Direct Drive Pressure Washer Vs Belt Drive

Direct drive pressure washer.

Direct drive pressure washer vs belt drive.

A belt driven pressure washer s pumps run on a gear reduction pulley system allowing pumps to turn at a lower rpm revolutions per minute than a direct drive pump. The pump is isolated from the heat of the engine or motor also. Direct drive pressure washers are much more well direct than the belt drive model excuse the pun. They are not worth the extra cost if you do not plan on using it more or less every day.

That s because a belt drive system requires a gear reduction pulley system where pumps turn at a slower motion. This reduces the heat and vibration and lessens the wear and tear associated with consistent use. You d most likely find a belt driven pressure washer with our more heavy duty pressure washers. Belt drive power washers tend to be quite expensive to purchase.

But another integral factor that is often overlooked is the type of pressure washer. Heavy use pressure washer applications will demand a belt driven pump. The main downside to a belt drive pressure washer is the initial cost which can easily be a few hundred dollars more than a direct drive pressure washer. In direct drive pressure washer the pump is mounted directly to the engine whereas in a belt drive pressure washer the engine drives the pump by turning a belt.

Because of these factors most heavy use pressure washer applications will demand a belt drive pump. In addition to having a potentially longer useful life and being better suited for heavy workloads a belt drive pressure washer is required to feed water from a holding tank. A direct drive pressure washer will not work if you plan on having a trailer system or something similar for your pressure washer. They are quite large and heavy due to the parts.