Best Small Electric Pressure Washer

[artbuc]

Had a small Karcher for almost 20 years I got for $99. It performed flawlessly on numerous projects on a regular basis but finally wore out. Looks like Sun Joe, AR and Karcher get the same overall ratings with each one having its pros/cons. I am inclined to stay with Karcher but maybe AR or Sun Joe are better.

Can anyone recommend their favorite brand? I need 1800-2000 psi with 1.5 - 2.0 gpm. Thanks.

Edit: Never mind. Just found a recent thread answering my question

 

[nerraw117]

I have a sunjoe and love it.

 

[doan]

The small electric pressure washers are generally disposable. I finally bought one of these:

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200347872_200347872

Leeson motor and CAT pump. They also have a slightly smaller one that runs on 120v. I specifically got the 230v so that it can’t be borrowed.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350515_200350515

 

[kctyphoon]

I have one of the small handheld Ryobi units. Its not that powerful as far as pressure washers go (1600 or 1800psi) but its more than enough for the small projects.

 

[Josey Wales]

Go big, or go small. My little 1.2 GPM can do almost as much as my 2.5 GPM 3100 psi model.
But my 2.5 can't touch what a 4 GPM can. I use the little electric all the time, the gas model not so much. For me the best electric pressure washer is the one that's on sale.

 

[Millwrong]

I got the Sunjoe SXP3000 because it had good reviews and the best numbers of all the 120V units I saw. Glad to say, I was not dissapointed by this unit, it's built well (for what it is), and really has some balls I wasn't expecting out of washer of its type.

 

[joseywales]

Second the Ryobi. It was an impulse purchase, to get a trailer cleaned for sale. I wanted something more powerful, but didn't want to spend more than $100 on something I hadn't researched, so I took a chance. I've had it 3-4 years now. I do the siding, deck and pool steps every year and it performs well. The only time I thought I had an issue and it was the reset button on the wall wart. I must have hit it somehow.

BTW, my FIL talked me into a heavy duty hose, to ensure proper water flow. Jesus, that freakin hose was a PITA. I only used it once and finally gave it away. I use a standard garden hose and the unit never starves for water

 

[theoldwizard1]

When you are up around 2.0 GPM you are talking about a 1 HP electric motor.

 

[artbuc]

Well, I bought the small Ryobi. Was totally impressed with fit & finish. Smooth quiet operation which made me smile. But, on second day with less than 15 minutes total run time, pump started groaning and pressure dropped substantially. Took it back to HD and got my money back. Maybe I got a rare lemon. Thought I would get another Karcher but reviews are terrible. Not sure what to do.

 

[ndnchf]

I too bought a sunjoe a couple years ago. Its great, plenty powerful for home use and much easier to use than my old gas unit. The later I gave to my son.

 

[joseywales]

Well, I bought the small Ryobi. Was totally impressed with fit & finish. Smooth quiet operation which made me smile. But, on second day with less than 15 minutes total run time, pump started groaning and pressure dropped substantially. Took it back to HD and got my money back. Maybe I got a rare lemon. Thought I would get another Karcher but reviews are terrible. Not sure what to do.

Wow. I'm telling you, I thought I was going to kill this Ryobi this year and it just keeps running. I wanted to really research one, take care of it, etc., but life intervened and I need to buy one ASAP and it was on sale. I don't do anything but run it and put it away each year and it's going on Year 3.

Is it possible you didn't get enough water supply? My FIL convinced me to buy a heavy duty hose for that reason, but my back said forget that nonsense. I gave that hose away and use a regular garden hose. I did the entire side of our house last year, while up on a ladder and it took a long time and i was quite a ways from the faucet. Then I did the deck. This year, I did the deck, pool sheds, etc., a few times in fact.

My BIL said he couldn't get his running, but I think he hit the reset on the power pack. I did that and it took a few cusses to figure it out. I assumed the unit was bad, but not so. Honestly, I'd give the Ryobi another shot. Keep in mind, anything man made can fail, even new out of the box. When working on cars, I once replaced an alternator and the issue remained. Long story short, the third time was a charm. So two bad alternators right out of the box. It happens.

 

[artbuc]

Wow. I'm telling you, I thought I was going to kill this Ryobi this year and it just keeps running. I wanted to really research one, take care of it, etc., but life intervened and I need to buy one ASAP and it was on sale. I don't do anything but run it and put it away each year and it's going on Year 3.

Is it possible you didn't get enough water supply? My FIL convinced me to buy a heavy duty hose for that reason, but my back said forget that nonsense. I gave that hose away and use a regular garden hose. I did the entire side of our house last year, while up on a ladder and it took a long time and i was quite a ways from the faucet. Then I did the deck. This year, I did the deck, pool sheds, etc., a few times in fact.

My BIL said he couldn't get his running, but I think he hit the reset on the power pack. I did that and it took a few cusses to figure it out. I assumed the unit was bad, but not so. Honestly, I'd give the Ryobi another shot. Keep in mind, anything man made can fail, even new out of the box. When working on cars, I once replaced an alternator and the issue remained. Long story short, the third time was a charm. So two bad alternators right out of the box. It happens.

Water supply is strong. That is why I mentioned our filtered city water...always clean and always 50-60 psi. I am going to get another Ryobi based on the reviews. Check out the HD reviews. Thousands say super great machine and 75 had premature failures similar to mine. Think I just got one of the rare bad ones.

 

[joseywales]

Water supply is strong. That is why I mentioned our filtered city water...always clean and always 50-60 psi. I am going to get another Ryobi based on the reviews. Check out the HD reviews. Thousands say super great machine and 75 had premature failures similar to mine. Think I just got one of the rare bad ones.

Agreed. Like you, I've often just walked after the first one is bad, but lately I'll give it another go. Also, I'm not a fan of returning an entire item, if I can fix it with their replacement parts. I saw a guy online, who was thrilled HD offer to replace an entire Dewalt saw because of some small screw, or something. That NEVER works out for me. The new unit always has more problems than the first! Better the devil you know. So, if you get a good unit and the nozzle leaks or something like that, my advice, just have them pull a new nozzle out of another unit.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[jgromada]

Another vote for the Sunjoe SXP3000
got it for Fathers Day and i am really happy with it

My son had done the research on pressure washers and i am glad he has picked up that trait from me.

 

[qqzj]

It's nice to meet you in three different forums

Had a small Karcher for almost 20 years I got for $99. It performed flawlessly on numerous projects on a regular basis but finally wore out. Looks like Sun Joe, AR and Karcher get the same overall ratings with each one having its pros/cons. I am inclined to stay with Karcher but maybe AR or Sun Joe are better.

Can anyone recommend their favorite brand? I need 1800-2000 psi with 1.5 - 2.0 gpm. Thanks.

Edit: Never mind. Just found a recent thread answering my question

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[cashishift]

I bought a Kranzle 1122TST - it's expensive, but its uber high quality and should last a very long time. I don't like buying things multiple times.. save up by a nice item once.

I got mine from www.obsessedgarage.com with the full Mosmatic setup. Worth every penny, its a pleasure to use.

 

[cashishift]

Good day. I also want to buy pressure washer, how do you think for home it will be better gas or electric device?

What will its main use?

For instance.. I often wash cars early in the morning, so a gas pressure washer was out.. I can use my electric one in the garage and my wife cant hear it in the house.

A gas one, I would have to shut off every time I went to use the sponge.. I know there are some Dewalt units coming out that have the ability to shutoff and restart via 20v battery.. but I havent seen them out yet.

Gas ones are by far more powerful and will push more GPM.. but come with negatives depending on your use case.

 

[JP Chestnut]

A Comet, industrial AR Blue, or Kranzle will all do just about anything you could want to do around the house while being a lot easy to deal with than gas. The Kranzle will be the lowest volume of the three.

 

[engineer2]

Whatever you get, make sure parts are available.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

we picked up a sunjoe 4004-max, pretty happy with it. used it on the driveway, patio, and the soffits. cleans good and has decent power. i added a longer wand( 31") , the one that comes with it is pretty short.

https://www.snowjoe.com/products/su...-2300-max-psi-1-6-gpm-included-extension-wand

 

[Krash Kadillak]

We bought a Karcher K2000 electric pressure washer in 2018. Worked good for us, but it took a long time to clean the walkway and driveway. This year, we decided to get one of those deck & driveway cleaner accessories. Bought a Karcher T-300 from the same big box store where we bought the washer.

I try to hook them up, and the male connector on the upper extension tube of the driveway cleaner doesn't match up with the business end of the pressure washer gun. I'm thinking maybe there's an adapter missing from the box. I don't see any indication of that on the cleaner unit instructions......

I call Karcher customer service. Give the details to the rep, with the model #'s etc. He comes back to the phone, and says, "Sir, those two units are not compatible." ????????????????

So, apparently some time in the last couple of years, Karcher has changed their connections on their pressure washer equipment, with no way to make them reverse-compatible. WATCH OUT!

 

[JP Chestnut]

You can probably make them compatible using various adapters.