Sometimes when looking at pressure cleaners you can find there is a large range to choose from. Choosing what machine is right for the application you want is very important, so the more information you're armed with when purchasing, the better.

First of all water flow (referred to as liters per minute or LPM) that the machine pumps is one of the most important things to look at. The more liters per minute gives an indication of the time it would take to do a job. As an example, you could compare the water flow from a garden hose as opposed to a fire hose. Therefore the time you want to take to do the job is governed by the liters per minute the pressure washer pumps.

The higher the water flow the better cleaning effect and end result you will get as water is the element that actually does the cleaning. It is a common belief in the market that the bigger the pressure the better the machine is and the better cleaning performance is achieved, however this simply is not the case. Pressure cleaners delivering 10 liters of water per minute at an operating pressure of 1600 PSI will clean a lot better in less time while achieving greater results than a machine delivering 7 liters a minute at 2000 PSI. The story with a pressure cleaner is really about the water flow rate.

The second element to look at in combination with flow rate is the pressure which is needed to remove whatever it is you're cleaning e.g dirt, grease, mould. Whilst we've talked about flow rate being important, it is the combination of flow rate and pressure which gives you the results you are wanting. A pressure cleaner delivering a flowrate of 10 liters per minute at 1500 PSI will not clean as well as pressure cleaners delivering 10 liters at 2000 PSI which is different again to a cleaner delivering a flowrate of 7 liters at 2000 PSI.

The next thing to think about is how much work you have for the pressure washer for example cleaning around the house car and boat or in a business using the pressure washer three or four hours a day. This is where the manufacturing parts of the motor and pump need to come into consideration so you get what is suitable to you.

Typically, there are two types of motors which are used on most machines. There is the brush motor and the induction motor. Brush motors are found in cleaners which should be used for light application and not be run for hours on end. If heavy application and usage hours are what is required, the induction motor is a must as its built for robust usage.

Pump construction should also be considered when looking at machines. There are generally three different types of pump constructions found within the industry.
Constructions to consider are

Motor type and size e.g brush motor or induction motor
Brush motor for small domestic use
Induction motor for more heavier usage e.g large concrete areas and industrial use

Pump construction
Fibre anti lime - light domestic use
Alluminium - heavier usage
Brass - industrial

Be sure to buy the right machine for the right application not just on price.