A garden hose with a regular nozzle does not provide enough pressure to wash a vehicle without a lot of scrubbing but is it cost effective to purchase a pressure washer just to wash vehicles? Yes, there is the convenience factor of being able to wash your vehicle in your own driveway but how many washings will it take to recover the investment from purchasing a new pressure washer?When you think about it a pressure washer can wash more than vehicles.

If you have a paved or concrete driveway you can use your pressure washer to wash the driveway where you park your vehicle. The pressure is ideal for removing grease and grime and it will make a concrete driveway appear snow white. While you are at it you might as well wash the sidewalk and front porch too.Tree sap, pollen, mold and grime can leave your home looking dull and dirty. If your home has vinyl siding or is bricked then you can use a pressure washer to wash the gunk away leaving your home looking sharp. If you wash your home on a dry day the runoff water will be good for plants and shrubs next to the house and some water will make it into the lawn.Is your back deck starting to look ragged? Pressure washing prior to priming, painting or staining is excellent for removing dirt. When it rains your deck can be tracked with muddy footprints or paw prints from pets. No problem. Just break out the pressure washer and spray the dirt away.

The pressure will provide a deeper cleaning than an ordinary garden hose.A pressure washer is not a toy water gun to be pointed in the direction of another person. The high pressure water stream could hurt someone.Pressure washers can be gas powered or electric powered. While a gas powered pressure washer provides more mobility an electric one is lighter in weight. A gas powered can be hard to crank and an electric one just needs to be plugged in. A gas powered requires fuel and emits fumes. An electric powered will require extension cords. Both types of pressure washers will require the same length of hose.Pressure washers are rated by the amount of pressure produced and the water consumed. The water pressure produced is generally measured in psi (pounds per square inch) and water consumption is measured in gpm (gallons per minute). The cost of a pressure washer will depend on the type (gas or electric) and the product specifications (maximum pressure and maximum water flow rate). The brand name and component grade will also play a role in the price. An industrial grade product that is designed for commercial use with higher quality components will be more expensive than a product designed for household use.The cost of using a pressure washer includes water consumption and power consumption. The cost of a gas powered pressure washer is easily calculated by keeping track of how much fuel is poured into the tank. The cost of running an electric pressure washer will be added to an electric bill. An electric pressure washer for household use will generally by 120V or plugged into an electrical outlet.

Pay particular attention to the Amp rating. If you are curious about how much power an electric pressure washer will consume compare it against a household item such as a vacuum cleaner. Products with similar ratings should consume comparable amounts of energy.After you purchase your pressure washer and take it home you will find that it has many more uses than simply washing vehicles. Anything that could use a good cleaning is subject to being washed by a pressure washer.