Pressure Washer - Not Karcher

[SLacKer]

Hi

My latest Karcher (German for Crap) has sprung a leak and I am now in need of a new jet washer. I do not want another Karcher although an ability to use a few of the accesories on a compatible lance would be nice although not essential. Would like to get one with a decent warranty and maybe even a reel for the lance hose.

Anyone got any recommendations. I am sick of buying them and then throwing them away.

[Andyuk911]

Contact Karcher ... perhaps checking the part that has failed might be cheaper.

I have a Karcher HS855, but they are expensive ...

[PJ S]

Slacker, depending in what budget you're working to, but if suitably high enough, I can highly recommend the Makita HW131.
Absolute corker of a machine, and with its combination of high pressure and flow rate, makes mince meat of most cleaning tasks put before it.

[Jonny TVR]

RAC 2000W on Asda direct. Its half the price of a similar spec Karcher .. the spec is high

[Escort2dr]

Had 2 Karchers - they were both wk and lasted 5 minutes. Since then I got a cheapy Nilfisk Alto thingy with a metal pump for £40... has lasted me a few years now.

Edited by Escort2dr on Thursday 15th April 23:15

[SLacKer]

If I buy from Argos and take out the 3 year replacement warranty thing if it does go pop I get a new one.

Like the look of this one http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7...

[PJ S]

Decent enough machine, but don't overlook the Makita alternative - HW130, if you're not going to bother with a snow foam pre-wash regime.

http://www.powertools2u.co.uk/Pressure%2DWashers/M...

The one I have - http://www.powertools2u.co.uk/Pressure%2DWashers/M...

[Andy Meads]

I had the same problem and called up a local industrial pressure washer dealer for some tips. He recommended the ones that B&Q sell, called Macallister. They are re-branded machines made by a company the name of which I forget, but he swore by them. I bought a Macallister and it has been great. Well made and reliable so far. Much cheaper than the Karcher models, too.

[PJ S]

Mac's are no more - but if it's any comfort, the company who made them, makes the Makita one above.
They are good stuff.

[j3ffers]

The collective at Detailing World highly rate the blue Nilfisk ones, with good internals, and seems like a couple of years standard warranty

[gsd2000]

What about the lidl one as it is basically a lavor with a metal pump and 3 year warranty for £80

[PJ S]

It's a Lavor!
Lidl will stand over it, but it's still an £80 pressure washer at the end of the day - buy cheap, replace often is the norm, not the exception.

[plenty]

It's not posh, but the £45 Challenge 1800W washer available from Argos works well for my PW and foaming needs (Lavor fitment). I've broken two already, but with the £11 three year warranty you can simply swap it for a brand new one.

[gsd2000]

So are nilfisk better than lavor?

[PJ S]

Reliably so, apparently. I can only vouch for the Makita - been a solid, dependable unit, but then it should be as it's classed as semi-pro.
That Nilfisk is "only" domestic, which is fine for a 15 min blast on the car, but not designed for long runs like patio cleaning, etc would entail.

[ridds]

My experience of Karcher is the same. One blew a pump casing and I've also split the lance down the seam!

I managed to get a Challenge Extreme washer before Halfords got hold of them and only paid £35 for one! It's still going strong today,

[RichB]

Same with Karcher for me, basically rubbish. First one went pop after 3 years but I only paid £75 so fair enough. Second one cost a bit more so I was pissed off when it stopped working after only 6 months. I returned it to Karcher ad they said it was the lance(it wasn't) then it finally went pop after 2 years when the return valve broke. This time I bought a Mikita for about £120 but it's too heavy and the pressure isn't that good, certainly wouldn't rip through cleaning my patio. In future I'll buy the cheapest and treat them as disposables.

[PJ S]

Which Makita Rich, the HW110?
Personally, wouldn't suggest anything below the HW130 though.

[Stedman]

SLacKer said:

If I buy from Argos and take out the 3 year replacement warranty thing if it does go pop I get a new one.

Like the look of this one http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7...

Screwfix have one of those (although not that model) for £60 - less than half price! Was 110bar and 400l/hr flow rate, if that helps.

[Miguelski]

My Bosch is still doing the job after about 8 years of abuse...

It has a few battle scars but has held together and performs well on the cars and patio...

Can't recall how much I paid but from memory it was at the lower end of the spectrum...

It is noisy as hell but that just lets the neighbours know that I'm diligently doing my spring cleaning of the garden to maintin house values in the area!