Pressure washers today are being widely used because of their immense cleaning capability. The best thing about pressure washers is that they lessen the time it needs to clean any surface as compared to manual washing. Another good thing about pressure washers is that you don’t have to use chemicals for cleaning, as the cleaning can be accomplished with just water and lots of pressure. However, many people fail to realize that within the heart of a pressure washer lays the water pump. This pump sits at its core and is responsible for delivering the intense force needed to make cleaning faster and easier. Below is a list of the two types of pumps that are available:
Belt Drive Pump – a belt drive basically operates with a pulley mounted to its solid shaft and is driven by one or more belts that are connected to the motor and the pulley. This pulley system allows pumps to turn at lower RPM (Revolutions per Minute) than a direct drive pump. The crankcase of a belt drive pump has a larger oil capacity, which, along with the low RPM of the belt drive pump, allows the pump to run at much cooler temperature as compared to a direct drive pump. One good aspect of a belt drive is that its pump is isolated from the engine’s heat and its belts and pulleys acts as shock absorbers, thereby reducing the vibration towards the pump. However, there is a disadvantage to this type of system which is mainly the reduced efficiency due to the lost of energy brought about by the belts and pulleys.
Direct Drive – a direct drive pump has a hollow shaft which slides into the drive shaft of the motor. The flange of the pump is then mounted to the face of the motor where the shaft is connected. Since the pump is connected directly to the motor, the pump can achieve the same revolutions the motor makes. The main advantage to using a direct drive system is that a more compact pressure washer design can be achieved. Another advantage to the direct drive system is that it has fewer moving parts, which means it will be less expensive. However, there is a downside to this type of design. Since the water pump is spinning at the same revolution the engine does, the bearings and other parts of the pump are subjected to more wear and tear, thereby reducing its life span.
Both types of drive system can deliver the cleaning action you need in a pressure washer. The type of system you choose will greatly depend on you or perhaps your budget.
