There’s a lot to like about hot water pressure washers considering the many cleaning scenarios that benefit from their inclusion. Industries that rely heavily on hot water pressure washers include: automotive, education, healthcare, heavy equipment, pavement cleaning, paint removal, graffiti removal, ice dam removal, food processing and manufacturing. Read more to see how they work and how to pick one that’s right for you.
An eco-friendly method of cleaning, hot water pressure washing is often completely effective without the use of harsh chemicals. Hot water, in combination with high pressure, speeds up the removal of stubborn grime, grease, oil, and other substances on hard surfaces by dissolving them. Resistant to cold water, these substances emulsify at the molecular level under hot water.
In addition to clearing hard surfaces of stubborn substances, pressurized water also serves as a disinfectant. Hot water at temperatures between 180°–200° is a great sanitizer, so if you’re looking to disinfect hard surfaces in addition to clearing them of stubborn residue, a hot pressure washer is a great solution.
Electric hot water pressure washers are ideal for cleaning interior hard surfaces because they don’t emit fumes and won’t disturb students, employees, patients and others in the vicinity with either noise or fumes. Electric pressure washers operate quietly, usually only up to 78 dB. This level of noise is on par with a residential washing machine, so you don’t have to wear hearing protection when you use one. In addition, electric hot water pressure washers are relatively lightweight, so they’re easy for most people to handle, maneuver and transport from space to space. Electric hot water pressure washers are also safe and affordable. They can be plugged in almost anywhere and started with the push of a button. There’s no need to continually fill a fuel tank with flammable fuel. Last but not least, the cost of a typical hot water pressure washer is usually less than a gas model — not only upfront but also long-term because you won’t incur the cost of fuel for each use.
If you need a hot water pressure washer primarily for cleaning large outdoor pavements or several pieces of heavy equipment parked outdoors on a daily basis, a gas unit might be the way to go. With one of these powerful machines, you can make quick strides over large areas without being tethered to a plugin. Gas hot water pressure washers are considered more durable than some electric models. They usually weight more and are more robust. Designed to cover large areas on a regular basis, they tend to be heavy-duty and long-lasting. They are also designed with a capacity to replace parts, which contributes to their longevity. Because gas hot water pressure washers produce emissions, they aren’t as eco-friendly as electric units. Gas-powered units require frequent refills, oil changes, new filters and checkups for maximum performance.
If you’re unsure as to whether an electric or gas hot water pressure is best or your cleaning needs, you might want to check out hybrid models. It is important to note here that just as gas models cannot be used indoors, neither can hybrid models. Whatever type of hot water pressure you choose, you can get a unit that delivers upwards of 3,000 PSI.