what pressure washer?

I have decided to buy a pressure washer, for our place, and have no clue what I need, or what the track record on various brands are. Left to my own devices, I would buy the cheapest HF brand, because I am cheap! My older bro belived in Sears, and went thru 2 Sears washers, gas engines were ok, but the pumps destructed after a while. I want one to wash 120 ft. of white 3 board fence around the yard, so I can get the green off it, to paint again, also blow moss off the roofs, wash the mowers and bush hogs, plows, and machinery, and clean the worst off the manure spreader, and tractors. With heavy cords I could get by with electric, but they are limited on preassure. I don't know how much preassure is too much, and how much is to little!, and don't know what will live awhile. I dont want to buy one every year! OPEN FOR SUGGESTIONS.

I have had a Karcher electric washer for 5 years. Washed everything with it. Still going just fine.

Something in the 2500-3000psi range would be alright for general cleaning. Remember that volume is just as important as pressure. look for something that puts out atleast 3gpm. More is better if you have the water to feed it. Look for something with a Honda GX engine and a triplex plunger pump of either the Cat, General, Comet, or AR brands. There are a few other good brands, but you can't go wrong with what's listed. Last thing is buy a decent length hose. Companies tend to provide a 30' pressure hose with a pressure washer in this size range. Update to atleast a 50'. You'll never regret it.

Ron,
It all comes down to how much do you want to spend? The pressure washer ? has been asked many times here. As for the green on a house or fence, a pressure washer won't kill the mold, bleach and a brush will. Just leave the bleach, don't really need a pressure washer.

As for cleaning off a roof, unless it's a metal roof, I wouldn't use a pressure washer for fear of damaging the shingles.

I don't own an electric, lack of pressure.

I have a 2500 psi 6.5 hp horizontal shaft and a 4000 13 hp honda. I'm not a fan of electric or vertical shaft engines with a pump on the bottom.

4000 psi won't remove all the old grease and oil from a tractor. I tried that. 4000 psi could and will damage gaskets and water will find it's way in places you don't want.

I think it wrong to clean a mower deck with water. Water and bearings don't mix. I use a leaf blower to clean off my mower deck.

So how old are you? My 6.5 hp is easy to start while I wish my 13 hp had electric start. Been thinking of changing the flywheel and adding a starter.

I've had to replace the pump on the 6.5 hp. So far the 13 hp is still working.

Go on craigslist and look to see how many people are trying to sell a pressure washer with a bad pump. That may give you a clue what not to buy. The price of most replacement pumps are close to what a new cheapie washer will cost.

You can never have too much pressure, because you can dial back the pressure on must pumps. My advice is go as big as your wallet can aford, electric start and check out what a replacement pump will cost. Sooner or later you will be needing a new pump.
George

I have a small electric washer called a Husky. Can't remember where I bought it. I'm not sure of the pressure, but I wash 3 tractors, truck engine and the sidewalks and deck. I like it ok. It just takes a little longer with the electric. Ellis

Thanks George, for some of your ideas. I never thought about the bleach om the fence. but have used bleach on concrete, for the same purpose. The moss on the roof will go along with the shingles this summer. I have a roofing co. ,coming in june, to remove the 12 yr. old comp roof, and put powder coated standing seam metal on. previous owner put shingles over poor shingles, and wind storms have been hard on it. I am 73, and don't want to ever have to go up there again. I would be suprised if any pressure washer would remove all the dirt off of an old tractor. I pulled the enging out of my wd45, to change the clutch, and the channel iron frame was filled with years of eastern wa. soil, mixed with oil, that had the consistancy of good morter.I had to use a chisel and hammer on it before taking the wire cup brush to it. I am finding that grass and weed juices, seem to acelerate the rusting, and corrosion, on the ungerside's of my mower decks, and bush hog decks. The main washing problem, is the long time it takes, washing my IH manure spreader and tractor wheels, and loader buckets, after spreading wet chicken manure, that I get from Wilcox farms. It really smells up the neighborhood.

Ralph,
I'm 64 and the 13 hp honda kills me to get it started the first time. One time it had a spell starting and my right arm hurt for weeks.
BYW, holding on to 4000 psi will put the hurts to your hands and arms too. Not to mention, when cleaning chicken poo sometimes the water bounces off and comes back at you.

I've use bleach on shingles to kill moss. They make a 2 inch zinc strip to put on the top of your roof to keep moss from growing. I got mine from Menards.

Menards many times a year gives away, after rebate, deck wash which is a strong bleach. I stock pile it and wash vinyl siding with it. Sometimes, I'll use the pressure washer to apply the deck wash and let it dry on siding. Sometimes it may take 2 treatments to clean the mold off. Been doing it for years and it doesn't hurt my siding.
George

I had a bunch over the years. The last 3 were a Karcher, then a Campbell-Hausfield, now a Husky from Home Depot. The all done "ok" but nothing ever lasts more than 3 or 4 years around here. Someone usually runs over it or decides to not put it back in the shop when finished and then they have been known to get loaned out and while gone they grow legs an walk off. They do a pretty good job doing things like others have mentioned but not as powerfull as a gas engine.

Stay away from Anovi Reverberi, an Italian made pump which is in a Toro pressure washer with a Honda motor. A friend bought one three years ago at Lowes. It worked for two years then quit pumping. I told him that I would look at it, found that the cheap plastic valves had melted and needed a new pump. A friend had researched various ones for someone else and found a site where this one was rated as good for 50 hours. I ended up rebuilding the pump for him to save him money and spent way too much time on it.

I've got a 10 hp Baldor electric on a 4 gpm 3500 psi General pump. Very happy with it. It'll shred white oak.

Glenn F.

The most important component of the washer is the pump. I found that out the hard way. I would research the type and quality of the pump then the type and quality of engine.

My friend has his own commercial pressure washing company. He has not been happy with Cat or Comet pumps. Comet stands behind their machines, but they don't hold up. Cat pumps don't hold up & they will weasel out of the warranty every time. He gets the best service out of the big General pumps.

Glenn F.

I brought a 6.5 hp 3000psi with 3.0 gpm with an electric start. It was a refurbished one at Home Depot and slightly used. I have had it over ten years. After about five years the pump wouldn't work. I ordered a new one from Northern tool and didn't understand the gallon per minute would make a difference. Its only 2.5 but still a 3000 psi. It does OK but not as good as the 3 gallon per minute pump it came with. It will still take grease and oil off an engine or equipment though. My recommendation would be at least 3000 psi and 3 gpm pump.

I think I'm going to get one at Home Depot. They have a Ridgid with an EFI Subaru engine and Cat pump. I think it's 3000 or 3200 PSI, can't remember right now but has good components on it. Very interesting someone said Cat pumps don't hold up. Most car washes around here use Cat pumps.

I only have experience with 2 General pumps that have both given very good service. I gave the recomendation for the others because I've always heard alot of good about them. Guess I'll stick with a General the next time I need a new pressure washer.

No carwash has pressure washers running 40-60 hours/week as my friend in the pressure washing business does. No one knows pressure washers like he does. He's tried em all......


Glenn F.

Gasoline powered three piston ceramic pump made by Cat or Comet. Soap injector too.
The ceramic also allows the option of connecting the pump's water supply to the hot water tap. Impressive reduction in cleaning time and improved cleaning performance when using warm or hot water.

I bought the Comet pump from NT when my big box pump died. It didn't last very long either. We have a lot of alkali in our water and those deposits are all in them. I just haven't had much luck with them.

Mark