A Pressure washer is a mechanical sprayer that, depending on nozzle size, can be used as a low volume high-pressure water cleaner or a high volume low pressure water cleaner to remove loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles, and concrete road surfaces.
High Pressure Washers are generally capable of producing pressures from 750 to 30,000 psi (50 to 1,200 bar), or more. The use of these pressures depends highly on the application for which it is used. For general purpose cleaning or every day cleaning of buildings, vehicles and roads etc., a high pressure jet washer with 50 bar to 150 bar pressure is adequate. The pressure washers with higher bars such as 700 bar to 1200 bar or above are also used as cutters. They help cut and remove layers of paint, adhesives that have kept depositing over the inner surface of the vessels for a period of months or years. These layers are very tough to remove otherwise.
The basic pressure washer consists of:1 An electric motor or petrol engine that directly drives a water pump
2 A high-pressure hose.
3 Trigger gun-style switch
Several different types of nozzles are available, each useful for a particular application. Some nozzles cause the water jet to be ejected in a triangular plane (fan pattern), while others emit a thin jet of water, which spirals around rapidly (cone pattern).
Some pressure washers, in combination with a particular nozzle, allow detergent to be introduced into the water stream, assisting in the cleaning process.
Most of these pressure washers are made portable by adding a trolley to their design. This makes them very easy to move around with.
Pressure washers are dangerous tools and should be operated with due regard to safety instructions. The water pressure near the nozzle is powerful enough to strip flesh from bone. Particles in the water supply are ejected from the nozzle at great velocities. The cleaning process can propel objects dislodged from the surface being cleaned, also at great velocities. Pressure washers have a tendency to break up tarmac if aimed directly at it, due to high pressure water entering cracks and voids in the surface.
Some high pressure washer are even designed to generate hot water and steam, which can be ideal for loosening and removing oil and grease. In such models, a boiler is added to the design which heats the water to required degree before it is released out with pressure.
