Is there a "good" electric pressure washer?

Tags · Sep 10, 2013

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I figured this would work. Anyway, I'm looking to buy a simple electric pressure washer, I've had two in the past, a Karcher and a Task Force 2000 from Lowes. I lent the Karcher to a friend who "just needed it for a few minutes" or hours apparantly, so he could wash his entire 3000 sq ft house, it came back dead. The Task Force still kinda works if you are into taking a bath while using it, at this point more water comes out of different parts of the machine than the wand. I use it very infrequently and when i do use it, it may be for an hour or so a couple times a year. So does anyone have any good experiences with any of these little electric pressure washers?

HCJtractor · Sep 10, 2013

I have a Karcher. Pretty weak and overall not very effective. I would not buy another

TerryR · Sep 10, 2013

I had the same experience. Cheapo Lowes model broke after a few uses, and couldn't be fixed.

I found that yes, there are good ones - very satisfactory for those of us who don't want yet another gasoline engine to maintain. But you won't find them at Lowes and the like, and they are priced like real equipment.

I bought a Cam Spray 1450 four years ago and it's still going strong. I'm very satisfied with it. It's a 120 volt model on a stout cart with big wheels, so it plugs into a standard outlet and is easy to move about, but heavy if you need to take it up stairs to a high deck. I bought extra hose to avoid that.

The specs don't read that much better than the toys from the big box stores, but the performance is noticeably better. More importantly, it comes with a parts list, and you can actually get parts. When I broke a plastic knob it was simple and cheap to get a replacement.

I bought mine online, but there are some dealers that carry them if you live in a more metropolitan area than we do. There are other brands with similar models, offering several different cart configurations, and in 240 volt models if you need more power and are willing to deal with the need for a 240-volt power outlet.

Terry

Gary Fowler · Sep 10, 2013

I had one electric and wont ever buy another. It didn't have much power and after a few uses the little pressure switch that shut off the motor when it pressured up quit working. It would work till you shut off the trigger and then wouldn't come back on till you unplugged it an depressured it. I bought a gasoline powered one 10 or more years ago and it still starts with about 3 pulls. I drain all the gas out of it each time I use it, drain all the pressure hoses and use the pull start rope to pump all the water out of the pump when I store it for the winter. So far it still works great for 2400 PSI. I sometimes wish I had a bigger pump and if this one ever goes out, I will vie for a 3200 or so PSI.

jenkinsph · Sep 10, 2013

I have had several electric units the best being a small unit sold by Deere about 30 years ago. I have had several of the Northern 5hp 230v units that have had short lives with moderate use. I would like to get a good electric to have at home but for now I use an engine driven unit.

Soundguy · Sep 10, 2013

weird. i've had a karcher for ? 10ys now... a elbow broke inside it at about 5ys of age and i took it apart. elbow was 35$ but i could it could be eliminated and drilled a 2nd hose exit hole in the casing, and was able to hook it back up minus the elbow.

still using it.

you guys must be hard on equipment.

JRobyn · Sep 10, 2013

Great question; I'd like to find one too! I have both a Karcher and a garage sale Black and Decker.

The B&D is junk. The pressure switch in it quit, evidently due to mineral scale buildup, but I was able to disassemble/clean and re-grease it with silicone grease and make it function. About half of the screws holding all the plastic case parts and motor housing are stripped. The valve housing in the wand split. I very reluctantly parted with about $25 for a replacement "universal" wand, but the nozzle adapters on it leak.

The housing of the pressure switch on the Karcher cracked; probably froze despite my draining it and keeping it inside. Karcher parts are available, but are very pricey. I think the switch housing was about $15 for a small plastic part. The Karcher wand also split (the valve housing). A replacement part was available, but was something like $45, so it got a "universal" replacement also. Seems to be working ok now.

These smaller electrics are very convenient for smaller work, but they no not seem to be very reliable/durable. Maybe I need to find a "Cam Spray"!

- Jay

Soundguy · Sep 10, 2013

i agree the karcher parts are spendy. plus they hit you for shipping. a 15$ part can be 25$ hard to justify that on a 90$ washer.

I will say that now after 10ys, the hose on mine is starting to go.. when it goes I will simply repalce the unit vs put any $ into on that will be coming up on 11ys soon.

Septemberwheat · Sep 10, 2013

I have a karcher, it's about 6 years old and it works great. I was my car, tractor, and siding, so small jobs. The new one of mine is the karcher x series, and for a simple electric pressure washer, it's awesome.
Best,
Matt

jlawso21 · Sep 10, 2013

I have one that I love. It's an AR Blue, AR being Annov Reverbi or something like that, it's an Italian company. I believe it is 1800 psi and about 1.3 gpm or something close to that. It is very light weight, has a very long good quality electric cord, and I can use it without worrying too much about blasting paint off of something. It comes with a nice range of accessories including a turbo tip and a small disk for cleaning decks, etc.

It's great for my decks and docks i have some plastic railing at my lake house that it works well on. I have had it for two years and use it often. I would buy it again.

JenniferWDavis · Sep 10, 2013

I recently bought the AR Blue Clean AR383. It's awesome, easy to use and is definitely recommended by me.

DavesTractor · Sep 10, 2013

We use a pressure washer quite a bit and got tired of the noisy gas engines, running out of fuel, broken pull ropes, etc. We bought a 3-phase 5 HP commercial unit that hangs on the wall and has auto on/off. I wish I would have bought this years ago, however it isn't portable and cost about $2500. So there are really good electric pressure washers, but most of the consumer grade electric units have a really light duty cycle and short lifespan I suspect. I'd think you will be well over $1k to get a decent small electric washer. Ours was bought from bepressure.com and has been flawless. They do make them in single phase portable models.

TBarD · Sep 11, 2013

I initially had a Karcher from HD or some such - gave it away to a friend for free, when I moved (it was almost worthless). I ended up with an electric power washer from Northern Tool. This a high quality unit - same components as the gas engine pro tools except it has a 20 amp electric motor. You do need to have 20 amp power where you use it, but I can manage that for what I use it for, and the convenience of not having to maintain yet another gas engine is worth it.

Kenneth in Texas · Sep 11, 2013

Ive had just about all the electric models up to 2000 psi, my basic opinion of them is they are all POS's. Some lasted longer than others but none went past a year and a half of light duty use. My current electric one with i bought at TS says briggs and stratton 1800 psi on the it but i dont know who actually makes it, its been going now a little over a year except one of the wands broke a couple weeks ago. I know all mine have been cheap (under $200) but I would be afraid to spend big bucks on one.

TBarD · Sep 11, 2013

I have had mine for over ten years, still going strong. I don't recall any longer what it cost, but it was up around $1K or so. It is rated about 3000 psi I think. My conclusion is you can get a real pro power washer that is electrically powered, single phase. However they are mostly sold to contractors who move around a lot for different jobs, hence most pro units are gas powered.

sodamo · Sep 11, 2013

I have a Kracher, K5, I think, from WallyWorld. Had it about 3 years, extremely happy with it. Much more convenient than my 10 yo, 3000 psi, Porter Cable gasser, currently in shop awaiting new carb.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

Scooby074 · Sep 11, 2013

Are their good electrics? Yes. Are they cheap? No.

I have a Princess Auto built electric. American motor, Comet pump(? current model has comet, but I thought mine was AR). http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Electric/18-GPM-At-1200-PSI-Electric-Pressure-Washer/5790114.p Probably close to 15 years old now. No problems besides occasionally overloading and tripping breakers. Not a fault of the washer in any way though.

The PA unit replaced a consumer grade Kartcher that lasted only about 2 years.

TerryR · Sep 11, 2013

DavesTractor said:
....I'd think you will be well over $1k to get a decent small electric washer.

Maybe not "well over" -- if you are looking for a well-built, repairable, unit for general use they are priced right at $1k now. My 20-amp Cam-Spray is rated at 1450 psi, and I paid $890 for it in 2009. It's now offered a just over $1000. It's clearly comparable to the smaller gasoline-powered units, without, as others mentioned, the need to maintain another engine. As long as you intend to use it within reach of electrical power it's a very good option for those of us who don't find small engine maintenance to be fun.

Terry

Gary Fowler · Sep 11, 2013

TerryR said:
Maybe not "well over" -- if you are looking for a well-built, repairable, unit for general use they are priced right at $1k now. My 20-amp Cam-Spray is rated at 1450 psi, and I paid $890 for it in 2009. It's now offered a just over $1000. It's clearly comparable to the smaller gasoline-powered units, without, as others mentioned, the need to maintain another engine. As long as you intend to use it within reach of electrical power it's a very good option for those of us who don't find small engine maintenance to be fun.

Terry

You guys must not need the power that I do. I think my first and only electric was 1600 PSI and it took forever to clean my concrete patio slab because you had to have the nozzle right on the concrete to clean it. I have a 2400 PSI gasoline powered one and many times wish for a 3000 PSI. About the only thing you can clean with 1400 psi might be dust off a smooth floor. I would just as soon use a garden hose as use something that low pressured. Anything less than 2200 is a waste of effort. That is just my opinion and you know what opinions are just like____________ and everyone has one.

DavesTractor · Sep 11, 2013

Our electric is 4 gpm and 2000 psi. Works about as well as our old Honda powered gas unit. Perhaps a little less pressure, but it is hard to tell. I really like the auto on/off. Just pull the trigger and it starts in less than 2 seconds. Let off the trigger and it continues to run for a few seconds, then shuts off if the trigger isn't pulled right away again.