I need a pressure washer to clean parts and sometimes small mold spots on my brick house Any advice, it will not be used much Ricky.
Ive been shopping for a pressure washer too. Maybe a Simpson(? ) from tractor supply , 3000 ish - 4000 psi Someone told me to put lube in the pump after each use or the pump with get fugged up? rusted, frozed what ever.... Someone else said, naw you dont gotz to put lube in it each use, just put a dash of glycol(antifreese) in the pump in winter(where it freezes) Whats the real skinny on maintenance and care ? ...and what is a good brand P washer
I got a 4-stroke gas-powered Ryobi from the big orange home center. I think its like 2900 psi, 3 gallons/minute. Works good for washing the house, cars, tractors, etc. Good price and trouble-free so far. I do put a conditioner in it before storing away for winter. The conditioner is antifreeze/pump lubricant that is said to save the seals in the pump. I also use no-alcohol "rec fuel" available at several stations around here. It's a buck more a gallon but I found that this machine doesn't like gasohol like a lot of small engines. I use it in everything I have except my EFI modern drivers. It makes a world of difference.
I run a Karcher (can't remember if it is a K3 or a K4). I have 240V mains power readily available, so no need for a gas-powered machine. The Karcher runs on neglect - I use it to clean parts, driveway, fences or retaining walls, pack it away wet, then use it again 6 months later. It has survived more than 15 years of that abuse. The drain-snake attachment is awesome, as is the pressure blaster. The foamy brush attachments do nothing for me. Cheers, Harv
You don't need huge pressure unless you want to blow paint off. You need a max of around 2500 lbs if that. 4000 lbs will eat asphalt and blow paint off. 4000 lbs is through a needle nozzle that might have value cleaning a real crusty piece of equipment. When I was teaching I locked the needle nozzle up because the kids found out that they could cut marks in the asphalt with it. I locked the one on the pressure washer on the dairy I I worked on because one of the migrant workers got carried away with it and messed up the paint on a tractor. A good reliable motor and a good pump are what you need.
depending on the type of brick, chemical cleaning may be better. With a pressure washer, mould will soon return depending on conditions and the brick may disintegrate quite rapidly. Now back to our regular home and garden programme………
For occasional use, I have a 120V machine that works just great. Mine is a jobmate or some other low brand but for a few times per year works great. I don't like the high-pressure machines, too much chance for damage. Especially with things like brick, you can really carve into it if not paying attention. If access to outlets isn't an issue, it sounds like a unit like that will suit you just fine.
I bought a John Deere unit in 2016 because I wanted to be able to easily get parts for it and it has a Honda engine. It gets used 6 or so times a year now, but we used it a lot more when we were restoring antique farm machinery. At 3500 psi, it’s probably more than most guys need, but I got spoiled by the big Hotsy machine at work. I run Stabil 360 in each tank and keep it in the basement in cold weather and it’s been a great machine.
get one with a honda engine mine is 8or9 years old gets used by every one and consistently starts on second pull even on spring start up only thing make sure it will not freeze during winter storage
I bought a cheap electric one. I don't use it often. I was given a decent gas one. I don't use it often. I decided the gas one wasn't worth the bother due to it being used once or twice (if at all) in a year as it was a pain to drain the tank/run it dry after each use. I gave the gas one away, kept the electric. The portability of the gas one is nice IF it's a feature you can use/need/want. Since I only use mine around the home, the electric best suits my needs.
And NEVER pressure wash an AC condenser or radiator, you will bend all the fins over flat instantly. Ask me how I know.
I started with an electric Karcher. Worked well, and no fuel to mess with. Nor real high flow or pressure, but ok until I messed it up. Now I have what I think is a B&S that I picked up as a refurb one year when B&S had a space at the Jefferson Swap meet and a trailer load of boxed refurb equipment. pressure washers were going for $200. It’s probably fifteen years old now, and started on the first pull for five years. Now it takes three pulls. I think it’s around 2800 psi and 2.5 or 2.8 gpm. Unless you’re doing commercial work, it’s fine, since they probably run less than five or six hours most years.
Mine is a 3500 psi John Deere with Subaru engine, starts easy and works great. I disconnect the hose and drain the pump every time. The unit stays in the climate controlled garage when not in use. I use it more then I thought I would for cleaning up around the house and keeping the car and trucks chassis clean.
Listen to this guy above. I have both, gas and electric and rarely, if ever, use the gas one-the electric does everything from clean the driveway to wash off the motor without taking the paint. So easy, just plug in, hook up hose, go. Gas one is gas/oil mix, run dry, sometimes hard start, carb issues if not maintained, and flat ass heavy. Lift electric with one arm and go.
I’ve had everything from suitcase plug in models to 5 hp gas. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Best ones will have interchangeable nozzle tips, cheapest will have a twist nozzle. Both can do the same jobs, but at different speeds. The real cleaner is whatever detergent you use to spray on. A good cleaner sprayed on and allowed to soak will clean 100 times better than just water pressure alone. I use a one gallon pump up sprayer with Simple Green or Purple Power mixed with water, let whatever I’m cleaning soak but not dry off, then rinse with the pressure. Old grease and oil usually just melts away doing this, but sometimes it takes more than one try to get stuff clean.
I don't own one, but have used several of different types. The one i've noticed recently is the Ryobi battery powered model. It may deserve a closer look. They use this around the pool where I swim. The gas powered ones I have used have ultimately been somewhat of a drag to set-up and use for the results I've been after.
My brother is a bit of a packrat and picked up several old Karcher electric units and parts interchangeability is poor.My other brother gave me his gas pressure washer and it works great.
I have both a Honda gas powered 3100psi unit and an electric Ryobi unit. Both have their advantages. But honestly I use the electric the most. Has enough psi to clean pretty much everything around the house without destroying thing as you can do with a high psi gas unit. I’ve also used it for cleaning parts and other automotive projects. I use it with a soap cannon to wash motorhome. They are a lot lighter to move around and store and fairly inexpensive compared to the gas units. Your mileage may vary!
I own and use a cheapo HF….since I don’t use it much it’s last at least 10 years maybe longer. . I recently bought a Craftsman battery operated one that puts out 600 psi and it great for small jobs…
Armed with the experiences in this thread, you can see that there are probably a dozen used models near you. Find one that had a fastidious owner, buy it, use it and if you don't need it often, sell it on.
Since I use a pressure washer so rarely, I didn't want to mess with a gas powered one, so I bought a Karcher at Costco that's electric, and I love it! All I do is drain the unit during winter months to ensure it wont have water in it and crack the pump. Each spring I use it to wash underneath my hotrods to clean them up before the summer driving and also use it to wash the house when it needs it. It's been flawless, and works better than any pressure washer I ever rented before.
I bought this one about 3 years ago. I use it 4 or 5 times a year. Seems when you have it you find more uses for it. .... Seems like it was around $299 then & $350 now. When I unboxed it and assembled it, I let it run for about 30 min then changed the oil in it. No idea if that was needed but felt better doing it. During the winter I just roll it into the house in my office to protect it from freezing. Hard to drain all the water out of the pump. It always starts real easy. Two or 3 pulls if it has been sitting for months, usually first pull if it has been running in the last week or so. Cheap China junk but I'm happy with it. https://www.amazon.com/All-Power-America-Adjustable-APW5128/dp/B08YYBWZCX
My daughters gave me an AR Blue Clean 383 for my birthday a few years back. It works great and I like it's simplicity. It stows away with a small footprint too, which I also like.
I’ve a few, two electric ones(one home built using the pump from a dead gas one) a craftsman 2800? Gas and a 220volt one with a deisel burner tank to heat the coils for hot water. The hot water one does the best work of all of them. Here’s the kicker, I had no idea the pressure the hot water one put out. So adapted a liquid filled gauge on the end of the wand we here the tip screws on. If memory serves, about 650psi. I guess I’m saying low pressure/heat clean better than high pressure no heat. Mine has an adjustable thermostat I can control from steam to warm. Or shut the heater off and just use it.
I second getting a gas one with a Honda motor. I'm in the same boat. Hand me down from my dad. Has to be at least 15 years old. I had to replace the manifold last year. But the little Honda motor does great. Used it to clean out the engine compartment of my 40 a couple weeks ago when I pulled the tired flathead out.
Cheap electric from HF has workes like a champ for me for 5 years now. Only had to replace the 2 O rings on the water line. Good value for the investment.
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