How much it costs to use a pressure washer and how to keep energy costs low whilst using it

Spring is the perfect time to give your garden a makeover, and a pressure washer is ideal for a quick and effective clean – here’s how to keep energy costs low whilst using it

The arrival of spring has got us all rushing to give our outdoor spaces a makeover ready for those (hopefully) sunny warm days spent outside. For a quick and efficient clean, a pressure washer is the perfect solution to keeping your patio and decking clean, as well as helping blast grime off things like outdoor furniture, sheds and even vehicles.

However, using your pressure washer incorrectly can actually lead to higher energy bills and increased water usage. With the cost of bills still rising in the UK, it’s never been more important to be smart about how you use your pressure washer, and property maintenance expert Gregory Smith at PriceYourJob.co.uk has shared some advice on how to cut costs whilst still getting your garden looking shipshape.

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According to The Telegraph: “Pressure washers generally draw between 1,400 and 2,800 Watts, which at today’s prices will cost between 34p and 68p an hour to run.” This of course depends on whether you’ve opted for a high or lower pressure washer , but generally they’re much more economical than using a standard hosepipe and some elbow grease, as they require much less water to get the job done.

What pressure washer should I use?

The type of pressure washer you buy can also make an impact. Gregory suggests using an electric pressure washer like this Bosch High Pressure Washer EasyAquatak 120, which is currently reduced from £109.99 to £92.99 in Amazon’s Spring Deal Days sale.

The Bosch pressure washer comes with different attachments including a patio cleaner, detergent nozzle and a wash brush, and can be adjusted to suit whatever you’re cleaning. Whether you need a gentle flow for rinsing off your car or something more powerful to blast stubborn dirt out of driveway crevices.

Karcher also currently has some great savings on its range of pressure washers, with plenty of options to suit different needs.

That’s because electric pressure washers will generally be more inexpensive to run than a petrol one. Even though you’re using more electricity, petrol in the UK is currently averaging £1.50 per litre, and petrol pressure washers typically have a much higher initial cost, making it a pricey purchase.

You can also look at things like how much water they use, and how much pressure they exert. According to Gregory: “ Most UK domestic tasks can be handled with a 1,500–2,500 PSI washer. Higher PSI models (3,000+) use more water and energy than necessary.”

He also added: “Water efficiency matters in the UK, where metered homes pay an average of £1.50 per cubic metre of water. Choosing a washer with a lower LPM (e.g., 5–8 LPM) will reduce water usage.”

How to save even more money

To cut costs even further, you can connect your pressure washer to a rainwater butt, rather than your main water source. This Mini Rainsaver 100 litre Water Butt Kit is currently £49.78 and comes with a lid, tap, base and rain diverter kit to help store rainwater run off.

Not only is this handy for connecting your pressure washer to, but it also helps save money on things like watering plants. You can also try to stick to using your pressure washer during off peak electricity hours, which are between 11pm and 6am and can save on energy costs if you are on an Economy 7 tariff.

Making sure your pressure washer is well maintained can also cut down on costs, with leaks and blocked nozzles not only lowering their efficiency but also wasting water. Make sure you keep the nozzles and filters clean, and make sure everything is tightly attached with no holes or splits which can cause water to leak.