Is it Best to Use Hot or Cold Water to Clean Concrete?

Source:www.stonediamondtool.com Date:2018/3/12 Read:417

Cold-water power washers are cheaper, lighter, and simpler to use than hot-water units, which require a heavy heating coil and burner system to heat the water. Whereas a cold-water unit may cost $2,000 and weigh 200 pounds, a comparable hot-water unit often will cost more than $3,000 and weigh more than 400 pounds.

However, hot water cleans faster than cold water, and this rule holds true for power washing. Although cold-water units are suitable for removing dirt and often suffice for smaller, residential applications, most commercial power-washing contractors believe that using hot water is worth the added expense. "The reduced labor costs will more than offset the cost of hot water," says Hinckley. "You don't want to be penny-wise and dollar dumb."

The benefits of hot water are especially clear when cleaning oil and grease. "The hot water helps lift the oil off the concrete, especially in cold weather," says Jeff Paulding, president of Dirt Killer Pressure Washers, Owings Mills, Md.