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?

[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?

[colin_p]

Thank you all for the valued input on this and it seems I'm far from alone in wearing these things out.

In answer to the issues raised and suggestions suggested;

1, I'd love a Kranzle but for the same reason I'd never drop a grand on Miele washing machine, I can't justify it although I'd probably end up paying the same in the long run. However no matter how good the machine, the hard water we have here will eventually see off anything, eventually with limescale, even (I'm convinced) when used cold.

2, Aquastop or the simple flow stop widget in the hozlok fittings, yes learned that years ago, probably saw off one of the karchers, so my hoses are free of them.

3, Those petrol driven £160 e-bay jobbies look like a nice idea but knowing my luck...

4, An ex trade / industrial duty machine second hand, if bought round here would likely to be limescaled up to the point or near death. But a good idea all the same.



Another game changer for me in recent years, thanks to PH has been using the "Wet and forget" / "Proclean" type stuff, it really is amazing stuff but won't stop silt and general dirt on the patio / drive. What it does mean though is that the annual pressure washing marathon instead of being an almost full weekend can be done in a day.

I'm leaning towards another cheapish Nilfisk thing that I will duly kill off in a short period of time!

[colin_p]

I've gone for another cheapo Nilfisk but have noted that they have a three year manufacturers guarantee. That'll teach me to keep the receipts and register the new one when it comes as the one that has just gone to the dump probably wasn't quite three years old!

Apart from the annual patio marathon, they get little use, mainly the cars and mountain bike once every few weeks. My man maths coudln't justify spending more. Besides this year the major white goods acquisition is going to be about £700 on a portable aircon unit, and I'm sure that will provide an altogether different world of expensive pain.