Bigger can definitely mean better when it comes to pressure washing. The standard pressure washer and wand combination is ideal for dozens of cleaning chores around your home or business. But if you’re looking to clean larger areas faster, more consistently and with a more uniform finish, a surface cleaner may be the perfect accessory for you.
Surface cleaners attach directly to your pressure washer, giving you the power to quickly clean a variety of surfaces, from concrete to asphalt. A surface cleaner is a great way to save time and effort when cleaning driveways, pool decks, patios, greasy factory floors, gas stations, parking lots, garages and more.
Surface cleaners feature multiple nozzles (usually two to four) mounted on a rapidly rotating swivel bar concealed under a sturdy housing. With multiple nozzles, as opposed to a single nozzle, a surface cleaner delivers consistent, uniform cleaning with less striping.
Width is a key consideration and one that you will most certainly notice first while shopping surface cleaners. Surface cleaners are available in varying widths and in single-, double- and even triple-head designs. Smaller diameter surface cleaners and single-head designs may be easier to maneuver in tighter areas whereas multiple head surface cleaners dramatically cut cleaning time.
The minimum flow and pressure ratings required to efficiently run a surface cleaner is important for maximizing performance. While it may be tempting to invest in the largest surface cleaner you can afford, if your pressure washer falls short in the minimum recommended GPM or PSI, performance will suffer.
The quality and construction of surface cleaners ranges from consumer-grade to professional-grade. Housings are typically constructed of heavy-duty plastic, stainless steel or aluminum. Each material has its benefit. Which one is right for you depends mainly on how often and where you will be using your surface cleaner. More frequent use obviously benefits from higher-quality materials and heavier-duty components. Of course, your budget is another key factor.
If you have a hot water pressure washer and want to take advantage of hot water cleaning for your surface cleaning jobs, be sure to look for a surface cleaner with hot water capability.
Maneuvering a surface cleaner may seem like an arduous task but surprisingly is not. Larger surface cleaners often come with casters, making movement quicker and easier. One downside of casters is that sometimes they get stuck in cracks and uneven surfaces. There are also surface cleaners without casters, also known as floaters, which hover about the surface, providing ease of movement.
Whatever style and features you choose, a surface cleaner is going to dramatically cut the time and effort you need to clean on a variety of surfaces.
