Electric Pressure Washers

[mjarrels]

Just ordered a Northstar 1700 PSI, 120 volt pressure washer from Northern Tool... $509.34 with 3 to 5 day delivery via UPS at 95 pounds shipping weight... I don't need to strip paint, just clean siding, decks, etc... maybe a coupe standing seam metal roofs. Anybody have any experience with this unit? Guys doing this for a living priced cleaning at about $250.00 per house (I have two) so it just seemed like buying a unit was worth while!

mark

[jdbower]

I'm curious how people think it compares to the $165 Karcher
1800 PSI Electric Pressure Washer available at Lowes that I'm considering.

At first I was leery about electrics, not only were the gas more powerful but they mean you won't be tethered to a power cord (plus Deere has one and it would be nice to keep things green ). Then I remembered that I'd be tethered to a hose anyway so that went away and when I considered that I'd like to use it on my basement floor (where gas engine fumes are less than desirable) I figured electric was the way to go for my uses.

[Bird]

There are so many different ones that I don't know how you tell which is best. That Northstar (I guess this is the right model) seems rather expensive, but it does appear to have the nicest cart. One of my brothers has a Karcher and from what I've been able to find on the Internet, the Karcher may be the biggest seller of all. But I tried to find a place on the Internet where I could order parts, if needed, or find a dealer to repair one, if needed, and I had no luck at all. So instead, I bought the Husky from Home Depot. The new one (shown in the link) looks to be exactly like what I have, but I see it's rated at 2,000 psi while mine (purchased for $10 less) on 3/22/07 is rated at 1,800 psi. I thought maybe that Northstar moved a greater volume and maybe that was what made it so expensive, but I see it shows to be 1.5 gpm while my Husky manual shows 1.6 gpm. Before I bought the Husky last year, I visited our local Northern Tool store, where I've bought a lot of other stuff, but just couldn't see paying the higher price for an electric pressure washer, although there may be a reason it's worth more that I just don't know about.

[marimus]

Those cheap karcher and other units are basically junk. They seem to rely on you just buying a new one when in craps out (which you can bet it will). I have a Bosch one which just keeps going, I can't remember the model, but it was around the $500 mark.

My father has a couple of the industrial rated karcher units, which look identical to ones 1/2 the price, but the difference of course is whats inside. He has been happy with them except for service wise when they need repair - long waiting times

[dgl24087]

I have a Husky, 1750 psi, that I bought about 4 years ago, paid $99 for it. I use it to wash my house, sidewalk, cars, etc. It does a great job, in my opinion.

[2manyrocks]

Local close out store had a Karcher electric "AS IS" marked down to about the price of new pressure hose. Bought it and the capacitor on the motor had worked loose in shipping. Pushed it in and has run with no problems for a year. Bought a used coleman electric for $10 at a yard sale--used for a couple of years until the hose developed a leak at the wand. It has an odd size O ring that I haven't been able to find, but the hose interchanges with the Karcher.

Lighter weight. No gas. No oil. No rope starting. Quiet. Neither one is a heavy duty unit, but certainly fine for most homeowners.

[tallyho8]

I am very happy with my $99 Karcher electric. I have had it about 5 years and done many odd jobs with it. The special rotating tip has a very high pressure and rivals many higher priced gas washers.

It has done a great job cleaning my tractors, removing oil stains from my concrete driveway and removing paint from old boards. I suppose a larger unit would be faster for heavy commercial usage but this lightweight, easy to move around unit sure serves all my purposes. And if it breaks after 7 years of usage, I will just go buy another $99 one.

[thatguy]

Bird - Here is a place mentioned on here that you can order Karcher parts...

Find Parts Diagrams Matching Your Karcher Pressure Washer

Except for the link, i dont know anythinga bout them.

Brian

[kenmac]

I have a cheap elec. that I bought from H.F. several years ago . I just use it to pressure wash my ATV when I go mud ridding. It has held up well & still works well. I only paid $89.00 for it

[shvl73]

I have an entry level Home Depot unit. I think its about 1400psi. Its been great for cleaning stuff and thats about all I do with it. It was about $69.00.