What makes the best commercial pressure washer in 2019? It’s the combination of the engine, pump, and construction that determine good versus great. Commercial grade power washers are designed to complete the toughest jobs in the least amount of time.
Check out our list and reviews of some of the top pressure washers for commercial use here.
Also if you’re not looking to spend a lot of money, check out our post on power washers under $300 here.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Best Commercial Pressure Washer in 2019 Comparison Chart
- 2 Top Professional Pressure Washer Reviews
- 2.1 Simpson PS4240-S Pressure Washer Review
- 2.2 Generac 6565 Commercial Pressure Washer Review
- 2.3 PressurePro E4040 Heavy Duty Pressure Washer Review
- 2.4 DeWalt 4,200 PSI 4GPM Cold Water Pressure Washer Review
- 2.5 Easy-Kleen IS7040G 7,000PSI Cold Water Pressure Washer Review
- 2.6 Briggs & Stratton 20505 Pressure Washer – BONUS COMMERCIAL POWER WASHER
- 3 How To Choose Your Best Commercial Power Washer
- 4 How To Properly Maintain Your Commercial Pressure Washer
- 5 Final Thoughts
The Best Commercial Pressure Washer in 2019 Comparison Chart
Pressure Washer | PSI (pounds per square inch) | Our Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Simpson PS4240 | 4,200 | $$$ See on Amazon | |
Generac 6565 | 4,200 | $$$ See on Amazon | |
PressurePro | 4,000 | $$$$ See on Amazon | |
DeWalt Washer | 4,200 | $$$$ See on Amazon | |
Easy-Kleen IS7040G | 7,000 | $$$$$$ See on Amazon |
Top Professional Pressure Washer Reviews
Simpson PS4240-S Pressure Washer Review
Features:
- 4,200 PSI at 4GPM
- 50′ sprayer hose
- Gas powered Honda engine with 3-year warranty
- AAA triplex direct-drive pump with 5-year warranty
- Pro-style spray wand with 5 different nozzle sizes
- On-board storage for sprayer, wand and nozzles
Simpson is one of the most trusted brands of pressure washers. Their lineup called “Powershot” has multiple different versions and sizes of pressure washers. For commercial use, we’d recommend the PS4240-S as it’s the perfect combination of power, cleaning ability and it comes at a reasonable price. Check out our very detailed PS4240 review we wrote here.
This Powershot is the most powerful is the lineup with 4,200 PSI combined with 4GPM of water. That makes for a total cleaning power units (CPU) of 16,800. That’s over twice the cleaning power of most standard home power washers.
This Simpson comes with a high quality gas-powered Honda GX390 commercial series engine. Honda even backs this engine with a full 3-year warranty. It also has a AAA triplex plunger pump with ceramic pistons.
The Powershot is constructed on a high quality welded steel frame. It runs on a solid steel axle with large 13″ pneumatic tires. This system is designed for rugged environments and will handle tough terrain. The hose is even wrapped in steel-braided coverings and has steel connections for the nozzles.
The spray wand comes with 5 different size nozzle tips so you can adjust for each job. A 0 degree nozzle is ideal for the toughest jobs that need the deepest cleaning. Be careful though as this can even peel paint clean off products. The nozzle increase to 15 degrees, 25 degrees and 40 degrees for you to adjust accordingly. Lastly, it comes with a soap nozzle which is usually around 45 degrees.
One extra nice feature in the pressure washer is the automatic oil alert. This washer has the ability to shut down the engine if the oil levels get too low. As you know, low oil can damage the engine (specifically the pistons). Having an auto-shutdown feature is very convenient and definitely a nice “extra” touch on this model.
Overall, the Simpson Powershot PS4240 is a great balance of performance and price. The only downside that has been found is the hose quality. Some people have claimed it’s too short for the unit and a few people felt their hose was not properly built. You can easily purchase a different hose at a reasonable price.
Feel free to check out the Simpson Powershot PS4240 here on Amazon.
Generac 6565 Commercial Pressure Washer Review
Features:
- 4,200 PSI at 4GPM
- 50-foot steel reinforced hose
- Gas powered 420cc engine by Generac with 3-year warranty
- Professional grade triplex direct drive pump
- Pro-style spray wand with 5 different nozzle sizes
Generac is another top quality pressure washer manufacturer and the 6565 is just one in their lineup. Generac makes multiple sized power washers, but this one is the best commercial grade washer of them. It’s got the power and balance you need to accomplish most any task.
This Generac is the most powerful is the lineup in their fleet with 4,200 PSI combined with 4GPM of water. That makes for a total cleaning power units (CPU) of 16,800. Again, that’s over twice the cleaning power of most standard home power washers. You can see a trend with the top manufacturers matching each other for power since no one wants to be left behind.
Generac (like Honda) makes their own engines and this model is no slouch. The 420cc horizontal shaft engine will conquer basically any task you need. And it comes with a full 3-year warranty. The triplex pump is commercial grade and is also coated in ceramic to improve performance and durability.
The Generac is constructed on a high quality welded steel frame. It sits on a solid steel axle with large 12″ pneumatic “never-flat” tires. This system is designed to be perfectly balanced over the axle to make it incredibly easy to maneuver. The hose is even wrapped in steel-braided coverings and has brass “quick-connect” connections for the nozzles.
The professional grade spray wand comes with 5 different size nozzle tips so you can adjust for each job. A 0 degree nozzle is ideal for the toughest jobs that need the deepest cleaning. The nozzle increase to 15 degrees, 25 degrees and 40 degrees for you to adjust accordingly. Lastly, it comes with a soap nozzle which is usually around 45 degrees. See the diagram below from Generac for more detail.
Overall, the Generac 6565 is a top quality power washer that could easily take the top spot in our list. It’s nearly neck-in-neck with the Powershot. The only challenge that’s been discussed is the startup procedure. Most people are comfortable working a choke properly on a gas engine so startup was no issue. Make sure you read through the instructions because it has helpful tips on when to release pressure in the unit to help it start faster.
Feel free to check out the Generac 6565 here on Amazon.
PressurePro E4040 Heavy Duty Pressure Washer Review
Features:
- 4,000 PSI at 4 GPM
- 50-foot steel reinforced spray hose
- Gas powered Honda GX390 engine (same as Powershot)
- CARB Compliant
- AR Triplex plunger direct-drive pump
- Professional spray wand with 5 quick-connect nozzles
The PressurePro series of pressure washers is definitely a dark horse brand people aren’t too familiar with. But it’s definitely a brand that should be considered. They are assembled and in the USA and provide excellent quality.
The PressurePro comes in slightly less powerful than the previous models at 4,000 PSI using 4 GPM of water. That gives a total CPU of 1,600 which is still great, but not as strong as the previous on our list. Considering the commercial application, this may influence your decision. It’s not the biggest difference in power, so if you truly prefer the PressurePro, you’ll be fine.
PressurePro is not an engine manufacturer, so they’ve partnered up with Honda to make that happen. As you can see, the same engine is in the PressurePro as was our number 1 pick here. Obviously, Honda stands behind their warranties and quality build so you should have no worries.
The PressurePro power washer comes with a lifetime warranty on the steel frame it’s built on. Clearly, they believe their design and construction of the power washer is superior to any others because no other brand has a lifetime frame warranty. It’s a very simple design, but unfortunately it does not come with many storage options.
Like most models so far here, the PressurePro comes with 5 different nozzle sizes. They are the exact same sizes as the others listed here. The only difference is the PressurePro hose uses brass connections as opposed to stainless steel. Brass is still a strong material for power washers but definitely a downgrade compared to stainless.
The main downside as we already mentioned is the lack of storage options. This can be a big deal if you’re in a tight space. Also, the price point of PressurePros is a little higher than others. If budget is a concern, you may need to look elsewhere.
Check out more on the PressurePro Pressure Washer here on Amazon.
DeWalt 4,200 PSI 4GPM Cold Water Pressure Washer Review
Features:
- 4200 PSI at 4 GPM
- 50′ non-marring hose with quick connections
- Gas powered Honda GX engine
- Triplex direct drive pump design with ceramic pistons
- Thermal relief valve
- 5 quick connect valves
People don’t often think of DeWalt for pressure washers. DeWalt is more commonly known for tools and construction or home-improvement. Thankfully, they partnered with some great companies to create a good commercial pressure washer.
DeWalt created a power washer with 4,200PSI and 4GPM which gives it a total cleaning power of 16,800. This falls near the top end of cleaning power for the units we’ve reviewed. It’s a strong washer that will tackle most of your toughest jobs easily.
Once again we see how great Honda engines are. This gas powered Honda engine is built within the DeWalt washer to give superior performance and longevity. Honda once again comes through here on a solid engine design.
DeWalt, like so many others, built their pressure washer on a steel frame designed to tackle the toughest environments. It’s fairly compact for the design and there’s a bit of storage on board for the hose and wand. The design is certainly one we’ve seen before.
The 5 quick-connect nozzles is also nothing new at this point. The stream sizes are all the same throughout.
The only real downside with the DeWalt unit is the price. It’s noticeably more expensive than the other brands on our list which definitely pushes it down to #4 for us. That’s a commonality with DeWalt products though, they’re priced high. They usually are worth the money since they manufacturer high quality products, but most of the products on this pressure washer aren’t theirs.
Check out the DeWalt commercial pressure washer here on Amazon.
Easy-Kleen IS7040G 7,000PSI Cold Water Pressure Washer Review
Features:
- 7,000 PSI at 4 GPM
- 25HP Kohler gas powered engine
- Industrial duty triplex plunger pump
- 50′ retractable hose
- Professional wand with 5 nozzles
If you’ve gotten this far and still haven’t found a pressure washer strong enough for what you need… Enter the incredible Easy-Kleen. Seriously, this power washer pushes out some insane power, but it comes at a steep price. If you need the absolute top-of-the-line power for your business, look no further.
The Easy-Kleen pressure washer produces an insane 7,000 PSI while only using 4 GPM of water. That’s a total cleaning power of 28,000 CPU (almost double the others on our list). This thing will take the concrete off the paint on the 3rd story window frame. It’s a monster for power, but also needs to be handled carefully. This much power can definitely cause injury if not handled correctly.
The Easy-Kleen power washer is built with a Kohler belt-driven engine which really steps up the game on power. Delivering the type of power that a top-scale professional cleaner needs, this Easy-Kleen puts up impressiver performances.
You should only consider this unit if you’re working a large amount of high quality jobs that also need multi-level cleaning. This Easy-Kleen is priced only for those companies who can afford higher paying jobs. If you’re not a big professional company looking to work with businesses (as opposed to residential or small business), then this unit probably isn’t for you. You can find plenty of quality in some of the other units we discussed above.
The engine and pump both come with a 3-year warranty. Overall, the Easy-Kleen power washer gives new meaning to the word “beast.” Use carefully since any errors could lead to serious damage.
You can check out the Easy-Kleen IS7040G here on Amazon.
Briggs & Stratton 20505 Pressure Washer – BONUS COMMERCIAL POWER WASHER
So if you’ve gotten this far in the article, I assume you’re not satisfied with the original top 5 best commercial power washers. And that’s OK. So let’s take a stab at one more to see if this was fits your liking. But honestly, we made a top 5 list for a reason… This is #6 for a reason.
Features:
- 3,400 PSI at 2.8GPM
- Briggs 1150 Series OHV Engine
- 11.5 ft/lbs. of power from engine
- 10″ Never-Flat wheels
- 30′ Hose
So this Briggs & Stratton model is a quality pressure washer. Everyone knows the brand and everyone can respect the quality of their engine. That’s probably what helps it make in on this list.
However, it’s not the best commercial power washer compared to others on our list. Will it do a fine job for professional purposes? Yes. Will you probably like it if this is your only pressure washer? Yes.
But we know that better options exist on the market so we wouldn’t make this our top recommendation.
It does have nice power though, putting out over 11 ft/lbs. of torque from the engine. That’s how you achieve the solid 3,400 PSI with only 2.8 GPM of water. It’s a very aggressive model to push water.
It does end up weighing close to 70 lbs. total though. And that’s without any attachments or water hose or detergent. So it definitely is on the heavier side of commercial power washers.
Plus several other reviews seem to highlight that the pump can have problems over time. And pumps are very challenging to replace in a pressure washer.
So you can feel free to check out this Briggs & Stratton pressure washer here on Amazon if you so choose.
How To Choose Your Best Commercial Power Washer
There’s 3 major questions you need to answer to help you choose which pump is best for you.
- Are you a full time power washer? Basically, is power washing the majority of your work each and every day?
- Do you work near electric outlets a lot that would allow electric pressure washers to be an option?
- How much do you have to spend on pressure washer maintenance?
So let’s explain these three questions quickly. The first one really helps hone in on your intent. If you’re a side-hustling power washer who picks up gigs on the weekends, that’s much different than someone who owns a business and does that all day every day.
Why does that matter?
Because someone who’s all-in committed with a pressure washer business understands that getting higher quality means paying a higher cost. Also, that comes with understanding this usually leads to quicker jobs, less maintenance, and lower operating costs in the future.
For example, take the Easy-Kleen model mentioned above. The price on that washer is extremely higher than any other on this list because it’s a top-quality (and performance) power washer. For someone who’s in the business of power washing, they’ll understand that 7,000 PSI delivers something most other small companies can’t. And they’ll see the value in that higher cost (better jobs, less time, more efficient operation, etc.)
Gas vs. Electric Commercial Pressure Washers
The second question revolves around what’s available to you. It’s no secret that electric commercial pressure washers have less maintenance and operate much quieter. And they’re also more usable indoors if you pick up those types of jobs. However, electric models come at a premium price.
Gas pressure washers are the ultimate portability machines for cleaning. They can obviously go anywhere as long as you keep the gas and oil supply up. And they are cheaper to purchase. However, they are noisier and will need higher maintenance costs in the future.
The last question ties into the second question since we discussed maintenance costs already. If you’re not interested in keeping a power washer engine finely tuned, stick with electric. If you’re OK taking time to clean valves and change spark plugs once in a while (or pay for it to be done), then a cheaper gas model will work wonders for you.
Answer these simple questions and you’ll be able to go back through our list with more clarity on what you want versus what you actually need.
How To Properly Maintain Your Commercial Pressure Washer
There are several different approaches to maintain a gas pressure washer. Here’s a few that we believe are critical to proper operation.
- Flush the pump after every use (or maybe once per day if you use it frequently). Take a can of pump lube and attach it to the hose inlet of the pressure washer. Pull the trigger on the can and wait until the other end of the pump has a foamy liquid appears out the other end.
- Drain the oil and insert fresh oil consistently. In a commercial situation, you’ll probably be using this washer consistently. So at least once per week, flush the oil and refill it with new oil. This is the easiest way to extend the life of your pressure washer
- Clear off debris or dirt from the pressure washer. This may sound obvious, but corrosion of the metal parts is another big area that cause failure in pressure washers. Keep it relatively clean and spray it down once a week at least.
- Use high quality gas in your engine. Yes just like they recommend high quality gas for your car, use it for a pressure washer. The fewer additives, the longer that engine will last.
Final Thoughts
So we’ve shown you a great list of the best commercial pressure washers in 2018. Based on what you’re needs are, we definitely have a great opinion of the Simpson 4240 model. It’s the best blend we found of price and performance. Feel free to comment on any other brand or model you love!