Pressure Washers

Pressure Washers buying guide

Veldkraft lists 111 pressure washers, priced from R42 to R92 874, from brands including Turner Morris. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Which pressure washer suits your work?

This range is built around high pressure washers that carry their own water, for work where there is no tap nearby. Mobile units hold from 40 to 1000 litres and trailers from 500 to 2500 litres, for farms, sites and roadside work. Drives are diesel with electric start, petrol, or single-phase electric. The range also includes a jetting machine trailer, high-pressure hoses and engine units. Brands include Turner Morris.

Diesel, petrol or electric?

Choose the drive by where you work and how long you run. Diesel units with electric start run at 241 bar and suit long days of washing machinery, trucks and animal housing. Petrol units at 186 bar need no electricity and suit lighter or occasional work. Electric units at 100 bar run on single-phase power, listed as 220 V, are quieter and produce no exhaust, so they suit sheds, dairies and workshops.

Pressure or flow: which matters more?

Both matter, for different dirt. Pressure, in bar, sets how hard the water strikes; flow, in litres per minute, sets how fast it carries dirt away. Caked mud, grease and manure need higher pressure, while large flat areas clean faster with more flow. Compare flow rates as well as bar ratings. Very high pressure can strip paint, damage seals and cut into soft timber, so start with the nozzle well back and move closer.

How big a water tank do you need?

Size the tank by how long you need to wash before refilling. Divide the tank volume in litres by the pump's flow in litres per minute to get the run time in minutes. A 40 litre trolley suits short jobs close to a tap, 300 to 1000 litre units suit a day of farm or site cleaning, and 1500 to 2500 litre trailers suit fleets and remote work.

Mobile unit or trailer, braked or unbraked?

Pick the chassis by how you move the machine. Mobile units ride on a bakkie load bed and trolley units wheel around a yard, while trailers are towed. A full 2500 litre tank carries about 2.5 tonnes of water before you add the trailer and machine, which is why the larger trailers are braked. Check your vehicle's rated towing capacity for braked and unbraked trailers, and your driving licence code, before choosing a size.

Jetting machines, hoses and spares

Match every accessory to the machine's pressure rating. A jetting machine trailer is used to clear drains and pipelines with a high-pressure hose, which is a different job from surface washing. Replacement pressure washer hoses come in lengths such as 10 m and 20 m with ratings of 280 or 480 bar, and the hose rating must be at least the machine's maximum pressure.

Pressure Washers: common questions

What bar pressure washer do I need?

For general washing of vehicles, paving and equipment, about 100 bar on an electric unit is usually enough. For caked mud, grease, manure and heavy machinery, look at the 186 bar petrol or 241 bar diesel units. More pressure cleans faster but can damage paint, rubber and soft surfaces, so match the pressure to the job and keep the nozzle at a safe distance.

How much does a pressure washer cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 111 pressure washers and accessories priced from R42 to R92 874. Hoses and small parts sit at the low end, and braked diesel trailers with 2500 litre tanks sit at the top. Price rises with tank size, engine type, pressure rating, electric start, a trailer chassis and brakes.

Can a pressure washer work without mains water?

Yes, if it has an on-board tank. The mobile units and trailers in this range carry tanks from 40 to 2500 litres, so they can work away from a tap, and the diesel and petrol units need no electricity either. Fill the tank with clean water, because sand and debris wear the pump, and refill before it runs empty.

Is a diesel or petrol pressure washer better?

Diesel suits long, heavy working days: the diesel units here run at 241 bar and have electric start. Petrol units at 186 bar cost less and suit lighter, shorter jobs. If you work near power and want less noise and no exhaust, a 100 bar electric unit is the third option.

What hose do I need for a high pressure washer?

Choose a hose rated at or above the machine's maximum pressure, with the same coupling or thread as your gun and pump outlet. Hoses here include 10 m at 480 bar and 20 m at 280 bar, so the 280 bar hose suits machines up to that rating, such as the 241 bar diesel units. A longer hose loses a little pressure at the gun.

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