I'm getting to the point I could really use a power washer on a semi-regular basis. Not having any friends with one, and with items like frames & such that aren't easy to haul to the carwash, I'm starting to shop around.
What's a cheap unit that's not junk? I figure Harbor Freight might not be a smart choice, but what is a decent low-end sprayer?
Gas + 2500 PSI for a start
I have an electric one. My next one will be gas powered.
I had an electric, went to gas and now looking to go back to electric. They're soooooo much easier to use and there's no maintenance or funky starting.
Let an electric one sit over the winter and it starts right up, let a gas one sit over the winter and sometimes you simply can't get them restarted without a complete carb rebuild even if you drain all the gas out of it.
Electric's are easy, and some manufacturers have exchange policies for repair, and warranty repair.
I have had 3 gas washers. A Chinese one called Champion (it worked very well, just didn't want to start), a small Karcher, and now a Briggs and Stratton 2500 psi/2.3 GPM. I use it weekly to clean my bikes, and cars, and it works flawlessly. It fired on the 3rd pull after winter storage. The Briggs units have good reviews, and mine's been fine.
Buy the best (biggest) unit you can afford. The more expensive (Comet?) pumps will last a lot longer. DON'T let it idle. If you're not pulling the trigger, shut the motor off. The longer you let them idle, the shorter the pump will last.
Grtechguy wrote:Gas + 2500 PSI for a start
+1 Had several different electrics and a smaller gas job. My latest is a Sears job with a Honda engine (don't think they offer that model any more).
It gets used at least once every 2 weeks for every kind of job you can think of.
What are you going to use it for? I have a small electric Home Depot special ($99). I have had it for about 3 years, washing off the swingset, fine. Spraying car parts, fine. Washing the car, no problem. I have used it to wash the back patio, not too bad, anything bigger and It would take too long. That being said, I haven't wished I bought a better one yet.
I recently picked up a Karcher from CPO outlet, great deal, 3950 psi works awesome.
http://cpooutlets.com/blog/which-pressure-washer-do-you-need/
learning to love this site btw
It's all about the nozzle.
NYG95GA wrote:It's all about the nozzle.
Really, it is.
I've done pressure washing commercially in the past. Used about 10 different machines, and at least at the commercial level, you can't tell between any machine so long as you were using the right tip.
My father has a Husky electric that does pretty okay for what it is. I think it was $130 at HD. He wants to upgrade to a heavy duty consumer or a light duty commercial unit. There IS a difference between an electric and a gas machine. The electric will do almost anything a gas one will, but it takes longer. Is your time worth the $100-$200 savings over a pretty good gas unit?
Good info!
Sounds like I should either go with the cheapest electric I can find, and consider it a disposable item whenever it craps out. Or spend ~$300+ on a gas unit.
I have a feeling it's one of those tools I'll use more one I own it, but OTOH I don't see myself ever being motivated enough to do the siding, etc. 
I use a $99 Karcher electric, and simply dispose of it and replace it every few years.
Woody wrote:I have an electric one. My next one will be gas powered.
I have a $199 electric Coleman model that was clearanced out for $50 when Builder's Square was closing down. It is equal to a $99 unit.
I spent three hours straight blasting my patio bricks last week.
It is a good "homeowners" model; don't expect too much.
NYG95GA wrote:It's all about the nozzle.
TWSS 
I've never been able to tell the difference in work or time involved between the gas or electric except when I first began and used the $99 Karcher. The Karcher does do the work, but as someone said it takes longer, but a good electric and a gas model the amount of work done really comes down to the fiddling time the gas engine takes. I've got a Honda engined gas model now and after that 2nd year it's a lot more work than any electric.
Unless you are using one constantly for a job the elec is much better. If you are using one constantly the engine gets enough usage not to varnish up the carb, but starting can still become a problem and then there's the idle issue on a gas powered one.
I have a Honda powdered 2,500 psi unit I bought at HD for just under $400. I love it. In fact I got it out this past weekend and cleaned an old boat I'm going to give away. It works much better than the electric one I used to borrow from my neighbor. They all require some maintence though. I usually squirt some antifreeze/lube into mine after use even when it isn't going to freeze to hopefully keep the pump from rusting. I'm not even sure there are any metal parts in the pump to rust, but years ago when I did test plot work with pesticides it got to the point that I had to buy a new pump every year.
Oh and worse that letting them idle is starting it with no water in the pump.
