I've broken yet another pressure washer!

[colin_p]

Bought my first one around about 1996 and since then I've broken / worn out a few

x4 Karchers (Yes 4!)
x1 Homelite (this lasted a good ten years and by far the best)
x1 Nilfisk (the most recent and the defacto make talked about on here, lasted about two years)

Thankfully the latest Nilfisk shat itself just after I had completed my annual spring jet wash marathon.

I don't really know what to do other than buy yet another on the basis of them being almost disposable. I'd reluctantly buy another Nilfisk if they are still the in-thing? I live in a very hard water area which I'm convinced, along with using them a lot, leads to the death of them.

Anyone got any better thoughts or suggestions?

[lost in espace]

Buy them from Costco and return when they break, no time limit.

[colin_p]

lost in espace said:

Buy them from Costco and return when they break, no time limit.

Do they let Joe Public in to buy stuff?

[V8RX7]

I keep breaking Nilfisk too - but as I have all the attachments I buy just the body from Ebay - circa £40-60

[alorotom]

But an industrial unit

[Bungleaio]

colin_p said:

Do they let Joe Public in to buy stuff?

They do if you meet their criteria:

Costco offers Individual Membership to current or retired employees of select employment groups or professions.
Membership is available to individuals over the age of 18 years who meet one of the following requirements:

Qualifying Employment Groups
Current or Retired Employee of:
Banking / Finance
Local Government
Fire / Rescue Service
Post Office
Airlines
Education
Police Force
Civil Service / Armed Forces
Medical / Health Service
Insurance
OR
Qualified as:

Qualified / Certified / Chartered Accountant
Chartered Architect
Doctors (MD) / Dentist / Optician / Pharmacist
Chartered Surveyor
Solicitor / Barrister / Magistrate / Advocate
Chartered Engineer / Civil etc
OR
Current or Retired employees of a UK or USA Gold Company.

You may qualify as a current or retired employee of one of the many UK or USA Gold Companies. Please contact either Central Membership on 01923 830477 or your local warehouse to confirm whether the company you currently work for or have retired from is a registered Gold Card Company.

https://www.costco.co.uk/membership-individual-req...

[jfdi]

An old Karcher 720mx
eg.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Karcher-720mx-Powerwash...

(not mine as i'd never sell it )

Mines about 28 years old now. It's had 1 new pressure switch and some new pump seals (just because i had it apart) at a total cost of about £25.
Still works like new.

[JonChalk]

Try a Bosch one? Same sort of price as Karcher & Nilfisk, plus you get to add another make to the list.

[Andrew_S]

Or try a Titan which is less than half price of the equivalent yellow one.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb669prw-130bar-...

[Big_Dog]

I have broken a few too. I know how you feel. I bought a petrol job from Toolstation. It is fabulous, the annual patio clean takes 2 hours instead of all day. Was C£320 iirc. Metal chassis, brass pump, really is a great piece of kit.

[Depthhoar]

Been through a few Karchers and Nilfisks.

So bought a Kranzle.

Job jobbed.

Buying a Kranzle will make you swear just once.

Eye-wateringly expensive but it's a lifetime tool that's hugely capable too.

[Hilts]

colin_p said:

Do they let Joe Public in to buy stuff?

No, they don't.

Someone will be along shortly with a list of people they do however.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Depthhoar said:

Been through a few Karchers and Nilfisks.

So bought a Kranzle.

Job jobbed.

Buying a Kranzle will make you swear just once.

Eye-wateringly expensive but it's a lifetime tool that's hugely capable too.

This

[monkfish1]

alorotom said:

But an industrial unit

Or more accurately one with a metal pump casing rather than plastic.

I think most "domestic" stuff is plastic these dayys.

Ive got an old kew one, but it is more than twenty years old. Certainly not a plastic one. I use it with hot water too

[m3jappa]

Same here although i use mine excessively to clean the paving work we do so not really normal use, i was getting through one a year I now buy the cheap petrol chinese ones off eBay, usually they have a yellow body and fake honda engine.

Much more powerful and last ok, i did blow the pump up on one but that was because the water supply got turned off, because they are crap you cant buy spares so had to buy another. Cheap for the power at about £200 iirc.

[MOBB]

You need a Kranzle

[richelli]

As above, just buy a Kranzel and you’ll not look back. Built like a tank.

[JakeT]

jfdi said:

An old Karcher 720mx
eg.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Karcher-720mx-Powerwash...

(not mine as i'd never sell it )

Mines about 28 years old now. It's had 1 new pressure switch and some new pump seals (just because i had it apart) at a total cost of about £25.
Still works like new.

I had one. It died, I think the motor or something took a turn. It died, and that was it.

I bought another Karcher, even doing about 80 square meters of patio and path in a day, it's still fine. Had it for 10 or so years, and use it regularly on the cars.

[RSVR101]

Which Nilfisk did you have? I just had the c135 delivered today which has the induction motor, currently in a deal with 42%off on amazon. I put it together this evening, the main unit is very solid and bloody heavy so it must have quite a decent motor inside. I think it’s an aluminium
Motor?

[Mort7]

Have you got an AquaStop connector fitted on the connection from the hose to the pressure washer, which allows you to disconnect the hose without turning off the tap (like this sort of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hozelock-AquaStop-Connect... If so, remove it.

Pressure washers relieve some of the internal pressure by allowing flow back into the hose. An AquaStop prevents this from happening, so the internal seals take the pressure, and will eventually burst. I had this happen in spectacular fashion with my last Karcher. I was using it at full pressure, released the trigger to stop the flow, and the washer exploded with a bang, and water started leaking from inside.

I think you'll find the instructions say not to use an AquaStop.