If you are thinking about a pressure washer and have not had experience with them in the past, there is probably some terminology you may not be familiar with. Understanding these terms can make shopping for a pressure washer and pressure washer parts much easier. You will know what you are looking at instead of just reading the box and wondering. The following will look at some of the common terms identifying different pressure washer parts and features.
An adjustable pressure regulator is the part or the pressure washer that allows you to vary the pressure of the spray. An adjustable spray or multi-reg nozzle will allow you to adjust the angle of the spray with a turn of the tip. This is an important feature in a pressure washer because it allows you to apply cleaning solutions or chemicals at a low pressure.
An axial cam pressure washer uses a cam to convert the rotary motion of the motor into the reciprocating motion of the pumps pistons. This type of pressure washer has fewer parts than other types and is typically less expensive.
Allowing for a longer pump life is the belt driven system, which uses a system of pulleys and belts to slow the speed of the pump. Some efficiency is lost due to the additional friction caused by the belts and pulleys. There is also additional maintenance in keeping the belts adjusted.
The plunger is a primary pressure washer part that moves back and forth between the rubber seals to create the flow and pressure of the system. Industrial grade pressure washers use ceramic plungers because they are very smooth and do not wear out the seals as quickly.
The chemical injector is what allows chemicals or soap to be injected into the water stream which results in faster and easier cleaning. Without the chemical injector the operator must switch to a special soap nozzle.
In a direct drive pressure washer the pump is connected directly to the engine; the pump and the engine spin at the same speed. This system is very simple, having few moving parts, making it less expensive. The drawback to this type of system is that the get more wear and tear which causes the pump to wear out quicker.
An easy start adjustable unloader eliminates the pressure in the pump when you start it making the pressure washer easier to start and causing less damage to the starter motor. Pressure washers with a gear reduction box between the motor and the pump run at about half the speed of direct drive pumps. This type of pressure washer requires less maintenance because the valves and seals do not require replacement as often.
An important feature of an electric pressure washer to look for is a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) which keeps the user from accidental electrocution. And finally, the power of the pressure washer is measured in gallons per minute (GPM); the greater the GPM, the faster and more powerful the cleaning capacity of the unit.
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