Pressure Washer Buyer’s Guide – How to Pick the Best Pressure Washers for Your Needs
In this guide we show you everything you need to know when it comes to buying a pressure washer and deciding what is important to you. As you are here, I’m sure you have already decided you want to purchase one, so here are the things to know.
Which pressure washer should I buy?
Knowing what you need from the pressure washer in advance is going to prevent a lot of problems and frustrating errands. To buy the right device for you, you need to answer the following questions:
- What do you need the pressure washer for?
- What is your budget?
- How often are you gonna use it?
- Do you have a tap connection?
- Do you have a power connection?
What do you need the pressure washer for?
Before you buy a pressure washer, you need to consider exactly what you will be using it for. That is, how soiled and how large is the area to be cleaned.
Basically, the more stubborn the dirt you have, the more water pressure you need. Also, the larger the area, the more comfortable the handling of the device should be. Here, the larger models are certainly more suitable than the small, entry-level models.
Also think about what other things may you use it for once you have it, such as wanting to get it for cleaning your car, but then wanting to clean your drive too? Ensure the specification is suitable and good enough for what you need.
People who are only interested in cleaning off their garden furniture, garden tools, motorbikes, bicycles or rubbish bins are probably only going to need light-duty pressure washers that don’t even reach 1500 PSI (pressure: pounds per square inch).
If you intend to use it to clean your car, fence or guttering, then the lower to middle end of the range is more than good enough; you won’t want anything too high end as this may then damage the paintwork of your car due to the high power of the pressure.
If you plan to wash down the patio or drive , then the higher pressure will be very useful in this instance to remove tough dirt, so the upper end of the range would be ideal for this.
People who do a lot of home improvement projects and might need to prepare a given house for a paint job might want to get heavy-duty pressure washers that reach 3300 PSI (pressure: pounds per square inch). These kinds of pressure washers will be unnecessary for most people, and they might be harder to manage and to use.
It should be noted that the heavy-duty models are going to be noisier, and there is a possibility that some of them might do damage to some of the surfaces that they clean if the person who is using them does not know how to wield them. People who have less experience with pressure washers should choose the light-duty ones.
What is your budget?
The price range of a pressure washer is quite wide, from £50 up to £700 for the top models of the big, well-known suppliers such as Kärcher, Nilfisk, Bosch.
If you have relatively little money to spend, the choice will logically be severely limited.
How often are you going to use the electric pressure washer?
If you only use the pressure washer a few times a year, it doesn’t make sense to buy a pricey high-end model.
Do you have a tap/power connection?
If you want to use the pressure washer in a place where you have neither electricity nor water (on a boat, at the campsite, in nature, etc.), you need a cordless pressure washer.
The most important features
Water Pressure
This is the most important factor. It will depend on your needs; the higher the pressure, the easier it is to remove dirt as there is more power.
Pressure is measured in bars or in psi (Pressure: Pounds per Square Inch). Typically, electric pressure washers will range from 75 up to 180 bars (1100 up to 2600 psi).
Hose Length
Some pressure washers can be heavy, so a longer hose can be useful so that you don’t have to carry it or wheel it around. This is also good if you are using it to clean your car as it makes it a lot easier to do as you can then just move around without having to pull it along with you each time. Most entry models come with at least a 4m pressure hose as standard.
Accessories
The key here is flexibility; all pressure washers come with a range of different accessories for your needs. Some models have different packages with different attachments, so decide your primary use and ensure it has what you need.
Motor
There are two options here; it will either be air-cooled or water-cooled, which relates to how the motor is kept cool when the pressure washer is in use. Water-cooled is on the higher-spec models from Karcher and is designed with the water pumping around the motor to cool it down when in use. The benefits of this include a high level of efficiency and durability.
Detergent intake
With the plug ‘n’ clean models, there is a recess on the back of the Pressure Washer where you turn your bottle upside down and connect it, while with other models, there is usually a suction tube that you drop into the bottle when you wish to use it; ideal for car cleaning and cleaning your patio.
What pressure do I need? – Bar Guide
| Light Use 75 – 100 bar (1’150 – 1’450 psi) |
|---|
| Garden furniture |
| Garten tools |
| Bicycles |
| Motorbikes |
| Rubbish Bins |
| Medium Use 110 – 130 bar (1’600 – 1’900 psi) |
|---|
| Car Cleaning (small to mid-size) |
| Lawnmowers |
| Fencing |
| Guttering |
| Hot Tubs |
| Steps |
| Decking |
| Heavy Use 130 bar + (1’900 psi+) |
|---|
| Brickwork |
| Home exteriors |
| Concrete Driveways |
| Large patios |
| Swimming pools |
| RV’s |
| Off-road vehicles |
Electric pressure washers or petrol pressure washers?
Many first-time buyers ask whether they should buy an electric or petrol-powered pressure washer.
Both devices have their advantages and disadvantages. Again, the choice depends on what you need the pressure washer for.
Experience has shown that electric-powered pressure washers are sufficient for an average household.
In the following table, we have listed the most important advantages and disadvantages:
| Electric | Petrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Dependence on power supply | – | + |
| Cleaning performance | – | + |
| Weight | + | – |
| Size | + | – |
| Longevity | – | + |
| Ease to use | + | – |
| Price | + | – |
| Noise | + | – |
| Maintenance cost | + | – |
Accessories for home pressure washer
The accessories for a home pressure washer can make a big difference when it comes to expanding the capabilities of a given jet washer. Even some of the light-duty electric pressure washers are that much more efficient and effective when they have accessories that will allow people to redirect the pressure. Evaluating the pressure washers as a whole will allow people to make more informed decisions.
At a minimum, people are going to need, besides the device itself, a trigger gun, a lance and a pressure hose, to run their pressure washers successfully. However, some people are going to want to add pressure washer accessories in order to expand the capabilities of the devices so they can clean more outdoor surfaces and garden tools. For instance, there are certain specialized detergents (surface and stone cleaners, car shampoos) that will allow people to perform a wider range of cleaning tasks.
People who add brushes to their pressure washers are going to be able to scrub away stains, residues, and other problems in a way that is just not going to happen without the brushes. Similarly, people are going to be able to clean out their gutters if they use angled wands. Using extension wands will make it that much easier for people to be able to clean the exteriors of their homes as well. Adding more accessories to pressure washers can obviate the need for lots of other different types of equipment.
If you are going to be cleaning your patio or garden slabs, then the patio cleaner attachment can be extremely useful as it will prevent you from just pushing the dirt around and make it a lot easier too.
If you want to wash your car, there are helpful car kits and special shampoos that can make cleaning faster and more effective.
Mainly the big manufacturers (Kärcher, Bosch, etc.) offer a variety of tools that make high-pressure cleaning easier.
You can either buy the accessories separately, or you can buy a device that is already supplied with these tools.
For example, a Kärcher K4 Power Control Car & Home. This unit comes with a surface cleaner, a stone and façade cleaner, a foam jet and a 3in1 detergent.
FAQs
What is Water Flow?
Water flow is the rate water is pushed out of the lance; the higher the water flow, the greater the amount of water forced out and used. Water flow is measured in litres per hour and can range from 300 l/h on entry models up to 600 on the higher-end models. Waterflow is important for removing and washing away dirt on patios and driveways, for example.
What is Bar Pressure?
This is the force at which the water is pushed out; the higher the force, the easier it is to remove dirt. Lighter jobs, such as car cleaning and washing down your patio furniture don’t require as much pressure as you would for, perhaps, cleaning your driveway. The extra bar pressure would make it a lot easier, and quicker and give better results with higher pressure.
Which is more important, Water Flow or Pressure?
They are both important and go hand in hand with each offer; if you are looking to clean your patio, you will want high pressure to remove dirt and stains that have been there for years. However, the high water flow will make the job quicker as it quickly washes away the dirt it removes. All models have a good water flow and pressure ratio; it is more important to think about the tasks you shall be using your washer for.
How much water does a pressure washer use?
Have you ever tried to clean a heavily soiled patio or driveway with a garden hose? Then you must have noticed that the water consumption was enormous, but the result was usually not what you expected.
A conventional garden hose usually has a pressure of 4 bar and uses about 3,500 litres of water per hour. A mid-range high-pressure cleaner, on the other hand, which has 145 bar, only uses about 500 litres per hour.
This means that with a pressure washer for home use, you not only save time, but also quite a lot of money.
What is a lance on a pressure washer?
A lance is a part that is connected to the trigger gun you hold and press to release the water. The lance is the nozzle where the water comes out. You can get different lances or ones that are adjustable to change the way the water is forced out. This could be as a pencil jet or perhaps a fan depending on the job. Setting it as a pencil jet is ideal for removing stubborn stains on a patio, a fan is more suited for your car as the pressure won’t damage the paintwork.
Where is the best place to store my pressure washer?
Store your power washer in a dry place that is well ventilated. In the winter months you may want to bring it inside or store it somewhere that is heated to ensure the pump does not freeze and become damaged with any water left inside.
Should I buy a pressure washer?
To decide if you need one, think about the tasks it can be used for and if it is applicable to you; cleaning your car, van, bike, 4×4, caravan, boat, it can be used on all these. How about washing your patio, driveway, brickwork, garage doors, wheelie bin, and cleaning blocked gutters? There are many more uses for a pressure washer than just car cleaning, so think about how else you may use it and how often.
What detergent should I use?
Depending on how you are using your pressure washer there is a detergent you can use to help clean. There are many on the market for car cleaning and most pressure washer brands have their own detergent you can use, ideal for car cleaning, or ones for patio cleaning too.
How should I store my pressure washer in the winter?
What PSI is safe for washing cars? – Is 4000 PSI too much for a car?
Yes, 4’000 psi (275 bar pressure) is way too much to wash a car, it would damage the paint or could even cause dents. 110 – 130 bar (1’600 – 1’900 psi) is ideal, higher than this is not safe for your car.
However, you can buy a pressure washer with a higher bar and twist the nozzle to reduce this, making it safe to use on your car. If you just intend to use it for car cleaning, then there is no need to get anything near 150 bar pressure (2’180 psi) or more.
The Brands
Three of the best-selling and most popular brands are Kärcher, Nilfisk and Bosch. The three manufacturers offer a wide range of pressure washers.
Other established brands
What is the difference between a power washer and a pressure washer?
Both types spray water with high pressure to clean different surfaces. The primary functions are almost identical, but the processes are different. The main difference is that power washing uses heat in addition to water pressure.
Pressure Washer Uses
This video shows the difference a pressure washer can make to your patio and other uses.
Useful articles
About the Author
Mark Sharona is a craftsman with decades of experience. He has used many pressure washers and knows exactly what’s important.
