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Pressure washer need recommendations
Mr. Perfect
Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
I think I want to get a pressure washer.
What PSI should I look for?
Make?
Model?
What's good?
What should I stay away from?
I will use if for cleaning cars, decks, sidewalks, driveway, house siding, and possibly nosey neighborhood children.
What PSI should I look for?
Make?
Model?
What's good?
What should I stay away from?
I will use if for cleaning cars, decks, sidewalks, driveway, house siding, and possibly nosey neighborhood children.
Some will die in hot pursuit
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Comments
They run about $400-600 bucks.
Take care of it, service it and make sure the water in the pump doesn't freeze in winter and it will last a long time. Mine is 20 years old and runs like a top.
I have a Karcher 2500 psi.
No problem so far.
I think Hacienda Depot sells them.
+1 on the Honda engine.
Starts fine every spring, Usually 2-3 pulls to start. Came with a 25ft hose and 4 nozzles.
End of season I put stay bul in the tank and run it dry. Only issue I had was the cast aluminum piece that screws into the pump that you put the garden hose on plugged up solid and seized up in the pump. Had to have a local shop get it out. Now I remove that piece after each use. But my water is slightly jard so this might not be a common problem.
Also I bought this one because my electric 2000psi washer wasn't taking the mildew off the boards on my deck when I bought this place. No I didn't try scrubbing it first. I would still buy a minimum 3000psi pressure washer again though to do anything I needed it to. Going for more then the 2.4gpm would also be a good idea though.
It work I'm around industrial pressure wagers. And while I haven't seen actual tech sheets on these in talking to service personnel for them they are still only around 3500 psi. But more like 3.7-4 gpm. And the amount more power they have is awesome.
I think a 2700psi 3gpm washer would be close enough to a 3000psi 2.4 to not feel a difference. If standing with your feet together the 4gpm ones will make you take a step back.
Gas or electric?
Gas for me.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
https://www.costco.com/Ford-3100-PSI-Gasoline-Pressure-Washer,-CARB-Compliant.product.100277993.html
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
This going to do the job?
https://www.costco.com/Ford-3100-PSI-Gasoline-Pressure-Washer,-CARB-Compliant.product.100277993.html
That looks like a nice one. I wonder who makes the engine. The pump on that model is a good one.
But, favorite is to buy a new 1800 PSI Harbor Freight about every other Spring, and use the heck out of it! Throw away, when it dies. $65.00 - $80.00, Electric (Quiet), light and so handy that She Who Must Be Obeyed often takes it out, saving me the work!
Big unit can literally blast concrete finish off, strip paint off a Car, and cut swirlies into deck wood!!! Small unit stores real small. Has wheels and a handle like a piece of luggage. Light enough that Wife and Daughter can pull up stairs easy.
I keep it at work and a lot of people use it.
My only rule is, shut off the fuel and let her run till she quits. It's 8-10 years old and works like a dream!
I believe it was from Sams Club. A dandy machine!
They sent out a flyer with a 2700 psi BlackMax unit powered by Subaru.
It was marked down 40.00 bucks out the door for 219.88 plus 6% sales tax.
They had a 3000 psi unit for 300 dollars with a Honda motor but I am hoping a Subaru will suffice.
It is the first new power washer I have bought after a couple used yard sale electric ones that I have been burned on.
I have done some homework on these things and it is best to store them in the cold winter months inside a heated area.
Will give a working progress report on how well this machine functions later.
I used to just use just the wand to do the driveway with but it takes a long time. This year I purchased one of the Simpson attachments and it cut the time in half.
This thing saved me a full days work. This attachment won't work with a small pressure washer it'll just make rings on the concrete.
Invest in a "turbo nozzle"
Does just fine.
Big unit can literally blast concrete finish off, strip paint off a Car, and cut swirlies into deck wood!!! Small unit stores real small.
My 3,800 psi Generac has a knob to adjust pressure. A small pressure washer is not much better than a garden hose with a nozzle on it.
A pressure washer can easily defeat seals meant to keep grease/oil/lube inside a machine. Wheel bearings are often ruined by pressure washers.
https://www.costco.com/PowerStroke-3100-PSI-Pressure-Washer-with-Subaru-Electric-Start-Engine.product.100338562.html
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Well, I just went with this one. Will see how it does and report back. Thanks for your input guys.
https://www.costco.com/PowerStroke-3100-PSI-Pressure-Washer-with-Subaru-Electric-Start-Engine.product.100338562.html
I paid 199.00 for mine, same exact washer....
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
Well, I just went with this one. Will see how it does and report back. Thanks for your input guys.
https://www.costco.com/PowerStroke-3100-PSI-Pressure-Washer-with-Subaru-Electric-Start-Engine.product.100338562.html
I paid 199.00 for mine, same exact washer....
good deal
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
quote:Originally posted by HandLoad
Big unit can literally blast concrete finish off, strip paint off a Car, and cut swirlies into deck wood!!! Small unit stores real small.
My 3,800 psi Generac has a knob to adjust pressure. A small pressure washer is not much better than a garden hose with a nozzle on it.
Did ya see the part about Wife and Daughter using it?[:D]
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+simpson+pressure+washer+attachment&view=detail&mid=D8DAC42BED2614034EA7D8DAC42BED2614034EA7&FORM=VIRE
Mine is a Generac 3,800 psi 3.6 gpm. As pressure washers go bigger is better. I couldn't imagine trying to pressure wash a dirty concrete driveway with anything less than 3,500 psi. 4,000 or above would be even better.
I used to just use just the wand to do the driveway with but it takes a long time. This year I purchased one of the Simpson attachments and it cut the time in half.
Do you have any issues with breaking fingernails while using it? That thumbnail is huge.
Enjoy your new machine.
Well, I just went with this one. Will see how it does and report back. Thanks for your input guys.
https://www.costco.com/PowerStroke-3100-PSI-Pressure-Washer-with-Subaru-Electric-Start-Engine.product.100338562.html
Nice. My old Craftsman is only 2200 psi/ 2.2 gallons but it it 20 years old and refuses to die. I only use real gas and run the bowl empty every time. It did break a camshaft early on but that was fixed under warrantee. Will be using it this weekend to clean up for graduation party.
Do you have any issues with breaking fingernails while using it?
No problems with nails but I did ruin a pair of heels and tore my nylon's one time. So now I only wear a G-string and a pair of flip-flops when I'm pressure washing.
My neighbor on the hill used one to remove bark from Cedar Logs. Neat trick. I need something for the concrete driveway / walk.
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
This going to do the job?
https://www.costco.com/Ford-3100-PSI-Gasoline-Pressure-Washer,-CARB-Compliant.product.100277993.html
That looks like a nice one. I wonder who makes the engine. The pump on that model is a good one.
China makes the engine. Whatever you buy if it's at home use only buy electric and plan on it being a throw away and buy new again item.Hoses are different sizes and threads so if you order a better one be aware.
serf
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
Well, I just went with this one. Will see how it does and report back. Thanks for your input guys.
https://www.costco.com/PowerStroke-3100-PSI-Pressure-Washer-with-Subaru-Electric-Start-Engine.product.100338562.html
Nice. My old Craftsman is only 2200 psi/ 2.2 gallons but it it 20 years old and refuses to die. I only use real gas and run the bowl empty every time. It did break a camshaft early on but that was fixed under warrantee. Will be using it this weekend to clean up for graduation party.
Will be using this for the same reason. Got the thing assembled, added the oil and gas last night, and hooked the battery up to the trickle charger. So far no issues. The not fully charged battery was able to turn the engine over a few times, so that was promising. Will hook it up to water and get it running tonight.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I bought this special soap made for vehicles that had to be watered down 25% and commenced to spraying down my motor home.
The blue nozzle was designed for low pressure soaping and seemed a bit disappointing to me. Not like a quarter car wash blaster. The soap dispenser held about a gallon of concentrate that the machine dispersed at 20 to one. The pressure was kind of like straight out of the garden hose and the soap was gone about half way around the motor home. I reloaded and finished the soap cycle.
I then put on the white nozzle which was listed in the directions as 40%. Oh boy! Had to hold on to the wand with both hands! Now I was cooking with oil! That nozzle set up was a real blaster and I have two more nozzles that get even more extreme in their cutting power!
The red one is a pin hole puncher and will probably take off paint and cut most any finish so will only use when appropriate.
I enjoyed my day and wonder how I ever managed all of my life without this great tool toy!
These work pretty good.
Guaranteed trouble. Sooner than later.[:D]
I spent a good part of the day getting my new Subaru BlackMax all locked and loaded up for some water blasting.
I bought this special soap made for vehicles that had to be watered down 25% and commenced to spraying down my motor home.
The blue nozzle was designed for low pressure soaping and seemed a bit disappointing to me. Not like a quarter car wash blaster. The soap dispenser held about a gallon of concentrate that the machine dispersed at 20 to one. The pressure was kind of like straight out of the garden hose and the soap was gone about half way around the motor home. I reloaded and finished the soap cycle.
I then put on the white nozzle which was listed in the directions as 40%. Oh boy! Had to hold on to the wand with both hands! Now I was cooking with oil! That nozzle set up was a real blaster and I have two more nozzles that get even more extreme in their cutting power!
The red one is a pin hole puncher and will probably take off paint and cut most any finish so will only use when appropriate.
I enjoyed my day and wonder how I ever managed all of my life without this great tool toy!
Picked up this 2700psi Black Max Subaru Thursday. On sale for $219 at Sam's.
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/black-max-2700-psi-gas-pressure-washer/prod19891250.ip?xid=plp:product:1:1
Used it to clean off the concrete walk to the front door and part of concrete pad in front of the garage yesterday. Ran 2 tanks of gas through it.
Works pretty good. Will be checking out that Simpson attachment though. Gotta get real close to the concrete w/ the green head to get the mold spots off.
Seems I need to buy a bottle of pump oil.
Placed this attachment on order. Works with pressure washers rated up to 3200 PSI.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Karcher-15-in-Surface-Cleaner-for-Gas-Pressure-Washers-8-641-035-0/206879500
Pics - ran out of sunshine yesterday:
Still rainy out there:
It would also be nice to have a little longer reach, but so far it's been more than adequate.
I had two of my girls working it this weekend to clean off the deck. As I suspected their arms got tired pretty quickly, just from dealing with the pressure, but otherwise they were able to use it and move it around. The push button start is a real bonus for them, too.
Happy camper.
Money well spent.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain