High Pressure Washers

The best option of pressure washer really depends on your own specific circumstances, and what you’re planning on using your new pressure washer for.

There are lots of great pressure washer brands available in Australia, and as experts in the field the team at Melbourne Jetter Centre by Crockford & Co is familiar with all of them, as well as their unique advantages and limitations.

Talk through your requirements with our expert team and we’ll help you select a model with the right features to ensure all your pressure washing tasks can be completed to the highest quality, and with minimal effort and risk.

As a result of the high pressure produced, it is vitally important to familiarise yourself with your pressure washer and learn how to use it correctly before you begin. Failure to do so means you risk the powerful jets of water breaking windows, stripping off paint, making a hole in your wall or, as a worst case scenario, causing injury to yourself or somebody else.

Whatever type of pressure washer you have, you should take into consideration the following advice:

Read the manual to discover how to operate your particular machine.

Prepare your surroundings by removing trip hazards, covering breakables such as light fittings on the wall, and closing all windows to prevent water from making its way indoors.

Avoid using the zero-degree nozzle. It creates the highest pressure by producing a narrow jet of water, meaning it is also the most likely to cause damage. It is highly unlikely you will ever need to clean anything that requires that level of pressure, so the safest option would be to either discard it, or store it separately from the rest of the machine.

Wear protective gear including enclosed shoes, safety goggles, work gloves and ear protectors to keep yourself safe not only from getting wet, but also from the possibility of injury.

Be aware of your hands and make sure they never come into contact with the water as it jets out from your machine. Failure to follow this advice could result in injury.

For electric pressure washers, you’ll want to avoid extension cords because, as we all know, electricity combined with water can equal electrocution.

For a gas pressure washer, remember never to use it in an enclosed area because the exhaust emits carbon monoxide, which can be dangerous if allowed to build up in the air. Instead, try to ensure a well ventilated space.

Typically, pressure washers are fitted with gas-fuelled engines or electrical motors, which power a pump that extracts water from your garden hose before pressurising it.

The water stream created is then forced out through a narrow nozzle, with the pressure creating enough kinetic energy to effectively blast, loosen and remove dirt from whatever surface you are cleaning. The fact that it’s only water means with the right pressure level you won’t risk damaging the surface.

The actual pressure created by a pressure washer can be measured using Pounds per square inch or PSI. The right PSI for any given task really depends on the nature of it. It will vary depending on the type of surface or object you’re cleaning, and the type of dirt you’re trying to remove. Units that can generate a greater PSI offer more power and can therefore remove stubborn dirt, like oil. The following offers a basic guide to the levels of pressure you’ll need to get from your machine for particular jobs:

• BBQs, bikes and cars – 1,500 PSI
• Decked areas – 2,600 PSI
• Boats, property exteriors and driveways – 3,000 PSI
• Removing graffiti or stripping paint – 4,000 PSI

If you don’t anticipate ever needing to clean anything that might require more than 2,500 PSI, you can save money by purchasing a machine with a maximum PSI of 2,600, rather than a more expensive model capable of generating up to 4,000 PSI.

If you’re looking for a way to save time and remove the hassle from washing your car, a pressure washer can offer the perfect solution. Used right, it will leave your vehicle looking as good as new!

Firstly, connect your machine to the power, and make sure no cables are exposed to water.

Attach a garden hose to your machine, and double check it for annoying kinks that could interfere with water flow.

Connect the hose to the machine’s lance and select a PSI of around 1,500.

Once you’ve turned your machine on, you’ll want to remain a safe distance from the car (around 5 to 10 ft.) until you are feeling confident about using it.

Start by rinsing your car using sweeping motions, starting at the top and working your way down. This approach will ensure that dirt isn’t simply moved from one area of the car to another.

After rinsing, either connect the foam spraying lance if detachable, or use the machine’s inbuilt hose, and insert it into a bottle of you preferred type of carwash cleaner. Once connected, cover the vehicle in foam, again working your way from top to bottom.

With the foam applied, letting the car sit for a few moments will give time for the soap to work its magic and loosen the dirt. Following this, simply disconnect the foam and rinse again.

If you notice that some stubborn dirt remains after rinsing, you can attach your machine’s auto brush, using its soft bristles to loosen any remaining grime without the risk of damaging to your paint work.

Rinse once more, and then chamois your vehicle to remove any remaining water from its surface, and provide a polished look.