Power Washer Recommendations

[tfischer]

Looking forward to the less-frozen season coming up, and I need a power washer. I'd prefer to spend around $300 (or less) but I'd like something with a decent amount of power. I'd be spraying off cars, siding, decks, and the like. I've previously owned an electric one and I didn't find that nearly powerful enough, so I assume I want gas this time.

I've noticed some of the washers have an adjustable wand, and others have separate tips you need to change out. The higher-quality ones seem to have the separate tips, but that seems less convenient. Any ideas on this?

I had use of one of the Excell models (this one, I think) from Home Depot last year and it worked well enough, but it's closer to $400...

-Tim

[DaveS]

Well...

In the gas powered pressure washer game, bigger is almost always better.

I spent the extra $ and got a bigger machine with a Honda engine. I believe in the small engine arena, Honda is well regarded.

I think the only thing to avoid are the units with the pump under the motor. I have been told that having the pump in front of the unit is better, but I don't know for sure. I suspect the ones with the pumps in front use bigger, better pumps.

Don't worry about the nozzles - if you buy one and don't like it, you can always get the other kind for $20-30 later.

The "pop in" nozzles are only inconvenient in the fact that, since they are loose, they sometimes get misplaced. And if you don't get one snapped in all the way, the first time you pull the trigger, it launches across the yard (DAMHIKT).

I generally don't find myself changing tips in the middle of a "job", and not having the adjustable tip has never been a problem ("Oh darn, I only have a 0 degree tip and a 15 degree tip, I really need 10.2 degrees" )

I bought a "cleaner" tip that uses a zero degree stream, but rotates it really fast. It was about $60. It makes quick work of cleaning sidewalks and driveways. Don't use it for decks.

I saw a Ryobi pressure washer at my HD one time. Does anyone know if they are good?

[jhart]

Hi Tim,
Last spring (mid May) I ran across a demo similar to the Excell model, but with a Briggs and Stranton motor, same PSI pressure at HD for $225 and grabbed it. This was at the Bloomington Store. Later saw trhe same deal at the St. Louis Park store. I know there are a couple of stores around you in Plymouth, etc. I would keep my eyes open and check a few of the stores towards the end of April.

Mine has the adjustable wand and seems to work well. I did buy an additional length of hose after using it the first time and killing the grass under the machine as it ran. Now keep it on asphalt or concrete areas when running.

Ended up using it about 10 times over the summer anbd very pleased with the operation. Haven't seen a price anywhere close on a 2600 PSI unit since.

Good luck!

[lago]

I got the one with the Briggs & Stratton engine from BORG last year. I compared it to the one with the Honda engine but couldn't justify the extra cost. The Honda did have some engineering changes that could be helpful. It had larger wheels that would make it easier to roll up/down steps. IIRC, the hi pressure hose was on the opposite side of the muffler where it is close to the muffler on mine. Just need to watch that you don't pull the hose too close to the muffler and burn a hole in it.

Ken

[DaveS]

While it might be a little far for you to drive...

I was at the Shakopee Home Depot this evening and noticed a "rental" washer was out for sale. I asked the rental guy "how much?", he said "around $400".

I think it is too high for a used washer, but maybe they'd come down?

It was a 6.5 horse Honda, 2400 PSI, big-bad-blow-the-paint-off-your-car-if-you-wanna machine.

[ndj]

Tim:

Don't know if this is of any help to you, but I found this model at my local Sam's Club (Lexington, KY) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013
for $299.00. The difference is that the brand at Sam's is Devilbiss. But it's the exact same model with the Honda engine, etc. It's done well for me. I bought mine late last summer but was in the same store last week and they were restocking the same model. Good luck with whatever you choose. These are far better than the electic models, IMHO.

[stewchi]

I bought a floor model craftsman on clearance 7.5 HP 3000 PSI with the little exchangeable tips, it also came with one of the rotating ones. I love the little tips because in the middle of the job you easly rotate the tip to get fan direction you want, which reduced fatigue. They are quick snap in and out and I find them easier than the adjustable kind.

Bigger is better the more PSI the more things you can do and the faster. Pressure drops quickly with distance from the tip. So don’t be afraid of the power it just means you can back up and clean a lot more surface at once. If you are underpowered you will have to put the tip all the way to the work surface of what you are cleaning and it will take forever to clean. I wash my truck with my 3000 PSI washer, I just don’t stick the nozzle up against the paint or I wouldn’t have any. With the 0 degree tip I can etch concrete.
Much like an air compressor don’t sell yourself short by saying I will only use it to clean the deck etc, once you have one you use it for everything and wonder how you got buy with out it. Using the hose is like using a 300baud modem, its painfull and you wish you were connected to the gigabit pressure washer instead.

[maxparot]

I'm on my second pressure washer my first was a 1800PSI I sold it for a more powerful unit after using a friends 2400PSI machine.
Now I have a 2750 PSI unit. Both were bought at HD as a factory recondition(returned and checked) The original sales price on the 2750 was $499 It was marked down to $399 After asking the manager to do better I got it for $299. It seems that many people purchase pressure washers use it once and return them. I always see them marked down for this reason. My suggestion is purchase a marked down unit of at least 2400psi 2.5 gpm at that pressure they can do some serious work on concrete amount other things. You can easily regulate too much pressure by greater distance but if you don't have enough pressure at the lance you won't get the job done.