When considering commercial pressure washers, the flow rate of the machine is just as important as pressure levels and temperature levels. The flow rate is the amount of water expelled from the machine, measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Higher flow rates usually accompany high pressure levels. However, there are a number of low flow rate power washers available.

Leading suppliers now offer commercial pressure washers with flow rates between 0.5 GPM and 9 GPM. The cleaning power of the pressure cleaner increases with higher water flow rates. For jobs like auto detailing, low flow rates are adequate for cleaning and ideal in areas with limited water availability or drainage. For more intense industrial cleaning jobs such as stripping paint, wet sandblaster pressure washers offer flow rates as high as 5 GPM.

If you are unsure what flow rate you need for your power washer, consider assessing the job at hand. For large areas needing to be cleaned, high flow rates with high pressure levels will clean more area in a shorter amount of time. Also, it is important to acknowledge how much water is available for use. High flow rate machines are powerful, but require large amounts of water. If water is not abundant or if fines will be accumulated, consider a low flow rate machine.