Malcolm Smith - Power Cleaning 

FAQ -

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Find out how to compare pressure washers and what makes Kranzle special.

There are a few basic questions you should ask yourself before buying any new Pressure Cleaner.

What should I look for in a pressure washer?
What performance will I be getting?
How good is the pump?
What guarantee does it have and how long will it last?
Do I need a hot machine or a cold?
What quality of hose, fittings and connections does it have?
What after sales service will I get?
Should I buy the cheapest?

Kranzle pressure cleaners are made to a quality not to a price. Unlike mass produced machines they are made with pride and individually tested prior to leaving the factory.
When evaluating different makes look deeper than simply pressure and price. These factors alone give no indication of value for money. If you want a machine that will give good service for more than just a short time consider carefully the things that matter.
 
What should I look for in a pressure washer?

* A Brass pump head
* Water flow / output of at least 10 Litres per minute.
* A machine that is guaranteed for more than domestic usage only.
* Shatter proof ceramic coated pistons
* A pump that has an air gap between the water seals and the oil seals.
* A machine that has a service and repair back up.

Read below for more information on Kranzle Pressure Washers so that you can properly compare other makes against their specifications and performance.

What performance will I be getting?
Performance is measured in pressure AND flow.
A boy cycling along at 15mph hits a wall. Apart from a few cuts and bruises to the poor lad, little damage is done to the wall. A bus driving into that same wall at 15mph will knock it down. Why? Because the weight of the object is as important as it's speed.
Similarly the cleaning power of a Pressure Cleaner is a result of it's pressure and flow. 1500 psi (100bar) with only 6 or 7 litres of water a minute is almost useless. 1500 psi with 10 litres of water a minute would seem twice as powerful and because the water droplets in the spray are larger you clean quicker and more effectively.

How good is the pump?

Some pumps are plastic, others are cast aluminium. Kranzle pumps are only made with brass valve casings because, although not cheap, it is the best material as it is strong, durable and will not be 'eaten' away by water, as is aluminium.
Some pumps have pistons driven by a cam and con rods and are about 84% efficient. Kranzle axial pumps are approximately 91% efficient and because Kranzle also manufacture their own electric motors output is perfectly matched for maximum performance.

Some pumps have plastic valves. Every Kranzle machine has valves made with stainless steel seats, stainless steel poppers and stainless steel springs. You also don't need special tools to remove them should you accidentally get dirt in the pump... a major problem with some makes.

Most pumps do not have an air gap with drainage between the high pressure water seals and the oil seals. This results in the oil being contaminated by water and emulsifying... this can be highly destructive to the transmission. Kranzle pumps do have an air gap and do not suffer from this problem.

One of the worst things you can do to a pressure washer is turn it on without water in the pump. With most makes the seals will be burnt in a matter of minutes and heat distortion could wreck the pump completely. Some plastic pumps even need water to cool or regulate the speed of the pump. Special Teflon/graphite sleeves next to the high pressure seals of a Kranzle pump means that the Kranzle pump could run dry for an hour or more before damage occurred.

Every effort has been made to ensure maximum life of the pump when you buy a Kranzle Pressure Cleaner. Every machine is thoroughly tested before it leaves the factory and is stamped with a unique serial number. So good is the
Kranzle pump that Kranzle give a 10 year anti corrosion guarantee on the valve casing. And because it is made of brass with stainless steel moving parts it should never wear out... just need service items replacing every two or three thousand hours use. Not bad when you consider the life expectancy of many domestic rated pressure cleaners is only 50 hours usage!

How long will the pressure washer last?

Some pressure cleaners are not guaranteed for industrial use i.e. they are designed for domestic use only, so if you are a business customer forget the warranty.

Most private purchasers will take it home, clean the car, caravan, lawn mower, drive and patio then put it away and maybe not get it out again for a few weekends and then only to clean the car.

The life expectancy of many domestic rated models is only 50 hours. This will probably see out the guarantee period, but what about next year or if you lend it to neighbours? It will stop working and the cost of repair is usually as much as you paid for the machine, that's if you can find anyone willing to repair it! Many of these domestic machines are simply disposable products requiring frequent replacement.

The Kranzle Pressure Cleaners are built to last for 10 years, even with daily usage. They carry a full 12 month warranty, this being extended to 24 months provided that they are inspected and serviced by an Approved Kranzle Servicing Agent.

Work out how much you would spend over 10 years replacing 'low cost' machines with more 'low cost' machines. Or would you simply throw it away and feel cheated?

If you buy the best you can afford you will save money and enjoy hassle free usage of your machine.

Do I need a hot machine or a cold?

If you are cleaning the outside of cars,vans, even tractors, stone work etc then a cold water High Pressure Cleaner is quite suitable. Which one is up to you, though as you would expect we are always ready to advise. For heavy usage don't buy light weight machines without a brass pump head and nothing with a 2800 rpm motor. You need something durable and simple, preferably 'idiot proof' with good pressure and flow.

Do not buy an automatic machine unless the unit will be used on and off all day in an environment where it won't get switched off. Kranzle machines can generally be left running in bypass for many hours without damage and are far more reliable than a machine with a pressure switch... The more gadgets on a machine the more there is to go wrong.

If you buy a cold machine you'll need a good quality Traffic Film Remover (TFR) when cleaning vehicles. You also need TFR with hot machines but at lower dilution rates as hot water cleans grease better than cold. One thing worth mentioning, you can conect a Kranzle pressure washer to a hot water supply. Kranzle pumps are happy with up to 60c or even 70c water inlet providing there is reasonable water pressure at the tap.

Hot machines are really necessary for heavy transport, curtain sides, engine cleaning etc. They come into their own when having to deal with grease, oil and animal fats. The combination of high pressure, hot water and detergent cuts through just about anything. Obviously they cost more to begin with and they do require more servicing.
Hot machines, or steam cleaners as they are often known, are generally used in tough environments - Don't buy light weight 'compact' machines unless the machine will be kept inside, looked after and only used occasionally. Unless it's your own machine that YOU paid for it will not be treated with respect or handled with care... things break so buy something durable.

What quality of hose, fittings and connections will it have?

More expensive machines should have both the water inlet fitting that your hose connection goes on to and the high pressure outlet of the pump made of brass. Plastic breaks and aluminium corrodes. Likewise all the connection of the high pressure hose, trigger gun and detachable lances and accessories should be either brass or stainless steel. Other metals may corrode or seize up and plastic 'push & twist' bayonet connections are weaker than brass and prone to problems. ALL Kranzle machines have brass water inlet fittings (with an in line water filter) and brass screw connections that seal on an O ring so only need to be done up finger tight. No tools are required to undo hoses, trigger guns or change lances.

Where possible buy a machine with a rubber coated steel braided high pressure hose. These are more durable than cotton braided thermoplastic hoses and will last a lot longer... provided you don't pull on kinked hoses or continually drive over them, that will wreck any hose!
All Kranzle models are supplied with heavy duty steel braided hoses. Some models even come with long life twin wire hoses.

Non marking Blue/Grey hoses are available for all Kranzle machines for use in food preparation areas.