Which is better: Electric or Gas-Powered Pressure Washer Engines?For those of us with cleaning projects, there are two types of engines commonly offered on pressure washers sold to homeowners: electric or gas-powered. HERE ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BOTH TYPES OF ENGINES:
The advantage of a pressure washer with an ELECTRIC MOTOR is that they are very popular with homeowners, are inexpensive, are generally smaller and lighter, do not emit
any gas fumes and produce less noise. They can be used in an unventilated area, like a garage or basement.
Electric motors are measured in amperage (amps). The higher the amps, the more power.
But the disadvantage of an electric pressure washer is that they offer slighly limited power and pressure, need a nearby electrical outlet and are really designed for occasional cleaning duty like washing a car, outdoor furniture, etc. If you have a really large cleaning job, or are a professional pressure washer, an electric pressure washer probably isn't right for you.
Gas-powered engines are rated in horsepower (HP). The higher the HP, the more power. I hope my list of advantages and disadvantages with help you make your own choice!
SIDE VALVE (L-head) engines have been around since the 1950's and are very cheap to produce. However, the running life of this engine is very limited and prone to many problems! Avoid this type of engine at all costs.
OVERHEAD VALVE (OHV) engines are the newest generation, offering an improved engine, more power, less noise, longer life
AND better gas efficiency! Always look for the OHV engines.
Want a quick review of how pressure washers work?
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The advantage of a pressure washer with a GAS-POWERED ENGINE is that they don't need an electrical outlet, they offer
much more power, they take less time & effort to clean large areas and they generally have a longer life than electric motors.
