Spec me a pressure washer!

Boycey0211 · 16 Oct 2016 at 14:48

Afternoon all,

I'm after a pressure washer, specifically one that can run from a standalone source as I don't have any tap sources available for one to run off.

I do have plug access so that's not an issue, but really want one more suitable for car cleaning than around the home use, either with a built in water tank or a suction function from a bucket etc.

I've had a good Google already but though I'd see what you folks reckon as im a bit overwhelmed by the choice.

.Griff. · 16 Oct 2016 at 14:50

Kranzle.

If funds don't allow then Nilfisk.

Havana_UK · 16 Oct 2016 at 19:09

Nilfisk C110 tbh. For the price you can get them for they are excellent.

Housey · 16 Oct 2016 at 19:15

In my day it was a hose and a thumb.

Posh kids and your new fangled jet washers.

Humbug.

SexyGreyFox · 16 Oct 2016 at 19:23

Havana_UK said:
Nilfisk C110 tbh. For the price you can get them for they are excellent.

Does that run without plugging into a tap?

jellybeard999 · 16 Oct 2016 at 19:24

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1577941.htm

I've had my eye on this model specifically, as it has a longer hose (high pressure side) than the C110/C120 and a built in reel to keep it tidy.

Argos response to "Will this machine work from a water butt?"

Hi,

The Nilfisk Titan Pressure Washer - 1400W (157/7941) will work from a water butt
Although it will operate by direct suction from a standing water source that is up to 0.5m (50cm) higher than the inlet port on the machine, performance will be reduced.
The best results when using a water butt as a source of water is to connect the outlet port direct to the tap on the water but by a 1/2 inch diameter hose that is 3m or less long
The following may be of help

1) Disconnect the high pressure hose from the outlet port on the machine
2) Use a hose no longer than 3m to connect from the outlet tap on the water butt to the inlet port on the pressure washer
3) Ensure that the outlet tap on the water butt is at least 50cm higher that the inlet on the pressure washer - most water butts are on some form of stand.
4) Connect the hose from the water butt tap onto the inlet port on the machine
5) Turn on the machine pressing the start/stop switch into position "I"
6) Wait until a steady stream of water comes out of the out let port on the machine
7) Switch off the machine
8) Reconnect the high pressure hose to the out let on the machine. Then attach the gun handle, click and clean lance and nozzle to the high pressure hose
9) Switch on the machine and press the trigger on the gun as in normal use
There will be some reduction in operational performance, but this is only slight.

Boycey0211 · 17 Oct 2016 at 08:43

Housey said:
In my day it was a hose and a thumb.

Posh kids and your new fangled jet washers.

Humbug.

It was when I was a kid too, now I don't even have hose access.

SexyGreyFox said:
Does that run without plugging into a tap?

Probably not, turns out most of them working from a 'water butt' actually mean it wants 60 gallons of water pressure behind it.

jellybeard999 said:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1577941.htm

I've had my eye on this model specifically, as it has a longer hose (high pressure side) than the C110/C120 and a built in reel to keep it tidy.

Argos response to "Will this machine work from a water butt?"

Thats extremely conditional terms for being able to use a water butt!

I've gone for the Karcher k4, as apparently that does use water sources with a suction hose which is exactly what I need.

shadow_boxer · 17 Oct 2016 at 10:59

Havana_UK said:
Nilfisk C110 tbh. For the price you can get them for they are excellent.

This. About the best you can get in terms of value for money. I've got a Kaecher K5 and tbh I've found my brother in laws Nilfisk c110 more than adequate.

RSR · 17 Oct 2016 at 11:09

Another vote for a Nilfisk, unless funds allow than get a Kranzle. I've not had any problems with my C120 yet and seems miles better than my old K2.

Boycey0211 · 17 Oct 2016 at 11:26

shadow_boxer said:
This. About the best you can get in terms of value for money. I've got a Kaecher K5 and tbh I've found my brother in laws Nilfisk c110 more than adequate.

RSR said:
Another vote for a Nilfisk, unless funds allow than get a Kranzle. I've not had any problems with my C120 yet and seems miles better than my old K2.

You're probably both right, I dont have a water butt though, I needed one that can scavenge rather than mavity feed.

Works from a Water Butt Tap

Using harvested water is kinder for the environment. Tap outlet is 0.5 metres above washer feed.

SexyGreyFox · 17 Oct 2016 at 18:30

RSR said:
Another vote for a Nilfisk, unless funds allow than get a Kranzle. I've not had any problems with my C120 yet and seems miles better than my old K2.

But can you run it from a bucket of water like the OP asked?

pepsilol · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:16

Lol at no one reading the requirement for suction from standing source

Anyway, go to Kranzle. Anyone here sees the word PW and everyone just blurts C110.

RSR · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:28

SexyGreyFox said:
But can you run it from a bucket of water like the OP asked?

Kranzle (K7) you can I believe and the Nilfisk can but run from water butt or an equivalent.

The K7/122 would be my preferred choice in this scenario.

Boycey0211 · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:33

RSR said:
Kranzle (K7) you can I believe and the Nilfisk can but run from water butt or an equivalent.

The K7/122 would be my preferred choice in this scenario.

Unfortunately my budget couldn't have stretched to that anyway, and no water butt available.

I'll let you all know how the karcher fairs when amazon actually manage to deliver it sucessfully.

xs2man · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:36

Boycey0211 said:
It was when I was a kid too, now I don't even have hose access.

Probably not, turns out most of them working from a 'water butt' actually mean it wants 60 gallons of water pressure behind it.

Thats extremely conditional terms for being able to use a water butt!

I've gone for the Karcher k4, as apparently that does use water sources with a suction hose which is exactly what I need.

I have a k4. Terrible machine. I hate mine. My old k3 was miles better. It has completely put me off Karcher. When this one dies, I'll buy a Nilfisk, or if I'm feeling flush, splash out for a Kranzle.

Teuton · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:39

xs2man said:
I have a k4. Terrible machine. I hate mine. My old k3 was miles better. It has completely put me off Karcher. When this one dies, I'll buy a Nilfisk, or if I'm feeling flush, splash out for a Kranzle.

What makes you say that? I have a K4 and it is fine.

mrk · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:39

pepsilol said:
Lol at no one reading the requirement for suction from standing source

Anyway, go to Kranzle. Anyone here sees the word PW and everyone just blurts C110.

That's because for the price, the C100 offers substantial bang for buck, has metal internals vs plastic on more expensive Karchers and others, and their customer support is really excellent.

The Kranzle models are at least double the price!

And yes, you can run the C110 off a water bucket/tank. This guy demonstrates:

Boycey0211 · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:49

mrk, you're not wrong, but I cant stick a water tank up on a wall like that thats the problem

It really is a case of having to have a couple of buckets and sticking a pipe into the bucket is my only solution.

Once I've finally bought a house however I can use it with the hose adapter as normal.

xs2man · 17 Oct 2016 at 19:51

Teuton said:
What makes you say that? I have a K4 and it is fine.

Firstly, my k3 had a much longer hose, meaning it would easily get to all corners of any regular car without moving the pressure washer (from one corner of the car). I could clean 2 cars without moving the pw with my k3 with it sitting between the 2 rear corners of the cars. The k4 hose simply can't. But also, it is a lot lighter than the k3, and with a less sturdy footprint. Meaning it doesn't take much to knock it over.

A hose extension solves this right enough, but after you factor that in, your not far off the price of a k5. But the k4 should have come with a long enough hose in the first place. Like the previous k3.

The plastics are also weaker, and the clip on bits snap too easily. So when it does fall over, on the first use, something is already broken.

I've got the premium one, with the hose winder thing. Great in theory, in practise, it's too small. Meaning the hose coils too tight, so is a PITA straightening it out once unwound. Also, because of this, I couldn't have just used the longer hose I already had from my old K3, because the connection wouldn't fit through the reel openings. And I can't wind up the extension into the reel for the same reason.

Then, if you do go for the extension, the connector is flimsy as **** too. The "pull back" bit for releasing the extension comes loose in a few months, meaning you either have to keep it attached, in which case, why bother with the reel? Or you have to be very careful not to lose the plastic bit, esle you will never be able to disconnect it. I'm on my second now. It's also broken. It remains connected, and so isn't the nice neat solution in the corner of the garage.

Sure, for pressuring water for cleaning duties it's ok. But the whole design of it is a PITA. Certainly compared to my older, cheaper k3, that was fine despite years of abuse.

mrk · 17 Oct 2016 at 20:20

Boycey0211 said:
mrk, you're not wrong, but I cant stick a water tank up on a wall like that thats the problem

It really is a case of having to have a couple of buckets and sticking a pipe into the bucket is my only solution.

Once I've finally bought a house however I can use it with the hose adapter as normal.

Ah that's fair enough!