Pressure washing is the use of highly-pressurized water to remove dirt, debris coatings in some specialised uses. While the water pressure is identical to pressure washing, Power washing uses heated high pressure water to also remove dirt and debris but the high temperatures is better against grease, mold and stubborn grime as the high temperature can break down the oil stains for example while it also has the disadvantage of damaging softer materials. While the tool will determine your main business model. Success depends on having a good strategy.
Pressure washing = water
Power washing = hot waterWhile the machines are identical a power washer contains a heating element
Pressure Washing
Pressure washing uses standard tap water, it relies entirely on water pressure to strip away dirt.
What to wash / Target Market
Vehicles
In South Africa it is most commonly used by car washes to clean vehicles: cars, bakkies, taxis, trucks. While a car or bakkie can easily be cleaned with a bucket and water, to clean a bus or truck effectively will almost certainly require a pressure washer.
Home
Wall & Surface Cleaning
Garden & Garage
Drain cleaning (drain cleaning hoses are available as an attachment)
Equipment
Pressure washing is the cheapest of the two to get into. Machines broadly fall into three categories: home machines, portable machines & industrial purpose machines. Most machines has a “foam bottle” attachment to dispense soap.
Consumer machines
Consumer machines start at around R1000 but you require both an electrical and a water source. And if you using this you should be sure the client has this available and that you will be using their water and electricity.
Portable machine
A portable machine has both a fuel powered (petrol / diesel) generator and a water tank and can be operated from anywhere. This is the machine of choice of mobile car washes that come to you.
Specialised Industrial machine
Specialised car wash pressure washer. Image credit: Kranzle
There are also purpose-built industrial machines that are marketed for a specific purpose that are freestanding or can be attached to a wall in a fixed car wash or factory.
