And if your power washer comes with a zero-degree adjustable setting, we recommend that you not use it. If you buy a model that comes with a zero-degree nozzle (it's red) or you already own one, we advise that you get rid of it to reduce the chance of damaging property or causing injury to you, your family members, or anyone else who might use the sprayer. You can, but only if you're willing to pay a premium for the tool and for installing a 240-volt line for it. We tested the NorthStar to see whether you can get the performance of a gas machine with an electric model. They are the GreenWorks GPW1951, $190 (a 1,950 psi 120-volt electric-powered washer), and the NorthStar 1573021, $850 (a 3,000 psi 240-volt electric). We have confined our pressure washer recommendations to two products that scored sufficiently well and lack the capability, as sold, to create a zero-degree stream. And many pressure washers let you connect wand extensions to reach higher surfaces without resorting to a zero-degree nozzle.īased on the potential extreme risk of very narrow nozzles and their limited benefit, we no longer recommend pressure washers that come with nozzles that produce sprays of less than 15 degrees, despite how well they clean. The same kind of cleaning can be done with wider-angle settings it just might take a bit longer. (Not all of the injuries could be attributed to contact with a powerful spray.) And 14 percent of those ER visits led to additional hospitalization. "In addition, it may also be used for etching or removing extremely stubborn debris prior to washing or rinsing using 15-degree or larger-angle nozzles."Īn estimated 6,057 people in 2014 alone went to an emergency room with injuries related to pressure washer use, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. "The zero-degree nozzle in this case may be used to extend the reach of the water and thus eliminate the need of a ladder," the trade group said in a statement. The Pressure Washer Manufacturers' Association notes that a pressure washer's manual and markings on the products themselves describe safe use, and it stands by the utility of zero-degree nozzles. "We warn customers that they're dangerous even with wider-degree nozzles," explains Vern Dettinger, the store's manager. Rental World in Lancaster, Pa., won't include zero-degree nozzles when it rents pressure washers. And higher-degree nozzles can get the job done. But the unnecessary risk of using a zero-degree nozzle-which concentrates the tool's full pressure into a single, pinpoint blast-outweighs the utility because the spray can cause severe damage in a short amount of time. (See our guide to nozzles and settings, below.) They're inherently dangerous no matter which spray tip or setting you're using. Pressure washers are sold with either a set of interchangeable nozzles or an adjustable wand tip, both of which usually allow users to vary the flow of water from zero degrees, the finest, to about 65 degrees depending on the task. It took a long operation and months of physical therapy for the patient to heal. But internally, there was infection to the muscle. He recalls a patient who was hit in the calf, producing a laceration less than 2 inches across. "The extreme danger with pressure washers is that even with what seems a very minimal skin break, the fluid can get deep into the tissue and spread out and cause bacterial infection," says Howard Mell, M.D., a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians. He didn't go to a hospital, but six years later there's a scar to remind him to keep his guard up. Lee Krause of Alberta, Canada, was using his gas-powered pressure washer to clean his ATV when the spray passed over his hand for an instant. Lacerations are the most common injury, followed by bruises, punctures, and eye injuries. A pressure washer's powerful spray is hazardous when misdirected, strong enough to damage skin in an instant. And when operated properly, they blast away stains without damaging the surface material beneath.īut despite the benefits, they can cause serious injury-and few consumers may appreciate just how serious. Though a garden hose alone delivers water pressure at about 50 pounds per square inch, pressure washers can generate 1,500 to 4,000 psi. Pressure washers use either a gas engine or an electric motor, a pump, and a concentrating nozzle to boost water pressure from your hose connection by 30 to 80 times. But if you have better things to do, a pressure washer speeds up all sorts of onerous tasks, from scrubbing grime and mildew from siding and getting oil stains off a driveway to cleaning a deck or patio, sprucing up outdoor furniture, degreasing a grill, and even washing a car. A garden hose, soap, and elbow grease can take care of many a cleanup job-if you want to spend all day on it.
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