Spring will arrive before you know it, meaning spring cleaning.
Once the ice and snow start to melt, it exposes imperfections to the exterior of your home.
One of the best ways to spruce up your home’s appearance for spring or to prepare it for sale is to use a power washer.
Most people don’t have their own pressure washer.
Luckily, you can rent a power washer from Lowe’s whenever you need one.
Of course, you’ll need to know how much you should expect to spend so that you can budget properly.
How Much Is It To Rent A Power Washer From Lowe’s?
The price to rent a power washer can be as low as $27 and as high as $416 for 7 days.
The greatest considerations when it comes to price are the power washer’s power capabilities (measured in pounds per square inch) and the product’s unique features.
See the rates for a couple of different power washers from Lowe’s:
| 4 hours | 24 hours | 7 days | 28 days | |
| 1500 psi Simpson electric power washer | $27 | $38 | $152 | $380 |
| 3000 psi Simpson electric power washer | $54 | $76 | $304 | $760 |
| 4400 psi Simpson large gas power washer | $66 | $93 | $372 | $930 |
| Soft wash system | $27 | $38 | $152 | $380 |
| Makinex Dual Pres Washer 2500 | $73 | $104 | $416 | $1040 |
Taxes and additional fees may apply.
When you rent from Lowe’s, you will get the entire power washing kit.
Ask an employee to learn about everything that comes with your rental.
Additional Products You Can Rent From Lowe’s
If tackling a large task, you may be interested in what other products you can rent from Lowe’s.
Products available for rent from Lowe’s include the following:
- Aerial lifts
- Augers
- Concrete tools
- Fasteners
- Power tools
- Lawn care
- Ladders
- Material handling
- Portable power
- Tile saws
- Welding
- Tree care
- Paint and drywall
- Plumbing and pipes
Getting Started: How To Rent A Power Washer From Lowe’s
You can rent a power washer from Lowe’s online through Lowe’s website or in-store.
The process remains the same.
1. Select Dates
First, you will enter the rental dates: both the reservation date (when you expect to pick it up) and the return date.
You should pay close attention to the time as well as the date.
The website defaults to 8:00 a.m., but you can change it if that doesn’t work for you.
2. Select Product
Once you enter the rental duration, you will have the option to select from the available products.
If flexible about the date, you may be able to give yourself a couple more options.
3. Choose Store
If at a store, they will likely assume that you want to rent from the store you are visiting.
Of course, you can rent from another store if necessary (just be sure to tell the representative).
Online, you will enter the store nearest to you.
4. Enter Authorized Pickup Person Details
Sometimes, you need to send an employee or family member to pick up your rental, especially if you are already working on a construction project.
If you plan to send someone else, it can make things easier to enter details about the person coming to pick up the rental.
You only need to enter the person’s name, phone number, and email.
If you do not authorize the person, they will not be able to leave with your rental.
5. Pay Prepayment And Finalize Rental
You don’t have to pay the complete cost of the rental when you reserve it.
However, you do need to pay a down payment.
The down payment varies based on the product.
See the current prepayment for the different power washers available for rental:
- Soft wash system: $50
- 1500 psi Simpson electric power washer: $100
- 3000 psi Simpson electric power washer: $100
- 4400 psi Simpson electric power washer: $150
- Makinex Dual Pres Washer 2500: $200
After you enter your payment information, you will finalize the rental reservation.
A confirmation email will be sent to the email address on file.
6. Pick Up Rental
The final step is to pick up the rental.
When you (or the authorized contact person) go to pick up the rental, you will need to have an ID with you as well as the rest of the rental payment.
Best Uses For A Power Washer
Power washers have a lot of uses, some you may not have considered.
The water combined with a high level of pressure forces dirt, grime, and mold off of just about any exterior surface, including hard-to-reach places.
Some of the things you can do with your power washer rental include:
- Clean driveway
- Clean siding
- Clean garage door
- Clean garage floor
- Clean deck
- Clean fence
- Clean vehicle
- Clean roof
- Clean grill
- Clean garbage cans
- Clean pool
- Strip paint
What you plan to do with the power washer will determine which power washer you should get.
What Type Of Power Washer Do I Need?
All power washers work in a similar fashion by using a gas or electric engine to pump water through a hose at high pressure.
You will need an electrical outlet if you choose an electric power washer.
Most gas power washers don’t require an electrical power source, giving you more freedom (especially outside).
However, you need to determine how much pressure you need for the task at hand and what temperature water you need.
Water pressure levels are measured in pounds per square inch (psi), and the amount of water used is measured in gallons per minute (GPM).
Power washers produce water at a variety of different power levels placed into one of the three following categories:
- Light duty: up to 1899 psi and 2 GPM; ideal for small tasks, such as cleaning outdoor furniture, a grill, or a car.
- Medium duty: 1900–2788 psi and 1–3 GPM; standard size used for cleaning siding, decks, and fences.
- Heavy duty: 3100 psi and up to 4 GPM; best for large-scale jobs and striping paint.
If you get a power washer that doesn’t produce enough pressure, you may not get the surface as clean as you wanted.
A power washer with too high a pressure may cause damage to the material.
Some products allow you to adjust the pressure as you see fit, giving you plenty of flexibility.
Most of the time, power washers produce cold water.
However, some tasks require a hot water power washer.
While more difficult to operate and more expensive, hot water pressure washers clean better and use less soap.
Hot water can also deteriorate your building materials more quickly.
How To Use Your Power Washer
Now that you have the right power washer, how do you use it?
Follow these steps to use your power washer safely and effectively.
1. Read The Instructions
Always read the instructions when using a new product.
Lowe’s rentals come with detailed instructions on proper usage and care.
Read through the materials thoroughly to make sure you have the knowledge you need to prevent a potential disaster from happening.
If you have questions about how to use the power washer, feel free to talk to the friendly and knowledgeable staff at the Lowe’s rental department.
They can answer your questions and give you tips on how to use the machine, which can come in very handy if you’re new to power washing.
2. Prep For Cleaning
You should wear appropriate clothing for cleaning as well as goggles and ear protection.
Set yourself up to work on a flat surface.
You may be tempted to clean on a ladder, especially if you need to reach the top of a second-story building.
However, the force from the machine makes this very dangerous.
3. Identify Emergency Shut Off And Release Valve
Before you get started, identify where the emergency shutoff button and the pressure release valve are located.
While unlikely, you may want to have that information if you lose control of the power washer.
In most cases, you can turn off the power washer simply by releasing the trigger.
You may also see an emergency shut-off button for an electric power washer.
When you press the trigger, you release pressure building inside of the pump.
There may also be an additional pressure release valve that allows you to release pressure without spraying water.
4. Adjust Settings According To Recommendations
Before you power up, learn the best settings for the task at hand.
Things to consider include the type of nozzle you should use, distance from the material, pressure settings, and spray settings.
Research “power cleaning aluminum siding” or “power washing a wooden deck” to learn about the best settings for your task.
While deciding on your settings, keep in mind that high pressure levels can cause damage to certain materials.
It’s better to start at a lower pressure and further away and build up pressure and get closer as necessary instead of starting too strong.
You will also need to put the desired attachment on your power washer.
Some power washers have adjustable nozzles while others have interchangeable nozzles.
You may also choose to add an accessory, such as an extendable wand or brushes or detergent.
5. Activate Power Washer
It’s time to clean!
Go ahead and start cleaning the desired surface according to recommendations.
You want to clean continuously.
Once you power the machine, it generates pressure inside of it that you release when you pull the trigger.
If you allow the device to run and don’t pull the trigger, pressure will build up and potentially damage the unit.
Always turn the device off if you need to take a break.
If you notice you haven’t pressed the trigger in a couple of minutes, release pressure to the device by pulling the trigger again.
While cleaning, angle the spray to ensure the best cleaning and limited backsplash.
Additionally, avoid hitting people or animals with your spray.
You should also make a point to avoid getting water around electricity.
If you need to clean around electrical wiring, it may be best to temporarily turn off power to that area of your home until dry.
Returning Your Power Washer Rental
When you complete your task, you need to return the power washer to Lowe’s.
Here are some important things to remember when returning your power washer.
1. Return To Associate In Person
Ideally, you will be able to return the power washer to someone in person at the rental area.
This ensures that you know they received the product and verified its condition.
You won’t be surprised with information regarding a broken or dirty product.
The rental must be returned to the store you rented it from.
It also must be returned by the time listed on the rental agreement.
2. Return On Time
Lowe’s can’t make money on rentals if you hoard the product for yourself.
You must return your rental on time.
If you do not return the product on time, you will incur late fees that vary from product to product.
In many cases, you will pay the entire rental cost for the extra time you kept the tool, too.
Do not forget to return your rental.
Lowe’s will prosecute you for theft if you do not return their rental on time.
3. Return Clean And Functional
You have a responsibility to return your rental in the same condition you received it.
Always clean your rental before returning it.
Otherwise, you may incur a cleaning fee.
You will also incur a charge if you return the product in a broken or incomplete condition, which can be as much as the tool itself.
Renting A Power Washer Vs. Buying A Power Washer
Should you rent a power washer or simply invest in your own power washer?
Ultimately, it comes down to how much money you have to spend and how often you will use it.
It makes a lot more sense to buy a power washer if you will need to rent it multiple times a year to complete the annual cleaning.
However, if you only need to rent it once for one day and you don’t foresee needing it again in the future, rental is your best option.
When you buy a power washer, you will have access to it whenever you want.
However, it’s significantly more expensive.
Furthermore, you will need to store and maintain the machine yourself.
When you rent a power washer, you won’t pay nearly as much.
You also won’t have to worry about performing maintenance on the machine or finding a place to put it when you don’t need it.
Of course, you won’t be able to use the power washer more than once.
Conclusion
Lowe’s makes it easy for everyone to get access to the tools they need, even if they only need the tool for a minimal amount of time.
You can rent power washers and a wide range of additional products from Lowe’s based on availability.
While it may be cheaper to buy the product if you’ll need it again in the future, rentals make a great option for singular use.
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