This Old House Reviews Team

A quality pressure washer helps you remove stuck-on dirt and mold from your home’s siding, driveway, and sidewalks, restoring their natural color. While all pressure washers are designed to clean your home’s exterior, not all models come with the same features, water pressure, and power source. That’s why the This Old House Reviews team did the research for you, searching for the best pressure washers on Amazon. Here are our top five selections.

 

Buyer’s Guide

Before purchasing a pressure washer, it’s important to consider how each model’s accessories and specifications affect its user experience. Here are four factors to consider when buying a pressure washer.

1. Power source

Most pressure washers are gas- or electric-powered. Gasoline-powered pressure washers deliver more power than their electric counterparts, though they require more maintenance because of their motor’s oil use. Electric-powered pressure washers use power cords instead of engines, which causes them to be more affordable and lightweight. However, electric-powered pressure washers are typically weaker than gas-powered models.

2. PSI

Pounds per square inch, or PSI, refers to how much pressure the washer’s stream of water creates. The higher the PSI, the more powerful the pressure washer. Most gas-powered pressure washers deliver around 3,000 PSI, while most electric models generate around 2,000 PSI.

3. Weight and portability

The weight of a pressure washer directly affects its portability. Most gas-powered models are over 50 pounds, which is why they’re usually equipped with heavy-duty wheels to make transportation easier. Electric power washers are lighter and come with small wheels or a handle for transportation.

4. Spray nozzles

The spray nozzles used by a pressure washer are typically color-coded and correspond with a certain angle degree and water pressure. For example, most pressure washers use red to signify the zero-degree nozzle, which sprays a high-pressured, direct stream fit for cleaning stains off of hard surfaces like concrete.

 

 

FAQs

• Can you pressure wash your car?

Yes. However, it’s important that you use the right pressure washer and correct setting so that you don’t strip or damage your car’s paint. Usually, a 40-degree nozzle is suitable for cleaning your car’s exterior.

• What is a good PSI for a pressure washer?

The PSI depends on the types of jobs you want to tackle. If you’re cleaning your home’s siding or driveway, a high-powered gasoline pressure washer with around 3,000 PSI is recommended. However, if you want to complete small jobs around the house like cleaning patio stairs or your car, a lower-powered model around 2,000 PSI is adequate.

• How can you lower the PSI of a pressure washer?

To reduce a pressure washer’s PSI, increase your distance from the material you’re cleaning or switch nozzles. Nozzles with a greater angle degree have a lower PSI because the water is less concentrated.

 

 

The This Old House Reviews team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the This Old House Reviews team.