Pressure vs. Water Flow

Pressure washers are common in both domestic and commercial environments and have become an integral part on the upkeep of a property. And on the face of it pressure washers are simple machines. Water is put into the machine and the pumped out under pressure.

But the problem arises in the question of pressure. How much is needed? Will to much damage the surface you’re cleaning? And that’s why we’ve put together a guide.

Pressure vs. Flow

Many believe that the higher the pressure of their machine, the more efficient it is. And surveys have suggested that people are buying pressure washers based merely on the pressure power. But that isn’t the only factor that determines the cleaning power. Volume of water flow is also significant. If for example, you’re cleaning a larger area then you’ll want a higher water flow, but lower pressure. This is because a higher pressure, narrower jet could only clean smaller areas at a time; making the whole process a lengthy one.

With smaller surfaces where grime has built up you would want a high pressure, lower flow volume.  This streamlined jet is perfect for getting into nooks and crannies, but not for cleaning large areas.

Pressure washing inside a property

In some industries it is a requirement to pressure wash surfaces inside. Food factories for example, need to be well kept. Pressure washers can be used to clean away residue, but if the pressure is too high, it could spread dirt to other areas, so a balance must be established. Multi-pressure systems are ideal in this scenario, allowing the user to adapt the pressure to match what they’re cleaning.

It’s more important to be aware of pressure and flow in commercial environments, but domestic users shouldn’t ignore it. If the pressure is too high, you could easily damage the surface you’re cleaning. If you’re unsure what pressure you should use, contact us.