Pressure Washers

Pressure washer and high-pressure cleaner — how cleaning under pressure works

A pressure washer (also called a high-pressure cleaner) removes dirt with a jet of water compressed by a pump to high pressure. Two parameters decide its effectiveness at once: the working pressure in bar (the force of the jet) and the water flow, that is the throughput in litres per hour (the volume of water rinsing away the loosened dirt). Professional models usually work in the 100–275 bar range at a flow of 500–1200 l/h. High force alone without adequate flow lengthens the cleaning, which is why both parameters are chosen together to match the scale and type of the job.

Water this concentrated washes off concrete, dried plaster, moss, mud, grease and graffiti many times faster than manual cleaning, and with the right nozzle and pressure it does not damage the surface. At NORWIT.PL we stock professional pressure washers primarily from the Italian brand IPC — a manufacturer of cleaning and maintenance equipment — including petrol models with Briggs & Stratton engines for work without power. Below we explain the differences between cold and hot water, petrol and electric drives, and how to match pressure and flow to the surface.

Types of pressure washers — cold water, hot water and petrol drive

Professional washers divide by water type and drive into cold-water models, hot-water models and petrol ones. The table below sets out the typical parameters and applications of each type.

Cold-water washers without heating are the most versatile choice for mineral dirt — dust, mud and moss. Hot-water washers add a burner and a heating coil, so they handle grease and oils, while petrol washers with a Briggs & Stratton engine give full mobility without a power socket. The parameters of individual units are given on the product pages.

Hot or cold water — when heating makes sense

Cold water removes dirt only mechanically, by the force of a 100–275 bar jet. Hot water, heated to 80–155 °C (some models generate steam), lowers the viscosity of grease and dissolves oily deposits that force alone will not wash off. Below is a summary of the kinds of dirt for which heating really pays off.

For construction work with mineral dirt cold water is enough; the advantage of hot water shows with greasy substances — in workshops, car washes, production halls and the food industry.

Petrol or electric pressure washer — the Briggs & Stratton engine and mobility

A Briggs & Stratton engine is an American internal-combustion engine used in portable machines — in a washer it drives the pump without mains supply, so the unit works on construction sites, yards and in the field where there is no socket. Petrol washers hold a high pressure of 150–275 bar at high flow and cope well with continuous work. An electric washer draws power from the mains (usually 1.5–5 kW), is quieter and emission-free, but ties the operator to the reach of the installation — it works well in halls, workshops and car washes with a fixed station.

The engine power is matched to the target pressure and pump flow — portable petrol washers usually use units of around 5–14 HP (about 4–10 kW). Smaller ones drive pumps up to about 150–200 bar, stronger ones hold 200–275 bar at a flow above 700 l/h in continuous work. When mobility counts, the petrol drive wins; with permanent access to power, the electric one.

How many bar and what water flow to choose for the job

Choosing a washer starts with the question of what and how large a surface you are cleaning — moderate pressure is chosen for delicate surfaces, high pressure for dried-on dirt, and the water flow decides the working pace. The table below matches typical jobs with the recommended pressure and flow.

For large surfaces it is worth adding a rotary nozzle (a rotating point nozzle that combines jet force with a wide working field) or a surface cleaner that spreads the pressure evenly. On surfaces measured in hundreds and thousands of m² the high water flow is key — the more litres per hour, the faster the jet rinses away the loosened dirt.

Frequently asked questions about pressure washers

Why buy a pressure washer at NORWIT.PL

We stock only professional pressure-cleaning equipment — no consumer-market substitutes. In one place you get the full set: cold-water pressure washers, hot-water pressure washers and petrol pressure washers with a Briggs & Stratton engine, primarily from the Italian brand IPC. We advise on choosing the pressure, water flow and drive type for a specific surface and type of dirt, and we provide service and the availability of consumable parts: nozzles, lances, hoses and seals. The washers belong to the washing and vacuuming department. We fulfil orders online, with nationwide delivery.