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Consider a few things before buying that pressure washer

Consider a few things before buying that pressure washer

Operating Source Most pressure washers work the same. A power source, gas engine or electric motor, utilized to power a pump.  The pump is either direct-driven or power transferred by pulleys and belts.  The pump is spun at a given speed to develop a specific volume of water, which is fed to it by tank or garden hose.  The pump pressurizes the water.  The horsepower of the power source determines the amount of pressure.  The pressurized water is then delivered through a hose to a shut off device (trigger gun) and released through a wand. At the end of the wand is a nozzle, which makes the spray pattern.

PSI (Pounds per Square Inch): The pressure of water generated by the pressure washer. Use the PSI rating to help you determine how powerful the water stream will be.

GPM (Gallons per Minute): The volume of water delivered through the pressure washer. This volume will help you determine how fast the pressure washer will clean, as well as how effectively the pressure washer will rinse debris away.

The Energy Developed is Cleaning Power or Cleaning Units Cleaning power is measured by the pressure washer’s PSI rating and GPM rating.  By multiplying GPM x PSI=Units of cleaning power.  This number isn’t always the perfect way to buy a machine.  If you are trying to clean an area with a large amount of dirt then you need a higher volume of water to move that mass.  Simply if I have 2GPM x 10,000PSI = 20,000Cleaning Units.  If I have 10GPM x 2000PSI = 20,000Cleaning Units.  Both the same but one will drill nice little holes in the dirt and the other will move the dirt.
Click here to see more charts and information about pressure washing.

Determine whether you need hot or cold.  Most applications of cleaning do not require much cleaning chemicals when using hot water.  In most cases your operating speed will be much quicker with hot water vs. cold water.  How ever your cost of the machine will initially be more but in most cases your return on investment should be more readily achieved.

If you are only occasionally trying to clean up then maybe a cold-water machine is all you need.

Don’t buy pressure washers without having the answers.  Talk to a Hydro Tek Systems specialist   and get the answers before you buy. Call us at 800-274-9376.

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  • Hot Water Pressure Washers

    Hydro Tek hot water pressure washers are designed to tackle the toughest messes wherever they may occur. Our products feature high-quality stainless steel construction, simple controls, and an innovative Spiralast™ heating coil that improves efficiency and reduces your fuel costs. We manufacture the Spiralast™ coils right here in our facility using a proprietary cold rolled process and robotic welds for exceptional strength and unimpeded flow. Our Spiralast™ lifetime warranty is the ONLY lifetime heating coil warranty in the industry.

  • Advantages of a Hot Water Pressure Washer

    Simply by heating up the water, a hot water pressure washer delivers dramatically improved cleaning power compared to a cold water machine. Hot water pressure washers are especially useful for cleaning sticky, greasy, or oily surfaces, because they will loosen the dirt much faster without the large amounts of soap, detergent, or other cleaning chemicals that must be used with a cold water system.

  • Hot Water Pressure Washer Applications

    A hot water pressure washer is essential for any cleanup job involving a sticky, greasy, or oily mess, as well as for applications where a surface must be sanitized. With a variety of models available, including self-contained mobile units with gas, diesel, or electric power, Hydro Tek hot water pressure washers can go anywhere and clean anything. Some common applications include heavy equipment cleaning, vehicle cleaning, graffiti removal, restaurant hood vent cleaning, and livestock facility cleaning.

Quality & Innovation Since 1985

Hydro Tek

From simple beginnings in 1985, Hydro Tek has grown to become the most trusted name in the pressure washer manufacturing industry.

How did we do it? By continually focusing on quality and reliability as the key to customer satisfaction, and by incorporating the latest technologies into our design and manufacturing processes.

By 1991, we were using computer-aided drafting systems to refine our product designs and improve efficiency. In 1997, we brought the power of computers to the shop floor by incorporating laser-cutting and other CNC manufacturing machinery, and in 2001 we began focusing on improving efficiency through the latest manufacturing techniques. The end result has been superior products delivered at a superior value to our customers. Through the next decade, we look forward to fulfilling our vision of making our products the "obvious choice" for all your industrial and commercial cleaning needs.