Power Washer recommndations??

[sikiguya]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a new power washer? I need one to clean the siding on the house, the concrete patio, as well as to wash & clean some wooden areas that need to be painted outside. I looked into renting but they wanted $75/day and I can own one for $300 or so.

I know that I want one with a tank to add cleaning solution to but not sure about anything else (PSI's, gas vs. electric, etc). Not trying to peel paint off the house but to make things pretty clean.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

[toggleswitch2]

bump

*HI HEATHER* WAVES!!!!

 

[petek]

I know nothing. Other than one day a couple of years back when I was picking up my tiller at the lawnmower repair place there was a steady stream of people coming in with broken Simoniz electric power washers.

 

[westie2]

Power Washer

I have an electric power washer that we use. I would get a cheaper one with about 1600 psi with the tank for detergent. Make sure you get one with adjustable spray on the wand. I paid less than 100.00 for ours. Also try to get a good auto or trailer brush to help scrub with. Be sure to start at the bottom on the walls and work your way up to the top. If you start at the top can cause streaking on the siding. Look at Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal Mart for one.

The gas ones are very noisy and sometimes hard to get started.

 

[sikiguya]

Hey Toggle! Hope you are doing well. I haven't been around much but always pop in to see what's going on.

Pete-Thanks for the info. I will stay away from that brand for sure. LOL

I just always come to this site when I have technical questions on appliances or small electronics. You guys have saved me TWICE from having to get someone to come service my garbage diposal. Once a few years ago when I accidently got fish tank gravel in it and now at our new house, hubby tells me that the disposal isn't working. I stick my hand in there and fish out 2 1/2 cherry pits. Thinking it was my daughter who put them in there, I just kept trying to find more. Still didn't find any and it still hummed but wouldn't turn. Finally, it quit working all together. Hubby starts looking a HD.com for a new one. I get up the next day, thinking I would take it apart, what harm could I do, it wasn't working! I pressed the reset button and it began to hum again but no movement of the blades. Then, I used the hex wrench and the blades were stuck tight. I finally got them to move and it works perfectly now. DH (not dear hubby but dumb hubby this time) tells me that he was the one who put the pits down the disposal. I then proceed to give him a bill for $200. He hasn't talked to me for 2 days! LOL

 

[wiskybill]

Power washer

Heather,

I just purchased a new washer from Lowes. It's a Karcher and electric. 1800 psi and comes with two wands, one adjustable and one called a "Dirtblaster", and a removeable detergent tank. Other accessories are available but didn't look to see if Lowes had them.Almost forgot, $164.00.

I looked at HomeD first and liked the one they had too. Don't remember the brand but it was comparable and $179.00. Probably would have bought that one , but wanted to look at Lowes across town and didn't want to drive back.

The new one replaced a similar Campbell-Hausfeld that I was having a lot of frustrating problems with and finally bought a new unit. I'm using it now to clean siding and trim on the house before painting, and it's doing a good job removing peeling paint from about 60 feet of sidewalk that my dad had painted.

I bought the electric model so it would be easy store in the winter. I can pick it up and carry it to the basement so it doesn't freeze. I really didn't want one more gas engine to fuss with and my needs for the washer did'nt require a model with greater psi.

Hope this helps,
Bill

 

[perc-o-prince]

We were told by several people, including the guy that power washed the house a couple of months ago, that more than 2000psi was totally unnecessary for home use unless you're trying to blow holes in siding or wear away wood decking.

Personally, for things that don't get a lot of use, I prefer electric because of the generally easier startup and maintenance. Like a chain saw for example (see new thread).

Chuck

 

[tuthill]

I dunno know about the brands, but just make sure you get one with a HONDA engine.

 

[bigbubbacain]

Keep in mind that most of these will not siphon the detergent unless you're using a low pressure nozzle on the wand. It can be inconvenient to soap up, switch nozzles, then spray down the area you're working on. There are a few brands of high pressure soap nozzles that will draw the detergent up right at the wand, not through the pump and hose. DeWalt, Porter-Cable, and X-Jet are 3 good brands that make this attachment. This also gives you the option of using bleach, which is something that should never ever go through the pump. Also, IMHO, I think it's a lot easier to get a machine that might have more PSI than you need, than to buy one that turns out to be less powerful than you expected. I have a 3000 PSI unit by Troy-Bilt. I probably don't need it for cleaning the gutters or washing the truck, but it comes in handy for spraying pesticide on my trees.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Just a reminder

Never use a powerwasher on your child:

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A mother who was videotaped while spraying her 2 1/2-year-old daughter with a high-pressure water hose at an Orlando car wash told authorities she did it because the child was throwing a tantrum.

She told authorities she did not have the hose on full blast, and she said that it isn't as bad as it looks.

The mother said she had used this type of punishment before with a spray bottle.

The mother saw herself on TV late Thursday afternoon and called deputies. She called deputies and said they could come to her apartment to speak with her and see her daughter.

Marlene Diaz, a manager at Magical Car Wash, said she has never seen this type of abuse before.

"You don't do that to a kid," Diaz said. "No child deserves that."

The video showed the child trying to hide her face while the woman pinned her to a wall and sprayed her at close range.

"Disgusted," Diaz said. "I'm mad, infuriated as to how someone could do that to a little child."

Officials said the water shoots out of the hoses with a force of about 1,200 pounds per square inch, powerful enough to create the type of friction and sting from a rug burn.

"Your skin gets red, and at times it could peel," Diaz said.

"That's a pressure washer; that's meant to be used on a car, not on a child," mother Carol Felicicano said.

Diaz didn't see what happened until she checked the surveillance tapes, but she said she heard the girl crying after the mother stopped spraying her.

Diaz said she also heard the mother say, "You're going to learn to respect me. You don't treat me bad. You don't mistreat me; I'm your mother."

Surveillance cameras showed the mother stripped the girl, leaving her standing in the car wash bay naked, while she grabbed a towel and put her back in the car.

The Department of Children and Families said the child was taken to a medical facility for an evaluation.

The child was examined by the Child's Protection Team nurse practitioner and found to have no visible injuries.

DCF did not remove the child from the residence.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office Child Abuse detectives are still investigating the criminal portion of this case to determine the proper course of action.

Sgt. John Allen said Thursday night that the investigation would continue Friday.

Investigators said the mother could face child abuse charges.

 

[sikiguya]

Husky

I went to Home Depot and got the highest power electric one I could get. Husky at $179. Hope it works out OK. I am getting ready to try it out over the weekend.

Thanks all for our help! I appreciate it.

 

[goatfarmer]

I also have a Karcher, bought it off EPay. It has a Tecumseh engine, does everything I need it to do around the house, 'Bout $300 or so if I recall correctly.