Pressure washer Recommendations

[Bigfatsi]

Another vote for the Lidl one here - think it was a Workzone (yellow & black) [Edit: Parkside]. I looked at the Karchers, Nilfisks etc. even the Kranzl, but on a £ per performance basis, there's no comparison. I think I paid £60/70 and it's been going for over 4 years. Accepts all Lavor fittings. Pulls from a bucket/river. What more do you want? And when it breaks, I'll happily buy another one. Plus it's more powerful than virtually all the non-pro ones out there. Come out regularly on middle of Lidl. Keep checking their website... Hose is crap, mind.

 

[lustyd]

If you are using in a marina such as with pontoon electrics you need to ensure any pressure washer will not trip the pontoon supply. I tried to use my home pressure washer which was 2.2 KW and this tripped the supply. Had to buy a smaller type for the boat so suggest you check out the max current draw before purchase.

2.2KW is less than a domestic kettle and will certainly not be the reason it tripped the supply. I suspect your pressure washer has a dangerous fault that you've yet to encounter and should get it looked at by a professional or replace it. The trip will have been due to residual current, meaning that some of the supply current from live didn't get back to neutral, it went somewhere else. The reason it trips is to ensure that stray current doesn't go to earth via the person holding the spray wand.

 

[andsarkit]

2.2KW is less than a domestic kettle and will certainly not be the reason it tripped the supply. I suspect your pressure washer has a dangerous fault that you've yet to encounter and should get it looked at by a professional or replace it. The trip will have been due to residual current, meaning that some of the supply current from live didn't get back to neutral, it went somewhere else. The reason it trips is to ensure that stray current doesn't go to earth via the person holding the spray wand.

Unless it is the RCD that has tripped, it is more likely that it is the motor starting current that has tripped the overload MCB. Motors will draw up to 5 times the running current when they start. A momentary current of 5 x 10A = 50A may be enough to take out the trip unless it is a slow acting type.

 

[harvey38]

Judging from my neighbour's use, you need one that will run continuously for 6 hrs everyday to clean 4 square metres of patio.
The louder the better.

I have quite a large deck and use a VAX washer for an extended period of time and found it very effective, not too noisy and very reliable. I choose my times carefully so not to annoy the neighbours

 

[Geoff A]

Spear and Jackson pressure washer from Argos. It did the job on our brick weave drive, and path way round the rear garden.

 

[WoodyP]

Purchase now made from local factors on a Sealey 130 bar . Priced competitively and then knocked a bit off.. Probably not the best but I like to support the small independent traders. It will do but certainly not as well made as the old Workzone. Luckily the fittings are interchangeable. The pressure hose is not long enough so you keep moving the machine. Used it and it worked well. We will see how long it lasts but it doesn't weigh as heavy, so I expect the internals are chinesium and I may have wasted my money.

 

[fredrussell]

... The pressure hose is not long enough so you keep moving the machine…

I just hang my pressure washer from the boom where the kicker attaches. 6m hose reaches all of 10m boat that way.

 

[WoodyP]

I foolishly didn't check. It's only 4m long, and the dedicated fitting to the lance means you can't get an extension.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Unless it is the RCD that has tripped, it is more likely that it is the motor starting current that has tripped the overload MCB. Motors will draw up to 5 times the running current when they start. A momentary current of 5 x 10A = 50A may be enough to take out the trip unless it is a slow acting type.
View attachment 157514

More likely that particular marina supply is protected by a 10, or even, 6 amp MCB . I would bet that Aquanaught didn't check that! Even a 16 amp Type "B" MCB can be tripped by a pressure washer if it is a tad sensitive. Type "C" is what I would recommend. Domestic MCB's are probably 32 amp for ring mains, or perhaps 25 amp if a radial circuit, so the problem does not arise.
For what it is worth I would suggest that 8 times full load current is more in line with an ac motor starting current, not important

2.2KW is less than a domestic kettle and will certainly not be the reason it tripped the supply. I suspect your pressure washer has a dangerous fault that you've yet to encounter and should get it looked at by a professional or replace it. The trip will have been due to residual current, meaning that some of the supply current from live didn't get back to neutral, it went somewhere else. The reason it trips is to ensure that stray current doesn't go to earth via the person holding the spray wand.
Highly unlikely as I think we can assume that the washer has been working perfectly well at his home. I refer the gentleman to my previous answer!

 

[Emmark]

Mine always seem to go bang in no time so I just buy a cheap one now. I think my last one cost £60 so if it lasts 2-3 years I’m happy.

 

[WoodyP]

I couldn't bring myself to spend a lot but the cheapest don't have the pressure rating.

 

[KREW2]

I bought a Karcher about 15 years ago, not cheap but I went for reputation. It wasn't used excessively but only lasted bout 5 years. Bought a Workzone 10 years ago, still going. I can now annoy my neighbours once a year for half the price.

 

[14K478]

I have had a little Karcher for a while but I now want one that will really shift loose paint and accumulated filth from GRP decks, and the little thing isn’t up to it.

What should I look for and how much should I spend?

 

[14K478]

Am now thinking about starting current etc!

 

[ChromeDome]

Apart from sales buzz about amount of pressure also check available nozzles for what you buy.

I have a couple of washers of pretty good pressure plus one that even heat the water. Warm water makes a difference, but I find a good rotor nozzle to be more important than alleged super high pressure.

And make sure you get a long enough HP hose. I can reach all the deck with the washer on the pontoon -mooring bow to.

 

[Refueler]

We have a boring Karcher gets occasional use on the cars, mower and terraces has lasted 9 years to date. Seems to do what it says on the box.

Had two Karchers and a Bosch ... all three sit at back of shed feeling sorry for themselves ... exact same problem on all 3 : Pump casings cracked during use.

Now have a cheap BEST pressure washer ... so far lasted near 5 yrs ... and funny enough - the only one that was supplied with a screw on filter for incoming water. Filter dismantles for cleaning as well. Sorry but BEST is not seen elsewhere ....

I do use river water as main water .... then run fresh through after.

 

[ChromeDome]

I think keeping them winterized is important.


I flush mine with an antifreeze mix when doing boat engines sea water circuits, garden hose reels etc.

 

[Refueler]

I think keeping them winterized is important.


I flush mine with an antifreeze mix when doing boat engines sea water circuits, garden hose reels etc.

mmmm interesting.

 

[Farmer Piles]

I can only go by experience, but we have had a Kranzle here on the farm for years. It is a beast and we use it all the time. I know that they are expensive but they really do the job and they are really built to last.

 

[steveeasy]

Not re read thru all the posts but I seam to recall the op wanted small washer to keep on boat. At boat show was a really cool drill mounted pressure washer cordless look great to wash decks off. Seamed quite powerful too similar to small electric ones.
Steveeasy