Choosing the Right Type of Power Pressure Washer Pump - Direct Drive Pump or Belt Drive Pump?

The most important part of a power pressure washer is the pump which is considered as the heart of the machine. The power of the pressure washer pump is determined thru the water pressure expressed in pounds per square inch (PSI) and the flow rate of the water in gallons per minute (GPM).

The PSI determines the energy consumed in producing pressure while the GPM determines the water consumption. Higher GPM would mean getting the job done in a shorter time but spending more on the utilities.

Power pressure washers come in different levels of PSI and GPM. If plan to buy a unit, you should take into consideration the area where you are going to use the machine. For cleaning areas at home such as driveways, wall siding and patios, a lower level of PSI of around 2,000 or below will suffice.

However, if you will be using your machine in your pressure washing business, you need to have heavy duty units which range from 4,000 PSI or even more.

When choosing a power pressure washer, it is important that you check on the pump as this determines how efficient the machine is. There are two common types of pressure washer pump, the direct drive and belt-driven pump.

The direct drive washer pump is mounted directly to the motor which drives the pump.

It has a shallow shaft which slides onto the drive shaft of a motor or engine. Direct drive pumps make the pressure washer more compact in design because it has lesser parts involved unlike in belt-driven pumps.

This type of drive system is also less expensive since it is simple and has fewer moving parts. However, chances are the bearings and other parts easily get worn out because the pump operates as much as the motor does. This will eventually shorten the life span of the pump.

The belt drive pump is located away from the motor by a belt producing a lesser heat and vibration impact on the belt drive prolonging the life span of the pump.

One drawback of this drive system is that it requires a maintenance since the belt needs replacement after some time of using the machine.

It is also said to be less efficient compared to the direct drive because of the additional friction caused by the pulleys which connect the belt and the motor.

Choosing the right type of power pressure washer depends on your cleaning requirements. Whatever you opt to purchase, be it direct drive or belt-driven pressure washer pump system, always remember that different types of machine is needed for household cleaning and commercial use.