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True or False: The fastest and easiest way to control the pressure is to change the distance between the nozzle and the cleaning surface?
True
False

SUBMIT

PRODUCTS
TIP #3
Find a Stable Surface
Make sure the unit is on a stable surface and the cleaning area has adequate slopes and drainage to prevent puddles.
TIP #7
Keep Your Distance
Maintain a constant distance between the nozzle and the cleaning surface to prevent "zebra striping".
TIP #25
High Pressure Hoses
The high-pressure hose should be no longer than 100 feet - longer hoses can cause a decrease in water pressure and problems with the detergent injection system.

Pressure Washer Cleaning

Pressure & Flow

Water Pressure (PSI) & Water Flow (GPM)
The combination of PSI and GPM determines a pressure washer’s cleaning power (or CP). CP offers a better indication of a machine’s overall performance, and is useful when comparing pressure washers. To calculate CP, multiply a pressure washer’s maximum PSI rating by its GPM flow (CP = PSI X GPM).

For example, a 2500-PSI pressure washer that uses 2.5 GPM generates 6250 CP, while a machine with only 2200 PSI and 3 GPM generates 6600CP.

Pressure
Pressure Washer Cleaning
PSI, or "pounds per square inch," refers to how much force a pressure washer is capable of producing to propel the water stream at the cleaning surface. A pump spray bottle has high water force, but low water flow.
Flow
Pressure Washer Information
GPM, or "gallons per minute," identifies the amount of water a pressure washer uses to clear dirt and grime from the cleaning surface. An unrestricted garden hose illustrates the idea of high water flow and low water force.


Cleaning Power Affects Cleaning Speed
Ultimately, any size pressure washer can clean any type of surface. However, the CP rating determines how much time it will take to get the job done.

Simply put, pressure washers with higher CP ratings clean faster than lower rated machines. The more Cleaning Power a pressure washer produces, the more surface area it will be able to cover in one pass.

The diagrams on this page help illustrate how higher rated pressure washers help reduce your overall cleaning time.

A pressure washer rated at 4000 CP produces a rather narrow spray pattern, which limits the surface area it can cover in one pass.

A pressure washer rated at 9000 CP can cover a much wider area, reducing the number of passes needed to clean the surface.

A pressure washer rated at 16000 CP or more is capable of covering much more surface area in fewer passes. Your overall cleaning time will be reduced significantly with a higher rated unit.