Let's talk pressure washers

[Mike Wilkins]

In the past I have owned 2 pressure washers, one from each of the big box orange or blue stores. Both with Honda engines. Both were a large dissapointment; one motor died after less than a year, and one with poor plumbing components.
I am not looking for a professional tow-behind-my-truck machine, but one in the $400-$600 range that will last and provide years of service for home use.
Any suggestions.

[Erik Loza]

In for answers as well. I am shopping for one soon, too.

Erik

[Andrew Gold]

I feel strongly that small gas motor tools are a rent not buy item. Unless you're using it weekly, the maintenance just outweighs the fun of ownership.

FWIW and all...

[Mel Miller]

I stepped up and bought a nice Landa unit for ~$1600. after seeing numerous cheaper units with problems. Haven't regretted it for a moment.

[Mike Henderson]

I bought a DeWalt unit and have been satisfied with it. I've owned it for a couple of years now. I don't use it a whole lot but it starts right up when I do use it. No engine problems, no pump problems. Has a Honda engine.

Mike

[Val Kosmider]

I feel strongly that small gas motor tools are a rent not buy item. Unless you're using it weekly, the maintenance just outweighs the fun of ownership.

FWIW and all...

Good advice that.

I don't know anything about pressure washers, but got a sales circular the other day from Northern Tool and they have several units "on sale" (plus a 20% off coupon up to $250) ranging across prices from a few hundred to a couple grand IIRC. Might be something in there worth looking at.

[Keith Outten]

In my quest to get rid of as many small engine machines as possible I sold my Ridgid 3000 psi pressure washer and bought a 2000 psi electric......it starts up every time :)

Now, what I need is a micro-minature pressure washer to clean small Corian plaques and pens that I laser engrave. Maybe someone here knows of a small high pressure low volume pump that I can purchase. Its a royal pain to have to get out my full size pressure washer just to clean a small plaque or a couple of pens.
.

[Mike Lassiter]

I feel strongly that small gas motor tools are a rent not buy item. Unless you're using it weekly, the maintenance just outweighs the fun of ownership.

FWIW and all...

I have a Craftsman gasoline engine pressure washer that I have had 11 or more years. I have had to rebuild the carburetor at least once, maybe more because of leaving gas in the tank that gummed the needle up (stuck in the metal housing & had to be pulled out with wire pliers). Many years ago I got a used Snap On electric pressure washer that served me well, but didn't have the pressure nor volume of water the Craftsman has. There is a fuel shutoff valve on the Craftsman, and I have ran it after finishing washing with the valve turned off and run the engine out of gas; yet there was still gas left in the tank. That would be my only argument for an electric one. Engine has worked fine as has the pump. I try to limit the gas that I put into the tank so I can run it out dry when I will finish with it. Cannot recall the cost exactly but think it was in the $400-$500 range when bought.
Leaving unused gas in the tank for months or until the next year WILL most likely create starting problems due to the ethanol in the gas turning to a sticky mess that will stick the needle and float were it will not get any gas to run. That is if you forget to run it dry.

[Chris Padilla]

I have a nice North Star unit I bought from Northern Tool. I went gas with the nicer Honda engine. I've had it about 3 years now and even with me 'forgetting' to run it dry (get all the gas out before winter), it has never failed to fire up by at least the 3rd pull. :) Once it has been fired in the spring, one pull does it.

Gas is nice because it is a bit more portable than electric. Gas is also cheaper than an equivalent electric. You may need a long length of extension cord pulling 240 V for the electric, too. It all depends on the HP you want and the power you want out of your PW. I spray my house and clean pool decking and driveway and I wanted power to amputate my foot with. :D I even used my PW to dig out a stubborn tree (boy, that was messy but worked great!)

I also went with a Cat brand triplex pump. These are the best pumps out there.

Get a nice hose with a nice reel and a variety of tips to choose from. Look into a turbo nozzle as well...good ones are in the $40-60 range and worth it. Talk about spraying power!! (insert Tim 'The Toolman' Allen grunts here)

If I remember, I'll update this post later with the exact model I got and what I paid.

[Brad Adams]

http://www.mitm.com/products/pressure-washers/cd-electric-series/CD-1002-3MUH/12/ (http://www.mitm.com/products/pressure-washers/cd-electric-series/CD-1002-3MUH/12/)
Mi-T-M electric pressure washer for me. Had it for three years now with heavy use. I've had it running for three hours straight jetting frozen water mains last winter. Keeps om going.

[Jerome Stanek]

I have a Simpson 3500 psi unit that I bought in 90 for work and it is still going strong.

[Eduard Nemirovsky]

I have a lot of small gas engines - most of it Stihl - never have problem even with starting after winter with full tank. Maybe I am lucky? My pressure washer from HD for last 4 years of very occasional use never give me problem.
Biggest plus of gas pressure washers - higher pressure it can create. Plus in my opinion - electricity and water not a good mix. Don't be afraid of buy good gas pressure washer.
Ed.

[Mike Lassiter]

I have a lot of small gas engines - most of it Stihl - never have problem even with starting after winter with full tank. Maybe I am lucky? My pressure washer from HD for last 4 years of very occasional use never give me problem.
Biggest plus of gas pressure washers - higher pressure it can create. Plus in my opinion - electricity and water not a good mix. Don't be afraid of buy good gas pressure washer.
Ed.
As do I. But Stihl has fuel treatment added to their oil mix for the gas I believe. I have a 029 Farm Boss chainsaw that is 17 years old, and still has the original sparkplug in it. Used nearly every year for cutting trees and wood. Pole saw and weed eater too - and ZERO trouble with them. The chainsaw sat unused for almost 2 years and had gas still in the tank - didn't start on the first or second pull - but it cranked and ran just like it was put up the week before.

[Mike Henderson]

Before I bought my DeWalt gas pressure washer, I had 120V electric pressure washers - mainly to avoid the problems of gas engines. But each of the electric washers gave up - the motors burned up. And they did not have as much pressure as the gas units.

I'm sure that if you got a 240V unit and a good pump, it would work as well as a gas unit.

This reminds me - I should go out and crank mine up and run it a bit.

Mike

[Chris Padilla]

I just cranked mine up last weekend, Mike. I'm having my pool refinished along with major landscaping around it. It works nicely to clean up the cartridge filters in my pool filter as well as the general pool equipment. :D

[Larry Browning]

I have a nice North Star unit I bought from Northern Tool. I went gas with the nicer Honda engine. I've had it about 3 years now and even with me 'forgetting' to run it dry (get all the gas out before winter), it has never failed to fire up by at least the 3rd pull. :) Once it has been fired in the spring, one pull does it.

Gas is nice because it is a bit more portable than electric. Gas is also cheaper than an equivalent electric. You may need a long length of extension cord pulling 240 V for the electric, too. It all depends on the HP you want and the power you want out of your PW. I spray my house and clean pool decking and driveway and I wanted power to amputate my foot with. :D I even used my PW to dig out a stubborn tree (boy, that was messy but worked great!)

I also went with a Cat brand triplex pump. These are the best pumps out there.

Get a nice hose with a nice reel and a variety of tips to choose from. Look into a turbo nozzle as well...good ones are in the $40-60 range and worth it. Talk about spraying power!! (insert Tim 'The Toolman' Allen grunts here)

If I remember, I'll update this post later with the exact model I got and what I paid.
+1 to all of this.
I have had about the same experience as Chris.

There are really only 2 components to a pressure washer, the engine and the pump. I think the pump is the more important of the 2. Do not skimp on the pump! Most PWs have a Honda engine that should provide you with good service, the pump OTOH truly makes or breaks the unit. You will need to spend at least $500 on a PW or you are wasting your money. Concentrate your research on the pump.

[Tom M King]

Mine is a Mi-T-M too. It originally came with a B&S 11hp industrial/commercial motor, but after 8 years I couldn't keep head gaskets on it (exact same thing happened to the same motor I had on a blower, and that got replaced with the same Honda). I replaced the motor with a 13hp (although they don't rate hp on Hondas anymore) Honda, and it still works like a charm. I'm sure it's several times your price range now, but mine was new in 1998, and has pressurized untold thousands of gallons of water. It ran for 8 hours a day for a week once removing Old whitewashing from 200 year old stone basement walls. Tall telescoping wands are worth having too, as well as a longer standard one.

[John Huds0n]

Honda GX commercial grade engine with a Cat pump

Worst thing you can do is have it running but not spraying any water - make sure whatever you buy has a thermal overload! Otherwise the pump can overheat and be damaged

I bought mine several years ago from this place. They use a nice aluminum frame so that the pump is in front of the motor versus side by side, so it is pretty narrow and easier to move around. You can basically pick your pump and engine that you want/can afford

http://store.spraymallstore.com/5565hphopowa.html

[ken masoumi]

I have heard a lot of high praises for Hotsy industrial pressure washers,they have two types hot water and cold water pressure washers,I'm not sure if I can post a link here but it is easy to find ,just google Hotsy pressure washers.I don't know about prices ,probably more than $600.

[Jason Roehl]

In the past I have owned 2 pressure washers, one from each of the big box orange or blue stores. Both with Honda engines. Both were a large dissapointment; one motor died after less than a year, and one with poor plumbing components.
I am not looking for a professional tow-behind-my-truck machine, but one in the $400-$600 range that will last and provide years of service for home use.
Any suggestions.

What you're looking for is a crap shoot. That price range will get you a direct drive unit, and as you can see by the testimonies above, either the pump or the engine will probably give up the ghost sooner than expected. Once in a while you'll get a good one, but on a direct drive, the engine vibrates the snot out of the pump. The downside is that a belt drive unit will start at well over $1000.

Whatever you get, there are two important things to keep in mind when running a pressure washer. One is to put a filter on your water inlet, even if you're on city water. Always. It doesn't take much foreign matter to trash a high-pressure water pump. Two, as someone else mentioned, is to have a unit with a thermal overload, and don't let the unit run for more than about a minute without spraying--doing so will either bust the thermal overload (it's designed to do that, it's also like a freeze plug) or the unloader valve (what keeps it from continuing to build pressure when you're not spraying).

We use a 4000 PSI Mi-T-M unit that has been great. It's had weeks on end of use at a time, and despite a few breakdowns (the thermal overload--froze more than once, and may have overheated once, too, plus the unloader valve died once), it's been chugging along since 2006, when it was bought new for ~$1500-2000 or so. But, it's a beast. I will probably get a small electric unit for little tasks around the house. Like Keith, I am loathe to add any more engines to the stable.

[Brian Elfert]

There are different grades of Honda engines. The GX series are the better ones. My pressure washer was like an $800 unit at Home Depot over a decade ago. I got it for about $300 because it was a return and put on clearance. It has a Honda GX series engine.

My pump does have a minor leak because it got real cold much earlier than expected once and it hadn't been winterized yet.

[julian abram]

I have a washer with a Honda gx motor and cat pump I purchased from HD many years ago for about $700 as I recall. It has been an excellent unit. It can sit unused for several months and when I get it out it will start on the first or second pull. If you are not going to use it often, there is something to consider in just renting one, much easier than storing it for long periods and maintaining it. Friends and relatives will want to borrow it also.

[Chris Padilla]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200594736_200594736

Here is the one I picked up almost 3 years ago: 2.5 GPM @ 3000 PSI. Plenty powerful...fantastic PW. I paid the same price as listed there: $800. And I added about $400 in accessories.

I'm curious about the water filter and the thermal overload. I see that the hose water inlet on my pump has some kind of a cylindrical metal filter looking thingy...a screen. I haven't a clue if I have a thermal overload on my pump. My pump is the Cat 3DNX25GSI. Is it a separate piece or needs to be built-in on the pump? I'm fairly certain I've run the engine/pump without spraying for longer than a minute. My manual only states that the engine should not be started until pressurized water is flowing through the pump and air purged from the spray gun. Hmmmm....

EDIT: "An integral unloader with built-in by-pass is part of the discharge manifold to provide system pressure regulation and pump protection." I dunno...doesn't sound like this is a thermal overload.

[John Huds0n]

Thermal Relief Valves are about $10 - you just want to make sure you have one. Here is a link to some more info about them and what they look like:
http://www.pressurewashersupplies.com/ThermalReliefValves.htm


Our repair department has replaced many pumps that got so hot it boiled the oil in the crankcase of the pump and blew out the filler cap or oil lever sight gage

You can see one in the very lower left corner of the manifold on this pump. (This pump is similar to mine):
309978

[Rick Moyer]

I have a nice North Star unit I bought from Northern Tool. I went gas with the nicer Honda engine. I've had it about 3 years now and even with me 'forgetting' to run it dry (get all the gas out before winter), it has never failed to fire up by at least the 3rd pull. :) Once it has been fired in the spring, one pull does it.

Gas is nice because it is a bit more portable than electric. Gas is also cheaper than an equivalent electric. You may need a long length of extension cord pulling 240 V for the electric, too. It all depends on the HP you want and the power you want out of your PW. I spray my house and clean pool decking and driveway and I wanted power to amputate my foot with. :D I even used my PW to dig out a stubborn tree (boy, that was messy but worked great!)

I also went with a Cat brand triplex pump. These are the best pumps out there.

Get a nice hose with a nice reel and a variety of tips to choose from. Look into a turbo nozzle as well...good ones are in the $40-60 range and worth it. Talk about spraying power!! (insert Tim 'The Toolman' Allen grunts here)

If I remember, I'll update this post later with the exact model I got and what I paid.


+1 to all of this.
I have had about the same experience as Chris.

There are really only 2 components to a pressure washer, the engine and the pump. I think the pump is the more important of the 2. Do not skimp on the pump! Most PWs have a Honda engine that should provide you with good service, the pump OTOH truly makes or breaks the unit. You will need to spend at least $500 on a PW or you are wasting your money. Concentrate your research on the pump.
Yep! I'll agree with both. Your price point will limit you here though. I've been using a unit in your price range for many years now but have been considering a new one lately. If I do get a replacement it will be a belt drive with a Cat pump and Honda engine, but that is the hold-up because they're around $1500.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I have heard a lot of high praises for Hotsy industrial pressure washers,they have two types hot water and cold water pressure washers,I'm not sure if I can post a link here but it is easy to find ,just google Hotsy pressure washers.I don't know about prices ,probably more than $600.

Yes, these are the best out there. Expecting to spend 5-600 on a pressure washer and expecting top tier commercial will cause frustration. My last Hotsy cost $4000 and it was a stationary unit. Mobile cost more yet. You get what you pay for though.

[Ole Anderson]

My neighbor and I bought a 5.5hp Honda powered gas pressure washer probably 15 years ago. Never fails to start. All I have ever done is change the oil and nozzle every couple of years and put Sta-Bil in it at the end of the season and store in in a heated space to prevent the pump from freezing. Added one of those Briggs and Stratton rotating surface cleaners and use it yearly to clean my deck and driveway.

[Chris Padilla]

You can see one in the very lower left corner of the manifold on this pump. (This pump is similar to mine):
309978


That pretty much looks like the Cat pump I have and I recall seeing that black plastic piece on it so I might be set...will double-check to make sure. Cool.

[Jim Becker]

For what I use one for...occasional cleaning of a vehicle or our Kubota, getting algae and dirt off the patio and seasonal cleaning of horse blankets...a 2500 electric has served me well. What's nice about the current one (I don't recall the brand) is that it uses standard NPT tips. Of course, I pretty much only use one of them...the wide spread tip...because I'm not into drilling holes in things with a stream of water. :)

[Lee Schierer]

Have you considered renting one when you need it? I need a pressure washer maybe once or twice a year. I go to the local rental place and rent a nice one for the day, get my work done and take it back. I can rent one once or twice a year for more than ten years before I would come up to the cost of owning one.

[Dennis McCullen]

I'm another one in the electric camp. I just bought my first one a Blue - something or other, 1900 psi, made in Italy that gets good reviews on Amazon. Regardless how careful I think I'm being, the powerful gas ones that I've rented end up with me having to repair or paint something that did not really need it (yet). I've used this one a few times and it cleaned really dirty concrete slabs, and a metal roof, albeit rather slowly. You can run this pretty close to the surface at this limited pressure and maybe only clean a 3" swath, so it's slow. But when you're done, there's no repair or painting. I simply felt I could borrow or rent a big machine if needed. If you go gas, here's a tip that you no doubt already heard - BUY ETHANOL FREE GAS, ADD STABIL RIGHT AWAY. My yard and garden tools, mowers, chain saws, trimmers, mini-tillers, have performed flawlessly even after sitting for months by going through the trouble to find the right fuel.

[Chris Padilla]

Looks like I have both the water filter (screen) and the thermal plug. :)

310086

[Tom M King]

To freezeproof the pressure washer, you don't even have to start the motor. I put a gallon of RV antifreeze in an empty water hose, hook the hose up to the washer, and a hydrant. Turn the water on at the hydrant, hold the trigger open, and when you see pink come out the end, release the trigger-you have to run the water on something light colored like concrete to be able to see when it changes color. Disconnect the hose from both ends and you're done.

I have too much equipment to store it all in a heated space, and this has worked fine all the years I've had the pressure washer.

[Jesse Busenitz]

We have a washer with a Honda engine that works great, but we also just got an electric Hotsy, with a 5hp Baldor. Needless to say we use a power washer quite often on the farm.

[Rich Riddle]

I have a Honda powered unit with solid brass fittings under it that power the pressure component. Works just like it should. Run it out of gas every year when putting it away. When starting it up, just put in new gas it it fires just like it should. Last year it didn't even get used. After nearly two years of sitting, it started on the first pull.

[Ole Anderson]

Pump gas (10% ethanol) on all of my power equipment for years and never a problem, saws, trimmers, blowers (all Stihl). And my JD Zero Turn and my Toro blower as well as the pressure washer, generator and snow blower. I know it can cause problems in certain equipment, just not mine so far. I do put Stabil in at the end of the year on the bigger engines including my MI boat. And last fall I tried the Stabil ethanol version. My FL outboard does get non-ethanol gas just because that is what is at the marina pumps.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Pump gas (10% ethanol) on all of my power equipment for years and never a problem, saws, trimmers, blowers (all Stihl). And my JD Zero Turn and my Toro blower as well as the pressure washer, generator and snow blower. I know it can cause problems in certain equipment, just not mine so far. I do put Stabil in at the end of the year on the bigger engines including my MI boat. And last fall I tried the Stabil ethanol version. My FL outboard does get non-ethanol gas just because that is what is at the marina pumps.

Same results as you here, Ole. Ethanol gets a bad rap or no good reason. It can theoretically absorb moisture from the air, but why is your tank open to the air??? Ever see the varnish that old gas leaves? Bottom line, just take care of gas engines like you should, and they will work fine with gas or ethanol blends.

[Dan Friedrichs]

To freezeproof the pressure washer,

Dumb thought I keep having: do you really need to freezeproof a pressure washer? I mean, if the water in it freezes, doesn't that just increase the pressure inside the pump? And this is a machine designed to withstand high pressure, anyways? As the pressure increases from some water freezing, the freezing temperature goes down, so is some equilibrium reached at under the ~2,000 psi the pump is rated for?

[Dan Friedrichs]

Not to hijack the thread, but this was my solution - built my own 5HP, 240V electric unit with a ceramic triplex pump. I feed it hot water from my domestic hot water heater. 100' hose. I'm happy :)

[Rick Moyer]

Dumb thought I keep having: do you really need to freezeproof a pressure washer? I mean, if the water in it freezes, doesn't that just increase the pressure inside the pump? And this is a machine designed to withstand high pressure, anyways? As the pressure increases from some water freezing, the freezing temperature goes down, so is some equilibrium reached at under the ~2,000 psi the pump is rated for?
Yes, I had a fitting crack. There are places where water freezing will cause a problem. I see your point about the pump but I don't know that answer.

[Jason Roehl]

Dumb thought I keep having: do you really need to freezeproof a pressure washer? I mean, if the water in it freezes, doesn't that just increase the pressure inside the pump? And this is a machine designed to withstand high pressure, anyways? As the pressure increases from some water freezing, the freezing temperature goes down, so is some equilibrium reached at under the ~2,000 psi the pump is rated for?

Well, I can't speak to the why, but I have had a pressure washer freeze. The pump is still going, years later, but the thermal overload had to be replaced. I had 500' of black supply line hooked up to the pump with very cold temps expected, but I physically couldn't put it all up that night. So I left the water trickling. Someone else came along after I left and thought they would be helpful by shutting off the water...

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Dumb thought I keep having: do you really need to freezeproof a pressure washer? I mean, if the water in it freezes, doesn't that just increase the pressure inside the pump? And this is a machine designed to withstand high pressure, anyways? As the pressure increases from some water freezing, the freezing temperature goes down, so is some equilibrium reached at under the ~2,000 psi the pump is rated for?

Yes, the pump is made for high pressures, like 1000-2000 psi maybe. Ice is much stronger than that, according to the website below, capable of exerting 43,511 psi before becoming a different form of ice. Not much is holding that, especially something with moving parts and clearances that must be maintained.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/01/happen-froze-water-container-strong-water-couldnt-expand-ice/