Pressure Washers
Discussion
blueg33 said:
I assume it will need servicing like a lawnmower every now and then. How noisy is it? I live in a quiet village and N electric washer is a tad embarrassing.
Yes, it's very much like a petrol lawnmower, similar amount of noise, needs an occasional service but changing oil isn't difficult. I also live in a tiny, quiet village and others have been asking to borrow it rather than asking me not to use it so I guess they think it's fine too! I think the noise from petrol machinery is less unpleasant than electric equivalents, and it works quicker due to its sheer power so you're using it for a shorter time. Another advantage is there's no cutting out due to overheating or anything like that. If you're not averse to passing by north Northamptonshire, you'd be welcome to try it.
My Nilfisk is 10 years old and has just developed an internal leak. Surprisingly easy to dismantle and requires a new stop/start valve. Replacement part readily available and cheap from North West Power Washers.
Pleasant experience compared to previous multiple Karcher ownerships which always ended in a trip to the dump after a much shorter period of time.
Pleasant experience compared to previous multiple Karcher ownerships which always ended in a trip to the dump after a much shorter period of time.
Well it looks like I'm very lucky then, I've had three Karcher washers over the past thirty years, first one broke after about ten years, my fault I left water in it which froze and caused a split in the pump casing, second one is still going strong but now relegated to the back of the garage as I wanted one with a bit more power, had this one about three years now and no problems. I purchased it from the official Karcher outlet shop, its classed as refurbished but when it arrived it was brand new, just supplied in a plain cardboard box and minus the instruction booklet. Saved quite a bit by purchasing this way. I'd have no problem buying another Karcher washer if needed.
https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/
https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/
davidexige said:
Well it looks like I'm very lucky then, I've had three Karcher washers over the past thirty years, first one broke after about ten years, my fault I left water in it which froze and caused a split in the pump casing, second one is still going strong but now relegated to the back of the garage as I wanted one with a bit more power, had this one about three years now and no problems. I purchased it from the official Karcher outlet shop, its classed as refurbished but when it arrived it was brand new, just supplied in a plain cardboard box and minus the instruction booklet. Saved quite a bit by purchasing this way. I'd have no problem buying another Karcher washer if needed.
https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/
It's good that yours is running well. However, I think it's fair to say that Karchers from 30 and 20 years ago were of higher quality than current ones. They had more metal and less plastic where it counts, deep in the guts of the thing. For your current one, so far so good - but let's see if it makes it to 10 like your first one, or 17 and still going like your second one. Hopefully it will of course, but there are plenty of stories to suggest it may struggle.https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/
We should though bear in mind that people moan about problems far more than they praise something that merely keeps working, and Karcher do sell an awful lot of pressure washers.
mikey_b said:
It's good that yours is running well. However, I think it's fair to say that Karchers from 30 and 20 years ago were of higher quality than current ones. They had more metal and less plastic where it counts, deep in the guts of the thing. For your current one, so far so good - but let's see if it makes it to 10 like your first one, or 17 and still going like your second one. Hopefully it will of course, but there are plenty of stories to suggest it may struggle.
.
Well if it does last that long I'll come back in seven years and report..
QuickQuack said:
blueg33 said:
I assume it will need servicing like a lawnmower every now and then. How noisy is it? I live in a quiet village and N electric washer is a tad embarrassing.
Yes, it's very much like a petrol lawnmower, similar amount of noise, needs an occasional service but changing oil isn't difficult. I also live in a tiny, quiet village and others have been asking to borrow it rather than asking me not to use it so I guess they think it's fine too! I think the noise from petrol machinery is less unpleasant than electric equivalents, and it works quicker due to its sheer power so you're using it for a shorter time. Another advantage is there's no cutting out due to overheating or anything like that. If you're not averse to passing by north Northamptonshire, you'd be welcome to try it.
So I’ve worked out that one attaches the hose to the unit for water supply, but what about cleaning products? Like some kind of patio cleaner or car shampoo? Does it go in the unit itself or at the business end like a spray gun? Or is it water only? You wash things separately then use the pressure washer to blast and rinse it?
Forgive my ignorance, I’ve never even seen one in the wild.
Forgive my ignorance, I’ve never even seen one in the wild.
KAgantua said:
Yes you connect it to either a hose or a reservoir (Usually a hose unless you have a huge water tank)
Yes some come with a soap dispenser that you put various products in most of the time just water is fine
Cheers.Yes some come with a soap dispenser that you put various products in most of the time just water is fine
Are they powerful enough to blast away small weeds by the way? I hate gardening/bending down.
nuyorican said:
KAgantua said:
Yes you connect it to either a hose or a reservoir (Usually a hose unless you have a huge water tank)
Yes some come with a soap dispenser that you put various products in most of the time just water is fine
Cheers.Yes some come with a soap dispenser that you put various products in most of the time just water is fine
Are they powerful enough to blast away small weeds by the way? I hate gardening/bending down.
Hi
The factory supplied hose will screw into the machine body a trigger unit.
This will typically come with a variable lance type affair, but with a bayonet fitting to remove this and attach other things (patio cleaner, drain cleaner, snow foam type dispenser, brush etc) to the trigger unit.
Each brand has their own sized bayonet making cross compatibility of tools a bit of a pian, but there's typically some over lap of some brands.
An all in one kit avoids that problem, but then you have to find somewhere to store it all.
Hth
The factory supplied hose will screw into the machine body a trigger unit.
This will typically come with a variable lance type affair, but with a bayonet fitting to remove this and attach other things (patio cleaner, drain cleaner, snow foam type dispenser, brush etc) to the trigger unit.
Each brand has their own sized bayonet making cross compatibility of tools a bit of a pian, but there's typically some over lap of some brands.
An all in one kit avoids that problem, but then you have to find somewhere to store it all.
Hth
Rustybanger said:
blueg33 said:
Rustybanger said:
Make sure you don't use an aquastop type connector, they can damage the pressure washer as they block any backflow.
Hmm. Been using one with my Nilfisk for 15 years. Surely when it’s connected it’s open, how would it block back flow?
2 split inlets on my nilfisk using one. No issues without
Thanks
Aletank said:
Rustybanger said:
blueg33 said:
Rustybanger said:
Make sure you don't use an aquastop type connector, they can damage the pressure washer as they block any backflow.
Hmm. Been using one with my Nilfisk for 15 years. Surely when it’s connected it’s open, how would it block back flow?
2 split inlets on my nilfisk using one. No issues without
Thanks
The one thing to avoid with any pressure washer is leaving them somewhere they could freeze - that’s what buggers them.
I have a mains 240v Karcher from over 20 years ago still working well as I’ve always kept in inside a shed or a garage, but a few years ago I bought a 20v battery hand held Worx for applying snow-foam and pressure washing wheels. The Worx lance attaches straight to the hose and it always works perfectly. I still use the Karcher for the yearly pathway and patio cleanse but the Worx gets used weekly for a splash and dash on whatever car/s need a wash.
I have a mains 240v Karcher from over 20 years ago still working well as I’ve always kept in inside a shed or a garage, but a few years ago I bought a 20v battery hand held Worx for applying snow-foam and pressure washing wheels. The Worx lance attaches straight to the hose and it always works perfectly. I still use the Karcher for the yearly pathway and patio cleanse but the Worx gets used weekly for a splash and dash on whatever car/s need a wash.
Another vote for Nilfisk. I’ve had two Karchers which both died shortly after the warranty expired. When I contacted their ‘customer service’ team they were argumentative and bloody rude. Replaced with a Nilfisk 120-6 which has been faultless for the last few years.
Edited by Escort3500 on Wednesday 27th March 07:54
blueg33 said:
QuickQuack said:
blueg33 said:
I assume it will need servicing like a lawnmower every now and then. How noisy is it? I live in a quiet village and N electric washer is a tad embarrassing.
Yes, it's very much like a petrol lawnmower, similar amount of noise, needs an occasional service but changing oil isn't difficult. I also live in a tiny, quiet village and others have been asking to borrow it rather than asking me not to use it so I guess they think it's fine too! I think the noise from petrol machinery is less unpleasant than electric equivalents, and it works quicker due to its sheer power so you're using it for a shorter time. Another advantage is there's no cutting out due to overheating or anything like that. If you're not averse to passing by north Northamptonshire, you'd be welcome to try it.
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