The main difference is that power washing uses highly pressurized steam to do the cleaning while pressure washing just uses unheated tap water, without the help of a heating element.

Since power washing uses heated water, it requires more expensive equipment, meaning you'll pay more for power washing. However, you get what you pay for in this case—especially if you have tough dirt and stains you want to quickly remove from concrete surfaces or other durable materials.

In short, the amount of time it takes to power wash a house is dependent on several factors. Every home is unique, from its square footage to the materials it's made from, making it difficult to give an exact estimate. For example, a 2,000 square foot home can take anywhere from one to three hours to power wash.

Ideal PSI for Residential Use For most home cleaning tasks, a pressure washer with a PSI range of 1300 to 2400 is often sufficient. This range is ideal for: Light-duty tasks: Cleaning patio furniture, bicycles, and small decks usually requires a pressure washer with a PSI of 1300 to 1700.