Buying Advice Pressure Washer

[weldingisfun]

I would appreciate some input from those of you experienced with pressure washers.
It would be used primarily for general clean up around the place, washing the tractor and other smaller equipment.
Price is a consideration but not the most important. What I want is performance and reliability.
Thanx in advance.

 

[legbuh]

If you're looking for a good all-around one, and not a huge unit that heats water, etc... I picked up one at Sam's Club that has a honda engine that has been going strong.

I had one from a local home improvement store before with a briggs motor but it lasted only a couple years. I use it mainly for washing my cars, ATVs, and tractors. And cleaning out the garage/shop now and then. Even cleaning the stucco on our house.

For a good one, expect to pay at least $250. I like honda small motors... never had an issue with them.

But, the one issue you may have, as I do, is with well water over time it can stick to the internals of the pump causing it to stick. Normally I'll unhook the hoses from each side, start it up, and spray a lubricant through it (like JB80, MM Oil, WD40, etc) until it's coming out the other side and let it sit a day or two. That usually fixes it for a while.

Never let it freeze outside either. That will destroy the pump.

 

[mostly_gas]

My pump got destroyed by someone turning the water off prior to shutting the engine down, the fix was a new pump as the only thing not needing replacement was the pump housing. So be careful who you lend it to and make sure they know how to use it

 

[_RaT_]

If you want performance, look for GPM and then pressure. Using a 2.5 GPM washer is fine for small stuff like tractors, but if you plan on doing driveways, houses, decks etc, get at least 3.5 GPM. I have a 4.5 GPM and when folks borrow it, they want to use it again, even those that have small ones want to use it. Mine is a MtM 13 HP belt drive 4.5 GPM and 3000 PSI. I have had it since 1994, use it considerably and have yet to replace anything except tips and the hose. For the best reliability, a belt drive is without a doubt superior to direct drive. (I also have a direct drive.) The flip side is, the belt drive will cost you, expect $2000. A decent washer with a Honda 5.5 HP will run you around $600. One like that is really a nice way to go. Remember, GPM then pressure. Most of the time you will not be able to pick that as pressure is what gets hyped.

 

[BTI]

If you want one that will be around awhile go with a Honda motor and CAT or General triplex pump.

BTI

 

[Uncle Wayne]

I have a 2.5 gpm / 2600 psi and have been very pleased with it. Use it to wash the siding on the house, all the cars and tractors. Works good on the driveway and sidewalks also.

I was told to get one with a Honda engine and did. Haven't been disappointed. Paid $250 at Home depot.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a 4 gpm @ 4000psi unit with a Honda engine that works well. Agree to focus on the gpm then the pressure. Either store in a heated space or run RV andtifreeze through it in the winter months every time you use it.

Most of the units allow adjusting the pressure, I don't recomend running more than 2000 psi on auto's and painted surfaces. If you do then then don't hold the nozzle too close.

 

[skipmarcy]

I too have the Mi-T-M belt driven unit - mine is 4.6 GPM with a 11 hp Briggs and it will definitely do the job. I bought mine used about 10 years ago for a song, don't know what they actually cost but I would definitely pay for a new one if I were looking to buy. Be forewarned though - you get a unit that does have the flow, be sure your water supply can keep up with it if on a well or spring, it will definitely go thru some water quick. The higher volume of water is what does the cleaning so good on larger jobs. Mine will cause my well to start pulling a little sediment if I run it much over 1/2 an hour or so - the only time my well does so.

 

[flyingcow]

If you got water supply issues, measure your gpm. I just take a 5gal pail and turn faucet on and see how long it takes. I have a Karcher unit. 220volt/4.5gpm/1800lbs pressure/200 degree water. plenty of water from my well, supply has never been an issue. Nice unit. But i have a trucking business, gets used a lot.

For home use, 2 to 3 gals will do fine. If you go with electric power, try to stick with 110volt. Easier to find outlets. Go light and easy when first using. These can and will cause a lot of damage, if not careful. Decking/driveways/siding etc pressure washers will cause more work than you want. Pressure washed off my deck for painting/staining. Peeled up more than just the paint. BIL used it to pressure wash his siding before restaining. BIL's wife was not happy when she had water damage in the 1st flr ceiling. Nice to have, but stuff happens. Repeated washing of driveways will wear/wash materials out sooner.

 

[ray66v]

The amount of volume, (gpm), is often overlooked, in favor of pressure ratings.

Anything less than 2.0 gpm, is a toy. If you want to clean things, you need water volume.

To illustrate this, I have a gasoline powered tank sprayer, that can put out 6 gpm, at 90 psi, If your removing mud from a tractor, it will out clean a good pressure washer in this task, because of the volume.

For me, a 2.5 gpm, 2400 psi, is a good all around, fair priced, household machine.

 

[_RaT_]

I know there are folks with less then ideal water deliveries. A pressure washer using 2.5 to 4.5 GPM (the typical range of pressure washers) is still a very small flow compared to an open hose which can vary from about 10 GPM to 25 GPM depending on hose size, pressure and whether you are using a garden valve or hose bib. If your well etc supplies less then what your pressure washer uses, that will be a problem, but then, so will taking an extended shower unless you have water saver heads that drop the flow down.

A 2.5 GPM washer is OK, but if you do much in the way of pressure washing, you will quickly find that that flow rate is quite low. When I had a pressure washer that had a flow rate like that, I found myself using the garden hose to wash down the decks and driveways, maybe I'm just more impatient then others. For tractors and stuff, its fine.

I too have the Mi-T-M belt driven unit - mine is 4.6 GPM with a 11 hp Briggs and it will definitely do the job. I bought mine used about 10 years ago for a song, don't know what they actually cost but I would definitely pay for a new one if I were looking to buy. Be forewarned though - you get a unit that does have the flow, be sure your water supply can keep up with it if on a well or spring, it will definitely go thru some water quick. The higher volume of water is what does the cleaning so good on larger jobs. Mine will cause my well to start pulling a little sediment if I run it much over 1/2 an hour or so - the only time my well does so.

 

[ray66v]

A pressure washer using 2.5 to 4.5 GPM (the typical range of pressure washers) is still a very small flow compared to an open hose which can vary from about 10 GPM to 25 GPM depending on hose size, pressure and whether you are using a garden valve or hose bib.

Your telling me you can fill a 5 gallon bucket in between 12 and 30 seconds, with your hose? Is it a fire hose?

Someone will do the math, but I think it is going to take over 100 psi. to get that kind of flow out of a 1/2 in. hose.

Everywhere I have lived, 2.5 to 4.5 gpm at the outdoor faucet, has been the norm.

 

[_RaT_]

Oh geez, easy. I can easily fill up 3 - 5 gallon buckets in a minute. I use pretty much only 3/4" hoses around my house for irrigation, use garden valves instead of hose bibs. Our hydrants have a minimum of 600 GPM with the norm being 1500 GPM for all newer areas. I am not on a well anymore, but when I was, my output was limited to the pump which could do about 10 GPM and an unlimited supply. Folks in the area on wells that have less than 5 GPM typically install 1500 to 3000 gallon underground concrete tank(s) that the well pump keeps full with a smaller pump in the tank to pressurize the pressure tank.

Your telling me you can fill a 5 gallon bucket in between 12 and 30 seconds, with your hose? Is it a fire hose?

Someone will do the math, but I think it is going to take over 100 psi. to get that kind of flow out of a 1/2 in. hose.

Everywhere I have lived, 2.5 to 4.5 gpm at the outdoor faucet, has been the norm.

 

[oldballs]

Northern Tool's "Northstar" unit...6.5 HP Honda GX engine with 3 gal per min at 2500 psi has worked well for me without problems....as a home owner. I bought it thinking that it would help me wash cars/truck (I'm getting older now). But it is more trouble than it's worth for that. In fact, a hand wash does a better job, with less effort...we're not talking monster mud here.

However, doing concrete patios/driveways and wood decks in preparation for sealant, it is well worth the cost and effort. Mine has a General Pump direct drive, triplex pump, bought new eight years ago at about $800. The company support for a couple questions when new was very good. I store mine indoors during the winter. Be careful on wood etc. You can literally blow it apart. Using the right nozzle, pressure and some experience controls that.
Water source is important. Originally we had a rural 2 inch Main water supply with low pressure. But a new, 6 inch Main line has solved that.
Loaning any tool out, even to family is another whole thread. I'll do the chore but won't loan out.

 

[plowking]

I have a Landa pressure washer,it is 3000 psi and has a 310 degree furnace. I have a extra reel attachment besides the wand and reel that came with it . My extra reel has a non- abrasive hose and jetter tip .I can thaw frozen septic ,culvert lines in the winter and I jet out clogged septic ,sewer lines,distribution boxes the remainder of the year. I have to be more carefull around my tractor,I can blow of the decals with it. plowking

 

[_RaT_]

That is really an ideal setup for a modest price with great performance. I'll take 3 GPM and 2500 PSI over 2.0 GPM and 3000 PSI any day

Northern Tool's "Northstar" unit...6.5 HP Honda GX engine with 3 gal per min at 2500 psi has worked well for me without problems....as a home owner. I bought it thinking that it would help me wash cars/truck (I'm getting older now). But it is more trouble than it's worth for that. In fact, a hand wash does a better job, with less effort...we're not talking monster mud here.

However, doing concrete patios/driveways and wood decks in preparation for sealant, it is well worth the cost and effort. Mine has a General Pump direct drive, triplex pump, bought new eight years ago at about $800. The company support for a couple questions when new was very good. I store mine indoors during the winter. Be careful on wood etc. You can literally blow it apart. Using the right nozzle, pressure and some experience controls that.
Water source is important. Originally we had a rural 2 inch Main water supply with low pressure. But a new, 6 inch Main line has solved that.
Loaning any tool out, even to family is another whole thread. I'll do the chore but won't loan out.

 

[_RaT_]

Landa has great products. I also use mine as a jetter for sewer lines and culverts. I have struggled opening up a couple of 8" culverts but anything under that and it works remarkably well.

I have a Landa pressure washer,it is 3000 psi and has a 310 degree furnace. I have a extra reel attachment besides the wand and reel that came with it . My extra reel has a non- abrasive hose and jetter tip .I can thaw frozen septic ,culvert lines in the winter and I jet out clogged septic ,sewer lines,distribution boxes the remainder of the year. I have to be more carefull around my tractor,I can blow of the decals with it. plowking

 

[joeyd]

I bought a Karcher (Honda powered) unit from Costco about 4 years ago to take off loose paint on the garage before painting it. I have used it on my wood deck before painting also. No complaints at all about the unit. I drain it for the winters and add some fuel additive before storing it in the unheated detached garage for the winters.

Also, you can't beat Costco's return policy.

 

[J_J]

What ever you get, get one with the Honda engine. I have 4 pressure washers, with all Honda engine. 5, 8, 11, 13 HP. GPM's is good, and but they never run at the rated pressure. They only go into relief at that pressure, maybe. Also, the accessories is what makes cleaning easier. , such as a turbo nozzle, driveway rotary cleaner, a unit that will also blast sand as you pressure wash, sewer cleaner, 24 ft extend-a boom. I have done cool decks, docks, brick concrete, wood, fence, patio furniture, auto's, mobile homes, etc. The most difficult to clean is old oil that has been there a while. Detergent and bleach injector is good to have also. A pressure gage is useful but not necessary, and will show the pressure you are using with any tip. To use less pressure, throttle the engine down to the desired pressure. Never, never drink water from a pressure washer gun.

 

[crbr]

Honda engine, Cat pump. The rest is academic. I have the 13 HP Honda / Cat and after 15 years of use, it runs like a well-oiled Singer sewing machine.


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