Pressure washers use pumps to direct a powerful jet of water from a nozzle or hose. They’re used in many industries, including the car wash business. Pressure washers offer a variety of advantages over hand scrubbing vehicles, including less labor, faster work, and less abrasion. However, a pressure washer can take the paint off of a vehicle, so anyone using this car wash equipment needs proper training.

Power Ranges

When evaluating the cleaning power of a pressure washer, you’ll be looking at the device’s PSI and GPM ratings.

The GPM rating refers to gallons per minute, or the volume of water provided by the device . This number reflects how fast you can work with the pressure washer and how well it works for rinsing.

The PSI rating refers to pounds per square inch, or the pressure of the water. This lets you know how powerful the stream of water created by the device will be.

Cleaning power is measured by the pressure washer’s PSI rating and GPM rating. Both are important. Make sure you choose a pressure washer that delivers the minimum PSI levels required to clean specific items or surfaces. You’ll want to choose the washer that delivers just enough PSI to clean the surface you are cleaning. Going overboard can result in damage to the items you are cleaning.   For cleaning vehicles, you’ll most likely want a washer that delivers 2,500 PSI. This is strong enough to knock most stains and gunk off of cars without stripping the paint.

Proper Use

Here are a few do’s and don’ts for using a pressure washer in a car wash business:

• Lightly rinse the vehicle and scrub it with a light brush before pressure washing. This will help loosen up dirt and debris.
• Buy a pressure washer with variable settings, so you can adjust the intensity of the water based on the job.
• Don’t use a strong spray on areas of the vehicle where paint is chipped, as it can cause more damage.
• Avoid using high spray settings on old tires, as it may cause them to explode.
• Use your pressure washer on a concrete surface, rather than gravel or dirt, as the device may cause loose gravel or debris to fly up and strike the vehicle.

With an understanding of pressure washers and proper training, these devices can improve the operation of just about any car wash business. Quality products like Giant pressure washer pumps can help car wash businesses realize greater productivity and profits.

Company Bio

Kleen-Rite Corp. supplies quality commercial car wash products and equipment. In business for 50 years, Kleen-Rite Corp. has developed a solid reputation for selling pressure washers, cleaning supplies, and other car wash equipment at highly competitive prices.