Gas engined pressure washers are fine, especially outdoors and for those that don't even like to think about mixing water and electricity. However, real electric pressure washers are the thing for occasional and indoor use. I have both a gas and an electric and I use the electric 7 out of ten times because it doesn't weigh as much and I can use it indoors.
However, forget the cheap crappy Husky, Karcher and various chinese made cheap electric pressure washers. I have and recommend the Annovi Reverbi AR630, it's about $700 new and worth every penny. It has a plunger style pump, brass pump body and will work on any 20 amp 110 outlet. Here's a link to a place that sells them. It's made in Italy and it works!
http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/AR-AR630-Pressure-Washer/p2746.html
I have sold and service industrial pressure washers for 28 years as my sole source of income, so I believe I know a lot about them.
1. Honcho is correct, this is an industrial duty unit. Have sold and repaired many over the years and wouldn't hesitate to sell them again. All have been in high use applications and hold up well, and parts are available.
2. Az Scooter also knows what he is talking about. The wobble plate pumps on the whole are homeowner junk that are unrepairable.
3. Vertical shaft washers are a waste of money.
4. There are 2 grades of Honda motors. The GX series which have been around for decades cannot be beat. The GC series are not heavy duty and are not worth having if you plan on using your machine often or keeping it for years.
5. Always test your water supply before you buy a machine. Take the garden hose you will be using and a 5 gallon bucket and a watch with a second hand. See how much water you can put in the bucket through the hose in 1 min. Then buy a pressure washer that only uses 80% of that volume of water.
6. I'll take higher volume over higher pressure everytime. Once you get over 1500 psi, you are over the threshold pressure it takes to remove most soils. With higher volume, you can move your wand quicker and get your job done faster, provided you have the water volume needed. Higher pressure just wears out the hose, unloader, pump packings faster. I know its much easier to sell higher pressure cause it seems to make sense, but I proven it too many times to be false. Oh, higher pressure also beats whatever you are cleaning to death.
7. Avoid machines that have the unloader built into the head of the pump. The unloader valve is a wear item, so you want a screw on or bolt on unloader.
8. Some folks said don't let the machine run for long with out letting off the pressure. This is correct except the reasoning is wrong. When the trigger is shut off and the machine goes into bypass, pressure is relieved. What happens if left too long in bypass is the water heats up due to friction and starts to deteriorate the packings prematurely. Home owner models, less then a minute in bypass. Commercial grade, 3 to 5 minutes is ok. If you are running hot water through the pump, 15 seconds. Pumps don't like hot water.
9. Don't run over the hose, kills it quickly
10. Don't let the machine be exposed to freezing weather with water in it. It will break!!!
11. As others have said, DON'T LOAN IT OUT!!! You would not believe how many folks come into my shop to get loaned out machines repaired. On the cheaper models, I can't help them.
None of the big box stores sell a decent repairable pressure washer anymore. Its all about price and they have been cheapening the machines every year. If you buy one with a Honda GX motor, at least you will have a motor that will outlast 4 or 5 pumps.
