Selecting the right pressure washer can make a significant difference in your cleaning and sewer jetting tasks—whether you're tackling a small patio or a large commercial project.

For commercial applications, we recommend choosing a pressure washer with triplex plunger pumps instead of axial pumps for better durability and performance.

Electric vs. Gas Powered Pressure Washers

The first consideration is the power source: Electric or Gas.

Electric Pressure Washers

• Quieter, lighter, and easier to maintain
• Ideal for indoor use and light to medium-duty tasks
• Limited mobility due to power cord and generally lower psi
• Perfect for car washing, truck washing, and indoor cleaning

Gas Pressure Washers

• More powerful and mobile—ideal for heavy-duty tasks
• Great for sewer jetting, construction site cleaning, graffiti removal, and sidewalk cleaning
• Noisier and heavier, with more maintenance required

If you need to transport your pressure washer to different sites, gas-powered models are more versatile, as they don’t rely on specific electrical requirements (voltage, amperage, receptacles).

Direct Drive vs. Belt Drive vs. Gearbox Reduction

Electric motors and gas engines rotate at a specific rpm. This rpm can be transferred to the pump in three ways:

• Direct Drive
• Belt Drive
• Gearbox Reduction

Direct Drive Pressure Washers

• Lower upfront cost and smaller footprint
• Best for operations under 20 hours per week
• Require a water source like city water or a booster pump if using a buffer tank

Belt Drive & Gearbox Reduction Pressure Washers

• Better for continuous use and operations over 20 hours per week
• Lower rpm reduces wear and tear, heat, and vibration
• Quieter and longer-lasting
• Essential for high-flow applications (over 5 US gpm) using a buffer tank

Belt Drive vs. Gearbox Reduction

When choosing between belt drive and gearbox systems, consider your specific application needs:

Gearbox Reduction

• More compact and efficient
• Ideal for space-constrained setups like pressure washer trailers
• Handles high torque and offers precise speed control
• Requires regular lubrication and can be noisier

Belt Drive

• More flexible—speed and torque can be adjusted by changing the belt
• Absorbs shocks and vibrations, reducing wear on other components

Need help choosing the right pressure washer for your application? Reach out to us here.

Recommended Products

• Canpump Pressure Washer: Wall-Mount w/ Hose Reel, 5 hp, 240 V, Total Stop System – Ideal for truck wash systems
• Canpump Wall-Mount Pressure Washer: 2 hp Half-Speed Motor, 120 V, Total Stop System – Perfect for car wash systems
• Canpump Cold Water Sewer Jetter: 15 hp Engine, 3400 psi @ 5.7 US gpm – Designed for sewer jetting applications
• Canpump Belt-Drive Pressure Washer: 13 hp Engine, 3600 psi @ 5 US gpm – Great for custom pressure washer trailers
• Canpump Commercial Gas Pressure Washer: 13 hp Engine, Triplex Pump – Direct-drive pressure washer
• Canpump Commercial Gas Pressure Washer: 15 hp Engine with Gearbox, 3600 psi @ 4.5 US gpm – Direct drive with gearbox reduction