Electric powerwashers: junk?

user760a
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4/13/2016 10:48am Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 7:09pm
I am seeking opinions on electric powerwashers, mainly for bike washing (of course) but occasional "around the house" BS jobs as well. I read a review of a Karcher unit in one of the bike magazines a while back that was pretty favorable. Do these things hold up?
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4/13/2016 10:52am
I've been using an electric Karcher for the last 5+ years, still working fine.
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mx510
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4/13/2016 10:53am Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 10:55am
Compared to a Honda gas unit, yes they are junk. There are some good ones though, I had ok luck with the Home Depot electric power washer.
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philG
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4/13/2016 10:55am
buy cheap.. buy often.. i like the size of the real small Karcher, but they dont last long,but the trade off is it weighs nothing, and sits on a shelf in the truck. Bad part is that it will break and you will need another.

Good expensive Karchers are good , they have proper pumps that you can repair and get in to , the small ones are disposables IMHO
user760a
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4/13/2016 10:59am Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 11:01am
Interesting. It appears that the cute little Karcher on four wheels, the "follow me" as they call it, can be had well under $200. I suppose Im not really taking a huge gamble at that price. It looks like it is very lightweight and portable. internet reviews are generally pretty good. Maybe I will try it, I dont want a 3000 psi monster anyway, so 1800 psi from a small electric unit may be fine?
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The Shop

BAMX
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4/13/2016 11:00am
mx510 wrote:
Compared to a Honda gas unit, yes they are junk. There are some good ones though, I had ok luck with the Home Depot electric power...
Compared to a Honda gas unit, yes they are junk. There are some good ones though, I had ok luck with the Home Depot electric power washer.
I would agree with this. I have had a few electric units and the Karcher seem as good as any but not as good as the gas powered unit that I have now. You can extend the life of the electric units by being easy on the hose and not dry running the thing.
early
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4/13/2016 11:07am
Ive been using a cheap one i got from Target for 5 years. Of course the hose broke but i scavenged one from a brother in laws busted gas unit. Pressure shutoff switch is a bit flakey too. Bottom line, its not gonna last forever but its small, quiet, convenient, cheap, and fine for washing bikes and cars without ruining seals or paint.
cwtoyota
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4/13/2016 11:10am
mx510 wrote:
Compared to a Honda gas unit, yes they are junk. There are some good ones though, I had ok luck with the Home Depot electric power...
Compared to a Honda gas unit, yes they are junk. There are some good ones though, I had ok luck with the Home Depot electric power washer.
BAMX wrote:
I would agree with this. I have had a few electric units and the Karcher seem as good as any but not as good as the...
I would agree with this. I have had a few electric units and the Karcher seem as good as any but not as good as the gas powered unit that I have now. You can extend the life of the electric units by being easy on the hose and not dry running the thing.
That's my feeling on the matter too. I have a 5 HP Honda unit and have used a Karcher owned by a friend.

The gas powered washers don't need to put out more pressure, it's the water volume that makes them better.
Anything in the 2000 - 3000 PSI range is more than you need for a dirt bike.

More water volume means you can fan out the spray nozzle wider and cover more area while moving faster.
That electric unit will clean a bike just fine. It just takes 30% longer to get the job done.
Since I haven't owned one, I can't say anything about reliability of the electric unit.
bayodome
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4/13/2016 11:12am
Bought a Husky pressure washer for $100 from Home Depot in 2009. Have used it probably an average of once per week since then. Have needed to replace some seals a couple of times but otherwise works perfect for washing bikes. Gas powered washers are excessive IMO for cleaning bikes.
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CarlinoJoeVideo
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4/13/2016 11:35am
I've used some electric washers that work really well.
Camp332
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4/13/2016 11:59am
bayodome wrote:
Bought a Husky pressure washer for $100 from Home Depot in 2009. Have used it probably an average of once per week since then. Have needed...
Bought a Husky pressure washer for $100 from Home Depot in 2009. Have used it probably an average of once per week since then. Have needed to replace some seals a couple of times but otherwise works perfect for washing bikes. Gas powered washers are excessive IMO for cleaning bikes.
I'm with bayo. Once my 15 year old craftsman gas pressure washer bit the bucket. I got the Home Depot Ryobi electric deal. It's perfect for bikes. Quieter, no oil and gas. Just plug it in. Also the price tag is great.
moto314
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4/13/2016 1:20pm
I have a 5 plus year old Karcher, it is ok, better than the hose, I don't use it every wash, maybe every 5 times. I have had to make small repairs to it twice.
2b
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4/13/2016 1:39pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 1:40pm
I have a Karcher Electric unit that i brought 8-9 years ago for $160 NZ or less than $100 U.S

the thing is still going strong today! good value!
cant count the number of jobs its done, to waterblasting the whole roof of my house/concrete and alot of bike washing.

cant wash bike at the track though, as there is a hose there that a petrol water blaster could be hooked up to, no biggie.
Radical
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4/13/2016 1:50pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 1:53pm
I have the Sun Joe SPX 3000. I'm very, very happy with it.

Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sun-Joe-Pressure-Joe-2-030-psi-1-76-GPM-14-5…

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Joe-SPX3000-Electric-Pressure-14-5-Amp/dp/B00CPGM…

This is the newer model.
http://www.amazon.com/Joe-SPX3001-Electric-Pressure-Washer/dp/B00LX8Z03…

I don't use the soap bottles since they're supposed to be flushed each time you use them. An external sprayer is easier to maintain.
I spray down the bike with 20% Simple Green, then pressure wash it with the 15 degree tip.

It works well!

PDiddy241
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4/13/2016 2:02pm
IMO the gas-powered pressure washers are too much for cleaning a bike and they're heavy and loud(er). You also have to maintain them from time-to-time.

For the money of a good gas-powered pressure washer you can buy several electric power washers.

I've had two electric power washers (Karcher and something else from Home Depot). Both started "pulsing" from time-to-time like they were running out of water which was annoying...

The Karcher lasted about 5 years and my second one is just fine after 3-4. Both under $200 at Home Depot.
Zaugg
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4/13/2016 2:23pm
I've used both and glad I spent the money on the electric. I'm not using it for industrial purposes so no need to go big.
It cleans the bike and does all the BS things around the house just fine. Got mine at Lowes.

4/13/2016 4:00pm
Ive got a harbor freight power washer and it works great. I wouldn't say its over powered at all but it makes cleaning the bike much easier compared to just using the garden hose.
neysbo
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4/13/2016 4:11pm
I would get a small gas powered one. That way you are not dependent on having electricity depending on where you are. You only need like a 2000 PSI one and will be set.
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4/13/2016 4:17pm
I've seen too many friends dead Karchers to buy one and luckily always had good water pressure at the hose where I have lived. Recently bought a decent size Hitachi to blast off flakey house paint and it's done that and some, but too early to call on longevity. Has a detergent mixer also on back and the house reel keeps it tidy although it does tip over easily


Been very happy with all my Hitachi products
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tempura
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4/13/2016 4:19pm
I had a karcher for about 6 years without issues. This past winter I forgot to store it properly after use, and it got left out in a freeze and snow. That finished it off..
I went out and bought another karcher. They are great for cleaning bikes, not too much pressure.
bvm111
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4/13/2016 4:55pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 4:56pm
I have a 99 dollar electric special from lowes... It's even Kawasaki green... Works great, 2 years and counting ... Even if it breaks every 2 years how many replacements can you buy compared to a gas unit?
newmann
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4/13/2016 5:12pm
I hope electrics aren't junk. Just had one delivered.Smile

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MX558
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4/13/2016 5:14pm
The Karcher is nice . I recently bought a Farm&Fleet electric one not sure brand as a spare and what a pos it lasted about 10 washes. I've had a Honda 2300 gas from home depot for 5 years and it's great . Only cost $250
crusher773
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4/13/2016 5:22pm
I'm only on my second one in 15 years. The old one didn't even break I just decided to upgrade. I don't understand spending that much just to wash bikes.
Highsider
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4/13/2016 5:25pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 6:04pm
Ive got a harbor freight power washer and it works great. I wouldn't say its over powered at all but it makes cleaning the bike much...
Ive got a harbor freight power washer and it works great. I wouldn't say its over powered at all but it makes cleaning the bike much easier compared to just using the garden hose.
I bought a H Freight unit for $125 + $8 for 2-year warranty. When it quit they said they can't replace it, so they gave me back the entire amount including warranty and tax.

Same thing with an $89 + $6 ext warr Walmart unit and they gave me an online full credit to spend on anything.
hvaughn88
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4/13/2016 5:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/13/2016 5:35pm
I got a little ryobi electric one as a Christmas gift. Haven't even used it yet. Anybody used one of these?:



Spooner
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4/13/2016 5:35pm
bvm111 wrote:
I have a 99 dollar electric special from lowes... It's even Kawasaki green... Works great, 2 years and counting ... Even if it breaks every 2...
I have a 99 dollar electric special from lowes... It's even Kawasaki green... Works great, 2 years and counting ... Even if it breaks every 2 years how many replacements can you buy compared to a gas unit?
I have the same one and it's been great for almost 2 years. Someone mentioned freezing them-that happened to me once with an old one and that will kill it fast. I just keep it in the basement with my bike now to be sure it doesn't happen again. I can't believe how many of my friends take their bike to the car wash. Probably in 4 washes you would have paid for the electric one.
4/13/2016 5:35pm
Good to hear the Karcher has worked well for many folks.
Sounds like the price is pretty low for the years of service.
They are on with the TLD race graphics which is pretty cool.
4/13/2016 6:28pm
bvm111 wrote:
I have a 99 dollar electric special from lowes... It's even Kawasaki green... Works great, 2 years and counting ... Even if it breaks every 2...
I have a 99 dollar electric special from lowes... It's even Kawasaki green... Works great, 2 years and counting ... Even if it breaks every 2 years how many replacements can you buy compared to a gas unit?
I just bought one of these. Works great, but I wrap a plastic bag around the part of the power cord that houses the fuse/reset button, because my wife got that wet on the last washer and it ruined the reset system. I had to straight wire it to work, so I bought another for safety reasons. Otherwise, they're damned good little washers.
chris225
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4/13/2016 6:34pm
I also use the harbor freight one since I already have a generator with me at the track. Worked great all last year. I'm sure it will break but it was under $100
netsleb229
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4/13/2016 6:49pm
Electric all the way. Small, quite and inexpensive. Just the right amount of pressure to get the bike clean and keep bearings intact. I bought a two stroke generator from harbor freight so I can use it at the track. Pretty sweet setup for under 200 and for that price you get a pressure washer and generator.

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