Cheap pressure washer for car washing
Discussion
So, I've reached peak annoyance with the use of garage jetwash facilities. In the last few months, every time I go to visit one, either...
- The garage is closed
- The garage jet wash is not operational
- There is a huge queue to use one
So I figure it's worth buying a pressure washer to use on the drive.
Can anyone recommend a decent cheap one? Ideally would like a battery powered one, are these any good? Ideally would also like to be able to use snowfoam.
Any tips and recommendations are welcome.
- The garage is closed
- The garage jet wash is not operational
- There is a huge queue to use one
So I figure it's worth buying a pressure washer to use on the drive.
Can anyone recommend a decent cheap one? Ideally would like a battery powered one, are these any good? Ideally would also like to be able to use snowfoam.
Any tips and recommendations are welcome.
t.Incredibly unhelpful but I can summarise this thread before it even starts;
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
I have not used a battery powered one but I would be surprised if you could get ones that's cheap, effective and has a battery large enough to be useful. It seems like one of those 'pick two' situations.
I have the K2 Karcher with a foam adapter and its fine, I also use it to clean the patios and it does a great job. I paid just over a hundred pounds a few years ago but I use it fairly regularly so I think its pretty good value.A quick google suggests its still at that price at Screwfix.
I have the K2 Karcher with a foam adapter and its fine, I also use it to clean the patios and it does a great job. I paid just over a hundred pounds a few years ago but I use it fairly regularly so I think its pretty good value.A quick google suggests its still at that price at Screwfix.
ThatGuyWhoDoesStuff said:
Incredibly unhelpful but I can summarise this thread before it even starts;
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
Fair to say I'm not the first to ask such a vague question on this then!
Karcher seem to be the most obvious brand. Those Kranzle ones seem super expensive.
I'd probably be happy to spend upto £150 max (but would prefer more about £100), at the higher price I'd expect it to come with any/all attachments that I could ever need.
What pressure level (in bar) should I be pitching at?
I'd search for the outlet K'archer site, I can't remember the name but I remember when I got my K2, my Dad got a K4 I think at the same time for the same price, lot more bells and whistles.
Must say though I've had my K2 for about 7 years now, used to wash the car every weekend and done the occasional patio and still going strong.
Big thing is to really get all the air out of the supply hose first, I quite often find that you get a few after the initial bulk of air has come through the hose but DONT turn the pressure washer electricity on until you're getting a solid water stream out of the nozzle (because of the smaller orifice you can hear the air if it's still there as a slight cracking sound when it comes out)
Must say though I've had my K2 for about 7 years now, used to wash the car every weekend and done the occasional patio and still going strong.
Big thing is to really get all the air out of the supply hose first, I quite often find that you get a few after the initial bulk of air has come through the hose but DONT turn the pressure washer electricity on until you're getting a solid water stream out of the nozzle (because of the smaller orifice you can hear the air if it's still there as a slight cracking sound when it comes out)
ThatGuyWhoDoesStuff said:
Incredibly unhelpful but I can summarise this thread before it even starts;
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
Nope.- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
Unless you have an off road car then bucket and sponge.
Power washers are useless.
ThatGuyWhoDoesStuff said:
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty..
I'll be this 1/3rd.If you don't want to pay for a Kranzle, then get a Nilfisk - Is essentially the logical conclusion!
Metal pumps, etc etc. - I haven't had a Karcher, but I've got a Nilfisk which has been great, and even in the event of issues, I've heard fairly good things about aftersales (Being a more "pro" focused brand, Nilfisk actually have service centers which can fix them!)
rev-erend said:
ThatGuyWhoDoesStuff said:
Incredibly unhelpful but I can summarise this thread before it even starts;
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
Nope.- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Karchers are great, and you only hear about so many failures because there's so many out there.
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that you might as well buy a Kranzle.
Unless you have an off road car then bucket and sponge.
Power washers are useless.
Haltamer said:
ThatGuyWhoDoesStuff said:
- 1/3rd of people will tell you that Nilfisk are better than Karcher as they still use metal in their pumps, and their K2 died 46 seconds out of warranty..
I'll be this 1/3rd.If you don't want to pay for a Kranzle, then get a Nilfisk - Is essentially the logical conclusion!
Metal pumps, etc etc. - I haven't had a Karcher, but I've got a Nilfisk which has been great, and even in the event of issues, I've heard fairly good things about aftersales (Being a more "pro" focused brand, Nilfisk actually have service centers which can fix them!)
I always end up just reverting to a bucket and a sponge, I don’t feel they’re worth the hassle. I’ve tried loads of different snow foams and they never seem to do what they say and I seem to spend more time tripping over the bleeding thing and tidying up afterwards than I do actually cleaning the car.
funny this thread should come up - ordered my first ever pressure washer yesterday, Karcher K2 Premium Full Control Car & Home Pressure Washer from toolstation for £119.99
I didn't want to spend a fortune but equally i didn't want to buy some cheap and nasty no name 'PowaKleen x990" from amazon either.
did some basic research, watched a few online reviews/tutorials etc and the K2 seemed to fit my modest requirements.
Small, easy to use, easy on the wallet and from a half decent company.
Got it mainly for the driveway, concrete paths and occasional car cleaning. it's due to arrive monday - i will let you know how i get on.
I didn't want to spend a fortune but equally i didn't want to buy some cheap and nasty no name 'PowaKleen x990" from amazon either.
did some basic research, watched a few online reviews/tutorials etc and the K2 seemed to fit my modest requirements.
Small, easy to use, easy on the wallet and from a half decent company.
Got it mainly for the driveway, concrete paths and occasional car cleaning. it's due to arrive monday - i will let you know how i get on.
I used to buy Karcher. Had three over the space of five years but the quality became increasingly poor. All three packed up on me. I needed something relatively light and compact so I decided to give Bosch a go. I bought the Bosch 120 a couple of years ago and it has been absolutely brilliant. As with most of Bosch products it’s virtually bulletproof, nicely designed, light and there are some decent accessories available too.
Conversely I've had a plastic impeller Karcher over 10 years now and is still running fine. The only thing that died after 7 years was one of the 2 included lances, the one that spins some sort of bearing in a circle inside the head to get a higher bar stream but I think i dropped it so I can't blame it entirely and there is a huge supply of used spares on ebay so I got a replacement for a tenner.
Dont forget, regardless of all the claims of high pressure, you are always constrained by your mains pressure/flow rate, so buying something with a higher pressure capacity will not suddenly give you something comparable to your local hand car wash. They have commercial water supplies.
Dont forget, regardless of all the claims of high pressure, you are always constrained by your mains pressure/flow rate, so buying something with a higher pressure capacity will not suddenly give you something comparable to your local hand car wash. They have commercial water supplies.
Edited by TimmyMallett on Monday 1st June 11:52
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