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Pressure Washers: Belt Drive vs. Direct Drive

If you’re looking to purchase a Pressure Washer, this article will explain how each pressure washer drive works, plus the advantages and disadvantages of each, so you can choose the unit that best fits your needs.

There are two types of drives: Direct Drive Pumps and Belt Drive Pumps.

In a belt drive pressure washer, the engine drives the pump by turning a belt, whereas in a direct drive pressure washer, the pump is directly connected to the engine.

Direct drive pressure washers are generally less expensive than their belt drive counterparts. In the case of direct drive pressure washers, they’re suitable for casual or household usage. One advantage of a direct drive pressure washer is that it is more compact, but the life span is less than a belt drive pressure washer because the bearings and other components are subject to more wear and strain.

On the other hand, industrial usage necessitates belt driven pressure washers for multiple reasons. For one, there is a larger oil capacity with the belt drive pump crankcase. This, combined with the lower RPM of the belt drive pump and the fact that the pump is isolated from the heat of the engine, allows the pump to run much cooler than a direct drive pump. Belt drive units are also necessary when drawing from a water tank as the lower RPM allows the pump to  pull the water into circulation more easily.  These factors help extend the pump life, which makes it worth the higher upfront cost.

Understanding the differences between these pump systems can make all the difference in your pressure washer purchase decision. Visit H2O Power Equipment online or call us today to speak with an expert on our team to learn more and to obtain pricing information on the large stock of units we carry!