Pressure Washer Recomendations

[crazy charlie]

Time to buy a new pressure washer.My electric Nordic crapped out after 25 years of occasional use.I am inclined to get another electric one specifically to clean the bottom of my boats including barnacles.I dont plan on getting something commercial grade.Any recos?? Any minimum psi to keep in mind?? Charlie

 

[Crack of Dawn]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

I have a Troy with the Honda engine... just cranked it for the first time since last year and it cranked on the first pull. Damn fine machine.

 

[Y-Guy]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

I had an el cheapo electric from harbor Freight, still going after 4 years of use just the hose finally broke. Only thing I don't like about electric ones is being tied to the house and flipping the GFI every now and then.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

Never had one but the small electrics seem easy to store and your more willing to drag the out and use them.

I have a husky from HD. had it for 5 years and have never had a problem. Had a campbell hausfield before that and lasted about 5. IF you got 25 years I'd try to get the same brand. But I use mine alot and run ditch water through it so they don't last for me.

 

[109jb]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

My opinion:

1 - You aren't going to be using a pressure washer anywhere but outside.
2 - all pressure washers have to be brought out, unwind spray hose, unwind and hook up supply hose
3 - Gas powered you just pull the rope and away you go
4 - electric you have to unwind cord find a place to plug in and deal with the GFI tripping
5 - Gas pressure washers have higher flow and pressure output than typical electrics. (The exception is an industrial 220V electric) This gives better capability.
6 - With the higher flow rate of the gas units more accessories are available.

Having listed the above stuff, let me say that I have had both electriic and gas powered pressure washers and the above observations are from personal experience. My electric 1200 psi constantly triped the GFI/Breaker built innto its power cord. I gave my electric to my brother when I got my gas unit. My 3000 psi gas unit I use regularly. It is on pneumatic wheels and is easy to move around. I have used it at least a dozen times this year and never even gave a thought to using the electric. I have a very useful water sandblast attachment that works fantastic but needs the flow and pressure of the gas unit. I've used it to sandblast trailer frames for repaint.

Bottom line is that I don't find it any more of a burden to use a gas unit compared to the little electric I had and I would NEVER go back to an electric.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

After 30 plus years of using pressure washers I have never used a electric one just for the reasons stated above,you can get a nice heavy duty 2400 psi(on wheels)with a Honda engine(6.5 or 7.5) and that would be the last one you ever buy

 

[SeanT]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

I have an electric pressure washer, but only because it was free. I'm actually looking forward to it breaking so that I can go buy a nice gas powered one.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

A couple of years ago, I bought a "returned" Craftsman. Used it once, it acted up, so I took it back, and got a brand new one from them. Works fine !

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

In the business, Mi-T-M are some of the best out there, but are priced accordingly. Beware of some of the cheapo Made in China ones.....they usually do not last more than a couple of hours.

While PSI is important, the thing to remember is the GPM. There are many washers out there with a high PSI and nothing in the GPM and don't clean worth a crap. The more water thru the pump, the more cleaning it does. Some of the mfg's use a term called cleaning units: simply psi x gpm.. My washer is a 3200psi with a 3.5gpm pump.... comes out to 11,200 "Cleaning Units". Same pressure with a small 2.0 gpm pump, and it drops to 6400 cleaning units.

General, CAT and AR make really good pumps, and they are rebuildable. Also if possible, get a trapping unloader: this runs a bypass around the pump when the wand is not being used..... keeps from burning up the pump if you let it run for a while without using it.

Woof
Bowser

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Pressure Washer Recomendations

Good infor there Bowser