A spotless concrete surface looks like a million bucks, which can be achieved with the right pressure washer. But, some people tend to overlook the necessity of keeping their psi levels very high while cleaning their concrete.
In some cases, these machines can offer even greater pressure than a commercial-grade water hose nozzle when collecting dirt. A washer with an adequate psi range can lift tough stains from your concrete, but sometimes gravity is not enough. So what is the right amount of power to clean concrete effectively? In a word: a lot. Here is a quick review of what is required.
What is the best pressure for cleaning a concrete floor?
PSI stands for pounds per square inch when referring to pressure washers. The higher the pressure washer’s PSI rating, the higher the pressure and the faster you can clean. Most pressure washers need about 100 PSI to properly rinse the soap and other debris from your concrete driveway. Anything above 1,000 PSI is considered high pressure.
Thus, to get the concrete floor looking as good as new, you should consider a power washer with at least 3,000 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure and 4 gallons per minute (GPM) of flow. That may sound like a lot, but it’s the industry standard among professional power-washing companies – and if you want your concrete surfaces truly clean and bright, you’ve got to use the proper tools. You’ll want to ensure your power washer has a minimum of 3000 psi for this reason and consistency in results.
A high flow rate is more critical for cleaning vertical surfaces because of the force of gravity. If a cleaner with a low flow rate were on a genuinely vertical surface, it would take much longer to get the dirt off.
Some cleaners get it wrong when establishing water pressure. The significant mistakes are either too low or too high. How much pressure do you need to clean concrete with a pressure washer? The higher the psi (pounds per square inch), the faster the job will be done. Would it make sense to use a pressure washer that has 2,300 psi when you only have a small surface to clean? No, not really, unless you have time to spare while cleaning the floor.
To determine the correct flow rate, you must first assess the cleaning task. When this is done, you can calculate the area to cover and whether the water flow rate is too low or high. Most power washers offer a maximum pressure of 0-6 GPM, while some models may deliver even more. A rough guide is to determine the cleaning speed before starting the chore and maintain constant pressure throughout the process.
Also, when it comes to water pressure and flow rate, don’t ever forget that the quality of the water you are using is vital to your job’s success. You need to understand how much pressure and water flow you need throughout each cleaning process. Visit Giraffetools today for the best pressure washers.
