Which Pressure Washer

Frosty · Apr 28, 2002

Which is a good pressure washer to purchase? Is 1200 - 1500 psi sufficient for engine cleaning or is a 2000 - 3000 psi preferred? Do you prefer a gas or electric driven pump?

CSAW · Apr 28, 2002

Frosty

I have a 1500psi cheapy $200 4hp pressure washer. I have had it for several years with no problems. 1500 psi is much more pressure than you might think it is. It has done everything I have asked of it. When it quits I will throw it away and get another providing it isn't something I can't fix cheaply. I don't think you could repair a "good" (expensive) washer for what you can get a new cheapy for.

Get a cheapy and spend the other $600-$800 on something else.

Just for reference I have a friend who owns a self service car wash. He has it set at 1100 psi. That is more than enough to clean epuipment. Be sure you soap it down first.

Mike_Dumond · Apr 28, 2002

Craftsman 2500 PSI, 2.5 GPH, 6.75 HP on sale this month. I've had electric washers before, between 1100 and 1500 PSI, and I don't think I'd go back to electric. You can do alot with a small electric, but the gas model, in my humble opinion, is much more versatile. And, the extra pressure comes in handy at times. With a gas model, you can regulate the pressure with the throttle.

Carl_NH · Apr 28, 2002

Frosty,

I agree with CSAW get an inexpensive one 1500/2GPM range gas model. The GPM is the key, as they all can build pressure at a low flow. As you will see the higher price the higher flow for same pressure.

If you're doing commercial work then get a bigger (more $) one. Electrics are OK for occasional use, but I don't like the idea of an electric cord connection nearby while spraying water.

Carl

RanchMan · Apr 28, 2002

Wow! - this is strange - I just got a pressure washer in the other day and thought about posting about it on TBN but thought "Aw - who'd care about pressure washer stuff..."

Anyway, the one I got is a lot smaller than the ones the other guys have been advocating - 2HP electric, 1300 PSI, 1.7 GPM. I'm sure that the bigger gas ones are a lot more flexible, but I have to admit, I'm totally happy with mine so far. I got it for "occasional use" stuff - if I was going to be using it for my business or all the time, I'd probably go with a gas one too.

Anyway, I got mine for $80 from Harbor Freight. Based on what I've done so far, I think it was a good purchase based on my needs.

Hoosier_Daddy · Apr 28, 2002

I had an electric Craftsman once.. The neighbor borrowed it to clean his deck and then asked me if it was supposed to smoke. DUH... It was going to cost more to replace the motor than buy a new one.. So I bought a Craftsman with a Briggs engine.... The hose started to bulge and after several calls got a little upset and took it back to the store. (I kept the original box in the attic) Told the guy what happened and he said he never heard of that happening. That I must have abused it. We walked over to one on display and someone had replaced the hose on the display model with a hose doing the same thing mine did. So, case closed. I got my money back. Then the following spring I went back to Sears and got a 2400 PSI with a 5.5 hp Honda engine. Haven't had any problems with that one. Works fine, has a throttle that somewhat controls the pressure and is real quiet. Only draw back is the gas tank is a little small.

Be careful using the power washer on your equipmnt. Bearings and things like that don't need all that high pressure. And, definately be carefull around the radiator. Bent fins just don't like it. Kind of like combing a cat's hair backwards..

And decals, I blew one of the 4's off the 4x4 decal on my Polaris ATV.

But if you adjust the nozzle to a mist (kind of fanned) spray it will work fine for you.

Gotta make the toys look nice. I usually blow the grass and stuff off the mowing deck with compressed air.

Tom

Boondox · Apr 28, 2002

Just one caveat on the higher GPM units. Make sure your system can offer that many gallons per minute. I have a 2100psi 3.5gpm cheapie I picked up at Costco. Love the unit when using it at the main house where the shallow well pump in the basement cistern can keep up with it. But up the hill at the cottage the well can only produce 2.5gpm. Being starved for water, the washer simply squirts a gentle spray up there.

Rather than assuming I have the only poor water supply on the planet, figured I'd throw that one out there!

Pete

rancar · Apr 28, 2002

<font color=blue>"...Be careful using the power washer on your equipmnt. Bearings and things like that don't need all that high pressure. And, definately be carefull around the radiator."</font color=blue>

Also, be careful around the paint job on your tractor, truck, car, whatever. Get too close with the jet spray at full throttle and you'll see some of that paint disappear quicklike and the metal pitting.

Mrwurm · Apr 28, 2002

Pete, precisely why I kept my pressure washer to a 3gpm model. I did'nt want to end up with too little input to keep up with the output.
Jerry

Dozernut · Apr 28, 2002

I have a Sears pressure washer with a 6.5 hp Tecumseh motor. I do not like the Tecumseh motor. It is hard starting and does not have a choke, it has a red plastic bulb that you squeeze but it does not work. If you get a pressure washer get one with a Honda motor, you will be a lot happier!

RocketJSquirrel · Apr 28, 2002

I'll put in a vote for recent Briggs motors if you don't want to spend for the Honda. The ones I've owned recently are easy starters.

Thomas · Apr 28, 2002

I purchase a gas power 6.5 pressure washer from Sears and had very good luck thru the years.

From washing tractors to cleaning the sides of the house,also knocking down bee's nest..does it all.

frank_f15 · Apr 28, 2002

i have a craftsman gas power washer and it is fine for all my needs, 1800 psi i wash the house, garage and drive way. also use it on less psi to wash cars and tractor on ocassion. just keep the pressure down when around glass or engine wiring, or bearings, no sense in doing any damage.

Carl_NH · Apr 28, 2002

Thomas,

also knocking down bee's nests

Reminds me of the time I shot an arrow into a hornets nest, ran away and my sister was standing in the area unaware.
Little did we know she was allergic to bees, tho we found out the hard way.

They have many uses, and thanks for reminding me of another application for the PW.

Carl

TresCrows · Apr 28, 2002

I am a Honda and Kawa fan for sure but I have several pieces of equipment powered by Briggs. All start and run nicely and have been problem free. I have a 2500PSI and 3GPM Genrac. It was several hundred less on sale than an equivalent Honda (and better unit with Cat pump) washer and it is several years old now and still looks and performs like new. I favor these medium sized units because they can blast your driveway clean, wash your house and do lot's of other stuff where 1.5 or 2 GPM would be lacking. Anyway, Briggs ain't all bad and some of their newer engines seem to be real strong performers. You can time your water flow, my house supplies about 4.8 GPM at the front lawn water faucet--enough to operate a washer. J

Dozernut · Apr 28, 2002

My complaint was not against the Sears power washer, which has been good. My complaint was against the Tecumseh motor which has been nothing but trouble! Get a Briggs , Honda, Kohler or other brand and your life will be much simpler.

Frosty · Apr 28, 2002

WOW! I thank everyone for their opinions, inputs and first-hand experienced info. You guys are great, this is an absolutley wonderful sight!

I should have mentioned I was thinking of one for personal use and would probably use it a couple times a year to blow the grime from engines and wheel wells. Hope to get a tractor "someday", then I could use a pressure washer more.

A neighbor had a lawn mower with a Tecumseh engine and it only lasted one summer.
Thanks,

MossRoad · Apr 29, 2002

I just rented one this wekend. 6.5 HP Honda, 2700 PSI at 3.? GPM. It had 3 different nozzles. The guy recommended using the widest nozzle first and move up if I had to. He warned me not to point it at my feet, as it might cut through my boots. He said the narrowest nozzle would rip you open like a razor.

I used it to peel the paint off of my old wood siding on a garage. It did a great job. I did about 50 feet of 8' high wall in two hours. If I wasn't careful, I peeled the wood out too. It also did a great job on my fence and deck.

I think that much pressure could damage rubber parts on an engine and force water under gaskets and into bearings or bushings.

Gomez · Apr 29, 2002

Devilbiss 1750PSI @ 2GPM, 5HP B&S, $297 at Home Depot about 5 yrs. ago. Countless uses, by me and quite a few friends.

No problems, until this year. It would not start on the second or third pull like it always used to. It would start when the water supply and the hose were disconnected. So I tore down the pump. When the pump was apart, the lube inside looked like silver paste. I started picking out a few pieces of flat metal, and about 10 or 12 roller bearings. Hmmm- there is another roller bearing intact, so I guess there were two once upon a time./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif Looking at the owners manual was no good as there is no parts information. I thought, no problem the DeVilbiss website will have this stuff online. Nope, they have a number to call and to get parts info. I'll let you know how it goes.

One thing I did notice in the Owners Manual, that I did not tell the other operators, was that you should not let the unit run without pulling the trigger for more than 2 minutes. (doh)/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif The pump will become overheated if there is no water flow. I wonder if some of the more expensive units have the same issue?

RocketJSquirrel · Apr 29, 2002

<<Devilbiss 1750PSI @ 2GPM, 5HP B&S, $297 at Home Depot about 5 yrs. ago. Countless uses, by me and quite a few friends. >>

I just bought one of those used at a garage sale. Runs great. I did find the website, and I also found a distributor site that sells parts at www.devilbissparts.com. They show exploded parts drawings. Mine has a FAIP pump, maybe yours does too. Mine looks like the one that starts with D.

I didn't get a manual, maybe I better. I didn't know about the 2 minute warning.