1500psi? 2000psi? - Shopping for a pressure washer.

Factual Questions
1

I’m looking to get a pressure washer to clean up odds and ends around the homestead. My first mission will be to remove some old flaking paint from cement. Then I’ll hose down the driveway, clear the moss off the brick bulkhead, and pretty much blast everything in my sight. I tend to go a little crazy when I’m around to pressure washers. heh heh

I’ve rented a pressure washer before (gas) and it seemed to do the trick on everything I pointed it at. I don’t know the PSI that one had.

So, for those of you more versed in the art of pressure washing,. what is a good psi for a general use?

I’ve seen electric ones with 1500 psi for sale around $100 USD and gas powered ones in the range of 3000psi for $600 USD.

Is a 1500 psi washer going to suit my general needs or will I find it to be wimpy and unfulfilling?

2

You might find it a little wimpy for stripping paint, unless it’s already flaky. Mine is 2500psi, gas powered.

Word of caution: I’ve had a few jobs repairing or replacing cielings because the homeowner got too zealous power washing their own house. Water can get in through soffit vents or loose siding. Be careful.

Using some TSP and a brush cleans up guttering, siding, brick, etc… fairly well. Use gloves. TSP = tri sodium phosphate, supposedly the active ingredient in many detergents. Strangely, there is a phosphate free TSP, too.

3

Watch out your don’t wash your foot…

Generally, why you buy a washer the salesperson lets you know what you need.

BTW, for moss I use a chemical product that keeps it from coming back from Lilli Miller. For paint I use a paint stripper.

4

btw…

after power washing (and letting it dry), we usually go back and scrape and sand to get the old peeling paint off. You don’t always have to get all the old paint off before repainting. Prime the raw spots. Depends on how picky you are. (I don’t like chemical strippers. Unless I just absolutely have to use one.)

But, the power washing is more for cleaning, in my eyes. Paint weathers better when applied to a clean surface.

Handy: Lilli Miller? Tell me about it, please.

5

I bought a 1300psi washer a few weeks back. I sucesfully stripped 2 decals off of my Jeep with it (totally unintentionally) while washing it, which is something I’ve never done during the previous 5 years of washing it a pressure wash car wash.

6

NoClueBoy, I went to a local plant nursery & asked them what I could use to get rid of moss & they gave me some stuff, Im pretty sure its from LM. But maybe not since I can’t find their website. I just put it on with a mop, $35 a gal <-- pricey. they might have something newer.

7

Thanks, Handy. That’ll probably come in… er… handy… on this next project I’m starting.