pressure washer question

PaulieD · Aug 30, 2004

I'm considering getting a pressure washer for washing the deck, siding, windows, tractor and cars and I have no idea how much power I need for reasonably handling these tasks. I like the idea of electric because it's small in size, quiet, and inexpensive, but I hate to short change myself and not have the power I need to do the jobs I want to do.

If it is just a matter of spending a little more time with the electric models, I might consider them, but if I am not going to be satisfied with the results regardless of the time I spend, I better go for a gas model.

Could someone please provide some counsel.

Thanks, Paul

PineRidge · Aug 30, 2004

Paul I had an electric power washer before I stepped up to a gas powered unit. My current gas washer is rated at 2600 psi and is more than enough power for decks, siding, tractors, dirty equipment, and whatever else I throw at it.

The electric unit was a waste of time and money in my opinion. I don't know how it was rated but I doubt if I got 800 psi out of it. I was never comfortable mixing electric and water together anyhow. It always seemed to me like it was an accident looking for a place to happen if you know what I mean. I think if you compare both before you buy you will end up with a gas model. Most Home Depots sell the gas pressure washers and will be more than happy to demo a unit for you. That's what made up my mind.

_RaT_ · Aug 30, 2004

Paul, I have a 13 HP 4.0 gpm 3500 PSI direct drive pressure washer. If I could have it to do all over, I would opt for the Landa or Mi-T-M 5HP belt drive electric washer or gas belt drive machines for around the house chores as you mention. The more GPM, the better. I've mentioned it many times before that I will sacrifice PSI for GPM. Folks who only post PSI are telling you but a 1/3 of the story. The gas powered are great but noisy. The electric belt drives are not only very quiet, but quite strong. You will need at least a 30 amp 240V for electric models that can wash down decks and driveways. You will pay considerably for them. If your desire is to stay under $1000 for a washer, my comment is that they are fine for the smaller chores, but the GPM is often to small and I find that you will often find using the garden hose more effective for the larger areas. Remember, a 5HP electric will easily do what many much larger gas powered units do. Check the GPM, check the PSI. I recommend at least 3.5 GPM. You will always want more, but you really start paying for each bump in GPM. The belt drives are without a doubt superior to the direct drives but also more bulky and expensive. For good quality manufactuers, check Landa and Mi-T-M. No doubt you will find tons of little 120V electric models like Karcher which are OK for very small washing projects but lack any real power to do much and will be more work then they are worth for something as large as a deck. Here is Mi-T-M's url, MiTM and here is Landa

Freds · Aug 30, 2004

I bought an electric job for inside use and it sucks. It's rated at 1700 psi, so obviously it's a cheaper 115v model like most of us see at TSC or H-D. Sometimes it acts like it doesn't have enough water. It came with a GFI plug and I always plug it into a GFCI outlet, but it's just one more cord to drag around besides your water supply and the gun hose.
I used a gas Craftsmen before and I would opt for any gas make and model in the "homeowner" range, especially if you have a two story house and want to do the eaves.

PaulieD · Aug 31, 2004

The units I had considered were the 1600 PSI/1.8 gpm Karcher electric model and the 2500 PSI/2.4 gpm Karcher gas model, both from Sam's Club. The electric unit was @ $140 and the gas unit was @ $300. Sam's also had a Delta unit for $300 with a Honda engine, but I can't find any other information on the Delta unit, and that includes a search of Delta's website.

I'm not prepared to spend big $ for this tool, and my access 240 volt power outlets are limited (one for my dryer and one in my shop), so I guess I should be looking at the 5 to 6.5 HP gas models.

Thanks for all the information, and any other information you think might benefit me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Paul

_RaT_ · Aug 31, 2004

You will not like the electric Karcher for anything large. The small gas will be OK but fairly slow on large areas. 2.4 GPM is about 3 times the volume my airless paint sprayer puts out which is pretty small for a pressure washer. You can do it, but it is slow going.

TCowner · Aug 31, 2004

Paul, I have a 2000 psi, 3 gpm washer that I purchased from Norhern Tool a couple of years ago. I initially thought about the electric units but decided against them as I thought there were just too small.

There is one thing to be aware of when purchasing your gas powered washer with the large gpm capacities. Your pressure washer performance will be limited to the amount of water you can supply.

My garage fawcets will supply just about the 3 gpm so my washer works fine but if somone else in the house uses water and the supply pressure drops to the outside fawcet my washer will "starve" for water.

I suggest you do a test first to see how much water you can supply to the pump. If yours is like mine and you only have 3-4 gallons per minute then a large gpm pressure washer won't work.

jwstewar · Aug 31, 2004

I bought a Campbell-Hausfield from TSC a couple of years ago. Has 6.5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine on it. I think it is 2.6 GPM and 2600 PSI. It has done everything I've ever wanted it to do. Isn't terribly loud. Not any worse than a push lawn mower. I think we paid somewhere between $299 & $329. Like you we needed one, but didn't have big bucks to spend, and mine cleaned the mess you see in the attached picture. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Freds · Aug 31, 2004

I bought a C-H welder/generator a few years ago and found out last year they stopped making them. Maybe they are primarily a power washer company, but I'm leary of buying one of their products again.

_RaT_ · Aug 31, 2004

Boondox mentioned having that issue and that would be important if you have that problem. That is amazing to me that folks will have a supply of water that is so small. I am preparing to build a house and since I need a well, if I get less then 5 gpm from the well, it is mandatory to put in a holding tank. typically 3000 gallons or more. Thus you can effectively and easily boost your water supply to typical gpm which are more or less 20 gpm in a tyical 3/4" supply. I suppose they do this to ensure an adequate supply of water in the house when one person is in the shower and another is doing dishes etc., that scenario is likely to happen routinely.

fivestring · Sep 1, 2004

We bought a 1400 psi unit from Karcher for under $100.
We wash the vehicles, deck, siding, gutters, etc. and have had no problems. We bought an extra tip that concentrates the blast for asphalt and concrete.
It works great! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dmccarty · Sep 1, 2004

Paul,

I bought a Karcher electric something like 1.9 GPM. It works for me. My tractor sits in the woods. For 4.5 years the only washing it got was when it rained. I bought the Karcher to clean off our new house's concrete slab, to clean up around the house, and to clean tractor/vehicles.

It works for me. Not much money into the thing and it gets the job done. It cleaned the gunk off my tractor without a problem. Lots of tree sap like stuff on it and it washed right off. Looks as good as new. I had to get the head of the wand real close but it cleaned right up. The dirt and grease washed off real easy. It paid for itself with cleaning up the tractor and house slab. For light duty chores I think the thing is worth the money.

I don't like the water/power mix but I put the washer on a concrete block to keep it off of the slab/ground and did the same for the power cord. And it was plugged into a GFI circuit.

Later,
Dan

TCowner · Sep 2, 2004

Rat, my well pump has plenty of capacity, it pumps 25 gpm. When we drilled the new well I installed a 1" line that goes to an outside hydrant. THis baby will supply more than 15 gpm.

However, living in rural SE Minnesota with a well that is 435 feet deep in most cases we have a lot of iron which requires treating. My outside hydrant is not treated so the water is "rusty" but I use it for watering trees or blasting of the big chunks of mud of the tractor, 4 wheeler, before I get close to the garage.

I didn't want to run the untreated/rusty water in the pressure washer pump. I figured the pump would last longer this way.

The other problem is not related to the pump/well capacity, it is the size of the plumbing supply lines that run from the pressure tank in the basement to garage faucets. I'm sure if the supply lines from the water treatment tanks to the garage faucets were at least 3/4" and the faucet didn't restrict the water flow I would be just fine.

Does anyone know if there are high flow faucets that can be installed the remedy this problem?

PaulieD · Sep 3, 2004

Gus,

I greatly appreciate all your help and advice on this topic. After reading your responses and doing a little self awareness check, I decided to get a gas unit. Buying an electric model was really tempting, and I suspect I would have been fine with one. But I know that in the past, I've ended up trying to do things I didn't originally expect to do with my tool purchases and it turned out that lack of power, or lack of features, made the unanticipated tasks more difficult.

So, I went out and bought a Karcher unit. Tecumseh 6hp engine, 2500 PSI and 2.4 GPH. It only cost me 300 at Sam's club. I'm planning to assemble it this weekend and try it out on a couple of small tasks.

I've checked my water pressure and should have no problem supplying the volume of water needed to run this unit. Thanks for the heads up on this requirement.

Thanks again for all the help,

Paul

PaulieD · Sep 3, 2004

I don't edit my e-mails very well. I meant to address that last not to:

Guys..........not Gus.

So if you're looking back up through the thread trying to figure out who Gus is, this note should help shorten that effort.

Paul

Freds · Sep 3, 2004

I'm sure you'll be happy with the gas powered unit, unless you plan on using it inside....
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

fractal · Sep 7, 2004

I have both a small electric and a small (5hp) gas washer.

The electric is fine, and in many ways better, for washing cars and equipment. The gas will peel paint if you are not careful but you have to be real stupid to peel paint with the electric. The gas model will do fences, decks, side of house ... large areas, MUCH better than an electric. It is also a little more portable. I say a little since you must run a hose to it and I have a LOT of large guage (I run #10 for runs more than 100 ft) extension cord that is easier to drag around than my 100 ft garden hose.

I used the gas unit to wash the cars this past weekend. I used it with the detergent nozel to spray simple green all over the car. and the widest angle nozle from a minimum of 2 ft to wash it off after using a mit on them. I still peeled paint off the old 91 caravan that was already peeling. I peel paint off the lawn mower every time I wash it with the gas powered cleaner even with the widest nozle and I have a fairly low powered consumer model.

So, it depends on what you are trying to do. Your cleaning sites will tell you that cleaning power is PSI * GPM, and it is easier to get PSI than GPM so you have machines that crank up the pressure. Problem is that can damage what you want to clean. Your best choice is to get reasonable PSI with decent GPM so you can get things clean without damaging them.

Decks, btw, are very susceptable to damage from high powered pressure washers..

goodoleboy · Sep 7, 2004

We bought a used 3500 psi ,13hp honda, 4 gpm for $265 and i had to purchase some tips for $20.
It is ugly and has had seen some use, but it runs strong. I would stay away from electric , had one and it took forever to sell it at a loss.