Pressure washers are incredible machines and valuable in residential and commercial settings.
However, many homeowners opt for electric models because they are easier to use and more affordable.
But the question on everyone’s mind is – how many watts does a pressure washer use?
In this article, we’ll discuss the electrical usage of a typical household pressure washer, plus some frequently asked questions that might come to mind.
Let’s get started!
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A decade of residential and commercial pressure washing led me to start JCS Refresh. Now I can share my knowledge with folks like you.
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Quick Answer
The power consumption of any electrical appliance depends on its power rating.
For example, when running at maximum capacity, a 1,500 Watt pressure washer will consume 1,500 Watts of power in an hour or 1.5 kWh (kilowatt-hour).
However, different models have specific power ratings, and consumption depends on the capacity (PSI) it runs.
How many watts does an electric pressure washer use?
The energy consumption of an electric pressure washer depends upon a combination of several factors ranging from pressure, voltage, and energy efficiency.
Understand the parameters
Before evaluating the power consumption, understand the parameters used for calculation.
Let’s say you buy a pressure washer that mentions 1,800 Watts as the power. This number tells us the power the appliance consumes when running at maximum capacity.
1,800 Watts is equivalent to 1.8 kilowatts (just divide it by 1,000), and when this appliance runs continuously for an hour, it consumes 1.8 kilowatts of power. Your electricity bill is calculated in units, and each unit is equivalent to one kilowatt-hour. So when this appliance runs for an hour, it consumes 1.8 units of electricity.
Let’s say electricity costs $0.12 per unit, so running this pressure washer for an hour will cost you $0.21 in your electric bill.
Another method of calculating it is to multiply the current requirements by the voltage of your power supply.
Some manufacturers mention the current input of their pressure washers on the packaging rather than the wattage. It can be identified as ‘X’ Amps, and it tells us about the current required to operate the appliance.
You multiply the current value by the voltage (120 V is the household power supply voltage in the USA) to get the power consumption of the washer. So if your pressure washer uses 12 Amps, it will consume 1440 Watts (120 x 12 = 1440) of power in an hour or 1.44 units of electricity.
PSI and power connection
A pressure washer’s maximum pressure rating (PSI) is rarely used, but the power consumption is usually calculated using this highest value.
Pressure washing at maximum PSI will require the motor to run at maximum power. However, if the washer is used at a lower pressure, the power consumption will drop.
It is also hard to calculate the exact power consumption of a pressure washer because while washing a house, different areas require different pressures (PSI) for cleaning.
For example, softwood decks need 500-600 PSI, but cleaning a driveway requires 2800-3000 PSI.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency (Energy Star Program from the D.O.E.) measures an appliance’s power consumption efficiency. It is referred to as the energy factor (EF), and a higher value means better efficiency.
For example, an 1800 Watt pressure washer with a higher energy factor will consume less electricity than another 1800 Watt washer with a lower energy factor.
How many watts does a 2000 PSI pressure washer use?
There is no definite answer to this because the exact power consumption will depend upon the brand, energy efficiency, and duration of use.
Based on the data available for different brands of pressure washers, a 2,000 PSI pressure washer will use between 1,400-1,500 Watts per hour.
How many watts does a 13 Amp pressure washer use?
Using the formula above, a 13 Amp pressure washer will consume (13 Amp x 120 Volts) 1,560 Watts of power in an hour.
Can a power inverter run a pressure washer?
Technically speaking, a power inverter should have a higher maximum power output than the maximum power consumption of a pressure washer.
So a machine consuming 1,800 Watts of power can be powered by a 2000 Watt inverter when no other appliance is drawing power.
Conclusion
The power consumption of a pressure washer will depend upon the specific model and brand.
However, it’s best to check the specifications of a pressure washer and find out the power (Watts) or input current (Amps). From this information, you can then calculate the actual power consumption.
It also depends upon the pressure at which the pressure washing is operating.
We hope this article served you well and helps clarify how many watts a pressure washer uses.
Thanks for reading!
