Wobble vs Axial vs Camshaft Pump: Since your pump is the heart of your system, it is critical to understand what you are buying. Every pump manufacturer makes several grades of pumps – Good, Better, and Best.

The Wobble design requires a piston to push against the power in the pump and the power of a spring. This is an inexpensive design to build, but it is relatively inefficient, too. This is the design found on most homeowner Pressure Washers. It is designed to work for limited hours at a time and very limited hours per year, which is OK for a homeowner but doubtful for a contractor who wants to power wash every day. Wobble pumps tend to last for around 300 hours before needing extensive service or replacement.

The Axial design is similar to the wobble design with a couple of important differences. Most axial pumps have larger oil reservoirs and bearings, which allow them to be used for longer periods of time and more hours per year. They still are inefficient (like the wobble) but several lower-priced contractor-grade machines work fine with the axial design. Axial pumps tend to last for about 600 hours before needing service.

The Camshaft design delivers the most power and durability of all these designs. It uses connecting rods on a cam with large bearings like a car engine, so it runs cooler and lasts longer. It is able to hold up to continuous use for hours and hours as long as it is kept cool. Cam pumps tend to run for 1000 hours before needing service, and tend to last 2000 hours before needing extensive service or replacement.

Heavyweight vs Lightweight: If you are buying a portable machine, it makes sense to pay attention to the weight of the unit. After all, you are the one who is going to lug it all around and move it into and out of your truck. Aluminum frames can be fragile, and steel frames can be heavy, so talk to your dealer about how you are going to transport the pressure washer. He may be able to steer you to a good solution for your needs.

Home Model vs Contractor Model: The final choice for you to think about is durability. We have already discussed the difference in pumps, even from the same pump manufacturer. The cheapest machines usually have the cheapest pump, which won’t hold up well for most contractors. There are other considerations that you need to think about, too.

The finish of the machine can be very important. Powder coating holds up better and lasts longer than painted frames. Steel frames rust. Aluminum or stainless doesn’t. Aluminum can be bent, steel is very rigid. This particular choice will vary depending on the Pressure Washers preference.

For hot water Pressure Washers that will be used at least 20 hours per week and sometimes up to 8 hours in a day, the lower priced machines just won’t last very long. They come with inadequate parts throughout, such as the unloaders, pumps, and even the engines. Just because it says “Honda”, for example, doesn’t mean that all Hondas are the same. This is where Grandpa’s “you get what you pay for” saying really is true.

If you buy a $900 cold water pressure washer and you get six months use out of it, that purchase cost you $150 per month. If you bought a name brand commercial-grade machine of the same specifications for $1600 and you got 5 years of use from it, that purchase cost you $27 per month. Which one is less expensive?

Let me relate some of my own experiences. As a hot water pressure washer dealer, I see homeowners dragging in dead machines that are only a few months old every week. These machines cost more to fix than to replace, so my ‘boneyard’ is full of discarded homeowner units.

I recently sold two old Pressure Washers that I used when I was a contractor and didn’t want any more. They were each 12 years old and each ran like a top. One had needed only routine maintenance over it’s life. The other had to have the pump completely rebuilt about three years ago. They were both belt-driven units with AR pumps and Honda engines. I paid about $1500 for each and sold them for about $300 each. When I added up all of the maintenance costs and the purchase price and then subtracted what I got for them when I sold them, those Pressure Washers costs me about $16 per month to own. Is there a better deal than that anywhere?

If the bottom line for you is how much cash you have to fork over right now, consider an alternative. A reputable dealer can get you into a quality machine on a lease or finance contract. In the long run, you are better off with the better pressure washer. You will spend less of your cash today, and less over the life of the hot water pressure washer – even with the interest added on.

Hot Water Pressure Washers From Sun Brite Supply

Most hot water Pressure Washers are skid mounted but some hot water Pressure Washers are also portables. Cold water pressure washers, along with the right cleaners, can do most jobs. Some jobs, like removing heavy grease or stripping off finishes, just go better with a hot water pressure washer. Hot water Pressure Washers will enable you to cut about 30% off the time it takes to do ANY job. The power washing business is all about time, not spending less on your tools. If you have the right tools, you can compete with other contractors and get done with each job in the shortest amount of time. Many new power washing contractors make the mistake of under-buying their tools to save money. Most experienced power washing contractors over-buy their tools and make the difference back in no time with the added power and features like a hot water pressure washer. If all you are going to do is clean and seal wood, just buy a cold water machine. If you are washing anything else, such as houses or hoods or trucks or concrete, consider a hot water pressure washer. If you already own a cold water machine and want to have hot water, you can call us and buy a “hot box” which will heat the water coming out of your cold machine. These hot water Pressure Washers also come in a variety of designs: