Pressure Washer purchase

[OutlawTitan]

Costco has a Karcher with the Honda 6.0 hp engine rated at 2650 psi and 2.6 gpm. It has a 30 ft hose, 5 quick connect nozzles, detergent siphon, and a Karcher commercial grade pump.

Cost is $399. I have no experience with these animals but from what I read this one sounds like a decent value for homeowner use only. I will probably only use it a couple of times a year (primarily to clean exposed aggregate driveway, sidewalk, and porch).

Any recommendations or suggestions?

 

[Steve S]

Why don't you rent a pressure washer to see how they work"so you won't get stuck with one to small.I prefer 3,000 or more psi and 4 gallons per minute. The more gallons per minute the faster the job goes.

 

[OutlawTitan]

I ended up buying the 3000 psi / 2.7 gpm Ryobi with the Subaru/robin 7.0 hp engine that Home Depot is selling for $498. It has a 3 yr warranty through Home Depot and I really liked the non-marking hose and the longer wand with the circular grip.

 

[drm7]

If you get above 2.5 gal/min can your home water supply even keep up? I know I have a backflow valve on my spigot and I doubt I get more than 2.5 gal/min out of it. Anyone know what 1/2inch home plumbing will put out unrestricted? I'm only asking because my brother used to do cars with a mobile unit and he had a water tank with a 6 gal/min pump going to a 3 gal/min pressure washer so he wouldn't suck the hose dry. I also can't imagine 2200+ psi not being enough. You can cut wood, damage brick, etc at these pressures. There have been industrial accidents resulting in death at these pressures as well. So be careful.

 

[Pablo]

Outlaw Titan - what brand of pump and what kind of oil does it call for (not the engine, the pump)? How soon is it supposed to be swapped?

Just curious - my stock pump oil was smelly and had metal - so I recommend changing early.

P

 

[OutlawTitan]

I will have to check the pump for a brand name but the literature indicates it is a brass pump head with axial cam design and says the it is a maintenance free pump with no oil changes required.

 

[Ugly3]

quote:

---

Originally posted by OutlawTitan:
Costco has a Karcher with the Honda 6.0 hp engine rated at 2650 psi and 2.6 gpm. It has a 30 ft hose, 5 quick connect nozzles, detergent siphon, and a Karcher commercial grade pump.

Cost is $399. I have no experience with these animals but from what I read this one sounds like a decent value for homeowner use only. I will probably only use it a couple of times a year (primarily to clean exposed aggregate driveway, sidewalk, and porch).

Any recommendations or suggestions?

---

For two uses a year go rent one. You will save money, save space, and leave the problems to someone else.

 

[OutlawTitan]

I considered renting but it costs $60/day to rent a good one and it would take me about 4 days to do all of the projects I need to do this summer. By owning one I can work an hour or two at my convenience and then do another hour or two the next day. Using one of these animals for 4-6 hours would lay me up for at least a week with a bad back. That is precisely why I got one with large cleaning power. The 2200 psi with 2 gpm will clean anything but it just takes longer to do it.

 

[Pablo]

Once you own a pressure washer there is no going back

I guess the pump itself is maintenance free on mine too - but there is gearing for it that takes tractor oil. Naturally I use the Amsoil stuff - and I will say it sure stays cooler. The pump gearbox cooling fins used to get real hot (and as I stated the original oil was kinda nasty)....nothing scientific, though.

 

[Crashbox]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pablo:
Once you own a pressure washer there is no going back

-snip-

---

I totally agree. I often use my pressure washer to wash down my vehicles (carefully, of course!)- they're great for keeping the undercarriage barnacle-free.

I have the earlier model (2400 PSI) of the Karcher washer, with the Honda engine. I run Mobil 1 10w30 in mine. It's been problem-free and actually kinda fun to use!