Pressure Washer advice

MikeHiow · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:36

Why aren't Argos obliged to replace it under an extended warranty they've sold me?

Captain_Slick · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:37

MikeHiow said:
Why aren't Argos obliged to replace it under an extended warranty they've sold me?

Duh. Didn't read your post properly.

Obviously if you buy an extended warranty from the retailer they will replace it within that period.

Felix · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:38

So its not a warranty per se but a purchased extended warranty. Though argos online are out of stock.

MikeHiow · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:38

Yes, I paid £49.99 for the washer, then £10 to extend it for three years.

!bluetonic! · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:38

I got a refurbished karcher with patio brush and car brush incl delivery for £65 from an online outlet store.

It works great if your car is really dirty. If you're cleaning more frequently, a bucket of warm water does wonders.

-Ad- · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:39

Everyone seems to hate Karchers

The one at home is about 10 years old and still going fine. It does have moments when it doesn't like to engage the motor, but turning the lance back to sprinkle then back to POWARRR fixes that.

I probably would buy something better designed, specced and manufactured if I had to but currently this one is great (ish)

Will Gill · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:41

MikeHiow said:
Why aren't Argos obliged to replace it under an extended warranty they've sold me?

if you have already used the warranty its now null and void, its a one time deal afaik

no clue about the 1 year 3 year discussion though

Captain_Slick · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:43

As with everything, a certain brand doesn't necessarily mean better reliability or a better product. That said, of course Karcher are going to be better than own-brand products.

We store own used a returned Homelite Petrol (some idiot on returns took it back because the customer said it was too powerful - ffs) one for cleaning the garden centre and I seriously want one for at home. The good thing about it is that you can regulate the pressure so that it isn't going to rip the paint off walls. (which it certainly would do with a 160cc petrol engine/172 bar/520lph)

.

It's one of these: http://www.homelitepower.co.uk/prod...shers/hpw24002400ccpetrolpressurewashers.html

MikeHiow · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:43

Nope, its still valid.

Will Gill · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:46

MikeHiow said:
Nope, its still valid.

you sure? i bought the breakdown care on mine, mine broke, got a new one, I then knackered it a few months later tried again and was shown in the contract

•Once a replacement has been given under your plan, your plan will end.

no-one pointed this out in store at the time or via a letter etc..

you might want to check before assuming

MikeHiow · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:47

I still have the original receipt that has the proof of warranty un-changed.

Bug One · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:50

!bluetonic! said:
I got a refurbished karcher with patio brush and car brush incl delivery for £65 from an online outlet store.

It works great if your car is really dirty. If you're cleaning more frequently, a bucket of warm water does wonders.

I've never used more than a hose and a soft sponge to clean the Fiesta.

Its pretty handy for getting thick mud off the Baja though.

Mines only a cheap RAC one. Does a good job though.

Will Gill · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:53

MikeHiow said:
I still have the original receipt that has the proof of warranty un-changed.

as do/did I, its whats on their system that counts, I got a big fat "no" the next time I went in expecting a new one. Was a good excuse to buy the bigger and better model for me but in your case I wouldn't necessarily expect a replacement. fore warned is fore armed

Captain_Slick · 14 Sep 2010 at 12:57

According to the T&Cs of Argos' replacement product cover, Will Gill is correct.

REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS

3. When your product has been replaced under condition 1 or 2 above your plan will end immediately.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/StaticDisplay/includeName/replacementCovertandc.htm

Ricochet J · 14 Sep 2010 at 13:10

How long is the hose which connects to your taps supposed to be? can it be as long as 20 metres with an extension?

Will Gill · 14 Sep 2010 at 13:12

Ricochet J said:
How long is the hose which connects to your taps supposed to be? can it be as long as 20 metres with an extension?

mine was easily 20m coiled, I only unwound 10-15m worth but the distance was still there. My house has a mega flow water system though so I don't know if that affects things?

Fr0dders · 14 Sep 2010 at 13:12

Captain_Slick said:
People don't just say it. It's science. A universal motor is not as reliable, not as quiet and will not last as long as an induction motor. It's physics.

18 months isn't a terribly long time, certainly not out of the ordinary. Units with universal motors (light and loud) start to pack up when people try to do things with them that they're not designed to do. For example running it constantly for an hour regularly, which many models won't do any way because they'll turn off when the motor reaches a certain temperature (water cooling only works up until a certain point). Induction motor pressure washers can run for much longer constantly and are generally more powerful.

If the OP is only planning to use it to clean his car and nothing else ever... Go ahead, buy a cheap Karcher, Homelite/Ryobi, Hozelock, (actually made under license for B&Q), etc. Some people, however, prefer to spend £350 on a Homelite Petrol pressure washer... just because they can. I'm certainly not suggesting that the OP does that though.

I appreciate the science

But the fact remains that the negatives of owning a cheap pressure washer are greatly exaggerated. Its made out like they're going to blow up on you within months. If mine blows up in 2 months i dont really care. It only cost me £40 or something, it was the cheapest one they had and i'll just buy another.

I'll still have spent less than £100 for a pressure washer for 4 years.

Felix · 14 Sep 2010 at 13:48

Ricochet J said:
How long is the hose which connects to your taps supposed to be? can it be as long as 20 metres with an extension?

Yes, I have used them with 50m hoses.

Captain_Slick · 14 Sep 2010 at 13:50

7m minimum is recommended, and don't use a water stop.

Captain_Slick · 14 Sep 2010 at 13:54

MrLOL said:
I appreciate the science

But the fact remains that the negatives of owning a cheap pressure washer are greatly exaggerated.

No they're not.

Its made out like they're going to blow up on you within months. If mine blows up in 2 months i dont really care.

If you try and use it constantly all day, it will stop working within months. Technically, most models will stop on the same day.

It only cost me £40 or something, it was the cheapest one they had and i'll just buy another.

I'll still have spent less than £100 for a pressure washer for 4 years.

If you want to use it constantly for a few hours a day every month or so, it'll cost you an awful lot more than £100 every 4 years.

For cleaning large areas of patio (particularly with a deck cleaner, T Racer, etc), or your patio + driveway + decking, or large vehicles every couple of months (which isn't out of the ordinary if you live by the sea/near an airport/etc) a more expensive induction motor pressure washer IS worth the money. Anything else where you'll be using it for 15/20 minutes at a time to clean small-medium vehicles or windows or a section of brickwork, I agree that a cheap and cheerful model (at least get a branded one) will do.