Electric pressure washers

neverfear

Member
Location
South Central MN
Anyone have any recommendations for a good one? I would like to use warm (not hot) water and get near or at 3000 psi. My use doesn't justify maintaining another gas engine.This would likely get used 3-4 times a year.
It seems like they used to be so simple, electric motor,direct drive pump,valve and wand on a small cart. I know they exist but not finding what I want searching with google.
 
I've had a Karcher electric for several years. Works well, but only goes about 1,800PSI. Not sure you can get a smaller electric that goes that high, but I haven't been shopping for them either.

Also bought a gas awhile back as we didn't have our Karcher where we were. Bought the little gas unit from WalMart and are very happy with it. Is a little heavier and bulkier, but also don't have to mess with the cords. I think it's about 3,200 or 3,500PSI. Much better-made wand, nozzles and hose.

Nice benefit of the Karcher is that it can do something that most others can't - draft from a pail of water. It has low usage, but a 5-gal bucket will last more than 2 minutes. Have to have the suction attachment hose though.
 
I had my last gas stolen. Other than the $350ish loss, its not a loss functionally. So I went to HD and bought a 99 buck electric portable 1600 psi. Thought it was a little puke till I used it. Washed the house and the porch, looked like new. Put it on the new Ferris and the Turbo Nozzle that came with it made it act like a 3000 psi unit. The Turbo Nozzle sells at Northern Tool for more than I paid for the unit.

It has a pressure switch like a dc powered sprayer. When the pressure is at or above cutout it shuts off. Pull the trigger and it's online. I really like not have a loping gas engine sitting there going nuts waiting for you to put a load on it.....and having to unload it (squeeze the trigger) to get it to start. Getting older. Time to think smarter....electric start gas or no start...push the electric ON button.

No heat however, don't need it down here.
 
I have an alladin, had it for 20 years and still works great. It is only about 2000 psi, but it runs off of 110 instead of needed 220 which for me works great. To get more pressure you have to go to 220 which for me limits portability. If leaving it in obe spot I would get a bigger 220 model.
 
The reason the pressure is lower on the electric pressure washers is you are limited to about 1 1/2 HP and be able to operate on 120v with a standard 15-20 amp circuit.

Possibly there were some "exaggerated" claims for pressure and performance, a popular tactic used with pressure washers, vacuums, and compressors a few years back. Seems people got wise to it and the practice has diminished lately.

You could try one from a big box store, find the highest pressure available. If it works for you, good. If not, they will take it back.
 
It's not the PSI that does the work, but the GPM. The more you pay for the washer (bigger motor & pump) the higher the GPM. It's the voltage -vs- amperage discussion.

Electric 110v models are limited due to available amperage in a standard outlet.

You'll get high pressure water, just take you longer to do the task at hand.

Pete
 
(quoted from post at 21:01:14 04/23/17) It's not the PSI that does the work, but the GPM.
That's not exactly true. You can spray ANY amount of 3,000PSI water on rusted metal and the rust will get a bath. But if you up the pressure to 5,000PSI, then you'll be removing most of that rust. Crank the pressure up to 50,000PSI or more and your water stream will cut various materials.
 
Iterating what I said earlier, the Power Nozzle is a pressure equalizer....to the limits of it's capability......meaning it brings low pressure washers up in line with their big brothers. I got 4 tips with my puke unit and I tried all of them familiar to me and then the thing I had never seen nor used before. It works. Like one of the guys said, buy it from a big box store and if you don't like it take it back.
 
I have had both electric is good for small jobs even house where you don't want high pressure. gas one will take paint off if not careful.
 
I had an electric pressure washer that was made in the 60's. One day I was washing my 1980 Audi 4000. I soon had white paint all over the ground!
 
I've had both, gas is way better. You don't have to worry about carrying a live
electric wire around wherever you go. Water & electricity don't match.
 
I tried an 1800 psi electric last year and it was just a toy. Total waste of money. Any electric pressure washers worth using (3000 psi and up) are industrial grade. Northern Tool is a good place to start. An electric pressure washer with hot water is going to cost you. Most host hot water pressure washers are gas.
 
I have a Hotsy and really like it. I got the largest one made to still run on 120 volts and there is not much I can't do ! One any bigger could really do a lot of damage to items.
 
I have used rental electrics. I had issues with getting shocked so I stay a way from them. I seem to be real sensitive to electricity. My gas is still running after many years although I put a CAT pump on it when the original pump went out. I don't think it liked the hot water I fed it. Paul
 
Thank you for all the feedback! I think Northern Tool has what I need, and maybe a couple other things after looking thru their catalog.
Again, I'm not degreasing a D8 Cat here! I just want something reliable that isn't disappointing at blasting off dirt and grime from things like daily driver cars and truck,trailers,lawn equipment etc. Thanks again!
 
You can't use hot water in cold water pressure washers, and expect them to live long. Pressurizing the water generates a lot of heat and the cold water keeps them from overheating.
 

Several years ago we where looking for a pressure washer to use our poultry barns and clean farm equipment with.
We had tried a few of the cheap box store electric units but they didn't have enough pressure to remove heavy mud build up on our winter feeding tractor and wouldn't hold up to long periods of continuous use.
The gas powered unit we had before worked fine but listening to it for hours at a time inside of a building was madding plus the exhaust fumes where making us sick.
Was looking through Northern Tool and seen the North Star brand heavy duty electric pressure washer and decided to try one, they have a outlet store about a hundred mils from me so we decided to go there and pick one up rather than pay for shipping and wait for it to arrive, this was a good choice because after looking the units over we decided to get the 2 hp unit instead of the 1 1/2 hp we had planned to get. The Cat pump that's capable of using hot water was the selling point but the 2 hp unit also had the heavier duty quick connect hose and wand that is used on more powerful gas models.
We picked up a few extra tips and a turbo nozzle while there and have been satisfied with it's performance and seven years of service we've got from it so far.
It takes two full days of continuous use to clean the equipment in the poultry barns and this is done 2-3 times a year so this unit has had a fair amount of use, the quite electric motor makes it present to operate for long periods plus no exhaust fumes.
It does need a good 20-30 circuit and some heavy duty extension cords of 12 ga or bigger to operate and I've found that if one pulls the trigger on the wand before switching on the motor there's less chance of tripping a breaker.
I could justify the 230 volt circuit and cost of 230 volt extension cords for the 5 hp 230 volt model.
 
I have a Hotsy also. Mine runs on 220 volts. They aren't cheap but if you have a few dollars laying around they are worth it. Went through a bunch of cheap ones but none of them would remove liquid fertilizer from the planter. A Hotsy cuts it like a hot knife through butter.
 

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