Gas Powered Pressure Washers Key Terms

Don't succumb to pressure when it comes to pressure washers

If you are looking into purchasing, renting or leasing a gas powered pressure washer to clean the exterior of your building or even your fleet of trucks, have some knowledge of the lingo used in power washer discussions. Each gas powered pressure washer is not created equal, so you must make sure you know what your options are.

By taking the time to learn some easy, basic key terms, you can simplify your pressure washer purchase or rental experience.

 

PSI

PSI stands for 'pounds per square inch,' and it refers to the amount of force that the pressure washer puts out.
Try: For a deeper explanation of PSI and a chart that shows what PSI is recommended for typical pressure washer cleaning duties, check out Northern Tool + Equipment Catalog.

GPM

Gallons per minute, or GPM, is the amount of water that flows through and out of the pressure washer per minute of use. The higher the GPM, the faster the pressure washer can clean.
Try: Check out The-Power-Washer-Advisor.com for more information on GPM.

CU

The CU of a pressure washer refers to the cleaning unit. The calculation to determine the CU of a pressure washer is to multiply the PSI by the flow. The higher the CU, the better the cleaning power.
Try: Go to the Home and Garden Guide to read more on CUs and see a CU chart.

Direct drive

A pressure washer that has a direct drive means that it has no gears or belts that control the engine. Therefore, there are less moving parts on a direct drive motor than gear driven motors.
Try: To read more on a direct drive, including it's pros and cons, visit GlobalSpec.

Belt driven

When someone describes a pressure washer as belt driven, they mean that there is an actual belt connecting the engine with the pump on the washer.
Try: Hydro Tek Systems has a large section that discusses belt driven pressure washers vs. direct drive pressure washers.

Nozzle

The nozzle of the pressure washer is the part of the whole system that directs the pressure into the flow that is selected. Nozzles have different openings that can direct the flow of water into different shapes, that will apply different pressure.
Try: You can visit Ultimate Washer to see different nozzle types and find out what each model is best used for.

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