How Does a Pressure Washer Work?

Many of us have tried so many things such as soap, scrubs, and awful chemicals that don’t provide the desired results. No more experiments and no more waste, this time. When it comes to sanitation, just get a pressure washer. Most people have a common practice of using this washer on daily basis. These powerful hoses jet out around about 100 to 200 times the air pressure surrounding us, cleaning things with water. Generally, the normal air pressure is 1500 to 3000 pounds per square inch or PSI. They work effectively on drives, patios, lawn furniture, grills, and all other types of outside grime.

Components of a Pressure Washer

This is really only a water pump that is powered by an electric motor. It also has a less complicated system than what people think. The pump accelerates the ordinary water to high pressure and then expels it from a hose at a certain speed with the help of a trigger gun. There is the flexibility of an attachment of various cleaning things at the end of the hose.

Main Components Present

  • Water inlet: It connects the pressure washer to the main supply. There is a filter that stops the dirt from entering the washer that causes the clogging of the system. It would be better if your washer consists of some grits.
  • Electric motor or gas engine: Most of the pressure washers utilize household electricity, but the bigger varieties are powered up by compact gasoline engines. These are similar to the lawnmowers.
  • Water pump: This is the core of a pressure washer. It is somewhat like a hand-operated floor water pump. The special feature is it is operated at high speeds.
  • High-pressure hose: This duct runs out from the washer and leads to the cleaning attachment you opt to use. A high-pressure hose is strengthened by the wire mesh and two or more layers of high-density plastic. Generally, the safety edge on pressure washer hoses comes out to be 300%. So, it is estimated that if the washer rates as 200 PSI, then the hose should be able enough to tolerate pressure of at least 6000 PSI.
  • Cleaning attachment: There are various options in this regard. You can opt for a spinning wand spray or a simple trigger gun. or you can also utilize a rotating brush for the scrubbing purposes of your device. There is one more aspect: the force of water aids in driving the power attachments.

Working Principle of a Pressure Washer

A summary of the working principle of a pressure washer is as follows:

  1. There is a specific hose in a bottle or container through which the flow of detergent is carried out.
  2. Cooperation occurs inside it when the cold water flows in from a tap or faucet to another hose.
  3. The pressure washer is powered by a diesel motor or an electric motor.
  4. As it is powered by the motor or engine, so the detergent is being drawn by the impeller or water pump and it is well mixed with the water. There is a feature mostly present in washers that have the tendency to heat up the water to 50 to 70 degrees Celsius or 125°F to 155°F.
  5. The pump has a main function of spraying out the hot, soapy water through the reinforcing and increased pressure vent hose, or considering the attachment that is fixed at the end of this hose. The narrow nozzles aids in increasing the pressure of the water jet a bit more. This nozzle is present at the edge of the attachments. As compared to the low-pressure pipes, the high pressure of the jet has the biggest advantage in saving approximately 80 percent of the water than needed by the prior one. The low-pressure hosepipe is more economical only if the water is metered.

Complex System

The above-mentioned working strategy is the simplest one. In reality, a pressure washer has got a more complex system inside it. There are many pumps that are best suitable for start and safety purposes. The experts have deliberately designed the specific wet parts in such a way that they get maximum insulation from every electrical part out there and hence give maximum protection. There are many schematic diagrams available for the easy illustration of the working principle of a pressure washer. The brief overview includes:

  1. Main external plastic housing
  2. Electric power
  3. Insulating foil made up of plastic: This gives the security that no water enters into the parts of the motor.
  4. The water pump is powered by the central shaft of the motor that spins at a relatively high speed.
  5. Reciprocating water pump: The basic mechanism is that the motor rotates or turns around whereas the pump tricks back and forth, i.e., reciprocates and converts the water to a pressurized jet. There are many pump units in the pressure washer.
  6. Pump piston: The water is pumped up to high pressure inside this chamber.
  7. Water duct: This has the basic function of sucking up the water and then pumping it out.

Disadvantages and Remedies

  • They squirt a lot of water at the same time, so if you do not have a proper drainage system, it may cause problems.
  • They produce a sharp loud noise of about 75dBA to 90dBA.
  • If you don’t use it carefully, you may create a huge mess while using it. You could unintentionally end up spreading dirt and filth all around.
  • Although these are highly insulated, it is preferable to use RCD for precautionary measures until you are utilizing a gasoline-powered motor.

Final Words

This article will provide you with all the details about pressure cleaning and which apparatus to use for this. This not only saves your energy but also reduces water usage up to 80% more than the other hosepipes. We hope you find it helpful!

Leave a comment