Buy vs Hire: Water Blasters

A water blaster is a water blaster - right? Well, not exactly.

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all water blaster. Like any tool, you need the right one for the right job- and Hirepool has the range to suit pretty much everything. Electric, petrol, high pressure, low pressure, towable, whirl away attachments - each is suited for different jobs of all shapes and sizes. We even have ones with built-in water tanks for those hard-to-clean places with no access to water or power!

Water Blasters can vary significantly in terms of their features and capabilities. 

Let's take a deeper dive into the range of water blasters available to help you pick the right one for the job.

Content: 

PSI 

The Importance of Water Flow Rate

Electric vs Petrol

Air-cooled vs Water-cooled 

Water blasters at a glance 

Other things to consider 

Buy vs Hire: Grand Verdict

PSI 

PSI has become the go-to defining feature to indicate a water blaster's performance, but PSI isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Looking on the shelf at the hardware store you’d be led to believe it's the only thing that counts.

PSI stands for Pressure per Square Inch, and is how they measure the pressure -or blast- of the water. For instance, you need good pressure to blast off algae, stains and a whole bunch of nasties that can get embedded on pavers, driveways and fences.

If you have glue that's dried on concrete, or stripping paint off a fence- you’ll most likely need a higher PSI to blast it all away. For general cleaning or gentle washing where you don’t want to damage the surface -like a car- a lower PSI is ideal.

Some jobs for lower PSI’s: 

• Car Washing: You want low pressure to remove dust, grime and mud without damaging the paint.
• Decks and Wooden Surfaces: Clean algae and mildew without gouging the wood.
• Concrete and Pavers: Even concrete can be damaged- high pressure can ‘etch’ the concrete and create tiny craters that fill with dirt over time. It looks great the day you clean it, but as dirt fills the craters it ends up looking dirtier quicker.
• Window cleaning: You definitely need low pressure for this.
• BBQ’s, Toys, Play Equipment, Outdoor Furniture: Blast away the cobwebs without destroying them.
• Boats and Watercraft: Low PSI can blast away algae and barnacles without damaging the boat’s finish.

Some jobs for higher PSI use: 

• Paint Stripping: Instead of sanding it back- you can blast the living daylights out of fences and outdoor surfaces to strip it back to its original condition.
• Graffiti removal: This is a great chemical-free way to restore a wall and get rid of graffiti.
• Driveways: Sometimes low PSI isn’t enough for oil stains or deep-set dirt. Bring out the big guns to restore that old driveway.
• Concrete Surface Preparation: Before resurfacing or applying coatings to concrete, you can use a high-pressure washer to intentionally etch the surface, ensuring proper adhesion.
• Heavy Equipment Cleaning: Things like farm machinery or construction gear can be cleaned efficiently with high-pressure washers to remove mud, grease, and grime.

Buy vs Hire Verdict: PSI 

When you buy one, you’re limiting yourself to one type of use. You might buy a low PSI model for a gentle wash, but when you have a bigger job and need more pressure- you’re stuck with what you’ve got.

When you hire one- you can pick from a broad range of water blasters with different PSI’s for each job. Need a gentle pressure wash for the deck without damaging it? Or a high pressure to blast away graffiti from the fence? It’s better to hire the right one for each job.

The importance of Water Flow Rate 

While PSI is undoubtedly important, the real thing to look for is the Water Flow Rate. The Water Flow Rate is quantified as Litres Per Minute (LPM), and is vital in determining a water blaster’s efficiency. Without a good water flow rate, you're blasting mostly air- and you’re not able to move enough water through the machine.

The LPM is how quickly the water blaster can 'drink' or pull water from the tap. An average garden hose flows water at about 30 litres per minute, so you would want something that can move as much as possible through to the nozzle.

Some consumer models advertise a high PSI on the box which can look impressive, but have a really sluggish LPM under the hood. These models can make the cleaning job frustratingly slow, as you’ll need to hold on each area for longer to try and get a decent clean. Over the course of a day, this actually wastes a lot of water as it’s not efficiently using the water it’s being fed.

An industrial-grade water blaster has a high LPM, at every level of PSI. So no matter what the job is at different levels of pressure, you’re getting the best cleaning power and using water most efficiently. And if you can finish the job quicker, you’re less likely to waste water.

Buy vs Hire Verdict: LPM 

Don’t be catfished by consumer brands that advertise a high PSI without the LPM to match. There are very few consumer models that have a high Water Flow Rate, and a decent one will cost you. 

When you hire an industrial-grade one, you can be confident it's going to deliver the best cleaning performance with a high flow rate. Overall, hiring one means a faster clean, minimal water wastage, and a lower upfront cost.

Electric vs Petrol 

Electric water blasters may seem like a good choice on paper, but there's still a time and place for petrol units, particularly for big jobs or places without power.

Consumer electric water blasters currently are the most guilty of low water flow rates, with usually around 6-7 Litres per Minute. They are generally air-cooled and prone to overheating too. The main disadvantage to electric models is you are always tethered to an outlet, so if you have a long driveway or need to get somewhere without power- you’re pretty limited.

A petrol one is way more heavy duty, generally much more powerful and suited for all day cleaning. The professionals use petrol ones for a reason. If you’ve got a whole house or driveway to wash, a small electric one will struggle.

The main advantage of petrol units is for places without power. If you’re on a farm, or a site with limited access to power- or even just too far away from an outlet, a petrol one is fully portable. Hirepool even has towable ones so you can take them anywhere.

The noise of petrol water blasters is something to think about, grab some earmuffs and you should be right. 

Verdict: Electric vs Petrol 

This one really depends on the job, but the portability and power of petrol units would make it the most versatile.

Buying a cheap electric model comes with a lot of limitations in terms of performance, and is only suitable for a handful of applications.

Hirepool has both electric and petrol models suited for industrial use. They have enough grunt to get through any job out there, and you can ensure you use the right one for the job.

Air-cooled vs Water-cooled 

A domestic water blaster can’t run non-stop. The cheaper ones are mostly air-cooled, which is more prone to overheating. They’ll only run for a few hours before you’ll need to take a break to let them cool which can really slow down the day if you have a big job.

The industrial-grade ones are mostly water-cooled and can run all day without issues. These machines are specifically engineered to withstand prolonged use without overheating.

Verdict: Air-cooled vs Water-cooled 

Water-cooled units are the firm winner here, and only a handful of domestic units offer that feature. The ones that do will set you back well over a thousand dollars.

Hirepool’s industrial water blasters can run all day without issues, and you won’t need to stop your job to let them cool down.

Water blasters at a glance 

Let’s compare two water blasters rated at 1450 psi:

*Specs are based on the Ryobi RACPWS1. Details may vary between models.

Now let’s compare two water blasters rated at 2000 psi:

^Specs are based on the Ozito HPW2030. Details may vary between models.

Other things to consider 

Seasonal Use 

Water blasting mostly happens in the warmer months - so if you buy one it’s mostly in the shed gathering dust for most of the year. Hiring one means you can use it precisely when it's needed without having to store it all year round.

Maintenance 

Like any machine, water blasters need regular maintenance. Buying one means signing up for a long list of responsibilities for you to manage:

• Changing the pump and engine oil
• Replacing the nozzles when they’re blocked or damaged
• Checking fittings and spark plugs
• Cleaning the fuel tank
• Cleaning the air and water filters
• Replacing the pump seals
• Tag and test any electrical equipment connected to your water blaster.

Hirepool regularly services and maintains all their gear so it’s in optimal condition. Just turn it on and go.

Buy vs Hire: Grand Verdict 

When you break it down, buying a cheap electric water blaster comes with a lot of limitations:

• You are limited to one type of pressure (PSI)
• Low water flow rates (LPM)
• Ineffective cleaning
• Inefficient use of water
• Relies on power
• Prone to overheating
• Requires regular maintenance
• Store all year round
• Limited applications

Hiring one opens you up to choose the right model for each job. Each one comes with the best specs available:

• Full range of PSI options
• High water flow rates
• Powerful cleaning
• Minimal water waste
• Runs all-day
• Industrial strength
• Routinely serviced and maintained
• Electric and Petrol options
• Portable, Towable, Range of Accessories
• Range of choice to suit any application

So next time you need to do some cleaning, pop on down to your local Hirepool branch and get expert advice on the right water blaster for the job.

Ready to hire a water blaster with Hirepool? 

If you’ve got any questions- give us a call and we can help you pick the right one for your job.

Got a big job and need the best water blasters? You can Hirepool that.