looking for a good pressure washer

**AspenF150** · 08-12-2005, 02:10 AM

my parents just bought a new/used home. The home has alot of potential to it but it does need some serious help. Were looking for a good electric pressure washer. Gas is out of the question, too powerful and too pricey. There is one pressure washer on sale at the local Pamida for $90 and it`s rated 1450PSI. This is plenty of pressure but in the time were done using that poor little Pamida thing, it would be burned up. So durability is an issue. The new house does need a good pressure washing including everthing on the outside and some on the inside. What brands do you pros recommend? Thanks,,,,,98

**Bob** · 08-12-2005, 06:33 AM

Great question because I was looking for one for my house as well! I want electric because they are smaller, lighter, and cost less. I mainly want one for washing my siding, driveway, and cars.

**GregCavi** · 08-12-2005, 06:41 AM

look into a karcher. My neighbor has one and is pretty nice. It is very versatile. I think they start at about 100 range.

Greg

**fooked** · 08-12-2005, 09:53 AM

Yeah, I got a Karcher 1650psi for my birthday. It`s really nice. They have them at Sam`s Club, Sears, Lowes, etc...

**Edwa** · 08-12-2005, 11:17 AM

I used to have one of those $100 electric ones......they do not have the volume output to be of any real use or clean any sort of area in a timely manner.

IMO, go with a gas engine and with at least 2.0 gpm. Notice on the electric jobs that they hide or fine print what the gpm output is.

**Bob** · 08-12-2005, 11:22 AM

You can get a Karcher with 1.6 gpm which is fairly good for an electric.
http://www.karcher-usa.com/pressurewashers.php

**AspenF150** · 08-12-2005, 01:37 PM

Thanks guys. I am sure gas is better overall than electric but we don`t need it and electric would suit us just fine. So it seems like Karcher is the way to go then. I`m still open to other suggestions,,,98

**fooked** · 08-12-2005, 05:29 PM

Yeah. that 1.6 gpm is the one I got from Sam`s Club. It`s a nice unit.

**AspenF150** · 08-13-2005, 08:19 PM

Went to Ace Hardware and ended up getting a Powerwasher 1550 PSI electric pressure washer. We have not even had it yet for 24 hours and it has already been a huge help to us and the house. The unit it small colored in black and red. It is equipped with quick connect couplings and comes with 2 different sprayer handles. One is for direct thin line washing and the other attachment is strange as I`ve never seen this kind before but yet it is very handy. This other attachment sprays in the usual wide pattern but the nozzle inside the attachment rotates creating and small 360* pattern. That`s the best I can describe it without showing a video clip of it. Is it worth $150? so far yes and we are satisfied,,,,,AR

**Squirtgun** · 08-14-2005, 04:22 PM

The rotating nozzle you are describing is call a turbo tip.Avoid getting to close(stay back a minimum of 12") to any surface,it will remove paint and scar concrete,wood and vinyl.Although your machine is small it`s still capble of damaging many surfaces.
The zero degree(the thin line) is also capable of causing significant damage to the same sufaces as the turbo nozzle.I would stick with a fan pattern on cars.There should have been an adjustable tip with the machine,it may be part of the zero degree attachment,you may have to twist the head of the nozzle to get a fan pattern.

**AspenF150** · 08-14-2005, 05:05 PM

Some bad news. We continued using the pressure washer today and released the trigger and water started spuing everywhere from the trigger end of the wand. The powerwasher(name brand) remained to stay on as opposed if you released the trigger the motor and the water shut off until the trigger is depressed again. My dad and I were screwing around with it to fix it and unfortunately nothing worked to help.

So we according to Powerwasher the company, we got a hold of them and said that we can return the pressure washer within 48 hours of purchase. We didn`t even have it for 24hours and had to return it.

I guess we will be taking a trip to Lowe`s or somewhere and find a good Karcher. Will see how the Karcher performs and hopefully lasts more than 24 hours,,,,98