Operating at these two minimum levels is crucial if one wants to clean concrete efficiently.
Psi required to clean concrete.
Choose the tip with the widest angle that still gets the job done to prevent degrading the surface of the hardscape.
Use the psi and gpm ratings to determine the cleaning power of a pressure washer.
Most electric pressure washers create 1300 1700 pounds per square inch of pressure psi with a water flow of 1 5 gallons per minute gpm but experienced contractors recommend between 2000 and 3000 psi and a flow of at least 2 5 gpm to clean dirty concrete effectively.
Perfect for smaller jobs around the home these pressure washers typically rate between 1300 and 1900 psi at 2 gpm.
But if you re going to clean the patio or deck then 1500 psi may not be ideal for the task at hand.
As concrete is much stronger than wood and your car you might need a stronger psi for cleaning.
The maximum pressure washer you should use around the home should be between 3 000 and 3 500 psi.
Higher ratings mean you can clean more area in less time.
Small electric pressure washers may not be a good option for cleaning hard surfaces like concrete if they don t have enough psi to tackle those greasy stains.
As mentioned above the psi and gpm have to work together for optimal cleaning results.
To clean concrete effectively use a power washer with a pressure rating of at least 3000 psi and a flow rate of at least 4 gallons per minute gpm.
Apart from that your yard external walls and concrete driveway will definitely need something in the 2000 psi range.
Choosing the correct nozzle.
You ll be able to clean almost any brick or concrete with this range of pressure washer.
If you re planning to clean the outside of a building and don t want to damage the paint then rather start with a.
You should not use more than 700 psi if the only item you want to wash is your car.
Recommendations vary although 3000 psi is ideal for most concrete cleaning while 3 gpm is the minimum flow rate you should look for.
A pressure washer with about 3 gpm and 3000 psi is ideal for most concrete and brick cleaning jobs.
On the contrary this pressure is too less to clean parking areas stained with tar.
Now the psi that you re going to use for your concrete flooring will really depend on the thickness of the concrete slabs.
A 1 500 psi unit might indicate a high pressure to a homeowner for cleaning decks and siding.
Nothing more powerful is needed for household maintenance.
Although higher pressures may be required to remove tough contaminants such as paint and heavy tire skid marks most power washing contractors agree that 3000 psi will do the trick for almost all.
Usually concrete flooring would be around 8 inches so a psi 3500 to 4000 is good enough.