Anyone debate buying vs renting a pressure washer?

CurlyDave · May 13, 2016

I hate to discourage buying quality tools, but think about how much you will really use this pressure washer. Since you were originally considering renting, I don't think it is going to have a high use rate.

I am on my second higher end homeowner grade pressure washer. The approx $400 ones. The first one lasted 15+ years and was used 20 to 50 hours per year. Don't remember the brand, but it had the lower end Honda motor, and it did everything a pressure washer should do. Used it on my home and three rentals. Eventually, the pump quit and I got a second one, which is only a few years old and is still going strong. I expect it will outlast me.

Anyway, the point is that for about half what you are looking at spending you can get a good quality pressure washer that will do a lot of work. For me, the extra money does a lot more good in my bank account than buying extra life in a seldom-used machine. And, I think that two of the $400 ones will outlast an $800 machine.

hutchman · May 13, 2016

If I didn't want heat, no more than I would use one I'd just catch the honda clone harbor freight one on sale.

I'm actually considering one of the under $200 electric ones for small quick jobs I don't want to whip out the Steam Jenny beast for.

aczlan · May 13, 2016

hutchman said:
If I didn't want heat, no more than I would use one I'd just catch the honda clone harbor freight one on sale.
I'm actually considering one of the under $200 electric ones for small quick jobs I don't want to whip out the Steam Jenny beast for.

We have two of them (one was a return from Lowes, the other was $35 at a yard sale). They work well for cleaning things off. I like not needing to worry about a gas engine and just plugging it in and letting it go.

Aaron Z

sixdogs · May 13, 2016

Well, here's one I mentioned earlier and it is in the $650 range. This one has a CAT pump.
Pressure-Pro PPS3030HCI Semi-Pro 3000 PSI Gas Cold - Water Aluminum Frame Pressure Washer w/ Honda Engine & CAT Pump

I actually can find a few more uses for it so it's not a waste. And I figure if I could sell it for let's say $400 and my price is $650 my real cost of ownership is $250. That's not very many rentals and why I'm thinking of buying.

sixdogs · Jul 6, 2016

I'm the OP on this and to wrap it up am glad I bought my own pressure washer. Renting one is too iffy and subjects the user to rental machines that don't work, inconvenient scheduling plus time and mileage expenses getting and returning the rental. Buy your own PW and uses come out of the woodwork. My plastic lawn chairs now look like new.

I got a 4,000 PSI with 4 GPM water so I went overboard on $$ but I'm glad I did. Things get much cleaner and the job time is cut way down. Removing caulk from sidewalk cracks would have taken forever by hand but with a strong pressure washer the job takes mere moments.

Bought my own a month go and no regrets.

Creamer · Jul 6, 2016

Thanks for the follow through!

Code54 · Jul 6, 2016

Glad to hear you like it and it is working out good!!!!
Funny when you have something like this the number of uses you can find for it.

fried1765 · Jul 6, 2016

I have a 4500 psi unit with a 13HP Honda running a CAT pump, and it does a very good job.
I bought it new, and rarely use it, so it was overkill, but I don't care!
I like nice equipment!
That said: I have a 40+ year old Hotsy 1000 psi electric drive unit, that I bought used 25 years ago.
My antique Hotsy does the very best cleaning job, using soap, and HOT water.
Anyone looking for the best way to get machinery clean, should focus on a new (expensive) or used HOT machine.
The cold water 4500 psi Honda/CAT is nice, but the 40+ year old 1000 psi Hotsy is the best!

Fesntkilr · Aug 23, 2016

I have had a LOT of experience in commercial construction. We always used pressure washers and once you have one, you will use it more than you think. With pressure washers, you are really only buying a motor and a pump and a frame, regardless who's name is on it. In my experience, ONLY, I meany ONLY BUY a Cat brand pump couple to a Honda commercial engine (red color). Cat pressure washer pumps are THE BEST pumps made, I still am using one after 20 years and never rebuilt. A good homeowner psi is something around 2200-2800psi.

As for power washing concrete, paint removal, deck washing, buy an aftermarket nozzle tip called a rotary nozzle tip or sometimes called a turbo tip, you will thank me later.