Pressure washers work great for cleaning out my gutters, however, I've yet to find on that works. The only ones small and light enough to take up on the roof are the cheap, made in China $99 ones at Walmart and Lowe's. None of them last for more than 3 or 4 uses, and the one I've got now (I bought it at Lowe's) has done this thing where some kind of internal switch cuts electrical power when the unit gets under too much load and it takes like 24 hours for this thing to reset, and it pretty much does this every time I try to use it, so I'm calling one not working as well. I wouldn't mind spending more money for one, but the only ones I've seen that are built better are all too big and heavy to move around. Are there no well built small and light weight units?
A pressure washer that works?
- Thread starter grampi
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It wouldn't surprise me if there weren't. Big pressure-big pressure when dead heading-the need for pressure sensitive cutoff switches-etc.
Designing cheap ones might be a fools errand.
Designing cheap ones might be a fools errand.
You use a pressure washer to clean the inside channel of your gutters? What is there to gain by doing that? I clean my gutters twice a year and finish using a garden hose. I don't care if the thin black coating doesn't get cleaned, it only gets so thick before it wont get any thicker and would reappear in 3 months anyways.
Buy a real pressure washer, and a long hose. There's no reason to take a pressure washer up onto the roof with you.
For electric try a Karcher. As far as I know they are made in Germany. I just used one to do some cleanup at my MIL's house over there. Not as powerful as my gas rig her as you'd expect but it still peels off mold from things handily. It's still pretty darned heavy to lug around complicated by dragging the electric cord plus hose and I sure wouldn't want one up on a roof with me.
You're probably better off getting a good gas model with an extra long pressure hose and having someone on the ground follow you around with it. My 2600 psi will blow out tree debris from about 20' beyond the nozzle using the high pressure jet. Messy but effective. All I have is one of those Black Maxes from Sams Club and it soldiers on 8 years now washing cars trucks and anything else year round. All I do is keep E-10 out of it and stash it in the basement during freezing temps.
You're probably better off getting a good gas model with an extra long pressure hose and having someone on the ground follow you around with it. My 2600 psi will blow out tree debris from about 20' beyond the nozzle using the high pressure jet. Messy but effective. All I have is one of those Black Maxes from Sams Club and it soldiers on 8 years now washing cars trucks and anything else year round. All I do is keep E-10 out of it and stash it in the basement during freezing temps.
I bought this in Spring of this year. So far, it's been great. I didn't really need a gas pressure washer and didn't want to have another engine to maintain so I went with an electric. I've not used a ton of different pressure washers, but this one has done everything I've wanted it to do. I've washed my vinyl siding, multiple vehicles, ATV, cleaned the mold off of the back porch and steps, cleaned some old plastic chairs that had turned black from mildew... I've used it for 4+ hours of cleaning at a time and it keeps on working.
When/if it dies I'm thinking of this.
And +1 on the longer hose. I'd get a 100ft pressure hose and leave the unit on the ground if I needed to clean gutters.
When/if it dies I'm thinking of this.
And +1 on the longer hose. I'd get a 100ft pressure hose and leave the unit on the ground if I needed to clean gutters.
The cheap lightweight electric pressure washer use plastic parts that break.
Originally Posted By: gman2304
Originally Posted By: Srt20
I use a leaf blower for the gutters
This. A five minute job when the leaves are dry.
Yup, me too. Leaf blower works great!
Originally Posted By: Srt20
I use a leaf blower for the gutters
This. A five minute job when the leaves are dry.
Yup, me too. Leaf blower works great!
My Dad swears by his AR after a string of [censored] ones from Home Depot and the like. It has never leaked, broken, or given him any problems despite being dropped, knocked-over, dragged across concrete, etc.
http://www.arnorthamerica.com/
He uses it for various around-the-house tasks like powerwashing the driveway, the plastic fence, etc. I haven't used it myself, but I have handled it and it's definitely got a solid feel.
http://www.arnorthamerica.com/
He uses it for various around-the-house tasks like powerwashing the driveway, the plastic fence, etc. I haven't used it myself, but I have handled it and it's definitely got a solid feel.
Originally Posted By: fenixguy
I bought this in Spring of this year. So far, it's been great. I didn't really need a gas pressure washer and didn't want to have another engine to maintain so I went with an electric. I've not used a ton of different pressure washers, but this one has done everything I've wanted it to do. I've washed my vinyl siding, multiple vehicles, ATV, cleaned the mold off of the back porch and steps, cleaned some old plastic chairs that had turned black from mildew... I've used it for 4+ hours of cleaning at a time and it keeps on working.
When/if it dies I'm thinking of this.
And +1 on the longer hose. I'd get a 100ft pressure hose and leave the unit on the ground if I needed to clean gutters.
How much would you say the Summer Joe weighs?
I bought this in Spring of this year. So far, it's been great. I didn't really need a gas pressure washer and didn't want to have another engine to maintain so I went with an electric. I've not used a ton of different pressure washers, but this one has done everything I've wanted it to do. I've washed my vinyl siding, multiple vehicles, ATV, cleaned the mold off of the back porch and steps, cleaned some old plastic chairs that had turned black from mildew... I've used it for 4+ hours of cleaning at a time and it keeps on working.
When/if it dies I'm thinking of this.
And +1 on the longer hose. I'd get a 100ft pressure hose and leave the unit on the ground if I needed to clean gutters.
How much would you say the Summer Joe weighs?
Originally Posted By: dparm
My Dad swears by his AR after a string of [censored] ones from Home Depot and the like. It has never leaked, broken, or given him any problems despite being dropped, knocked-over, dragged across concrete, etc.
http://www.arnorthamerica.com/
He uses it for various around-the-house tasks like powerwashing the driveway, the plastic fence, etc. I haven't used it myself, but I have handled it and it's definitely got a solid feel.
"Like most companies, we manufacture some of our Annovi Reverberi high pressure pumps in China. We took our time to find the right team to introduce the AR process and techniques to reflect our traditions. AR as a company has 59 years of manufacturing experience. The company started to Italy and has since grown to offer products worldwide. This video highlights or team in China."
So, who doesn't make their pumps in China?
My Dad swears by his AR after a string of [censored] ones from Home Depot and the like. It has never leaked, broken, or given him any problems despite being dropped, knocked-over, dragged across concrete, etc.
http://www.arnorthamerica.com/
He uses it for various around-the-house tasks like powerwashing the driveway, the plastic fence, etc. I haven't used it myself, but I have handled it and it's definitely got a solid feel.
"Like most companies, we manufacture some of our Annovi Reverberi high pressure pumps in China. We took our time to find the right team to introduce the AR process and techniques to reflect our traditions. AR as a company has 59 years of manufacturing experience. The company started to Italy and has since grown to offer products worldwide. This video highlights or team in China."
So, who doesn't make their pumps in China?
This site reminds a bit of Craig's List...you can't get product suggestions without a bunch of other advice that comes with it...FWIW, I use a pressure washer for a lot of other things too besides cleaning gutters, so you guys who use a leaf blower to clean your gutters, good for you...I prefer using a pressure washer...
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: grampi
This site reminds a bit of Craig's List...you can't get product suggestions without a bunch of other advice that comes with it...FWIW, I use a pressure washer for a lot of other things too besides cleaning gutters, so you guys who use a leaf blower to clean your gutters, good for you...I prefer using a pressure washer...
Just saying I use the right tools for the job. Some people dont.....
I have 2 PSI washers, 1 gas and 1 electric. I can not recommend either for cleaning gutters.
This site reminds a bit of Craig's List...you can't get product suggestions without a bunch of other advice that comes with it...FWIW, I use a pressure washer for a lot of other things too besides cleaning gutters, so you guys who use a leaf blower to clean your gutters, good for you...I prefer using a pressure washer...
Just saying I use the right tools for the job. Some people dont.....
I have 2 PSI washers, 1 gas and 1 electric. I can not recommend either for cleaning gutters.
The advice to use a bigger unit with a long hose is salient. I've been eyeing the pressure washer at Costco for $299, it looks pretty nice and has a Subaru engine. 3100 PSI.
I have an airless sprayer, it would be folly to try to lift the whole unit up to my level on the ladder when I'm painting the 2nd floor. I just got a longer hose, no problems.
I have an airless sprayer, it would be folly to try to lift the whole unit up to my level on the ladder when I'm painting the 2nd floor. I just got a longer hose, no problems.
Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: dparm
My Dad swears by his AR after a string of [censored] ones from Home Depot and the like. It has never leaked, broken, or given him any problems despite being dropped, knocked-over, dragged across concrete, etc.
http://www.arnorthamerica.com/
He uses it for various around-the-house tasks like powerwashing the driveway, the plastic fence, etc. I haven't used it myself, but I have handled it and it's definitely got a solid feel.
"Like most companies, we manufacture some of our Annovi Reverberi high pressure pumps in China. We took our time to find the right team to introduce the AR process and techniques to reflect our traditions. AR as a company has 59 years of manufacturing experience. The company started to Italy and has since grown to offer products worldwide. This video highlights or team in China."
So, who doesn't make their pumps in China?
I wasn't aware of that, but I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the fact the pumps are made in China. If the company maintains good QC and isn't just buying the cheapest [censored] they can find from some no-name supplier, it should be fine. The Chinese factories are perfectly capable of turning out a high-quality product (just look at the iPhone, for example).
Originally Posted By: dparm
My Dad swears by his AR after a string of [censored] ones from Home Depot and the like. It has never leaked, broken, or given him any problems despite being dropped, knocked-over, dragged across concrete, etc.
http://www.arnorthamerica.com/
He uses it for various around-the-house tasks like powerwashing the driveway, the plastic fence, etc. I haven't used it myself, but I have handled it and it's definitely got a solid feel.
"Like most companies, we manufacture some of our Annovi Reverberi high pressure pumps in China. We took our time to find the right team to introduce the AR process and techniques to reflect our traditions. AR as a company has 59 years of manufacturing experience. The company started to Italy and has since grown to offer products worldwide. This video highlights or team in China."
So, who doesn't make their pumps in China?
I wasn't aware of that, but I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the fact the pumps are made in China. If the company maintains good QC and isn't just buying the cheapest [censored] they can find from some no-name supplier, it should be fine. The Chinese factories are perfectly capable of turning out a high-quality product (just look at the iPhone, for example).
Originally Posted By: Srt20
Originally Posted By: grampi
This site reminds a bit of Craig's List...you can't get product suggestions without a bunch of other advice that comes with it...FWIW, I use a pressure washer for a lot of other things too besides cleaning gutters, so you guys who use a leaf blower to clean your gutters, good for you...I prefer using a pressure washer...
Just saying I use the right tools for the job. Some people dont.....
I have 2 PSI washers, 1 gas and 1 electric. I can not recommend either for cleaning gutters.
That's you, not me...
Originally Posted By: grampi
This site reminds a bit of Craig's List...you can't get product suggestions without a bunch of other advice that comes with it...FWIW, I use a pressure washer for a lot of other things too besides cleaning gutters, so you guys who use a leaf blower to clean your gutters, good for you...I prefer using a pressure washer...
Just saying I use the right tools for the job. Some people dont.....
I have 2 PSI washers, 1 gas and 1 electric. I can not recommend either for cleaning gutters.
That's you, not me...
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Buy a real pressure washer, and a long hose. There's no reason to take a pressure washer up onto the roof with you.
x2. Northern Tool has nice pressure washers with Honda engines and Cat pumps. They also sell 100' hoses.
You don't run the wand while standing on a ladder do you? Rather than rocket man, you'd be pressurized water man.. in a bad way.
Buy a real pressure washer, and a long hose. There's no reason to take a pressure washer up onto the roof with you.
x2. Northern Tool has nice pressure washers with Honda engines and Cat pumps. They also sell 100' hoses.
You don't run the wand while standing on a ladder do you? Rather than rocket man, you'd be pressurized water man.. in a bad way.
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