Pressure washing can be time saving and can help the environment by saving water and energy. The pump is the most important part of the washer, which delivers the water, or the cleaning liquid, with high pressure. However, one must be careful in choosing the right pump, depending on the intended use of the washer.
There are basically three types of pumps for use with pressure washers:
For economic consumer pressure washers, there are pumps which some manufacturers offer in ready made kits to replace or upgrade the pump in some models. They are designed in mind for those with little or no experience or mechanical knowledge. They are designed more for those washers used at home or for occasional use. They can also be personalized to fit certain brands and models, so the user only has to do is move aside the old plumbing, remove the old washer pump and install the new one. These pumps are intended for giving the home pressure washer more power and PSI. However, it is important to remember that these pumps are intended for occasional home use only.
If the washer will be used in a light commercial environment, and will be given a more than occasional use, then there are more powerful pressure washer pumps capable of increasing the output volume and pressure. These pumps are usually made of ceramic coated stainless steel pistons, angular contact ball bearings and are made of heat treated steel for extended life.
Generic commercial or industrial pressure washers might require some adjustments to take full advantage of them, and for these washers with a heavier and more frequent workload it is recommended to use a hi-grade washer pump. These are highly specialized and are designed to be used in particular situations: chemical spills cleaning, high temperature, oil cleaning or any other extreme conditions. For these types of pressure washer pumps, the user should definitely turn to the dealer or manufacturer for proper installation and configuration of the washer and pump.
