Today you will learn everything you need to know about gas cleaners.
Best brands, best models and 3 best pressure gas purifiers for most people.
Let’s get started.
Pressurized gas purifiers cost more than electric gas purifiers, but have 3 main advantages:
They are more powerful
They are more durable
They are more suitable for construction sites and remote areas, as they do not require a socket.
For these reasons, gas-fired electrical appliances have always been and remain in fashion for contractors and professionals. Over the years, however, the gap between gas and electricity has narrowed and now you can buy a gas washing machine for home use at a price very close to that of a middle-class electric washing machine.
If you already have a lawn mower, chainsaw or other gas appliance, it makes sense to buy a gas washer under pressure.
What to know and what to pay attention to in the gas power washer
Gas pressure cleaners have internal combustion engines. The engine weighs at least 25 pounds (total weight of most electric washers). So the most obvious thing about gas models is that they are larger. Most of them have a built-in pressure gun reservoir and spare nozzles. They are available in wheelbarrow or trolley positions and come in various sizes and tyre types.
Engine size and cleaning efficiency
Treatment capacity = water pressure (PSI) x water consumption (GPM)
The engine size of gasoline-driven washing machines is given in cubic centimetres (cubic centimetres). The measurement describes the volume of the combustion chamber. The larger the number, the more powerful the engine. The more powerful the engine, the higher the PSI.The pump is usually described as the flow rate in gallons per minute.Example of 2 units with the same cleaning capacity, but with different PSI and GPM :Unit 1:
- 3100 PSI x 3 GPM = 9300 cleaning capacity units
Unit 2:
- 4000 PSI x 2,325 GPM = 9300 cleaning units
Electric starter or recoil starter
Small internal combustion engines are equipped with an electric or a reverse starter (or both). Engines with electric starters are more expensive.
Hot / cold water
The water heaters are equipped with a heater/boiler that heats the water to a temperature of 50°C above the actual temperature. The hot water easily removes hard-to-remove stains and breaks the connections to the floor, making cleaning easier. Think about it: That’s why your dishwasher uses this hot water to wash dishes.
Chassis design.
The more powerful units take up the wheelbarrow position to create more space for a larger engine and pump. The chassis is made of welded steel and must have a mounting for an engine with a vibration damper.
Tyre Strength
Look for truck tyres.
Storage of gasoline
Before storing the washer for the winter, empty the gas tank or add a stabiliser.
Seasonal changes in the weather will cause deterioration of stored gasoline, which can lead to ignition problems in the combustion chamber of the high-pressure cleaner engine. Use fresh gasoline if your car has not been used since last season. As a general rule, gasoline should only be stored in a garage can for 3-4 months.
Direct drive or belt drive pump
There are two different ways to control the pressure washer pump: Direct drive and belt drive. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, here they are:
- Direct drive is more compact and affordable, but when used for longer periods (more than 4 hours/day) without switching off, the pump can be exposed to motor overheating. It also tends to vibrate and make more noise.
Belt Drive – More belt space is required, and adding a belt means more service and less efficiency. However, the number of revolutions per minute decreases, and as the belt absorbs vibrations, the service life of the pump and engine increases. In addition, the unit can operate at a lower temperature and will not overheat even with prolonged use (8 hours/day).
The Best Gas Power Washer Brands
Simpson
The Simpson brand dominates the market for gas purifiers for private use. In short, they produce affordable, powerful and reliable devices. In 2009, they entered into an agreement with The Black & Decker Corp. (owner of DeWalt brand) produces and sells their washing machines under DeWalt brand. Yes, that means the DeWalt and Simpson washers are exactly the same. In fact, they’re manufactured on the same assembly line in Deckatura, Arkansas.
Generac
Generac has a long history in the electrical appliance market. It was the first to introduce small generators to the market for household use. Today they also offer battery washing systems.
The unique thing about Generac washing machines is that they all produce their own motors. Simpson and others use Honda, Kohler or Subaru engines. This gives Generac unique control over the design of their units. They like to boast that their engines are made specifically for their customers’ needs.
North Star
NorthStar is a private label “North Tools+Equipment”. The brand first appeared on the market in 1991 and since then it has been known for its quality and high value.
Their gas pressure cleaners are available in versions with cold or hot water, and the cheapest version is 549 USD. They all use Honda GC or GX or Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engines.
Ryobi
Ryobi offers 6 different gas scrubbers ranging from 2900 to 3600 PSI. They are equipped with a Honda or Ryobi engine. Their 3000 PSI, 2.3 GPM option is the most popular because it is equipped with a Honda GC engine.
BE
BE is a brand that was established in Abbotsford, Canada and is now widely used around the world in the sale of pressure washers, water pumps, compressors and generators. All their pressure washers are equipped with Honda engines, and the most expensive machines are equipped with commercial GX engines. They offer 50 different models from gas washers under pressure to the 8 GPM with 3000 to 5000 PSI.
Briggs and Stratton
Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest supplier of small motors for electrical appliances and only beats Honda in total sales of small motors. They offer 113 different models of gas pressure cleaners from 2200 PSI, 1.9 GPM to 3700 PSI, 4.2 GPM.
Pressure Pro
If you are a pressure washer company, you probably used a system made by Pressure Pro. Most racking and commercial units are Pressure Pro units. In all cases, they cost over $750.
Power And Price
How much do you get for less than $300
Few new gas cleaners are sold for less than $300. They come from the Generalak and are medium power devices.
What do you get for a $300 to $500 price range.
This is the most popular series of gas scrubbers – heavy equipment usually falls into this category. These appliances have twice and three times the cleaning power of conventional electric washing machines.
Over $500
Most people don’t need that much pressure washer. But if you do, you get a high quality device with great potential. An example of a unit in this category is the 4000 PSI, 4 GPM Pressure Pro with the Honda GX390 13hp engine and CAT tiplex piston pump. It costs $1,379.
Typical Warranty
As for gas purifiers, the guarantees are quite standardised. The engines have a 2-year warranty. And for the rest of the device there is a one-year warranty. In some cases, the hose, pressure gun and nozzles are only covered for 90 days.
The limited warranty means that they guarantee that the device “is free from defects in materials and workmanship by the manufacturer”. This means that if your machine breaks down and you take it to an authorised dealer, the dealer will decide if it is broken or if it is a defect caused by incorrect workmanship, poor workmanship or used materials.
Most Affordable – Medium-duty Gas Pressure Washer
One of the cheapest gas cleaners for medium duty applications is Generac SpeedWash with 2900 PSI and 2.4 GPM.
The reason it is the cheapest is because it is the least powerful gas cleaner on the market. Its price is comparable to the most expensive electric residential units in Karcher.
Generac is a well-known brand of pressure washers as well as portable and emergency power generators. They manufacture and design their own motors and pumps. People like this unit because of its large diameter tires and its vertical and easy to move design. It is an excellent entry-level machine that you can have at home. It is ideal for any job as it has quick release couplings to change the water pressure on the surfaces to be cleaned.
Best Value – Heavy-duty Gas Pressure Washer
Simpson PowerShot 3,200 PSI 2.8 GPM
I talked a lot about Simpson PowerShot because it offers excellent value for money. For the money you get a three-plunger piston pump and a standard Honda GX200 engine with a 3.1 liter tank that gives you 2 to 3 hours of non-stop washing.
As you can see, it has large tyres to make driving in the field easier. It’s hard to see in the product picture, but this car is quite compact and not very bulky. It is definitely smaller than your car in terms of storage space.
Compared to the cheapest heavy cart, it is about twice as expensive. But in the long run it has 56% more cleaning power and is equipped with high-quality parts such as a commercial engine and a more durable three-plunger pump system. Overall, it is the cheapest choice in the heavy duty category.
Best Performance – Heavy-duty / Commercial Belt-drive Gas Pressure Washer
It’s not quite fair to put Pressure Pro in the heavyweight category when comparing performance. It’s just a machine on a different level than the one mentioned above. It is equipped with a belt pump. And it is powered by the Honda GX390 engine, which is almost twice as big as the aforementioned inexpensive Simpson engine.
The Pressure-Pro produces its washers with Annovi Reverberi or CAT pumps. Both are of high quality and both will be three-plung piston type. No matter which one you choose, you will eventually pay about $1,400 for this commercial machine for daily use.
Sources
- Quora answer by Chemical Engineer Ryan Carlyle on petrol storage.
- Hotsy has a useful page on direct-drive vs belt-drive in pressure washers.