ForConstructionPros.com

Kay Falk

The pressure washer industry has grown phenomenally since "big box" retailers started selling them to homeowners. "These retailers' advertising has created a new awareness of our product," explains Bill Fischer, vice president of sales for the FNA Group (makers of Simpson and Delco brands). "The first-time user is generally astounded by the results. It's like a magic moment, and this has created a whole new market for rental centers."

But there are differences between consumer- and industrial-grade pressure washers. The key variants come from how they're built and the components selected, according to three leading manufacturers.

"There are harsh demands on pressure washers used in the rental market," Fischer says. "You need a robust machine that starts with a strong steel frame, handles that won't break and few, but quality, welds. Then you move to the heart of the pressure washer, the pump and engine. You need a commercial/industrial size engine for sure. And a high-quality pump, for instance, might cost more than the entire consumer machine."

Eric Loucks, national sales manager for Shark-Karcher Pressure Washers, agrees. "Rental centers can expect that their pressure washers are going to get banged up when they're loaded and unloaded, yanked around by the high-pressure hose and even dropped on occasion," he says. "You want everything from the frame, wheels, pump, and engine to the hose, wand and gun to be of industrial quality."

Kevin Anstoetter, rental division manager at Mi-T-M Corp., advises, "If you are looking to add a unit into your rental fleet, you want to make sure that you are getting an industrial-grade engine with a minimum of a two-year warranty, plus:

• Industrial-grade crankshaft pump
• 50-foot, wire-braided high-pressure hose with bend restrictors and quick connects
• Heavy-duty cart with pneumatic or flat-free tires
• Industrial-grade gun and wand
• Individual spray tips (not adjustable spray tips)
• Minimum of 2 gallons per minute (gpm) spray power

"Cost pressures have forced some manufacturers to choose low-grade components to keep both their costs and prices down," Loucks continues. "The long-held advice that you get what you pay for is still true. You can pay for a good machine once or you can pay for the costly repairs and downtime over and over."