Electric pressure washers are known for being quiet and easy to maintain. Just plug them in and they’re good to go. Whether you need a washer to clean walkways, decks or you vehicle, there is a good pressure washer for that. Here are the best pressure washers for tackling any job.
Bosch EasyAquatak High-Pressure Washer
Easily portable
The Bosch EasyAquatak pressure washer is easy to carry around and use where you need it. It is perfect for small jobs like cleaning decks and walkways, or for getting grime in hard-to-reach places on your car. It comes with several nozzles and has an onboard storage compartment to keep them together when not in use. You can change the pressure of the water stream and can use soap, too, without harming the washer.
Vytronix High Power Electric Pressure Washer
All-around good machine
The Vytronix pressure washer can be set and used on a low setting that is good for cars, decks, patio furniture, and other more delicate surfaces. But it can also be set o provide a strong water stream to tackle jobs on harder surfaces including bricks, cement, and stone. The wand features an easy, trigger mechanism that gives you great control as you clean. The power cable is 5 metres long, so is the hose to give you good reach.
Ryobi RPW150XRB Corded Pressure Washer
Like a pro
This pressure washer has a lot of power to tackle the biggest and hardest of jobs. It has an incorporated water tank that holds 1 litre of water. You can add and use soap, too. The attached hose is 8 metres long and has several attachments to extend your reach even further. These include two lances, a rotary brush, and a surface cleaner that is 30 centimeters wide. The hose is attached to a reel that you simply turn to wind up and store.
Karcher Power Control Pressure Washer
Digital controls
The Karcher high-pressure washer comes with an app that walks you through the settings based on your cleaning project. This is helpful so you don’t accidentally damage something with water pressure that is too high, or overexert yourself cleaning a large area with a lower setting. The Karcher pressure washer includes two nozzles that attach to the 8 metre long hose. This machine has wheels, so it’s easy to move and position where you are, and an LED digital display rather than simple knobs and button settings. It’s safe to use detergent along with the water in this washer.
What to consider when buying a pressure washer
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Pressure washer safety:
Before buying a pressure washer, you should be aware that it can cause serious injuries if used improperly. For this reason, you shouldn't use the machine until you read the manual and are using proper safety equipment. Anderson says that Mi-T-M asks users to "follow all safety instructions on decals located on the washer and always wear safety goggles and closed-toe shoes to protect yourself from the possibility of direct spray." Regardless of safety equipment, keep the spray away from people and animals.
With electric pressure washers, check that your power cord has a working ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) by hitting the "test" button before every use. While a GFCI can help prevent electrocution, you should keep water away from electrical cords and outlets as much as possible. Lastly, always turn the machine off and pull the trigger a few times to release any remaining pressure when you're not actively using it, when switching nozzles, or performing maintenance.
Pressure and flow rate of pressure washers:
When buying a pressure washer, pay attention to the pressure rating, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI,) and the water flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM.) In fact, you can get a quick idea of the cleaning power by multiplying PSI and GPM together to get what pressure washer manufacturers call cleaning units (CU.) While higher pressure and flow rate lead to more cleaning power, Anderson says "in most cases, a 2,000 PSI pressure washer will be sufficient for most homeowner cleaning tasks."
Likewise, our testing revealed that pressure washers with ratings as low as 1,500 PSI are good for most homeowners, though they can take longer to match the results of more powerful units. As such, you can expect to use most electric pressure washers for cleaning cars, wood decks, plastic patio furniture, and concrete.
Pressure washer nozzles
Nozzles are rated in degrees with lower numbers, meaning more concentrated streams for jobs that require more power. However, no nozzle is perfect for every task, so while a 15-degree nozzle is great for cleaning mildew and stains off of concrete, it's less-suitable than a 40- or 65-degree nozzle for applying soap to and washing a car.
Top Ten Reviews cautions against using red zero-degree nozzles, as well as similarly performing turbo nozzles because they are too powerful for inexperienced residential users. However, Anderson says that when these nozzles are used properly, they can be very useful for removing tough stains from concrete and metal.
