How Much Water Does a Pressure Washer Use?

The cleaning power of pressure washers is unmatched. They’re an excellent way to save time, but there’s another thing you have to consider–how much money you’re spending on water.

Many business owners don’t factor pressure washer water usage into their budget when shopping for a machine, which can be costly in the long run.

So, how much water does a pressure washer use?

The answer is–it depends. The key metric is GPM or gallons per minute. It can range from 1 GPM for small-scale jobs to 12+ GPM for heavy-duty tasks.

Not enough water means you won’t clear those stains, while too much GPM will cause you to waste money. We’ll show you how to find the perfect balance.

In our years of setting up New Jersey business owners with the perfect machines, we’ve learned exactly how much water is needed for various stains. For personalized assistance with optimizing your water usage, talk to our team at RJP Hotsy New Jersey!

How Much Water Does a Pressure Washer Use?

It’s all fun and games when you first purchase a pressure washer. You’re blasting away at grime with the same ease as swatting a mosquito, taking care of your cleaning tasks in a fraction of the time.

But when your utility bill comes in at the end of the month, you might be in for a surprise. Wait, does a pressure washer use a lot of water?

Pressure washer water usage isn’t high, especially when compared to manually scrubbing or hoses. But there are ways to be more efficient and keep your water bill reasonable.

Understanding GPM Ratings

To properly understand pressure washer water usage, you’ll need to learn what GPM means on a pressure washer.

GPM, or gallons per minute, represents the volume of water flowing from your machine. Along with PSI, it is one of two core specifications that directly influence your ability to clean certain types of stains.

Most cleaning tasks land somewhere between 2 to 8 GPM. GPM values that are too low will make it impossible to wash away stains. Values that are too high are a waste of resources.

Often, figuring out how much pressure washer PSI and GPM to use is enough to streamline the efficiency of your cleaning tasks entirely.

So, knowing how GPM works, how much water does a pressure washer use for the average cleaning task?

Let’s say you’re using 2 GPM, and it takes you 10 minutes of rinsing to clean your area. You’d be looking at 20 gallons total. If you were mistakenly using 6 GPM, you might be able to clean a few minutes faster, but use 48 to 60 gallons in the process.

How Nozzles Affect Pressure Washer Water Usage

Pressure washer water usage is also impacted by the nozzles you use. Nozzles on a pressure washer range from direct spray nozzles (also called ‘0-degree nozzles’) to wide angles of 60 degrees or higher.

Generally, narrow nozzles are used for small surface areas to direct more power to a specific stain. Wide nozzles are better suited for extensive cleaning areas.

So, how much water does a pressure washer use based on the angle of the nozzle?

Wide nozzles will ultimately use more water than narrow nozzles. Balancing how you use your nozzles while cleaning is essential to maximizing your energy efficiency.

So, How Many Gallons of Water Does a Pressure Washer Use for Various Cleaning Tasks?

Now that you know the contributing factors to pressure washer water usage, let’s review what you should expect.

How much water does a pressure washer typically use?

• Light Tasks: For jobs like cleaning vehicles or a wood patio, you will use around 1.5 to 2.5 GPM. This means around 90 to 150 gallons per hour.

• Medium Tasks: Medium tasks include cleaning floors, parking lots, sidewalks, and building exteriors. You’ll use 2.5 to 3.5 GPM, equalling around 150 to 210 gallons per hour.

• Heavy Tasks: Heavy-duty tasks involve industrial machinery, biofilm on maritime vehicles, and oil stains. You’ll need anywhere from 4 to 8 GPM for most tasks, totaling 240 to 480 gallons per hour.

These values are only estimates. Often, you spend only a few minutes blasting away at stains.

Does a Pressure Washer Use a Lot of Water Compared to Alternative Cleaning Methods?

How does pressure washer water usage compare to other cleaning methods?

Did you know that pressure washers can use up to 10 times less water than a water hose? This is while cleaning significantly faster, leading to drastically lower water usage.

Does a Pressure Washer Use Less Water Than a Hose?

There are a few alternatives to pressure washing.

Some bits of dirt and debris can be cleared with manual scrubbing or a water hose. But there are downsides to these methods.

First, there’s the fact that they often take significantly longer to get the job done. This means that you’ll be at it all day rather than finishing up your cleaning tasks in under an hour.

Then there’s the cleaning ability to consider. Some stains, like rust, oil, or grease, can only be cleaned with a pressure washer.

Okay, but surely there’s a tradeoff for these drawbacks, right?

Not in the slightest.

In addition to lower effectiveness and long cleaning time, the typical garden hose uses around 20 gallons per minute. Compared to pressure washers that sit around 2 to 8 GPM, you’re looking at a 60 to 90% increase in water usage with these methods!

And once you scale that GPM out over time, there’s no competition. Pressure washer water usage tops out around 240 gallons for a 15-minute clean, whereas a garden hose will run you 1,200 gallons for an hour of cleaning.

More Reasons Pressure Washing is the #1 Cleaning Method for Businesses

Pressure washer water usage efficiency is only the tip of the iceberg. Pressure washing has become a favorite choice of businesses worldwide for several reasons:

• Time: Pressure washing is the fastest way to clean, hands down. With the right equipment, you can clear entire properties in just a few hours.

• Versatility: Pressure washers can handle everything from industrial machinery to delicate vehicle fleets. It’s simply a matter of tweaking the settings, accessories, and soaps you use.

• Eco-Friendly Cleaning: Pressure washers use less water than other cleaning methods. The best pressure washer soaps are also biodegradable for a green clean.

• Health Benefits: Removing harmful substances from your property, like mold, mildew, and bacteria buildup, is easy with the help of a pressure washer.

• Upkeep: Regularly cleaning your industrial machinery and equipment is a form of preventive maintenance. Clearing the gunk and grime from your property will ensure everything operates efficiently.

The best way to get started with pressure washing to optimize water usage is by asking for help. Thankfully, the #1 home for commercial cold water pressure washers in New Jersey is here to help you cut down that water bill!

Find the Perfect Pressure Washer GPM Rating at RJP Hotsy!

Maximizing your pressure washer’s water efficiency is best done by the experts. At New Jersey’s only authorized Hotsy dealer, RJP Hotsy, we’ll help you get set up for success.

We’ve helped local businesses like Stericycle, Route 66, and Greyhound revolutionize how they clean and cut down on their water bills.

With our inventory of powerful commercial pressure washers in New Jersey from Hotsy, the industry leader, you’ll have all the cleaning power you need to do the job quickly. We’ll select the perfect model for you and show you how to optimize your nozzles, soaps, and GPM settings.

We provide sales, rentals, and commercial pressure washer leasing in NJ to fit your business needs. You can confidently end your search for where to rent a pressure washer in the Garden State, as we have everything you need to begin. With speedy service, drop-off/pickup, and affordable costs to rent a power washer, it’s no surprise we’re the best provider of commercial pressure washer rental in NJ.

For large-scale jobs where mobility is preferred, we’re also the #1 home for commercial pressure washer trailers in NJ. We’ve mastered the art of mounting a pressure washer to a trailer and how to plumb a pressure washer trailer over the years. With our help, you can skip the DIY pressure washer trailer and let us handle everything.

Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to help you answer your questions.

Between how to rent a pressure washer, what size pressure washer you need, electric vs gas pressure washers, and hot vs cold water pressure washers, you’ll be able to use our expert insights to guide your decisions.

More Ways to Conserve Water While Pressure Washing

Once you get set up with the perfect machine with a fine-tuned GPM fit for the stains you typically deal with, there are a few more tricks of the trade to consider.

Wastewater Recycling Systems

Even with a high-quality pressure washer, you still pump out a lot of water. But with a wastewater recycling system, you can recapture and reuse most of that initial water.

Rather than going down the drain, these systems will recirculate the water. This also helps you avoid running afoul of runoff water and disposal regulations.

Pre-Soaking Surfaces

Pre-treating your surfaces is another reliable way to minimize pressure washer water usage.

It’s crucial when learning how to pressure wash concrete, metal, and wood-based surfaces.

Here’s how it works: lightly spray the area with diluted soap before blasting away at your surface. Let it soak in for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on your formulation.

This will loosen any grime, letting you spend less time rinsing and lowering your water usage.

Using the Right Nozzle

As we covered before, wider nozzles use more water than narrow ones. However, a narrow nozzle may take too long to cover an entire surface.

Finding the sweet spot between the two is essential. Often, this includes pre-soaking with a wide nozzle and then switching to a narrow one for spot cleaning.

We recommend discussing specific recommendations with our team, as every surface will have different optimal solutions!

Detergent Use

Without the best pressure washer chemicals by your side, you will be dousing your surfaces in water to no avail. High-quality soaps will soak into your surface, loosening up dirt and grime.

While pressure washing, water is just the delivery system. The combination of soap and high-velocity puts those stains away for good.

When you find the right soap, you can reduce water usage and let the chemicals do the heavy lifting.

Addressing Leaks

You would be surprised how often a leak in your pressure washer goes unnoticed. Regularly performing pressure washer troubleshooting to spot holes and leaks is vital.

Without it, even a tiny drip or leak can lead to several gallons of wasted water after each use.

Closing Thoughts on Pressure Washer Water Usage

As impressive as the raw cleaning power of a pressure washer is, there’s much more to consider. You can significantly optimize your water efficiency by finding the ideal GPM, using quality soap, and being vigilant about your nozzles.

For the best results, there’s no better way to maximize than by seeking an expert opinion. That’s where our team at RJP Hotsy comes in.

We have all the knowledge from decades of combined experience to help you slash that water bill. You’ll have access to our water-efficient machines, biodegradable soaps, and specialized nozzles.

Plus, instead of worrying about how to repair a pressure washer or checking for leaks yourself, you can rely on the #1 home for commercial pressure washer repair in NJ. You’ll be in good hands with our 24-point inspection process, speedy service, and reasonable pressure washer repair costs.

So whether you’re buying or renting a pressure washer or just need to optimize your current setup, our team is here to help. Visit the #1 retailer for commercial hot water pressure washers in  New Jersey, or call us to learn more!

NJ's One Stop Shop for Pressure Washing Sales, Service, and Solutions!

Contact us today to learn more about our pressure washing products and services: