A pressure washer is an effective cleaning device that relies on water pressure to rapidly remove dirt, grime, grease, mold, and more from large items easily.
Pressure washers are very efficient which saves time and effort to keep your items clean.
It’s important to know that not all pressure washers are the same, and the amount of water they use can be different between models.
Before you purchase a pressure washer, you will need to know how much water it will use as your decision can save you money on your water bill.
On average, you can expect a standard pressure washer to use 1.5 – 2.0 gallons of water per minute (GPM).
This number can vary and a high-pressure unit can use less water than a lower pressure unit due to its efficiency.
How much pressure (PSI) does a pressure washer produce?
A standard electric pressure washer will produce around 1300-1700 PSI. A standard gas-powered pressure washer will produce around 2000-2800 PSI.
Pressure washers vs garden hoses
Many people think that a garden hose will use less water than a pressure washer. The opposite is true.
The standard garden hose will produce around 40 PSI and use 8-10 gallons of water per minute (GPM). Compared to a standard pressure washer which uses only 2 GPM @ 1500 PSI, you can see which one is more efficient.
The water pressure from a garden hose may be suitable for smaller jobs like washing your car or watering the lawn. In order to clean larger areas or heavy-duty jobs, you will need more water pressure than a pressure washer will give you.
Pressure washers can save a substantial amount of water and are more efficient. The average water saved by using a pressure washer over a garden hose can be up to 70-75%.
How many gallons of water to pressure wash a house?
If you are wondering how much water it will take to pressure wash your house, take the following into consideration.
- Pressure washer type, size, PSI
- Size of your house
- How many people working
- Your experience level using a pressure washer
On average, it will take 45 minutes to pressure wash a house size of 1500 square feet. Larger 2- story homes that are 2000+ square feet will take 60 – 90 minutes. Very large homes that are 2 stories or more and 5000+ square feet, can tank up to 2 hours to pressure wash.
If you are using a standard-size pressure washer that is 1500 PSI and uses 2 GPM, then you will use around 90 gallons of water for a 1500 square foot home.
For larger homes, expect to use around 150 gallons of water. For very large homes, expect to use around 240 gallons of water.
If you have experienced workers helping with the job, you can reduce the time it will take and the amount of water used.
Did you know? 150 gallons of water = 682 Liters.
Pressure washer GPM vs PSI
When determining how much water a pressure washer will use, it’s important to understand the gallons per minute and pounds per square inch relationship.
The gallons of water used in 1 minute is the GPM. The amount of pressure created by the washer is the PSI.
These units are used to determine their efficiency. The higher the PSI, the less water will be used, being more cost-efficient. High PSI = lower GPM.
Pressure washer and water temperature
Using warmer water will allow for less water to be used. Warm water is more effective at cleaning and therefore less water is needed.
Check the specifications of your pressure washer as it may have a maximum water temperature that can be used.