Kärcher K3 Power Control review
Published By - 9th November 2022
The Kärcher K3 series consists of the K3 Power Control and the K3 Premium Power Control models. The K3 Premium Power Control model has a hose reel but other than that, the two devices are absolutely identical.
We bought the K3 Premium Power Control, unboxed it, put it together and tested it extensively. We paid particular attention to these points:
- Is the device easy to assemble?
- How easily can it be moved and transported?
- How does the general quality feel?
- How easy is it to set up the device?
- How quickly and reliably can stubborn dirt be removed?
- Is it comfortable to work with?
In this review, we will discuss our experiences using the product.
In the box
Assembly is done in 1 minute. Just follow the instructions in the manual, attach the wheels, carrying handle and transport handle (no screws needed), screw on the water connection coupling, done.
Kärcher K3 Premium Power Control specifications
| Max. pressure (bar) | 120 |
| Max. flow rate (l/min) | 5.5 |
| Operating weight (kg) | 5.6 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 340x281x677 |
| Are performance (m2/h) | 25 |
| Power cable (m) | 5 |
| Pressure hose (m) | 7 |
Setting up and testing – what we found
The set-up is quick and easy. Connect the pressure hose to the gun and the unit, connect the water hose to the unit, attach the lance to the gun, plug in the power cable, set the unit switch to “on” and off you go. Only attaching the hose to the gun is a bit tedious because the hose is not elastic.
The general quality of the appliance is not very good. During our test, the carrying handle came loose and the unit fell to the floor. The telescopic handle also jammed, making it difficult to move it up and down.
At 5.6 kg, the K3 Power Control is very light and can easily be carried around. In addition, the device is equipped with wheels so it can also be pulled.
The gun has a display that shows the current pressure level, which is not a game changer but quite helpful.
With the Vario Power spray lance, three different pressure levels can be set: soft, medium and hard. Heavily soiled areas can only be cleaned well with the hard level. However, for more delicate objects such as wheel chains, glass or even car paint, the lower levels are well suited.
The hose reel (only on the Premium Power Control model) is very practical. It saves time and frustration because rolling up the 7-metre-long, low-quality pressure hose by hand is very tedious. With the hose reel, it is done quickly and easily.
There is enough space to store the gun, lances, cable, and hose.
The cleaning performance is ok, smaller areas can be cleaned well within a reasonable amount of time. For particularly stubborn dirt, you can use the Dirt Blaster lance, which cleans almost everything perfectly.
We cleaned a heavily soiled double garage with the K3 Power Control. You can’t get rid of oil stains with it, but we were able to remove the worst dirt well after about 30 minutes.
Pros and Cons of the Kärcher K3 Power Control
Pros
- Easy and quick set-up
- The cleaning performance is quite alright
- It is lightweight anyone can carry it around
- There is enough storage space for the gun, lances, power cable and hose
Cons
- Rolling up and unrolling the pressure hose is tedious
- The general build quality is not particularly good
- The pressure hose is of low quality; it is very inflexible
Pros and Cons of the Kärcher K3 Premium Power Control
The pros and cons of the K3 Premium Power Control are identical to the basic model. With one exception: Thanks to the hose reel, rolling up and unrolling the pressure hose is quick and easy.
Should you buy the Kärcher K3 Power Control?
Price-conscious people who want to clean smaller objects from time to time can buy the device. If you fall into this category, you may as well buy the K2 Power Control. Comfort, cleaning performance and quality are about the same, but the K2 is clearly cheaper.
If you have higher requirements in terms of comfort and cleaning performance, it is better to buy the K4 Power Control (especially for regular car cleaning). For a little more money, this device offers much more than the K3.
Kärcher K3 Power Control price
| Model | current price | Discount off list price | You save | last update | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kärcher K3 Power Control | £130.00 | 19% | £29.99 | Buy on Amazon | 2024-04-28 |
| K3 Premium Power Control (only available with car & home kit) | £344.01 | Buy on Amazon | 2024-04-28 |
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