A pressure washer is an effective cleaning tool, but not all pressure washers are equal. They range from very light duty units to industrial strength machines. Before you buy a particular unit, you need to decide what type of job you’ll be using the washer for.
You can get a boost to your pressure washer effectiveness by adjusting the temperature of the water. Hot or cold water, use whichever you prefer based on your pressure washer cleaner. There are many things that affect your pressure washer’s effectiveness, such as the type of surface you are cleaning, dirt and grime, temperature outside and temperature of the water in your pressure washer tank. The main thing that affects cleaning ability is the amount of heat in water.
Hot Water Pressure Washers
Hot water pressure washers use hot water to clean surfaces, so they are ideal for removing stubborn stains that a cold-water model won’t be able to remove on its own. The heat allows the detergent to penetrate deeper into the surface of the object being cleaned, which makes them great for removing heavy oil stains from garage floors and industrial facilities. For example, if you have an oil leak in your car’s engine or transmission, a hot water model will be able to remove the oil stains by simply spraying them with hot water and detergent solution before wiping them dry with a towel or rag.
Cold Water Pressure Washer
A cold-water pressure washer is the most common type of machine you’ll find at home improvement stores, hardware stores and even some department stores.
Cold water pressure washers have a lower operating temperature than hot water models. This means they can be used all year round without causing damage to wood or other materials that can be damaged by extreme heat. The lower operating temperature also means that they’re less effective at removing heavy dirt and grime than their hot water counterparts but they still make quick work of most tasks around your home such as cleaning decks, walkways, driveways and patio furniture.
Using Hot Water in a Cold-Water Pressure Washer
When you have a cold-water pressure washer, it is possible to use hot water in the spray gun. This will increase the amount of pressure that can be generated by your pressure washer, but it will also make the process more difficult. The main reason for this is that hot water weighs more than cold water and will take up more space in the tank of your pressure washer. This means that there will be less room for air, which means less air pressure will be generated by your unit when you switch to hot water.
The best way to handle this problem is to start out with cold water and then turn on the hot water once you have reached maximum power and are ready to clean something dirty. The extra weight of the hot water may slow down your rate of cleaning somewhat, but at least it will give you a chance to complete your task before having to refill your tank again.
Conclusion
Whether you are looking for a pressure washer to clean your driveway or pool, you will want to consider a hot water pressure washer versus a cold-water pressure washer. It makes sense that if you can use less energy and heat the water, you will be able to save money and the environment. To some, cold water may serve the purpose. But as explained in this article, using a hot water pressure washer is more cost efficient, better for the environment and better at cleaning.
What makes these two types of hot water and cold-water pressure washer different from one another is that the cold water one can work only in a limited range of temperature. The water has to be below 140 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid damage and each machine requires a minimum amount of water needed for it to work. Otherwise their cleaning range is not any of a huge difference unless when it gets to cleaning stains. Check out on Giraffetools collections some of the best available pressure washers.
