Of all the pressure washing machines on the market, steam pressure washers easily rank among the most powerful. These industrial pressure washers are great for heavy duty industrial projects and have far more cleaning power than commercial pressure washers utilizing cold water or even hot water. However, to get the most out of them, it is important to understand what makes these water pressure washers so powerful.

A Powerful Cleaning Package

Steam pressure washing machines provide the benefits of a pressure washer and a steam cleaner in a single unit. Pressure washing systems use force to blast dirt and debris off different surfaces. This is why cold water cleaning machines are often enough to tackle very stubborn stains and deposits from certain surfaces. Steam cleaners, on the other hand, use the power of steam to dissolve dirt from surfaces. Steam pressure cleaners bring these two elements together to create a truly powerful cleaning machine, capable of dissolving and blasting away the most stubborn, hardened grease deposits and other residues.

The best water pressure washers with steam abilities should be able to reach temperatures of 330ВєF. The most powerful industrial pressure washers have pressure levels of around 3000 psi and flow rates of approximately 5 GPM. While having all this cleaning power in your hands is certainly effective for a range of demanding industrial applications, it is important to control that power. As such, it is best to opt for machines with a durable trigger wand that has quick disconnect and a variety of nozzles, enabling operators to apply the correct degree of power to a surface.

Choosing the Right Power Method

There are a number of different power methods available for pressure cleaning machines. These include propane or gas pressure washers and electric pressure washers. An electric pressure washer is recommended for indoor applications, as it produces no exhaust yet requires the use of an electrical supply. Gas pressure washers are recommended for outdoor use where electrical outlets are not accessible, thus making them more mobile.

A Common Oversight

A mistake many people make when looking at pressure cleaning machines is assuming that vapor steam cleaners can do the job just as well. After all, many people make the incorrect assumption that steam pressure washing systems and steam cleaners can tackle the same jobs, as they both utilize high temperature steam. This is not necessarily true. The key difference is the power at which the steam is ejected.

Vapor steam cleaners, ideal for commercial cleaning, feature low pressure levels maxing out at 150 psi. This enables these machines to dissolve residues. However, displaced impurities must be wiped away or extracted with an attached vacuum. On the other hand, steam pressure cleaners use steam to soften stains and deposits while blasting these residues away, ensuring fast and complete removal. The use of highly pressurized steam is essential for heavy-duty degreasing applications in industrial settings; though, this can also damage delicate surfaces if pressure levels exceed what the surface can withstand.

Steam pressure washing units are certainly some of the most rugged cleaning machines on the market. Understanding how what sets these machines apart is the first step to learning how to use them effectively.