I need to purchase a power sprayer for regular household cleaning jobs, washing the car and deck washing. I also have to clean some mold from the outside of my house before painting. Enough jobs to warrant a purchase rather than a rental.
The unit I found is on sale. Here are the specifics: Kracher, 2600 PSI, 2.3 GPM 160cc Honda engine, DD brass pump, 25′ hose.
Is this a good purchase, am I crazy and I could blow the doors off my Yukon or hose off a toe? Let me know your advice and thanks much. Mike
Replies
Honda engine - at least 11 hp, 13 is better.
Cat pump.
At least 3000 psi
And at least 3 gpm, preferably more.
Anything else is a toy that won't get some jobs done.
http://www.northerntool.com has a nice 3300 psi at 3 gpm for $899. Model 1578182-1806.
Pay real close attention to the oil levels in the pump. Never allow the pump to build pressure for more than a minute without spraying the gun to release that built up pressure.
Locate a pressure washer repair shop near you for the inevitable service. Messed up pumps are over $500 to fix.
Are you nuts?
The guy only wanted an occasional sprayer not a commercial job.
The one he asked about is fine for what he wanted. I have one I bought at pep boys for $99 works fine.
Ok. If you say so.
What I suggested was not a commercial job. I woulda suggeted a 4 gpm, 3500 psi hot water job then.
But maybe, I use mine more than you use yours. In 15 years, I've gone thru two pumps. I don't like to rebuy equipment that was undersized and not designed for longetivity.
But some people do...
Thanks for the advice. I am not a builder - or even a craftsman for that matter. Just need to do an adequate job for as little capital investment as possible. Can I assume the Honda engine is like their car engine - good for hours of service? Also I am concerned about the pump overheating if the sprayer is not used for over a minute - is that also an issue with a sprayer of this quality? Last, why would it cost in excess of $500 to repair when I am spending @ $330 on the whole machine in the first place?Thanks, Mike
I upgraded to a similar spec as the one you are looking at but with a Briggs engine. I would expect the Honda engine to be a better engine. I use it mostly for prepaint prep. I think the washer you are looking at should work well for you. Actually, it is more powerful than is recommended for cedar siding. You want to be careful anytime you use a power washer on wood. It can crush the fibers and event tear them away, leaving a jagged, splintery mess.You do not want to try to remove the mold with a power washer. Spray on a bleach solution to kill the mold. There are various products from Jomax to oxygen based bleaches. A power washer makes quick work of the rinse stage, taking more dirt with it than an ordinary garden hose.As far as overheating, I think the instructions for mine say to not let it run more than five minutes without spraying. It does have a thermal valve which releases a spray of water on the ground if it gets too hot. I think these are standard for the gas models and should minimize damage from running too long without spraying.
Thanks Kurt. My assessment of the Honda engine is based on reputation alone. They seem to run forever. Most of my cleaning will be 'general' type cleaning. Maybe even give the golf clubs a good power bath. My intent with the house is to spray on either bleach or TSP with a typical garden sprayer and then the power wash. Should not prove to be too difficult. I could go electric - much easier to take care of and more mobile - but a lot less powerful - 1800 PSI. Any opinion?Mike
I think that the 1800 psi electric would be OK, but minimal.A friend of mine got an electric. I think 1200 psi.IT IS WORTHLESS. I tried to warner her, but that is what she wanted.I used it once on wood and while I can use it for free it was cheaper for me to rent an larger one.To get any kind of cleaning action of wood deck I had to hold the nozzle about 2-3" away. And it is hard to keep it at that distance. It was eazy to move from 2 to 2.5" and completely stop cleaning or move from 2 to 1.5" and start digging into the wood. Also at that distance the width covered was very narrow. So it was SLOW.And not a huge amount of water flow to help rinse stuff away..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I have a 13hp honda with Cat pump 3500psi, 4gpm, has enough power to blow you skirt up!! way over kill just for around the house use. Sounds like what he has spec'ed out will do him fine.
Any 3000 psi model is overkill for the weekend warrior who uses it a dozen or so times a year and for short periods of time. With that said, the model you mention is what I would've bought myself if I had the money and money was not an option. The problem is that the weekend warrior would have a tough time to justify the cost or power.
Now, with all of that said, what is the planned working distance for the washer? 1 ft, 5 ft, 10 ft, 20 ft. The greater PSI is beneficial for longer range washing...example, washing the siding on the second floor of your house while standing on the ground.
I have found that for anything close, i.e. I can get within 5 ft of with the tip of the wand, my 2400 Briggs and Stratton $300 model from HD has been just fine. It came with a variable degree wand tip and on the middle angle setting, it will carve wood..I know...I have a gouge on a deck board to demonstrate that. That was from a working distance of ~2 ft.
The best investment I made was to buy a rotating head. For those that don't know, it concentrates the water into a fine jet (highest PSI level) and then rotates the fine jet into a cone pattern. You get all the benefits of a powerful jet with the benefit of a wide spray pattern. Makes cleaning anything so much easier and faster...you have to be very careful about damaging stuff with this though.
DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER ON CARS IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM!!!!!
That is the worst thing you can do to a paint job. The pressure washer will hit the small dirt particles with such force that it will create small microscratches. It will also force water into places that water shouldn't go. If you care about your paint, handwash only using a soft chenille wash mitt and a two bucket system (1 soap, 1 rinse water.) Skip the self service and automatic car washes. The brushes/clothes there are swirl makers.
I always give my car a soap presoak and rinse before I reapply the soap and handwash. I use this and love it:
http://www.autogeek.net/auqufofogun.html
How to wash a car correctly:
http://www.autogeek.net/exterior.html
Let me put it this way:
My kid has one like you descibe. But it's not a Honda engine. Has had it for 5 - 6 years. I have one like I described earlier.
His is a POS. It's hard to start, the pump needs rebuilding, and the frame has become wiggley.
Mine will sit for 6 to eight months at a time. And start on the first pull. The finish on the wnad and machine is in much better shape that his. And mine is at least 5 years older than his.
But be careful with the bigger units beause they will take the paint of the Tahoe. And do a much better job on the ceement drive, deck, whatever.
Edited 3/31/2008 4:03 pm ET by peteshlagor
That ought to work fine. I've got a little electric Huskey, maybe 1200, that washes cars, boats, house, and with the nifty circular brush thing, does decks quickly and evenly. Thing cost 69 bucks and has lasted more than 5 years... real easy to carry and store, too. Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy,
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
Thanks again for the advice. Clearly I do not want to take the paint off my Yukon - my teenage son does that just fine thank you. What I need to do is clean-up around the house. Some winter mold on the roughsawn cedar, clean my car from time-to-time, clean the deck, the garage floor, outdoor furniture etc.. The electric one I looked at has an automatic pump shut-off when the spray trigger is not in use. A great feature but not available on the gas model. I also have a honda engine on my lawnmower - starts like a champ every summer. The engine is probably good.Mike
Too high of pressure can be you worst enemy on wood!!! That's what they make chemical & elbow greasee for!!
Been there, done that!
I have rented on several times and when I do I get the smallest gas unit that they have. I believe that it is about the size that you are talking about..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I see you're in Michigan.
Remember to drain the water out of the pump in the fall. I always run some RV anti freeze thru the unit till it comes out of the gun.
A little water is all you need to freeze and crack the pump. Makes for an expensive repair. ( and yes, don't ask how I know! )
Have fun cleaning everything in sight...buic
Undie
You know, it's funny, I think about that very question a lot. I wanted one bad before I bought mine but was worried I was getting something I'd never use or wouldn't get enough use out of.
I was wrong. I get that thing out every few weeks for one thing or another and am glad I have it for the use I get out of it and the work it saves me. Elbow grease? PAH! Never do by hand what you can do with a machine!
I have a 3700psi pump with 13hp honda. I can't recall the pump brand but it is an upper tier manufacturer. An Italian name, IIRC.
The thing I think about is, would I buy the same size if I were ever to get another? The answer is yes. I always have the option of using a lower pressure but I never do. I always crank the thing up as far as it will go.
Even at the highest pressure, it won't get all the mold or mildew on paint. I live in Seattle and anything that gets rained on turns green. That stuff comes off nicely but again, I use it full pressure. I've experimented with distance and spray divergence angle and I estimate that I couldn't do what I typically use it for with any significant loss in power.
No question, this thing is powerful. I can blow off a 100' driveway with about a pint of water. But a lot of the crud I'm trying to clean takes everything it's got - especially if I want to get it done before the cows come home. For sure it will fuzz up bare wood but that's up to you and how far you hold it from the surface. I cleaned off 150 ft of fence a couple months ago that had turned grey. Thought I would bleach it brown again with chemicals then blow it clean with the sprayer. Not so much luck with the chemicals and when spraying it off, just went ahead and scoured the gray weathered surface right off. It was a little fuzzy in places, I even thought about sanding it, but, hey, it's a fence. After it dried the texture helped soak up preservative and the fence now looks spectacular.
Before investing in a machine, rent a big one. In some ways you may find it more powerful than you need (actually can't think of any examples) but in some important others you will find you need what it's got. Try one out - bigger IS better. My sprayer is one of many many tools but one of my favorites. There is a kind of critical mass for size. You have to get one big enough or just as well use the garden hose and save some bread.
If you get one, try to find one with a Rapid-Reel brand reel as part of the frame. That is one thing I totally wish I had. Also, don't get a cheapie, get a good pump.
One final thing, MAKE SURE THE TIP IS FULLY SEATED before pulling the trigger! I swear I had one pushed all the way in, collar all the way out, but BOOM it shot off across the yard and probably across the street and into the school playground. I looked for hours but never found it. I was looking right at it, saw the blast of water and where it should have gone but the tip disappeared, the green one, the one I always use. Bright green tip, lawn short and brown, the street gray, the playground covered in chipped wood - where in tarnation did it go!? Fifteen bucks! Sigh. Don't let that happen to you!
- r
Maybe that's what happened to the heat tile on the Columbia...
...ping!
Ruin: I found mine - or the one I want to purchase - at Costco. Probably last year's model. They have an excellent bring back warranty. I think it is a year and then if I buy with my AmericanExpress card I get an additional year warranty. I'm not a tool guy as you probably figured. But I do need to clean so much stuff to sell my home that this is a first step up that gigantic mountain. Wish me luck. After all I can use it to clean my kids?Just kidding.Mike
That's funny, Undie! That's where I got mine, too!
Remember, always have the water on to it while it's running and release the pressure when you're not actively using it. Have fun! - r
To continue the thread, I have a question:
I wash my exterior house paint every two years in the spring and I'm due up in a couple of weekends. Typically, I use a bucket of soapy water and a carwash brush and elbow grease, but I'm fat and old now, so I'm looking for a power washer.My paint is good, but the lap siding is old and I don't want to push a whole lot of water up into the wall cavities. What size pump should I get?I assume I'd just spray up a TSP, soap, and water solution with a garden hose and the pressure wash off? Anyone want to enlighten me as to proper technique?Thanks.
I don't want to push a whole lot of water up into the wall cavities. What size pump should I get?
It's not the pump size that matters here. The small electric models will still push water into cavities. It's the angle that you need to be worried about. Keep the spray tip perpendicular to the work surface to avoid pushing water between the clapboards.
There was an article in FHB recently about how to clean a house with a pressure washer. Not sure which issue...maybe a year ago?
Robert,
I'd rent one, experiment with it and get a feel for what it can do and what you want it to do. Some things you think they might be able to do they can't. Other things they can do that might surprise you. The more pressure it can develop, the faster you can get the job done. The other aspect is, some things you just can't do unless you have enough pressure. If you rent, get something big (3000psi at least not more than 3700 - you can operate it at any lower pressure) and has a set of tips you can change. If you use it once a year, I'd recommend renting. Machines like to be used to stay alive, they take up space and require maintenance. And the good ones are pricey.
When you start, be cautious. Approach the surface slowly and carefully until you see what it does. Keep control and a firm grip! Pulling the trigger at high pressure there's a kick. If you have any loose or bubbling paint, it'll come off.
I hear you about the work. Scrubbing is hard work and TSP is nasty stuff. A machine might save you that and time. Plus, they're fun. - r
Ruin: Thanks for the encouragement. I plan on washing my house and deck with TSP but in your last entry you suggested it is nasty stuff? Why? What should I look out for and what precautions should I take before my 'Big Wash'?Mike
What are you wanting to do with the bleach or TSP wash? Mold problems or? I only use diluted TSP for the deck if I plan to recoat the stain and also for new paint either inside or out. Tsp will strip the finish off and leave the surface almost chalky, rough feeling which is great for new paint to grab ahold, but I would not use it as a maintenance type cleaning.
Jeff: I am going to clean two to three years of mold on the outside of my house. It disappears by mid summer on the exposed sides - I suspect the sun light kills it. However where the sun cannot reach it has grown with out restraint. I also have to clean the rest of the things in and around my house. I do have to retain my deck this summer so I will use TSP on the deck - bleach on the siding and a final wash from the power sprayer. I do plan on leaving the paint on my Yukon - although everyone who parks next to me at the grocery store has a different idea.Mike
Undie,
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Usually when we use that stuff it is pretty concentrated. Consider that one of its main uses is for etching paint! Something powerful enough to etch paint is a serious agent. It’ll burn your hands much worse than concrete. Wearing rubber gloves is indicated but if you’re reaching up to scrub, the stuff will dribble down to your elbows or all the way down your arms and when you put your hands down, it runs into your gloves. Very annoying! And it hurts! It will also rot cotton. Not as bad as battery acid but pretty bad. Don’t wear cotton unless it’s some junky stuff!
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Potted plants might be a concern but I wouldn’t worry too much about shrubs or grass if hosed off after. After diluting with rinse water, it will probably turn the grass green. It is a phosphate, of course, which is a fertilizer and is one of the chemicals that produces algae blooms in lakes and oceans and why it was limited in laundry detergents and why houses along Lake Washington here in Seattle were required to go to city sewer. It doesn’t decompose in the soil but slowly leaches into groundwater and reservoirs.
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Since you’re just cleaning you might just limit the concentration, strong enough to have a good effect but not too strong to ameliorate its potency. Great stuff, though! - r
I have owned a honda 13 hp 4000 psi, 4.o gpm for nine years. Works great , but I am using less often for a couple reasons:
(a) Some household pumps are in bad shape - pump could burn up.
(b) You will have to clean all your windows by hand.
(c) Injects water into the wood that you are going to paint - Not good
(d) Will dull vinyl siding. Seems to strip off a coating.
(e) Will remove paint form car.
(f) Some homes are not sided properly. Water damage. Water inside house.
Crazy: Clearly I do not want to pump high pressure water into my house. And in my case that could be a possibility - the siding is +60 years old. But I do not want to reside since my kids are now almost through college - my bride left - and its condo time. Thanks for you insight. I might just save my $350.00 and buy a new driver - I like the R7 from TaylorMade.Mike