PSI CHART

Pressure Gun Nozzle Choice

0 degrees (red nozzle) is the most powerful, concentrated nozzle setting.
15 degrees (yellow nozzle) is used for heavy-duty cleaning.
25 degrees (green nozzle) is used for general cleaning.
40 degrees (white nozzle) is used for vehicles, patio furniture, boats and easily damaged surfaces.
65 degrees (black nozzle) is a low-pressure nozzle used to apply soap and other cleaning agents.

Light Duty 1500-1900 PSI

For regular maintenance and light household cleaning jobs, a light-duty pressure washer will do. These feature PSI ranging from 1500 to 1900 and would be enough to get rid of dirt and mild stains. This is the safest pressure washer PSI rating for all surfaces, but it isn’t ideal for getting rid of tough stains.

Low pressures are best for cleaning delicate surfaces around the exterior of the house. The gutters, soffits, and windows tend to be more fragile than your deck or driveway, for example. As such, they require more attention and care than the rest of the house’s exterior.

A light-duty pressure washer is also ideal for cleaning trash cans, cars, vans, and trucks. These pressure washers are also great for cleaning outdoor patio furniture, particularly wooden and wicker ones, without causing the wood to splinter or warp.

Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI

Medium-duty pressure washers do a better job at cleaning dirt buildup and oil stains than low-duty pressure washers. This classification ranges from as low as 2,000 PSI to as high as 2,800 PSI. You can use a medium-duty pressure washer for almost any surface. They’re great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood. They work especially well for cleaning patios, sidings, roofs, decks, and fences.

The medium-duty power washer is best for getting rid of stubborn stains and dirt that a low-duty pressure washer can’t clean. You can also use this on wooden surfaces without chipping the wood and creating splinters. Do not use a medium-duty pressure washer on your windows or vehicles as this may crack your window or cause a dent in vehicles.

Heavy Duty 2900-3200 PSI

Moving on, you can also consider a heavy-duty power washer with PSI ranging from 2,900-3,200. If you own a boat or yacht, a heavy-duty pressure washer is great for blasting away any algae and barnacles that might’ve got stuck on the bottom of your boat.

These are also the most commonly used pressure washers for cleaning driveways, sidewalks, and pathways. They are also used to prep different surfaces for painting

Extra Heavy Duty 3300 and higher PSI

For heavily stained driveways and caked-on dirt, you might need an extra heavy-duty pressure washer. If you plan to use this on painted fences, walls, or floors, do take note that at around 4000 PSI, a pressure washer can strip paint off of surfaces. Although this is a bad thing if that’s not your intended use, these pressure washers work perfectly for getting rid of graffiti on walls. If you’re looking for an industrial cleaning solution – whether you’re in the construction, food service, trucking, or any other industry – this is probably the right option for you.