Power washers - worth buying?

Hookset · 07-07-2007, 09:11 AM

I'm contemplating buying a power washer to clean my two story house for painting. But after the cleaning, I'm not sure if the power washer is really needed and how often I would use one.

So question; are power washers really a good investment for general home use? How often do use a power washer and for what purpose?

Also, I read some articles stating excessive force to remove paint/cleaning can do harm to wood siding, so keeping the pressure low is important. Except having to clean 30 feet up on a ladder isn't easy either and the washer could help.

Do you have a recommendation for a do-it-yourself home cleaning/painting job?

Thanks for the help,

Gregg

RODACTION · 07-07-2007, 09:22 AM

I use mine often, I have washed the outside of the house a few times.

I have alot of concrete, drive way, walkways, and a large patio. Even if the concrete looks clean, and I pressure wash it, there is always alot of stuff that it cleans up. I like to hose stuff down and with the pressure washer I use alot less water than with a garden hose spray nozzel.

I bought a 2300psi Honda engine, Costco special for $399.00 ?? about 7 years ago. Sometimes I wish I had about 3000psi, but 2300 does the job.

Oh, and there are buddys who barrow it

Clyde · 07-07-2007, 12:59 PM

Works great for washing the house just don't have the nozzle on for a tight stream...also great for patios and deck and driveways. However, if you won't use it that much just rent one...save money in the long run.

Old MAn River · 07-07-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RODACTION

I use mine often, I have washed the outside of the house a few times.

I have alot of concrete, drive way, walkways, and a large patio. Even if the concrete looks clean, and I pressure wash it, there is always alot of stuff that it cleans up. I like to hose stuff down and with the pressure washer I use alot less water than with a garden hose spray nozzel.

I bought a 2300psi Honda engine, Costco special for $399.00 ?? about 7 years ago. Sometimes I wish I had about 3000psi, but 2300 does the job.

Oh, and there are buddys who barrow it

[

DF · 07-07-2007, 01:29 PM

It does a great job on the boat floor :-) or the boat in general, I just make sure not to hold it really close and turn the pressure down some.

Tall-tailer · 07-07-2007, 01:35 PM

If you rent one or buy one, with a two story house you need the optional telescoping pole, goes up to 15 foot long and makes it a lot easier to get to the high places.

Grantspastor · 07-07-2007, 01:56 PM

In the long run I think they are well worth the investment. I use mine (and so do my Sons-in-law) frequently

mpmax · 07-07-2007, 02:50 PM

I'm spending this weekend power washing everything concrete/brick/wood at my Mom's in Reedsport. I've got a less than industrial sized electric power washer, ran it for 4 hrs. straight this morning without a break, very durable.
I'm finding all sorts of projects to use a power washer. Get one, tell your neighbors about it and rent yourself out for their projects.
Could be a must have.

Hellibut · 07-07-2007, 04:01 PM

I wouldn't be without one for all the reasons already listed but a word of warning. They are VERY powerful. They will remove stuff that you may not want removed such as caulking from around windows. Not sure what type siding you have but I would not pressure wash in such a way as to force water up under the siding. You will not be sorry if you get one.

Tilla · 07-07-2007, 04:02 PM

Boat cleaning, concrete patios and walkways, mossy spots, degreasing.....a regularly used tool now. Clean the outboard motor testing tank and cleaned the patio after soil was transferred today.

taggbro · 07-07-2007, 04:22 PM

My name is Taggbro and I'm a power washing addict.....

Hookset · 07-07-2007, 04:39 PM

Wow.....nothing but positive comments. I figured someone would chime in and say - "Used a power washer a lot in the beginning and hardly get it out anymore". But no...sounds like it's almost a must have.

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback. After cleaning and doing a little exterior painting yesterday on a small portion of the house, I begin to look around up higher at the 2nd story and OH MY GOSH, there are lots of cobwebs and stuff growing up there.....just plain filthy. I doubt a garden hose will get the job done.

What about using soap or a combination soap and brush, can this be attached to a power washer on low settings? Does anyone use one to strip off old paint?

Thanks again for the help,

Gregg

fish_on · 07-07-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookset

Wow.....nothing but positive comments. I figured someone would chime in and say - "Used a power washer a lot in the beginning and hardly get it out anymore". But no...sounds like it's almost a must have.

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback. After cleaning and doing a little exterior painting yesterday on a small portion of the house, I begin to look around up higher at the 2nd story and OH MY GOSH, there are lots of cobwebs and stuff growing up there.....just plain filthy. I doubt a garden hose will get the job done.

What about using soap or a combination soap and brush, can this be attached to a power washer on low settings? Does anyone use one to strip off old paint?

Thanks again for the help,

Gregg

I'm fish_on and I use to use my pressure washer all the time, in fact I use to sell the Excel/Porter Cable/Devbliss washers. I haven't pulled the starter in 10 months. I have to admit it is all because of halibut and my soon to be addiction to $TUNA$

Wolf EEL · 07-07-2007, 05:54 PM

I use mine all the time boats cars houses sidewalks driveways fences and my spark arrestor on my chimmey, I take it off my insert and knock off all the creosote that has collected on it.

julezilla · 07-07-2007, 06:22 PM

Definitely a must have. We've had one for ten years now, and it's paid for itself ten times over between house, boat, driveway, deck, hot tub, and outdoor toys. In fact, what I really want to do is install floor drains in the bathrooms and kitchen and use it in the house.

Hell-B · 07-07-2007, 07:07 PM

All good points but remember that pressure washers are a lot like air compressors. PSI doesn't tell the whole story. GPM also means a lot especially when your doing something like a driveway.

Clyde · 07-08-2007, 08:16 AM

I've found that the power washer does as good a job without any special cleaners than with...just get the area a little wet before hand to loosen up the dirt and then the rest just washes off. I found out the hard way that many of these so called cleaners are just a diluted bleach mixture...ruined one of my favorite sweathirts and hat.

flynhi66 · 07-08-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clyde

I've found that the power washer does as good a job without any special cleaners than with...just get the area a little wet before hand to loosen up the dirt and then the rest just washes off. I found out the hard way that many of these so called cleaners are just a diluted bleach mixture...ruined one of my favorite sweathirts and hat.

I've been looking for a power washer too, and it got me thinking about the chain saw, air compressor, table saw, and other tools I have sitting for the most part. I thought a co-op would make sense for us infrequent users - found this on the web: http://www.centerforsustainablecommunity.org/tool.html

I'm wondering if others would use a coop service if it was available - just out of curiosity....

Trick · 07-08-2007, 10:09 AM

I've even used mine to descale fish. But, as was warned above, be careful on the stream and closeness to the object that your working on. I own a small 2000 psi electric and rented a larger (4000 psi, I think) to clean my fence prior to staining. I dang near blew a hole through my fence when I started, it was taking the wood off in layers

.

treebutcher · 07-08-2007, 11:47 AM

I agree with RodAction. I too have a 5.5 hp honda rated at around 23 or 2400 psi and sometimes wish it was 3000 psi. I use it for the house, boat , cleaning parts and what ever comes to mind...My friends also tell me they are glad I made the investment.
All in all i would buy one all over again and definetly stay with a good quality four stroke engine.

just my .02

Good luck
TB

Chrome Bumper · 07-09-2007, 01:22 PM

I own a 13 hp Honda with a karcher pump. 3500 psi, 4 gpm. Love it. If you don't want to buy , then rent one for a day, you can always buy later.

They make different nozzles, some let you swap them out, narrower spray is more cutting. The further away you are the less cutting. Also can control the engine speed.

I happened to find this one one craigslist. Bought it from a painter who didn't know how to fix it, it needed a little check valve. You can cut wood no problem if careless.

30 seconds is bleach and tri sodium phosphate, both you can get at Ace cheap.

Mix it up brush it on and pressure wash.

Boats · 07-09-2007, 02:37 PM

Great to have. My suggestions for personal experience:
1: Buy a good one with a little more power than you think you'll need. They tend to loose some power after some use.
2: Get one with a CAT pump. They are commercial grade and have parts that are availble for replacement at a reasonable cost. Some of the less expensive washers use pumps whose parts cost as much as a brand new washer.
3: Get one with a Honda engine. Quality!
4: Pay attention to more than just PSI. The amount of work you will accomplish is a function of value and pressure. More volume and pressure = more cleaning in less time.

Good luck!

dave k · 07-09-2007, 03:20 PM

Has anyone tried to spray Crossbow with it ? I need to spray down a hill .

Chrome Bumper · 07-09-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave k

Has anyone tried to spray Crossbow with it ? I need to spray down a hill .

Might damage the pump seals, and the fine atomization of the spray is bad because you can breathe it and it would evaporate and drift, killing your neighbor's plants/crops.

Use a hose end sprayer from the hardware store. It will spray just as far and create larger droplets, and be way easier to clean. Or cut trails and use a pump up hand sprayer.

uhmw · 07-09-2007, 03:42 PM

remember playing with the hose when you were a kid

when its hot out its the best honey do job around the house. I like blowing the timber tigers off the top of the fence as they menece my dog from above. I have the cleanest drive way and side walks on the block but my down stream neighbors hate it?????. They work great on the truck and rv with the lighter setting. dont let your kid get a hold of it though. I have had the yellow costco special for the last 7 or 8 years still starts on the third pull..