Sometimes when looking at pressure cleaners you can find there is a large range to choose from. Choosing what machine is right for the application you want is very important, so the more information you're armed with when purchasing, the better.

The first thing to look at is the water flow (referred to as liters per minute or LPM) the machine pumps and this is very important. The more liters per minute gives an indication of the time it would take to do a job. As an example, you could compare the water flow from a garden hose as opposed to a fire hose. Therefore the time you want to take to do the job is governed by the liters per minute the pressure washer pumps.

The higher water flow has a better cleaning effect and end result because the water is the actual element that cleans. It is a common belief in the market that the bigger the pressure the better the machine is and the better cleaning performance is achieved, however this simply is not the case. A machine delivering 10 liters of water per minute at an operating pressure of 1600 PSI will clean much better and quicker and achieve a much better result than a machine delivering 7 liters a minute at 2000 PSI. So this goes to show the water flow rate is an integral element to consider when purchasing a pressure cleaner.

The second thing to look at is pressure which is needed to remove whatever substance you are trying to clean e.g dirt, grease, mould. Whilst we've talked about flow rate being important, it is the combination of flow rate and pressure which gives you the results you are wanting. A pressure cleaner delivering a flowrate of 10 liters per minute at 1500 PSI will not clean nearly as well as a machine delivering 10 liters at 2000 PSI which is different again to the previously mentioned example machine delivering a flowrate of 7 liters at 2000 PSI.

The next consideration is how much the pressure washer will be used. Will it be used to clean around the house, car or boat or will it be used in a business environment where it is used for 3 to 4 hours a day? This is important because when looking at the pressure cleaners there are a lot of differences in construction.

Most machines are manufactured using one of two types of motors. There is the brush motor and the induction motor. Brush motors are found in cleaners which should be used for light application and not be run for hours on end. If you are looking to use a machine for heavy application, an induction motor is a must.

Pump construction should also be considered when looking at machines. There are generally three different types of pump constructions found within the industry.

Constructions to consider are:

• Motor type and size e.g brush motor or induction motor

Brush motor for small domestic use

Induction motor for more heavier usage e.g large concrete areas and industrial use

• Pump construction

Fibre anti lime light domestic use

Alluminium heavier usage

Brass industrial

Be sure to buy the right machine for the right application not just on price.