The average household pressure washer uses about 1,000 gallons of water per hour, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That equates to over 7,000 gallons per year. The EPA recommends that homeowners use power tools sparingly and only when necessary.
There are two types of pressure washers: gas and electric. Gas-powered machines are more powerful but also more expensive to operate because they require gasoline and oil or diesel fuel. Electric models are less expensive to operate but less powerful and have moderate water consumption according to how much is used.
Water is a precious resource, and it should be used wisely. Pressure washers are used for cleaning purposes, but they also consume water at a rapid pace.
Comparison of Water Consumption in Gas and Electric Pressure Washers
There are many ways to compare pressure washer water consumption, but the most common way is to measure the amount of water used per minute (gpm). This is especially important if you have a limited water supply or a shallow well.
When looking for a pressure washer, you may have noticed that electric ones consume much less water than gas-powered ones. This is because gas-powered pressure washers use way more water than electric ones. There are some exceptions, but this is generally true. So, if you’re looking to save water, an electric pressure washer is your best bet!
How to Save water when using a Pressure Washer
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it takes on average 1,200 gallons of water to wash a single-vehicle. That’s enough water to fill a backyard swimming pool! In fact, one study found that people who clean their vehicles at home use more than four times as much water as those who take their cars to car washes.
The good news is that there are ways you can reduce your water consumption when using a pressure washer. Here are some tips:
- Run Your Car Through the Car Wash Before Starting Your Home Cleaning Job
When you go through a car wash, you’ll notice that most of them have several different types of nozzles for washing different parts of your car. Use these nozzles to clean your vehicle before starting any other part of your job at home. This will help keep dirtier water from splashing all over and wasting even more water than you would if you were just using one nozzle at home.
- Use a Soap Solution That Contains No Detergents or Enzymes
Detergents and enzymes are used in many laundry detergents and dishwashing liquids because they help remove stains better than soaps alone. However, they cause a lot of water to be used to rinse them off.
So, basically, a pressure washer uses 1 gallon per minute when it’s running at full blast. A gas pressure washer uses approximately 1/3 gallon per minute, while an electric pressure washer uses approximately 1/2 gallon per minute.
If you use your gas-powered unit 3 times a week for 15 minutes each time (which is a decent amount of time to get the job done), then you are using 90 gallons per month compared to 30 gallons per month if you used your electric unit instead! That’s a whopping 60 gallons saved each month! Let pressure washer professionals at Giraffetools collections guide you through these procedures today.
