Electric pressure washer

rrman61 · Mar 30, 2019

Looking into buying an electric pressure washer.will be used 10-15 times a year for washing trucks,tractors and atvs.suggestions? I want it to last and thinking around 2000 psi

cuby · Mar 30, 2019

You better buy a bigger one as you will wish that you had.

Super H Mike · Mar 30, 2019

I have one and it works good for small jobs, I got it at Menards about $100.

gab · Mar 30, 2019

I have one of those cheap Menards press. washers, doesn't look like it ought to work over once but it's been amazing for five or six years.

Dean · Mar 30, 2019

I bought one at Lowes a year or so ago, for spraying off the car and other things.

It was the best electric one that they had. On sale for about $175.

Though I rarely buy extended warranties, I did in this case as pressure washer pumps are notoriously unreliable.

So far, so good.

Dean

Steve@Advance · Mar 30, 2019

Electric pressure washers have their limitations.

The amp draw of the motor is the limiting factor for one that can simply be plugged into a wall outlet. About the biggest motor that can be operated on 120 vac is a 3/4HP, which will draw about 14 amps. That will max out a typical household circuit provided there is nothing else on the circuit at the time.

That will also involve investing in a heavy duty extension cord, preferably a 12ga.

Beware, check the amp rating of the motor, not the advertised ability of the sprayer. If they claim 2 HP at 8 amps, something is not adding up.

A good electric washer will work, but don't expect the same power as a gas model.

The only way to achieve the same high pressure would be to go with a 220v industrial model, which would require a special circuit and be very expensive. But, it would also last beyond anything available on the retail level.

Bob Harvey · Mar 30, 2019

I bought a Craftsman about 15 yrs. ago. 1600 PSI. It has worked flawlessly every year for cleaning vinyl and P.T. wood decks and concrete. Yes I would like a more powerful unit, but this one has served well.

Pete in Holland MI · Mar 30, 2019

Don?t look at PSI. Look at GPM. That?s where the work is at. Higher GPM means a faster operating unit, although that drives up HP needs, and therefore.....cost.

DoubleR · Mar 30, 2019

GPM makes a big difference in the amount of pressure you get also. I replaced a 3 gallon per minute pump with a 2.5 on my power washer and there was a big difference.

Texasmark1 · Mar 31, 2019

I got tired of fooling around with "finiky" gassers. Someone helped me make the decision as they stole the one I had that was only a couple years old, 2300#. So I upped and bought a Ryobi 115v 1600+ PSI and haven't been happier. It's not built for heavy duty applications that I don't have here so I don't need one to do heavy duty applications.

Destroked 450 · Mar 31, 2019

Bought one from Northern Tool around 7 years ago
North Star brand 2 hp 2000psi with Cat pump
It needs a 20 amp circuit and min 12 gauge extension cord to operate.
We use it for wash down in our poultry barns so it's seen lots of use.
You can run hot water through a Cat pump which helps with degreasing.
Not as powerful as many of the gas powered units but I love the quit operation and not having to mess with maintaining another gas engine.
The more powerful units will clean quicker but wear my arms out holding the wand after extended periods of use, they can also damage paint and seals if your not careful.

Though pricy at $750 it will out last a dozen of the cheap box store electric pressure washers, we tried a couple, their performance was marginal and neither lasted very long when used for long periods.

Electric pressure washer

rrman61

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cuby

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Super H Mike

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gab

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Dean

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Steve@Advance

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Bob Harvey

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Pete in Holland MI

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DoubleR

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Texasmark1

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Destroked 450

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