The cheaper pressure washers like ours use wobble plate pumps, which are not repairable and are not usually serviced - the whole machine gets tossed when the pump gives trouble. Typical life is said to be 300 hours, if properly operated. More commercial washers, or high-end pumps for fairly keen and serious amateur users, have axial pumps, which are more durable and can be repaired. Typical life is said to be 600 hours. Professional contractors use triplex or "plunger" pumps, which run at low speed continuously all day, generate 3,000 psi, and have a conventional crankshaft at right angles to the three in-line cylinders. These last for however long they are properly maintained, rather like grandfather's axe.
