Pressure Washer PSI - What Does it Mean?

When you first begin browsing for a new pressure washer, you may start to notice the PSI ratings that should be listed on each model.

(Warning: steer clear of any pressure washer that doesn’t clearly state its PSI rating!)

But you may still be wondering: What exactly does PSI mean?

PSI or Pounds per Square Inch is one of the three most important ratings you need to know in order to compare and select a high-quality pressure washer that’s perfect for your own cleaning needs.

PSI is a number used to define the force, or power, of the water that the pressure washer is able to produce. The higher the PSI, the more cleaning power you’ll get.

Here’s a good example: a typical garden hose produces a PSI of around 40. But a new pressure washer designed for a homeowner can produce anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000+ PSI.

Any pressure washer with a PSI rating of 2,000 or less will almost certainly disappoint you in the long run. Yes, these models are very cheap, but you’ll have little cleaning power, tough stains will be almost impossible to remove and, most likely, the engine & pump will be of a very inferior quality.

For a typical homeowner, I personally recommend purchasing a pressure washer with a minimum of 2,250 PSI - but not more than 3,500 PSI.

You'll have enough power for any type of cleaning job around your house, but you won't pay top dollar for a heavy-duty commerical pressure washer.

And don’t forget:

GPM and CPU are the other two important ratings you need to keep in mind while shopping for a new pressure washer! Click on these terms to learn more.

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