Something with some balls.

Lacking better information, I'm thinking 3000 or better PSI, 2.5 or better GPM.

At that level, I'm thinking gas but electric wouldn't be a deal breaker.

Brands/models/sources?

Watching

I've got a 1700 psi electric which works ok for a lot of jobs, but having had a 3000psi in the past I miss being able to do anything I want with one.

For ten years I've had a Dewalt with a Honda motor and a CAT pump that's 3000+ PSI. It will chip concrete if you want to. Do not use it barefoot. Don't ask.

Similar to this.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DE...XPW60603-S/304521456

A few general items on pressure washers:

Cleaning units = pressure * flow rate. A 3000 psi, 1.2 gpm pressure washer will have same cleaning ability as a 1800 psi, 2.0 gpm pressure washer.

Generally, 2000 psi is considered the upper end of pressure washer for washing a car. Ideal is considered 2.0 gpm at 900 to 1200 psi. You can damage paint (e.g. peel off the paint) above 2000 psi, but there are ways to make it lower the psi and increase the gpm (see below).

Generally, all of the pressure washer manufacturers mislead consumers on rating, but especially the Chinese made electric ones on Amazon and in big box stores. GPM will be measured with no nozzle inserted (i.e. no restriction so higher flow and nobody uses it this way), and psi will be measured with a 0 degree nozzle with small orifice diameter (i.e. lots of pressure by travelling through small orifice but significant drop in flow rate). In other words, you'll rarely find a manufacturer that gives the psi and gpm rating in actual configuration the user will use their pressure washer. For example, the Sun Joe that I used to have claimed 1.8 gpm but was 1.2 gpm like a normal person would use it.

Generally, the electric ones at Big Box stores and Home Depot have 100 hour rated pumps. The Sun Joe that I used to have was $175 and I wore it out in 2.5 years.

Generally, the hoses and wands that come in the box are junk. Hoses will have tons of memory in them (i.e. want to kink) and once kinked it forms a weak spot and that is where it eventually fails.

For electric: I have an Active 2.0 which is one of the few legitimate 2.0 gpm electric pressure washers on the market. It's also 1800 psi so I've swapped out the factory provided tips for ones with larger diameter orifices to get the pressure down for washing my truck. Additionally, the pump is rated at 200 hours. It's about $350 but everything else on the market at this gpm is $700 to $1100.

For gasoline: I'd get a Simpson with a Honda motor. The GX is Honda's commercial line of engines and better built than their residential grade GC. It comes with a AAA triplex pump.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

And I believe that pumps with a horizontally mounted pump is preferred over vertical pumps.

I’ve been very impressed with my Karcher PW with its Honda motor for 15 years. I’ve had to replace the hose once or twice.

I went down this rabbit hole 4 years ago.

I ended up with a dewalt branded unit made by simpson that cost 1300 dollars. All the research led me to a cry ounce mentality and I have no buyers remorse. Purchased through home depot for easy returns because they are notoriously damaged in shipping. I use it for house washing, car washing, driveway, stonewalls, gutters and fences and railings before restaining.

GPM is the real factor in cleaning, pressure is secondary even though that sounds counter intuitive.

Desirable builds will have honda motors and cat pumps. Mine is the honda 390 with cat running 4200psi 4gpm.

It will destroy flesh if you aren't careful.

You will want an after market unloader so you can leave the washer running and not burn out your pump seals. If you run the gas washer for 2 or 3 minutes the heat from the presure could kill the pump. An unloader will allow water to flow out of the pump when your off trigger so cool water keeps the pump from overheating. You will also want rv septic anti freeze if your winter storage is near freezing.

If you plan on washing your house get a downstream injector dont use the one connected to your pump. It will corrode from bleach and turns into a hassle. Easier to just tossout an aftermarket unit connected after the unloader.

last tip is to get an inline pressure gauge so yo can set the max psi of your pump unloader and then the max psi of your aftermarket unloader below that. Stock unloader typically have a presure valve that pops when overheating, aftermarket will have an exhuast port for water so you never overheat.

Check Northern Tool. They seem to have the best selection/price, and sometimes run a deal. I bought a unit and am happy with it.

Today's deal of the day:
https://www.northerntool.com/p...-psi-2-5-gpm-1571223

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

For gasoline: I'd get a Simpson with a Honda motor. The GX is Honda's commercial line of engines and better built than their residential grade GC. It comes with a AAA triplex pump.

I have the one linked by tatortodd and it's been a great washer so far(home use only for me). I ordered mine through a local Simpson dealer and not a bigbox store.

https://simpsoncleaning.com/products/ps3228/

Simpson here as well with a GX Honda engine and a AAA triplex pump. 3600 psi is enough for me to blast barnacles off of the boat.
I purchased one with the aluminum frame so that I’ll never have to worry about it rotting out.

quote:

Originally posted by Nontypical:
enough for me to blast barnacles off of the boat.

Don't worry, the barnacles will get their just revenge as you age.

What are you going to be doing with it, washing the equipment or cars, something where the washer will mostly remain stationary, or cleaning driveways, the house siding, where you'll need to move it around, or have longer distances from the hose bib and power source.

If you're going to be moving it around quite a bit and need to go a good distance then gas is the way to go, Gas will go as far as the hose can reach.

Electric cords restricts the distance you can go from the power source.

You can shorten the distance for the pressure washer by getting a longer hose, most come with 25 ft hoses, buy a 50 ft hose and it makes using it a lot easier.


I have both, a Gas 3400/2.4 from Costco, got the BE Power 3400, it's nice starts right up and does a great job. For doing the driveway and curbs, it cuts those job times down seriously.

Link BE 3400 Gas

For the gas pick up a Simpson Cleaning Turbo Washer Nozzle, it kicks the cleaning up big time vs a standard stationary nozzle

Link Simpson Turbo Nozzle


For smaller jobs, washing car, bike, cleaning pool deck, pool screens we needed something light, easy to hook up and that wouldn't chip paint.

Harbor Freight has a 1730 psi electric that fills that need and it's $89, and goes on sale for $69 some times. For those quick jobs where you don't want to mess with gas or don't need that level of pressure it's perfect.

Link HF Electric

NickelSig229 is spot on. Honda/Cat pump is highly recommended.

I have a Simpson cheapie that has a Honda clone engine and it’s been a great unit. I’m planning on upgrading soon to a Honda/Cat combo.

If car washing, I’d recommend a foam cannon as well as rubber safety tips that are better suited for cars. Aftermarket 50’ hose, quick connects, and a good water hose with quick connects. I use Dramm colorstorm hoses. I’d also get a surface cleaner and a Surfacemaxx extension wand.

Went to Deep Homo today and stood in the aisle staring at pressure washers.

What I wanted was the DeWalt(Simpson) 4000psi/4gpm unit, but I just couldn't bring myself to shell out nearly $1000 for something I'd use maybe 4 times a year.

What I got was the DeWalt(Simpson) 3600psi/2.5gpm unit. About $650 after my military discount and sales tax.

HORRY SHEET! It's a whole new world. Makes me think my old one had a bad pump. Makes my foam cannon SHOOT instead of dribble.

Funny note: I was talking to the Orange Apron and mentioning that I really wanted more than 2.5gpm but couldn't afford the 4gpm unit, wishing there was a 3gpm somewhere.

He said "That's just how much water you need to supply to the pump." Nice feller, very helpful chased down a flat cart and helped me load it, etc. so I didn't bother to correct him. I was a little concerned that 2.5 wouldn't run my foam cannon but it does fine.

Happy Camper.

quote:

Originally posted by Tuckerrnr1:
For ten years I've had a Dewalt with a Honda motor and a CAT pump that's 3000+ PSI. It will chip concrete if you want to. Do not use it barefoot. Don't ask.

Similar to this.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DE...XPW60603-S/304521456

I have the same one, bought it at a pawn shop for a couple hundred. It's a hoss. I use this surface cleaner on my driveway and sidewalks, makes it easy. I have a side drive and sidewalks al the way around my house. Oh and don't wear flip flops using it either. Don't ask

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ka...-760-090-0/329052103

This is a short video explaining what I was talking about with the unloader.


It also gives you the ability to crank down on the psi and use it safely on your car and with a foam cannon or other cleaning that requires lower presure.




You can get an AR unloader of amazon for 50ish dollars.

I bought this unit from HF several years ago and have been pleased with its performance.
https://www.harborfreight.com/...asher-epa-71100.html

I have two. A gas one that's used for practically everything except for washing the cars. I bought a small electric one just for washing cars. It's hooked up in the garage all the time. Come to think of it, my daughter borrowed the gas one to do her house last week and hasn't returned it...

So, I did the opposite of most of you. I spent $280 on a Troy Bilt (made by B&S) 2450 psi 2.1 gps with the cheap GV series 5 hp Honda motor, largely because I only use one an hour or two a half dozen times a year. I spend money on tools that see a lot of use or that I rely on. This was not that. Surprisingly, it finally died after more than 20 years. I could have fixed it for $100, but decided to get a similar but a slightly larger Troy Bilt a few months ago, this time with a CRX 210 motor, a GX clone, rated for 3000 psi at 2.3 gpm and it came with an inline pressure regulator. I paid $299 on sale at Sam’s and It’ll likely be the last one I ever buy.

When my old PW wore out I went to Lowes and bought the biggest AND the smallest ones they had.
1,700 and 4,200 PSI. I have been glad I have both. The little electric is really handy for little quick jobs, like crusty grill grates.
The 13 HP big boy comes out as needed… often coupled with a surface cleaner.

A couple weeks ago I bought the Simpson with the GX Honda motor.i had a similar one I left at the old house that was close to 20 years old and still started on the first or second pull. I replaced the pump on that one after about 15 years so this one should last the rest of my life. I used a surface cleaner on the driveway and sidewalk and used the foam cannon already and it did great. I have a small ryobi electric for small easy jobs but the flow rate isn’t enough to do much with. It s great for a quick blast of the lanai area and did good on the vinyl siding at the old house.