Recommend me a Pressure Washer

[Phishin]

So last night, I purchased a 3000 PSI Simpson Pressure Washer. It is powered by a Honda GC190 engine. The price was $250 at my local Tractor/Farm Supply Store (Rural King). I've been in the market for a pressure washer, and I knew this was a great price, especially with the Honda power plant, so I threw it in the cart.

Here is the unit: 3000 PSI

When I got home and opened the box, it was clear that this is a "reconditioned" unit. It was a little dirty, and it is clearly marked as well.

Amazon has pretty [censored] reviews of this unit....this appears to be a commonly sold "refurb" unit.

Rural King will give me a 90 day warranty on it. I could buy a 1 or 2 year extended warranty for $20 and $40, but declined. No oil or gas has been put in this unit yet by me...still "new" in the box.

So, should I take it back and buy a better unit? I'm thinking so. I'm not going to be using this thing much. A few times a year to wash my drive way off, spray off the house, etc. etc. But I'm not against buying a $500-600 unit if it's going to be trouble free.

What do you guys think?

 

[Fsharp]

I say go ahead and take it back. I shy away from reconditioned units. They're probably fine but I feel like I'm buying someone else's problem. After a quick view of Amazon's pressure washer selection I'm recommending this model:

briggs and stratton


Slightly lower specs than the unit you have. I have a similar "readystart" engine on a lawn mower that I've been very satisfied with.

 

[dave123]

I would spend a little more for better quality Honda GX with a Cat pump taken care of it last you a lifetime less headache in long run.

 

[Hokiefyd]

With pressure washers, the engine matters far less than the pump itself. Most are sold on engine brand, but can have a very lousy pump on it that can fail early.

Unless I could verify that it has a quality pump, I'd probably take it back if I could.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
I'm not going to be using this thing much. A few times a year to wash my drive way off, spray off the house, etc. etc. But I'm not against buying a $500-600 unit if it's going to be trouble free.

What do you guys think?


For such limited, light usage I'd purchase an electric pressure washer. A neighbor down the road has one-a Sun Joe I think-and it does the lightweight chores you list without any problem.

If you're doing some heavy pressure washing or paint removal a gas unit would be a better investment, but for light residential stuff electric would be easier to work with and much less expensive.

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: dave123
I would spend a little more for better quality Honda GX with a Cat pump taken care of it last you a lifetime less headache in long run.


Should I look specifically for a CAT pump or will any triplex plunger pump be the same? Like in this model: Simpson Commercial

 

[chrly919]

My wife bought me a Karcher electric washer about 10 years ago and it works great. I use it for the same thing you want one for. A real plus is I hang it up in the garage when I'm done with it. She paid about $100. Getting ready to do house and deck washing again soon. If it tears up, so what. I'll buy another one.

 

[dave123]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Originally Posted By: dave123
I would spend a little more for better quality Honda GX with a Cat pump taken care of it last you a lifetime less headache in long run.


Should I look specifically for a CAT pump or will any triplex plunger pump be the same? Like in this model: Simpson Commercial

Cat pump use antifreeze after every shutdown it last a lifetime. I beat the heck out of mine with a 0 degree tip for hours 10 plus years runs like the day I bought it.

 

[dave123]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Originally Posted By: dave123
I would spend a little more for better quality Honda GX with a Cat pump taken care of it last you a lifetime less headache in long run.


Should I look specifically for a CAT pump or will any triplex plunger pump be the same? Like in this model: Simpson Commercial

GX 200 would be plenty for your needs

 

[Donald]

As others have kind of said, stores push the pressure washer by the engine as few know a good pump brand from a cheap pump brand.

Basically no pressure washer with a vertical shaft engine will be much more than a "good to better". You need a horizontal shaft engine to get into the "better" or "best" range.

But your needs do not sound all that demanding. An electric may do what you need and they are just plain easier.

You can look at the pump itself and see who made it. AR makes decent pumps, as does CAT and Comet.

Personally I would keep the pressure washer, and if it wears out in 5 years, then throw on a new AR pump for $100.

Key to long pressure washer life is:
1) Do not allow it to freeze, either use pump antifreeze or basement storage.
2) Do not run it more than a minute or two with the engine on and trigger not pressed. (No long lunch breaks with engine running).

 

[CT8]

All I know about pressure washers is the more Gallons per minute at any given pressure the better it washes.

 

[Bgallagher]

I have never had a good luck with pressure washers. Gas or electric. I do all the flushing and mechanic stuff that is required and they always find a way to [censored] out on me. Personally I would return it and rent one from a local rental center. I rent a higher end commercial unit in the springtime, do the house and the decks.

 

[anonobomber]

The Simpson unit you have sounds exactly like the one my dad had. It was a complete piece of junk so I would wholeheartedly recommend getting rid of it ASAP. I own the Subaru pressure washer they sold at Costco a couple years ago and it has been working great for me so far. My dad liked it so much he went out and bought it too and so far they've been great. I did have one problem with it leaking gas out of the carburetor but running it long enough to wash my truck cleared that up and it hasn't been a problem since.

I was just looking at Costco's site but I don't see it on there anymore so I'm not sure if this one is made anymore

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: anonobomber
The Simpson unit you have sounds exactly like the one my dad had. It was a complete piece of junk so I would wholeheartedly recommend getting rid of it ASAP. I own the Subaru pressure washer they sold at Costco a couple years ago and it has been working great for me so far. My dad liked it so much he went out and bought it too and so far they've been great. I did have one problem with it leaking gas out of the carburetor but running it long enough to wash my truck cleared that up and it hasn't been a problem since.

I was just looking at Costco's site but I don't see it on there anymore so I'm not sure if this one is made anymore

Costco is very seasonal. I'm sure it will pop back up in the stores in a few months.

 

[69GTX]

My first experience with a 3,000+ psi pressure washer was at my place of work. The over-the-road guys used it to remove combustion ash residue from their tractor trailers. I used it for about 10 seconds or so on my 12 year old Caddy to save me a trip to the local car wash before I realized it stripped the paint off the hood in a pattern identical to where the nozzle went.

 

[dave123]

Originally Posted By: 69GTX
My first experience with a 3,000+ psi pressure washer was at my place of work. The over-the-road guys used it to remove combustion ash residue from their tractor trailers. I used it for about 10 seconds or so on my 12 year old Caddy to save me a trip to the local car wash before I realized it stripped the paint off the hood in a pattern identical to where the nozzle went.

Use the correct tip you won't have that problem. Don't blame the machine for your mistake.

 

[DrRoughneck]

Whatever pressure washer they sell at Costco is going to be a good pressure washer for the price.

 

[bubbatime]

I used to run a small engine repair shop. I still do it on the side here and there, but not as much.

1) Take that piece of junk back. Seriously.
2) ALWAYS buy a pressure washer with horizontally mounted pump. The vertically mounted pumps are ALL rated for only 50 hours. Even the cheapest Chinese horizontal pump is rated for 300 hours.
3) That Honda GC190 is a light duty lawn mower engine. It is not up to the task of pressure washing. When used on a pressure washer, they snap the plastic camshaft gear ALL THE TIME. Seriously, I used to see these same Simpson units 2-3 times a month with a snapped camshaft gear. Honda built its reputation on its very durable GX series engines. These GC series engines are a joke on pressure washers.
4) For your needs, look at one powered by a Honda GX200 (5.5HP) or Chinese GX200 clone. These engines are extremely durable, extremely easy to maintain, good on fuel and parts are so darn cheap you will laugh. Seriously, if your carburetor gums up, you can put a brand new one on for $10.
4) I avoid Suburu at all cost. Some people love them. They are so expensive when it comes to parts that I usually recommend to the customer that they could get a new engine for about the same cost to repair. Yes they are durable, but you'll hate yourself when you go to buy parts and find they are 11 times more expensive than Honda parts.
5) Pump doesn't really matter. For regular homeowner use, the pump on a horizontal unit will last about 10 years. When/if the pump dies, you can then go buy a commercial rated Cat/Comet/AR pump of your choice for $150-200, slap it on, and you will never have another pump problem for the life of the engine/unit.

I recommend the units from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool for general home owner use. They have durable Honda clone engines, decent pumps, and they are much more durable than a comparable priced unit at Lowes or Home Depot.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641183_200641183

Dont forget the 15-20% off coupons you can use at Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3100-psi-28-gpm-65-hp-212cc-pressure-washer-epa-iii-62200.html

Electric might be a good option:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350514_200350514

 

[sleddriver]

Originally Posted By: dave123

Cat pump use antifreeze after every shutdown it last a lifetime. I beat the heck out of mine with a 0 degree tip for hours 10 plus years runs like the day I bought it.

Dave beat me to it. Pump quality matters...a lot. Second, don't leave the pump with water in it, then store it for months. It needs to be thoroughly drained of water, then rinsed with antifreeze to prevent corrosion.

 

[dave123]

Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Originally Posted By: dave123

Cat pump use antifreeze after every shutdown it last a lifetime. I beat the heck out of mine with a 0 degree tip for hours 10 plus years runs like the day I bought it.

Dave beat me to it. Pump quality matters...a lot. Second, don't leave the pump with water in it, then store it for months. It needs to be thoroughly drained of water, then rinsed with antifreeze to prevent corrosion.

Yes sir and they will last long time install a whip hose and turn motor over with recoil pour in premix Ethylene Glycol antifreeze let it sit on that till next use.