Pressure Washer shopping..where to start?

[prof fate]

I think it's time I get a pressure washer. I'm confused on all that is available.

I see 1500 to 4000 psi, elec, gas, soap chambers, heating...

Sure, the top of the line would do it all, but I'm not wealthy enough for that.

I'm not wanting to maintain yet another gas engine...so I want electric.

Want to wash vinyl siding on the house, my alum sided camper, my tractor - I don't need to strip paint.

The dealer pressure washed my tractor when it was in for service - nice and clean, BUT they also took some paint off the three point parts...

Now brands..no clue on that, there are way too many and many are the same jut a different name on the item.

So how much pressure for what I want to do? Too little vs too much pressure? Suggestions on what to get?

 

[alextassos1]

Pressure is limited in an electric. I have a small 2500psi craftsman that does all I want. Cleans siding sidewalks vehicles etc. most all of them have a small Briggs and Stratton motor on them. I like the gas engine. Good luck. Most electric ones don’t have enough pressure to really clean a sidewalk or vehicle. You can control the spray with the multiple nozzles they come with. Even the larger psi pressure washers can be used gently with a small nozzle. But then you can put the large one on for like second story windows or gutters. Good luck. I haven’t looked in awhile maybe the electric ones have gotten better. I wish mine was a little stronger sometimes.

 

[4570Man]

I wish someone made a good electric pressure washer besides the commercial ones that start about 2k but I’ve never seen such. The homeowner electric washers are junk. You’d get more done with a scrub brush and garden hose.

 

[Citydude]

I picked up a Sunjoe electric pressure washer at Menards to hose off my tractor. It's rated pretty high in reviews. It's 2000 PSI at 1.7 gallons a minute. It blew off the accumulation of dried mud on the axles which impressed me. Haven't tried it on anything else though.

I have a gas powered washer but lugging that thing around between properties was what I wanted to avoid. The Sunjoe is light and can be easily lifted in the back of my pickup.

 

[D2Cat]

I bought a 4HP, 1500 PSI pressure washer off of CL, and it works just fine for all you described. Paid $40 for it! Even if the pump goes bad you can pick one up on Ebay for $65.

 

[WranglerX]

Bite the bullet and get 2500-3000 PSI basic gas engine powered $250-$500 unit.... Most electric ones are limited in power, don't last as long as gas units...And you never have enough extension cords or there is never a GFIC outlet to plug into where you need it. (the one on end of cord suck)...If doing big projects like washing the exterior of a house a extension cord is just another complication, bad enough to have to deal with hose.....Gas engine maintance is not terrible, in 6 years I have chainged oil in mine twice, otherwise nothing....

Best thing if doing big projects is to get additional length of hose and wand extension.....AND RAIN GEAR, there is always some nook or cranny that is going to force water right back at you, that is ok in really hot weather and you need a bath, but.....

As for soap dispenser, I never use the onboard one, I use pump (garden) sprayer to direct cleaning solutions where it needs to go (I do a lot of presoak before washing).

If you dont want to strip paint, don't get to close to surface being washed, its not about the presure the unit puts out, its about the user and how he handles the wand...
My tractor manual states if pressure washing engine area stay at least 30 inches away from engine surfaces with wand tip.... If you don't want to strip paint, stay with garden hose and sprayer of cleaning solution ..

Dale

 

[EddieWalker]

It might be worthwhile renting one first and seeing how it performs.

You have to be extra super careful when using any pressure at all on a house. Homes are designed to keep most of the water out from most storms, but every house will allow a small amount of water to get through that it can deal with in a short amount of time. When you use a pressure washer, a massive amount of water gets much much farther into the structure of a house that remains there for months and months. This Old House TV show did some tests on this in one of their shows that was really shocking how much water got through different types of siding, and then how long it remained there. Every time I see a house being pressure washed, I think that it's just a matter of time until somebody gets the job to repair all the damage that is being done to that house. The only ones that really benefit from pressure washing a house are termites and mold. They love all that moisture!!!

 

[jkh62]

Purchased my last one from Northern with a commercial Honda engine and its kicks butt.
It also solved a drain issue I was having by getting a sewer jet attachment.

 

[TerryR]

I'm with you - no need to bother with yet another gas engine to maintain. I bought a Camspray 1500 a few years ago and it's been great for what I use it for, mainly cleaning the decks around the house. Much the same as you have in mind.

It's 120 volts, so can easily be used anywhere there's electric power, and unlike the homeowner grade units you can actually get parts for it. And, when you don't use if for a while and there's a problem a fellow who actually knows stuff is available on their tech support number.

I'd never mess with a gas powered pressure washer.

 

[newbury]

To really clean concrete - driveway, porch etc you need about 3,000 PSI which is beyond what most electrics do. I've a large cement porch and driveway, with my 1,800 PSI Sen Joe electric I could clean it down using a spray the size of a pencil eraser. I got a gas one that does about 3,000 and I can clean a swath over 6" wide. Then I bought a 15 "surface cleaner", it's like a floor buffer and is GREAT for flat surfaces.
As far as Eddie's comment about cleaning houses. You've just got to remember houses are designed for moderate water pressure coming DOWN. People get in trouble spraying UP at siding. I've a 2 story w/ walkout, my garden hose can't get cleaning solution up to the top. With my 1800 PSI washer I can spray a stream that arcs and hits the siding as it's falling. So I spray a gentle stream of falling solution, then spray a gentle stream of rinse. It's a lot slower but it works with a good solution mix.