PRO PICKS 4 pros’ choices for pressure washers

Regardless of whether pressure washing is the main focus of your business or simply part of your paint prep, the type of machine you use factors into the success of the work you do. Pressure washers come in a wide range of price points, but as is the case with many tools, you do certainly get what you pay for, and there is a massive difference between the homeowner and commercial models. Here, four pros share which models are their pressure-washing workhorses and why they recommend them to others.

BY BRIAN SODOMA

1 Scott Dearden

Pennsylvania-based Militello Painting & Powerwashing is a fullservice pressure washing company. Crews are trained to soft-wash roofs, stucco, vinyl and wood siding, bricks, as well as fences, decks and gutters. Soft-washes are also part of the Militello paint crew’s prep process on every exterior job.

Pressure washing currently makes up about 25% of the company’s business, but it’s growing, Dearden, the company’s operations manager, said. There’s enough business to run two trucks with pressure washers on them. One runs full time, and the second one is in action for about half of the busy spring and summer season. Crews often clean 4–6 properties a day during peak season.

The company relies on two machines: the Pressure Pro Professional 3500 PSI 8.0 GPM Skid Mounted Pressure Washer and the 5-gallon-per-minute Alkota Pressure Washer Hot Water Narrow Frame 5355HNL. The Pressure Pro is strictly a coldwash machine, but the Alkota includes a heater, which benefits the company in two ways. For one, it can extend the season and allow for work on days when the temperature dips below 50° F. The heat also provides an extra stain-fighting boost for concrete stains. Dearden, however, really appreciates the sheer power the Pressure Pro machine brings to the table.

“When you work with higher gallons-per-minute when softwashing, we don’t even have to get out the ladders on a 2-story home, and it’s easier to do multiple houses in a day,” he explained.

Currently, his machines have more than 2,000 hours on them. During the busy season, they will run 30 hours per week. He did replace a pump on the Pressure Pro at about 2,000 hours, but the motor still works well.

“We are vigorous with maintenance. We change the oil every 100 hours, check and inspect daily and weekly, and if anything is broken, we fix it right away,” he added.