Electric Pressure Washers

RichZ · May 28, 2005

I need a pressure washer. I need to paint my barn, and parts are peeling, and I'd rather pressure wash than scrape. I could also use it to clean mud from my tractors and ground engaging implements, to clean plastic calf hutches and all sorts of other farm uses. BUT, I just don't feel like having yet another gas engine to maintain. After maintaining the engines of trucks, tractors, riding lawn mowers, walk behind lawn mowers, chain saws, string trimmers and a log splitter, I just don't feel like maintaining another. There are so many gas engines to use on a farm, that the thought of an electric pressure washer is appealing, but I wonder if they're any good.

I'll bet my TBN friends will have opinions!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif What do you guys think???

OkeeDon · May 28, 2005

I have both a monster gas pressure washer (4,000 psi, 4 gallons/minute, 13 HP Honda) and a couple of electrics, Sam's Club/Kmart quality. I have yet to figure out what the electric ones are good for; maybe cleaning screens. There's got to be a happy medium, but I haven't stumbled across it.

One thing you might think about is cobbling up your own. When I got my big one, I wanted electric because of noise factors. I was using it in a fixed location. But, the PW guy said the only motor that would run my pump would have to be 3 phase, and I didn't have 3 phase. But, here't what I'm thinking. Find one of the more "normal" size gas pressure washers (around 2400 psi, 1.5 to 2 gpm) that has a shot gas engine, and convert it to electric. Probably take about a 5-7 HP electric motor. You might find one on an old compressor. I'm just guessing and have no idea how it would actually work.

If you're thinking about getting a new one, check to see if there is anyone assembling pressure washers in your area. That's where I got mine, direct from the plant where they put them together. He would have been willing to put an electric motor on a slightly smaller unit.

PineRidge · May 28, 2005

I also have used both an electric and now a gas washer.

Don't waste your money on an electric, they are a joke. Get yourself a decent gas powered washer.

CCRZT50 · May 29, 2005

Don't know how this would work on peeling paint on a barn but I bought a Husky 1750psi electric pressure washer from Home Depot a couple of years ago and have nothing but praise for it after using gas. I've cleaned tractors, boats, cars, concrete, eves of the house with it, etc.. Like you, I didn't want another engine to maintain. No more burned high pressure hoses, no more noise, no messing with gasoline/oil. Just plug it in, turn on the water and go. Only limited by the cord and the length of high pressure hose. Extra hose is cheap. My unit came with a fan spray head and a rotary head. This unit also has a soap dispensing feature where the soap is put in a tank on the unit and dispensed at the wand. I found it on sale at Home Depot for $129.00

Freds · May 29, 2005

I bought a Cambell Hausfield (something like that) electric pressure washer from TSC a few years ago. I was going to be using it inside a building, so wanted electric. It stinks. I also don't like dragging the hoses and cord around.
If you are going to be using outside I think you would be much happier with a gas unit.

dbelisle · May 29, 2005

I have couple of electric pressure washers. One I use on my sewer jetter with 200 feet of hose,

The other is from Wal Mart and I use that to clean my trucks, equipment, tractor, wash my house , or what have you . I bought some extra hose for it and am going on my third year with a $89.00 unit.

The pressure washer used for my jetter is a expensive unit , It will last a many more years that the Wal Mart one, and has a lot more pressure.

Some of the gas units will have 3 to 4 times the pressure and last a lot longer than one of the cheap units, but you looking to remove loose paint not put holes in the side of your building.

Unless you have a lot of uses for a pressure washer the cheaper electric ones may work for you , buy some extra hose, and when the unit goes bad you still have all that money you saved to go buy a nother one.

Dave in NH

DaNag · May 29, 2005

My Karcher Electric pressure washer is great, and I'd buy one again...for it's intended purpose.

I bought it to clean my boat and truck, not for anything heavy duty like paint removal. It was way cheaper than a gas model. The fact that it is weaker is a benefit, for my uses; it has enough "oomph" to do a great job cleaning the boat and car without damaging the surface.

Just keep the nozzle set at wide spray, and hold it 12" or so away from the surface. Takes off thick dirt and grease with ease. Haven't used it on my tractor yet, but given how well it's worked on removing some of the leftover "fun" from 4x4 trucking, I've no doubt it will work fine there as well.

crb478 · May 29, 2005

I recently picked up a used electric pressure washer that had been in a car wash that was being torn down. It has a Cat pump and is rated at 2200 psi and 3 gal a minute. The onlly down side is that it has a 3 phase 3hp motor that I need to replace or use a phase converter with. It is rated for up to a six hp motor so I have been looking for something in the 5-6 hp range with single phase. I plan to plumb it directly into my house and use a quick connect and a switch on the outisde wall to hook up the hose and turn it on. I consider this a much better option than dragging out the gas powered washer I have. Hooking up the water hose and the pw hose and then getting the engine started, and then having to take it all apart to put it away. I believe that it should work pretty good for me if it could stand up to the rigors of a commercial car wash.

Bird · May 29, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My Karcher Electric pressure washer is great )</font>

One of my brothers bought what I guess is the smallest, cheapest Karcher last year and he, too, thinks it's great. He's a full time RVer so he wanted something he could carry with him all the time to clean his truck and fifth-wheel travel trailer.

EastTexFrank · May 29, 2005

I have never owned a gas power washer but I do have 2 electric ones, one is 1100 psi and the other is 1800 psi (I think). They are both good for what I want to do with them. I didn't want a gas engined one for the reasons you mentioned and I don't need that much pressure to do what I need to do. You can do a lot of damage with a 4000 psi power washer ... just ask my S-I-L. She can testify that you can strip paint and etch concrete with one. I loaned her one of my electrics to use at the kennel but she decided that it didn't have enough power to do the cleaning properly ... stubborness runs in the family, so she bought a gas powered one. After I helped her repaint the stalls where she had stripped the paint and gouged the concrete, she conceeded that maybe, just maybe, she didn't need quite that much pressure. She doesn't admit she's wrong very often either.

One of the higher pressure electrics may be all you need for removing flaking paint and will be less likely to to mark the wood underneath.