Sunday, June 20, 2010

Purchasing Steam Pressure Washers: Guidelines for Buyers

Steam pressure washers use a spray of steam at moderate to high pressure levels to remove dirt, grease, chemicals, and wax residues. These machines can also use hot and cold water in addition to steam, in the case of a tri-temperature system. The purchase decision for a particular type of steam pressure washing machine depends on the following:


1. Pressure Level: Choose a machine that can maintain this pressure for a prolonged period for commercial and industrial operation, despite the temperature mode selected. Daimer® sells machines that have pressure levels of 750 psi all the way up to 3500 psi for tri-temperature systems, and up to 8000 psi for cold water systems. Please note, however, that very high pressure levels may damage certain surfaces, like automotive exteriors.

2. Flow Rate: Low-flow steam pressure washers use less water, are more environmentally friendly, and create less wastewater collection and disposal issues. Daimer®’s low-flow machines such as the Super MaxTM 6120LM use only 0.5 gallons of water per minute. Higher flow rates are suited for cleaning applications in areas with no water supply issues. Daimer® offers tri-temperature systems with flow rates ranging from 2 - 5 GPM, ideal for a host of commercial and industrial applications. Naturally, higher flow rates use more water, translating to a greater ability to blast away stubborn deposits.

3. Temperature: Steam output is more powerful than cold water and hot water. However, steam temperatures may vary amongst suppliers. Daimer®’s machines with the Super-HotTM steam technology can reach temperatures as high as 330F. For applications of varying levels of difficulty, consider a tri-temperature machine.

4. Power: Electricity-run machines are versatile, non-polluting, noise-free, and can be used outdoors and indoors as long as the electricity supply is available. Propane, gasoline, and diesel powered steam pressure washers are meant exclusively for outdoor use or exhaust-friendly areas. They are suitable replacements for electric machines in areas without adequate electric power supply. They can also be used indoors; though, the system must be placed in an exhaust-friendly location while the operator uses long pressure hoses to reach the application at hand.

5. Mobility: If you are purchasing steam pressure washers for your multiple rooms or buildings, such as a factory, school, office, mall, or apartment premises, a mobile pressure washer is ideal. However, if you are cleaning one general area, stationary pressure washers can be used. Daimer® offers machines with their long hose technology, allowing stationary and even mobile machines to effectively maintain their pressure levels for up to 300 feet. For greater mobility, especially if you clean equipment, driveways, walkways, concrete, construction sites, and commercial complexes on a contract basis, a trailer-mountable power washer is the best option.

Visit www.daimer.com for information on steam pressure washers.