Thread: Pressure washer

Can you use a pressure washer just as an air compressor? I could use both machines, but can one multi-task? Any recommendations in the $500 or less range?

hhmmm... I'm pretty sure you can't use a pressure washer as a air compressor. I own a pressure washer and they warn you not to operate with water.

As for air compressor as a pressure washer. I haven't seen any conversion attachments for that purpose.


I have seen attachments to convert a pressure washer into a sewer cleaner.

Originally Posted by Kyle76

Can you use a pressure washer just as an air compressor? I could use both machines, but can one multi-task? Any recommendations in the $500 or less range?

No. The pump is cooled by the water flowing though it. No water flow for too long & the pump will heat up and seize. Same goes for letting it run for too long w/o pulling the trigger. Plus, water is an incompressible fluid where air is not, so there might be some design differences accounting for this. Just a guess--my company didn't really say much more than "don't let cars run over the hose!" when they hired me.

(In my soon-to-be former job, I operate a commercial pressure washer. )

Don't forget that air compressors work because of the storage tank, and pressure regulator. The air pump on the compressor is only for filling the tank, it isn't designed to power anything directly. Some air tools require a lot of air volume to work.
Therefore, even if the water pump on a pressure washer could move air (it can't for reasons already mentioned), it wouldn't work for the same reason the air pump on an air compressor woulndn't work. And as was said already, you'd possibly damage the pump by running it dry.

Two very useful, but not interchangable, devices.

Originally Posted by Kyle76

Can you use a pressure washer just as an air compressor? I could use both machines, but can one multi-task? Any recommendations in the $500 or less range?

What do you want them for?

I have about the cheapest of both on the market today sitting in my garage, they are sufficient to my needs but if you want to do more than I do you might need better stronger machinery.


My compressor was $90 and my power washer was only about $50 so it can be done.