Hose reel that does not kink a high-pressure hose
The best hose reel for a pressure washer is not simply the one with the longest capacity. Look for a reel rated for your washer’s working…
Setup & accessories
Help matching a pressure washer to the job, PSI needs and the surface you do not want to damage.
Accessories
Quick-connect fittings that actually match your gun
The right pressure washer quick-connect fitting must match more than the outside diameter. Check the plug or socket profile, connection…
Replacement High-Pressure Hose: How to Choose the Right One
A replacement high-pressure hose must match your pressure washer’s fittings, pressure rating, temperature rating, and connection style.…
Short-wand and undercarriage attachment
A short wand improves control in tight spaces, while an undercarriage attachment directs spray beneath vehicles and equipment. Choose based…
Surface cleaner for a pressure washer
A pressure washer surface cleaner can clean flat areas faster and with fewer streaks than a spray wand. Match its pressure and flow…
Cost of nozzles and a surface cleaner in year one
The first-year cost of pressure washer nozzles and a surface cleaner depends on the washer connection, nozzle orifice, cleaning area, and…
Foam cannon as an alternative to the onboard soap tank
A foam cannon can provide better visible coverage and more control than an onboard soap tank, but it is not automatically a stronger…
Gutter wand for a two-story house
A gutter wand can let you clean second-story gutters from the ground, but the right choice depends on reach, weight, pressure-washer…
Hose length versus pressure drop
A longer pressure washer hose can reduce pressure at the spray gun, but length is only one factor. Inside diameter, water flow, fittings,…
Replacement hose for a pressure washer
A replacement pressure washer hose must match your machine’s fittings, pressure rating, temperature rating, and connection style. Here’s…
Surface cleaner attachment for a driveway
A pressure washer surface cleaner can clean a driveway faster and more evenly than a wand, but only if its inlet, pressure rating, size,…
Maintenance
Buying pump saver fluid before first winter
Pump saver fluid helps protect a pressure washer pump from freezing, corrosion, and dry-start damage during storage. Here is what to buy…
Replacement O-rings before the first leaky weekend
A pressure washer O-ring is inexpensive, but the wrong size or material can leak immediately. Learn which seals to identify, how to measure…
How to winterize a pressure washer
Winterizing a pressure washer prevents freeze damage, corrosion, stale fuel, and startup problems. Follow the correct steps for your…
Inlet filter screens you should actually check
A clogged or damaged inlet screen can restrict water flow and leave debris heading toward the pressure washer pump. Here’s what to check…
Oil change interval on a gas pressure washer
There is no single oil-change interval for every gas pressure washer. Follow the engine and pump manuals separately, since the pump may be…
Choosing
Nozzles & Surfaces
Can you pressure wash a car
You can pressure wash a car, but the wrong nozzle, excessive pressure, or close-range spray can damage paint, trim, seals, and tires. Use a…
How Far to Hold a Pressure Washer Wand From Siding
Start about 2 feet from siding, test an inconspicuous area, and move closer only when needed. The correct distance depends on the siding…
Never use a zero-degree tip on wood
A zero-degree pressure washer tip concentrates the spray into a narrow, forceful stream that can gouge, splinter, or permanently mark wood.…
Nozzle colors and what they do
Pressure washer nozzle colors usually indicate spray angle: red is the most concentrated, while white spreads the spray widest. Black is…
Why more PSI etches concrete
A concentrated pressure-washer stream can strip concrete’s surface paste and expose aggregate. The risk depends on more than PSI: nozzle,…
PSI & GPM
GPM matters more than PSI for rinsing soap
PSI helps break up dirt, but GPM determines how much water carries soap and loosened grime away. Here is how to compare pressure washers…
Matching GPM to a Garden Faucet That Barely Flows
A pressure washer needs a steady water supply, not just a faucet with good-looking pressure. Measure the flow through your hose, then…
What GPM Means on a Pressure Washer
GPM is the amount of water a pressure washer moves each minute. It affects how quickly you can rinse and cover an area, while PSI describes…
What PSI You Actually Need for a Pressure Washer
Choose pressure washer PSI based on the surface and cleaning task, not the highest number on the box. Use the lowest effective pressure and…
How They Work
How a pressure washer works
A pressure washer uses a motor or engine to power a pump, which sends water through a high-pressure hose and nozzle. Here’s how the parts…
Idle-down on gas washers when the trigger is released
On a gas pressure washer with idle-down, releasing the trigger lets the engine slow to a lower idle while the pump’s unloader manages…
Water temperature limits on a consumer pump
A consumer pressure washer’s maximum inlet-water temperature depends on its exact pump and model. Check the manual before connecting a warm…