Getting ready to buy a gas powered pressure washer for cleaning up around here. Its' largest job will be cleaning the concrete every couple years or so and smaller jobs will be to clean brick on the house and wood on the back porch, probably when I do the concrete. Other than that it may be used a few times a year to spray mud or salt out from under the truck or something along those lines. I was set to buy one that is rated at 3200 psi but was doing some reading that says that much pressure may be very hard on the mortar in the bricks, so now I'm thinking about one in the 2500 lb area. What would you do? What have you done and what was your experience?

Thanks.

Harbor freight

my Hotsy Shark is rated at @ 4000 psi IIRC... also has a regulator to lower pressure... i just leave it wide open and back away a bit for delicate stuff... more is better IMO...

Get one somewhere around 2800-3000 psi and just use the wand tip with the widest spray pattern that comes with the machine and stand back a bit until you see how things are going.

I suspect most of those numbers are assigned in the marketing departments much like the HP ratings used to be. If you could test them they would not meet the ratings.

A unit with about a 5 HP motor will easily do what you are describing. The risk of damaging things depends more on how close you hold the nozzle than the ratings.

If you don't use it very often remember to run it out of gas before storing it and don't store it where it might freeze.


Jerry

Throw GPM into the equation.

Higher pressure without the flow to back it up is meaningless.

I finally figgered that out, and it’s amazing what the higher flow will do for you.

You’ll have (should have) a selection of nozzles that come with the unit. With one you can literally drill a hole in concrete and others provide a softer pattern.

The distance from the nozzle to the job being done matters a lot.

Working in the oilfield I have a lot of hours using a pressure washer. I liked high volume at moderate pressure better Than low volume high pressure.

I've got a 3300 Honda I got on sale at Sam's for $349 that does everything I need it to do.

Just either back away or use a wider spray tip for more delicate jobs. I personally have never changed the tip on mine.

Can always turn it down….cant turn it up.

Whatever you do, I recommend a Honda motor and a Cat pump. The Honda because of the infrequent starts. I don't use TrueFuel beacuse I $18 for a gallon seems ridiculous, but non-ethanol and fuel stabilizer is your friend. I usually prime mine, but I rarely have to pull more than 3 times. No non-Honda I had was anywhere near as easy to start even with the same care and I don't buy el cheapo stuff, so I am a Honda believer. I have no evidence other than anecdotal, but my Cat pumps have always lasted. I ended up with a Dewalt from HD because it was on sale. I think it was $500 to $600. It came with different nozzles and the poster who said one will eat concrete and he is right. Don't ask.

Regards,

Kris

Whatever you do, I recommend a Honda motor and a Cat pump. The Honda because of the infrequent starts. I don't use TrueFuel beacuse I $18 for a gallon seems ridiculous, but non-ethanol and fuel stabilizer is your friend. I usually prime mine, but I rarely have to pull more than 3 times. No non-Honda I had was anywhere near as easy to start even with the same care and I don't buy el cheapo stuff, so I am a Honda believer. I have no evidence other than anecdotal, but my Cat pumps have always lasted. I ended up with a Dewalt from HD because it was on sale. I think it was $500 to $600. It came with different nozzles and the poster who said one will eat concrete and he is right. Don't ask.

Regards,

Kris

I've owned 4 or 5 over the years and now own a Dewalt 3300. Does everything I need it for. Whatever you do , heed the advice here and do not under any circumstances let the women folk use it! Trust me , they will fry your pump!

GPM in most cases trumps PSI.

id go to lowes,homedepot,harbor freight,northern tool,tractor supply and buy one at 2800 -3000 psi and use it until it dies . no need to spend a fortune. northern tool has extra hoses,extension hoses and about any other acc you can think of at good prices.

just make sure you drain it good before winter

heat and good soap are much more important then pressure.

I agree...

Try Vevor... https://www.vevor.com/s/pressure-washers

https://www.vevor.com/pressure-wash...rs-homes-driveways-patios-p_010356126885

or

https://www.vevor.com/pressure-wash...rs-homes-driveways-patios-p_010834768806

Vevor has done me well on quite a few things...

Look for higher GPM.That is what will get the job done a lot quicker.

I bought a Husqvarna Model JDX268 (made in Japan) that was on sale at Costco online with free shipping. I don't remember the price but was cheaper than anything I could find anywhere else that was comparable.

It is rated at 3200PSI/2.5 GPM and it idles real slow until you pull the trigger and it starts spraying. If I'm worried about damaging something I just move farther away. It will use a gallon of soap quickly so you have to keep an eye on the soap level.

I farm and ranch so I got a monster which you don't need but make sure you release the pressure every 30 seconds or so if you go electric.

Running soap through your pump will rapidly reduce the life of your pump and pressure control equipment on your unit.

The soap doesn't go through the pump. It is siphoned out by the water after it is has already pressurized and is set on a low pressure setting.

+1

I really did myself a favor with a surface cleaner. Northern Tool sends out $20 off $100 coupons all the time, so when this went on sale for $99.99 I picked it up for $79.99. A surface cleaner is faster and much less effort.



Surface Cleaner

At 2700 PSI the best purchase I’ve made is a Ryobi electric. At less than $300 at Lowes/Home Depot it’s been three years of absolutely trouble free use. Electric is just so much easier than gas and it is plenty powerful.

Found out the hard way not draining ours during winter 😟

Thanks everyone. Went with the H.F. 3200psi gas unit. A 25% off coupon made it $300.00. I figured for that money if it last several years great, if not, at least I'm not out much. A couple of friends have some of their Predator engines on different machines and haven't has any problems.

I do normally run small engines out of fuel when done using them and it will be stored in a garage that doesn't normally get below freezing. I do intend to also drain the pump.

Ask me for a long term review in a couple years.

Thanks again,
Dave.