tbird2340

Ok.. I want to get me a gas pressure washer. None of this electric bull crap. I want it to clean my cement (garage floor, patio slab, front porch, etc), wash our cars, and wash the house (things I can think of at the momment).

How many PSI / HP should I look to get to accomplish things like these? What else can you do with a pressure washer?

What models do you recommend?? Where do you recommend buying it?

Thanks!


EDIT TO ADD - I don't want to spend over $300. Hopefully around $200-$275.

Green Jello

I recently did a lot of research into these but I bought the electrical type of unit that is just made for home cleaning.

Anyway, what I did come across while researching them is that most people say you don't want to touch a car with more than 2000 PSI. Obviously concrete cleaning can take a lot more.

tbird2340

Why'd you end up getting electrical? You don't mean home cleaning INSIDE do you??

Breakfast with Girls

I was going to make a joke combining PSI, HP, and using the pressure washer to defeat Giygas, but it really wasn't working.

kvrdave

Damn, and it had all the elements of great comedy, too.



I have a 2400 and in fan spray it is fine on cars, but on beam, it would most definately put a large crease in one.

atlantamoi

I'm also interested in one to clean off some dirt that has crept up a foot or so on a couple of spots outside my house. Not worried about spraying the concrete at the bottom, but AM concerned about taking off paint just above the concrete... on hardi-plank. Do these pressure washers allow for safe cleaning of outdoor house paint (low enough pressure?)

kvrdave

At 2400 you won't take paint off (unless maybe it is aluminum siding, or something). I actually tried to do that with mine, and it didn't work. With hardi-plank, and a fan spray, you will be just fine.

tbird2340

All these replies but no suggestions?!?!

kvrdave

You can get a 4.5 hp one from sears for $300 with a briggs and straton engine.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=07175232000

That's 2200 psi, and if you try to go cheaper you will have to get an electric one. Those don't have great reviews compared to the gas powered ones, though.

kvrdave

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=07175201000

Wait, this is smaller and only $239 and still over 2000 psi. That actually looks like a decent deal.

Dead

We've got a 6.5 hp (2200 PSI) power washer that we got at Wal-Mart for about $280...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=1717303

It actually will take paint off of some wooden surfaces if you aren't being careful.

tbird2340

So should I be looking at a minimum 2000 PSI? Is the HP that important or mainly the PSI?

kvrdave

I would worry more about who makes the motor, personally. I don't think the HP is that big of a deal. They seem to start at around 4 hp, which would probably still do the job.

OldDude

Everything I've read says cleaning power is proportional to the product of pressure, and flow rate. In any hydraulic system, the product of those two is proportional to power. So get the pressure and good flow will take a certain pump capacity and the horsepower to turn it.

Sewso

You can get a total of $75.00 back on this one at Amazon right now,

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...s=hi&n=3023471

D.Pham5GLTE (>60GB)

HP doesn't matter. the pressure, and to a lesser extent, the flow is what you should be looking at.

tbird2340

Ok, just finished my deck and now I have a valid excuse why I need one (and the wife gave the green light, I think)...

Any more opinions?

Jeeden

Exactly, pay more attention to the volume of water it pushes rather than the pressure. You can get 200 psi out of a garden hose if you put the right nozzle on it, but you will have no volume. Usually 2.0 gpm will handle whatever you need (decks, siding, driveways, etc). Also, it is very handy if you get one that can "inject" a solution into the stream.

Home depot used to have some nice ones with B&S engines on them, injector systems, 5 pressure nozzles, the wand, and an offer for free accessories like a wand extender, rotating scrubber brush, etc.

tbird2340

What do you mean "Inject"? What would you inject? Like a cleaning fluid or something? Does that make it foam or what not??

Thanks. I'll check out the HD..

Jeeden

You can buy jugs of solutions at many places like home depot etc. They usually come in a gallon jug and are project specific. I know they have siding wash, deck wash, concrete wash, and a bunch of others. It's concentrated so what you do is take so many parts of the solution and mix it in a bucket with water. Then the pressure washer has a tube that you plug into the washer and dip into the bucket. When you use the low pressure nozzle it injects the solution into the water stream and sprays it on what your washing (just like a self car wash). You then leave it for 4-5 minutes or something, put the higher pressure nozzle on the machine and wash the area with high pressure clean water. It does great for making decks and siding brighter, some have anti mold stuff. you could even do car soap to wash your car.

tbird2340

Woohho... Sounds sweet! Hopefully I can find one of these around $300!

griz

I, too, am looking for a pressure washer. It's my anniversary gift from my wife. I found this one at Lowes for $274 and will use a 10% "movers" coupon to get it for $247. It looks to be similar to all the 2200 psi washers out there....B&S motor, etc.

I'm looking to clean the vinyl siding on the house, spray down the cement patio and driveway, and clean the vehicles.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...245&lpage=none

tbird2340

That looks like a good price. Did you actually "move" to get that coupon? I remember getting one a while back but sure would like another one.. Wouldy ou be willing to "sell" that coupon to me if I pay you the differnce of the $274 - 10%? We plan on making a couple big purchases (cabinets / flooring).

griz

I didn't actually move, just signed up.

It's pretty easy to get one.
Go here: http://www.lowesmoving.com/lowesmoving/
Use a new email address. I think you may want to slightly modify you address as well (such as leaving off Ave or St or slightly mispelling the street name). I'm not sure what they check for. I've gotten several over the past few years. If you need a new email address, I can send you a gmail invite.

I think you can also buy them on ebay from people, but make sure they haven't been used yet. Sometimes they get used at Lowes, and people sell a copy to take to Home Depot (Lowes coupons are one time use).

The Bus

I used a 1200 psi washer to clean my disgusting deck. 2000 psi may be overkill. (I cleaned concrete/siding/etc).