Electric Pressure Washers: Features, Pros, and Cons
Keeping the exterior of your home clean can seem like a full-time job, especially if you live in an area that’s prone to dust and debris from the weather. Although the simplistic garden hose has long been the ally of homeowners who want to keep their exteriors clean, the pressure washer is the real go-to power tool for home improvement. A pressure washer has the power and water capacity behind it to take care of the jobs that a garden hose simply can’t, from built-up dirt and grime to thick oil spots on your driveway.
The pressure washer has become the must-have tool for do-it-yourselfers, but the gasoline models can be quite expensive. Electric pressure washers have made their way onto the scene as a more affordable alternative, that still offers a comparable amount of cleaning power. Because pressure washers traditionally use a gasoline engine to apply pressure many consumers are skeptical about using an electric model. For comparison, a gasoline pressure washer will typically put out anywhere from 2,000 to 2,800 psi of pressure, whereas an electric model will do 1,300 to 1,700 psi.
What do these numbers mean to the average person? Not much, unless you are trying to tackle an extremely dirty job or you are trying to remove the siding from your home. For the general consumer electric pressure washer is a cost-effective option for most everyday cleaning jobs, offering a reasonable blend of cleaning power and affordability. An electric pressure washer could be the end of your frustration when it comes to trying to keep your deck or exterior clean, so in this features deep dive we are going to take a look at the pros and cons of an electric pressure washer.
what are the advantages Of An Electric Pressure Washer?
Pressure washers have been around for a while now, but the electric units are a new addition to the market. Gasoline pressure washers are traditionally very powerful which makes them great for sandblasting, driveway cleaning, and cleaning unwanted gunk and grime from the siding on your home. The issue with gasoline pressure washers is that they are noisy and they use gas which can be expensive and you need to fill the thank multiple times during usage. Because of these drawbacks, an electric pressure washer is a much more suitable choice for the suburban homeowner for several reasons that we are going to delve into.
The first advantage of an electric pressure washer is the fact that it is silent, which means that the unit generally doesn’t make a sound until you pull the trigger. The noise advantage is great if you live in a densely populated area, or you want to spray something late at night but you were unable to before because of the noise that a gasoline-powered pressure washer emits. Noise is a major complaint about owners of the gasoline pressure washers, but the quiet operation is not the only positive attribute of an electric pressure washer.
Emissions reduction is another benefit of the electric pressure washer because unlike a gasoline model the electric pressure washers give off zero emissions being electric.Portability is another strong advantage of the electric pressure washer, with the unit lacking a heavy gasoline motor transporting an electric pressure washer is a much simpler task.
The electric pressure washer requires little to no upkeep, which makes these models the perfect companion for someone who has little to no technical experience. If you want to wash your deck off or your vehicle with a lot more power then a traditional garden hose, the electric pressure washer is an excellent choice and it has many advantages over a gas model.
What are the potential downsides Of An Electric Pressure Washer?
With any type of electric power equipment, there are going to be advantages and disadvantages that you’ll want to consider when it comes to making a choice, and the electric pressure washer is no different. First and foremost you’ll need to realize that this is not a gas-powered piece of equipment, and as such it will lack the same amount of power. Less power is one of the major drawbacks to the electric pressure washer because less power means that you’ll have less pressure when it comes to spraying. You’ll also notice that the electric pressure washers are a lot less durable than their gasoline-powered brethren.
You’ll need to take a lot more care when it comes to storing an electric pressure washer because the unit generally made of lighter plastics instead of metal such as the gasoline models are. Gasoline-powered pressure washers are generally made of metal because the units are housing a gasoline-powered engine, and thus the spray nozzles are metal instead of the plastic ones that you’ll find on the electric-powered units. Still, the biggest drawback to the electric powered pressure washer is the fact that you’ll need to be close to a power outlet.
Gasoline-powered pressure washers can roll just about anywhere that you want to take them, but an electric model needs to be near an extension cord. The main drawback to this is going to be for consumers who have a lot of property to cover because the electric pressure washer is limited to a power outlet these consumers might be better off choosing gasoline-powered one.
Conclusion: Why an electric pressure washer works well
Buying a pressure washer should be a thoroughly thought out decision because you need to examine your needs before you settle on an electric or gasoline-powered unit. For the average home-based consumer who just wants to spray off a deck or wash a vehicle the electric powered pressure washer is a stellar deal, you don’t have to worry about purchasing gasoline or weatherizing the unit during the winter months. If you have more specific needs such as a commercial application the electric pressure washer is not going to be powerful enough or versatile enough to fit your needs, not to mention the unit is constricted by a plug outlet. So, in conclusion, you’ll want to choose the pressure washer that best fits your daily needs.
Resources— Consumer Reports, Gear4Wheels
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