Anyone Know Anything About Karcher Washers?

[Dougal]

In serious need of a new pressure washer. After looking in the shops today, I see the Karcher units are very different to when I bought mine.
The low end units, K1, K2 & K3 are all incedidibly light. I mean REALLY light. I'm sure the movement of water hose and pressure line would through them over. Whereas, the new K4 & K5 are the complete oposite. Although the advertised specs are not enormously different, these weight differencials makes me think there might be two totally different technologies being employed.
Any ideas?

 

[sarabande]

I went through the speccing process a couple of months ago.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...g-new-pressure-washer-please&highlight=washer



Karcher - cheap and not especially long-lived

Stihl - medium cost, good support, lots of models / pressure /litres per hour

Kranzle - bees knees, industrial quality and price.
http://www.kranzle-pressure-washers...ranzle-k-1050-ts-pressure-cleaner-495051.html

Danny Labrador used to sell Kranzle, and makes a good case for buying them.

I bought a Stihl RE 119. Very pleased; it deals with caked on agricultural muck very well.

 

[Hadenough]

You are in France I think. Where everything except wine costs more than in the UK. If I were you I would borrow or rent one.

 

[Freebee]

renting makes sense(unless you propose to use it every week) , if it fails you can give it back,

if you must own it, then buy the cheapest one you can get that will do the job........ and when it fails throw it away, sad but they don't last long.

 

[paulajayne]

Nilfisk are good - look for ones with a metal pump.

 

[Dougal]

Seems we're living on a disposable planet these days I'm just old enough to remember having to 'make do and mend'.

 

[Dougal]

And it gets worse every year. Can't believe how much the yachties are made to pay for their kit.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

I found it helpful to make sure they are drained after use so they aren’t stored full. Especially in winter.:ambivalence:

 

[Richard10002]

I have had a couple of Karchers over the past few years and will never buy another. Both leaked due to the failure of a plastic something, which seems to be incredibly common.

Nilfisk seem to have a good reputation, and metal "somethings", rather than plastic. Only used it a few times, so not in a position to comment on long term use yet, but so far so good.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I've had a Karcher K7 for years, it's a very robust thing that works brilliantly, much better than the cheaper K1/2/3 units. Powerful. Really powerful, and it cost a lot. The pump is brass I think not plastic like many others.

Having said that, I'd agree with the posters ^^ who said either rent, or buy cheap! No way the K7 will last as long as the dozen or so LIDL ones I could have bought for the same money.

 

[Simonpk]

Another vote for Nilfisk :encouragement:, I did a bit of research when I replaced mine & they came highly rated.

 

[awol]

I bought a cheapie from Lidl - does what I want, cleans decks, paving stones, under car, driveway, etc. - even clears drains with the Lidl drain add-on.

 

[Dutch01527]

I have a Aldi one and previously had a mid range Karcher ( not industrial). Both pump with more than enough pressure and have been 100% reliable.

Only real difference is the Aldi one was 1/3 of the cost.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

a Karcher K2 i bought in 2016 and used occasionally for the car decided to give up when i used it on the boat last weekend, there was a burning smell then it stopped.

 

[maby]

I was going to suggest keeping an eye on Aldi and Lidl special offers - they frequently sell pressure washers which are likely to be at least as good as a Karcher, significantly cheaper and will probably have a three year warranty. I would never buy food from either, but they are both excellent for tools!

 

[biscuit]

I replaced my leaky Karcher with a Lidl lookalike, and find it works better. Another Karcher gadget (window squeegee)
has recently packed up, so I am not impressed by their longevity.

 

[Dougal]

Just a thought..... A cheap one I had once, Had its pump running all the time, using a bypass valve of sorts when the trigger was released. Previous Karcher's I've had, all tripped the pump off on trigger release. A much better system.
Is this true of most cheaper units?

 

[mickywillis]

Older (and the older type) of Karchers used an unloader valve to bypass HP water when the trigger was released. When spraying, the unloader valve (some call it a Pressure Relief Valve or PRV) closes allowing full pressure to the lance. Unloader valves are expensive.
To reduce costs a pressure switch is used to control the motor now. The pressure switch is cheap to make and buy and regularly fails, resulting in disposal of the unit.
Ceramic or brass construction is the way to go when comparing specs, ally (or even plastic!) pistons have a short life!

 

[PetiteFleur]

I have Hozelock pressure washer and I thought it had failed last year when it gave out hardly any pressure but by accident discovered if you turn the water on, hold the trigger and then switch on the water it works really good, BUT you have to keep the trigger on or you have to start all over again to get it working.

 

[savageseadog]

Watch out for debris in the nozzle, it can be hard to get out, it's easy to think your power washer has packed up.