Pressure Washers - Electric vs. Gas

[UNC201]

Looking at 2K-2.7K PSI Pressure Washers.
Whether it be electric or gas.

How MUCH more quieter will the electrics be .
What about reliability as opposed to the gassers.

For my use , a cord is fine and I'm not worried about power.
However quietness + reliability is a ++++++, and thus I'm leaning on a electric unit.

Love to hear some feedbacks. I was looking at the Kranzles,and also some models with the tri plunger General Pump.

 

[cosynthetics]

The electric will be a lot quieter but won't have anywhere near the power. You'll be luck to get a decent 1700psi electric one. The ones I've used don't even compare to a gas one.

 

[JHZR2]

yep, gas operated units seem best, IMO

If you have only a 1-story home, or wont be spraying your home, then I dont think youll have an issue.

Oherwise, Id look for a unit equiped with a robin subaru (preferably) or honda GX (GC are junk, IMO) engine, with a cat pump.

JMH

 

[UNC201]

What do you guys recommend brandwise ?

http://www.ultimatewasher.com/honda-pressure-washers/index.htm
http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=491
http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=492

http://www.mitm.com/series_details.asp?Series_Id=128&ProductLine_Id=1


It's for home - not for *jobs*. Not looking to revisit buying another washer so any recommendations or brands would be appreciated.

In reading, if I recall, it was recommend that at least 3-3.5K is most sufficient for concrete cleaning.

 

[UNC201]

Here's the electric I was looking at

http://www.dirtkiller.com/showroom.cfm?sid=20

 

[Steve S]

What are you going to use it for?

 

[UNC201]

What takes more precedence. GPM or PSI.
Or both....

I don't like to buy a ~smaller machine~ only to find myself needing a larger one. Looking to buy one for around the house use - spring and late fall cleaning. Driveways, pathways, exterior brickwork siding and aluminum. Car washing.

The bulk use will be car washing at home. However, 2x a year, major outdoor seasonal cleaning.

I DO see myself using this was a *water broom* after the summer parties-get togethers....

 

[Harley Anderson]

2500-2700 psi will do you fine for the jobs you plan to use it for. Lowes usually has good prices. The ones you listed are more geared for commercial applications.

 

[Jim 5]

My preference is for a gasoline pressure washer. After all, with an electric powered one, you can't agonize over the right oil and OCI!

 

[Ray Garlington]

a couple of observations...

GPM or PSI: they work together. You can reduce the engine speed to reduce gpm and reduce the nozzle size to increase psi. These factors are limited by the engine power and the pump design. Each job has different requirements. Here are some wags that will give you an idea. (these are for about a 20 degree fan nozzle)

Driveways: if you don't want to work all day, you'll need at least 3gpm and about 3000psi

pathways: 2.5 gpm 2500psi (will reduce the amount of dirt that flys around when you get erroneously go off the path.

exterior brickwork: 3gpm 3000 psi

siding: 2gpm 1500 psi

Car washing: 2gpm 1000psi

YMMV.

 

[ARB1977]

I hate my electric washer...you have a cord and a hose to deal with. One day ill be looking in a honda powered washer.

 

[Gilitar]

Originally Posted By: ARB1977
I hate my electric washer...you have a cord and a hose to deal with. One day ill be looking in a honda powered washer.


This is very true. Not to mention the idea of having the cord around all that water. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer not to mix water and electricity.

 

[UNC201]

Went with a 3.5 PSI 4 GPM Honda/Cat Gas Belt Unit.
Rotary Nozzle, and some hoses and stuff.

The only thing remaining as it was recommended to leave the unloader along and let it run full tilt and just upsize the nozzles. Have to do the math and figure out between figures for those.

 

[Hootbro]

Get the gas pressure washer. I fiddles with two electric ones for years. Last year my wife bought me a Craftmans gas one and I will never go back to an electric. Running extension cords and being limited by them was no fun. Plus there was no warm and fuzzy about water and electricity being used together.

Hootbro