If you are a homeowner there probably has been a time when you considered renting or even purchasing a power washer. When you consider that the price of renting a machine might run anywhere from $45 to $55 per day, the relatively low prices on electric power washers make their purchase very enticing. For example, Karcher pressure washers retail anywhere from $85 to over $300 at the time of this writing. I use Karcher pressure washer as an example since they are probably the best known name in the electric machines.
The real question lies in the specific use you expect to get out of your machine. If you are the type of home owner who has one project in mind like washing down a deck before staining, then the purchase of a machine might not be practical. Yet if you regularly maintain and clean your outside areas like decks, porches, patio furniture, driveways and walkways then purchasing a power washer makes good sense. The question now becomes what type of machine will you need, an electric or gasoline powered pressure washer?
An electric power washer has many appealing qualities to the homeowner. There is no worry about purchasing fuel and storing it. Power is immediate and the electric motor is quiet when compared to any gas powered machine. On the negative side is you have to have access to electrical power. So you have to ask if you have outdoor outlets conveniently placed around your home? If not, are you willing to drag long extension cords to where ever you job is located? If so, be sure to get an extension cord rated for the proper power of your machine.
When electric power washers began to grow in popularity, they were relatively small machines and only had the ability to spray water under pressure. The current machines provide more then enough power to clean anything around the home and most have the ability to mix cleaning agents into the spray. There are all sorts of accessories available also that will make any job easier.
The Karcher pressure washer is the most popular electric machine for home owner use. As the prices increase you’ll find improvements in the type of motor used as well as included kits including all kinds of accessories which would be extras on the less expensive models. So as in most things in life, you definitely get what you pay for.
As you might expect, there is a world of difference in the pressure provided by electric machines and even consumer type gas models. The Karcher pressure washer maxes out at about 2000 PSI while entry level gas powered machines start at around 2500 PSI or more. The electric pressure washers have their place but I can’t see them replacing gas powered machines for serious cleaning any time soon.
But as said, if you are a home owner looking to do yearly cleanups around the home, you really can’t go wrong with an electric pressure washer. The biggest decision is deciding which package of accessories and machine fits your purposes best.
Top Picks: The K 5.540 from Karcher is built to last and their TOP OF THE LINE ”If I were shopping for an electric pressure washer for home use, this would be my choice.” …DOC
HOT TIP: If I wanted an electric power washer for my business, these models are tops…Doc
