better cleaning power).

The above is the working principle of a high-pressure washer, if you want to buy a high-pressure washer, please contact us.

OO Power Machinery CO.,LTD is a professional custom garden tools and spare parts supplier. Our products include pressure washers, chainsaws, brush cutters, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, backhoes, power sprayers, generators, and spare parts. Our products have European CE, GS, EMC, EPA, EURO-V, and other certificates. We always provide quality products, great prices, and good service