best pressure washer
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Every year, there are cleaning jobs to be done that you just can’t do by hand. What’s the solution? A pressure washer. These machines are available in many shapes and sizes, but they can be categorized into two main types: electric and gas powered pressure washers.

Our Top 6 Picks for the Best Pressure Washers

What Are the Benefits of a Pressure Washer?

There could be many things in your home that need attention at the end of the season like your patio, deck, driveway, siding, flagstones, walkways and flower bed borders. With a pressure washer, you can have all these surfaces sparkling in one afternoon.

The pressurized spray tackles everything from oil stains on your driveway and on your garage floor to the moss growing on the deck posts and rocks around the flower beds.

Using a pressure washer is also safer than trying to carry a bucket and brush up a ladder. The powerful stream of water reaches every part of your second floor siding while you keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Almost anyone can use a washer. Just hook it up to a water source. As long as you have enough cord, you can go anywhere you need to without multiple trips for equipment.

How Does a Pressure Washer Work?

A pressure washer relies on a constant water source to feed the pump. After you connect your hose to the intake valve, the pump draws the water in and begins putting pressure on it.

The force placed on the water is stronger than the outside air, and when released, causes the water to burst forth with extreme force. (Consider the effects of shaking a soda, then releasing the lid.)

What Are the Different Types of Pressure Washers?

In spite of all the available models and sizes, pressure washers can easily be grouped into two main types. They are either gas powered or electric washers. Both types are good for common outdoor chores. Which type is the right one for your needs? Let’s look at each one in detail.

Electric Pressure Washer: The electric models are smaller than their gas counterparts. The PSI is lower, not exceeding 2,000, but this makes them perfect for smaller jobs like landscaping stones or patio furniture. They also sport a simple switch start.

Electric washers are excellent for users with any type of health issues such as asthma, since they don’t produce exhaust fumes. Electric units are quieter than gas models, making them nicer to use if you have neighbors close by.

They are easy to store in the winter and easier to maintain with no gas and oil mixtures to monitor and drain. Buying an electric power washer is a good investment, since you save money on fuel.

Gas Powered Pressure Washer: These powerful washers begin with a 2,000 PSI and just go up. These are the ones you want when a big job is in your future. They are ideal for oily driveways, boats, RV’s, houses, messy shops and sheds. You can add solvents or detergents with most of the gas units.

Since there are no cords, these washers allow you to move freely around your property, and without strain, since they are mounted on wheels. They start by a pull-cord just like your old lawn mower. With the higher PSI, you get an extended reach so you can easily clean all those gutters from the ground.

Basic Things to Look for in a Pressure Washer

Both gas and electric versions have a wide variety of features each, but there are a few important items you need to be sure you are getting.

Wands are a must no matter which type you end up purchasing. Straight wands are good for flat projects, but an angled wand will get into hard to reach crevices or up in the gutters.

Don’t forget the nozzles that fit on the end of the wands, and determine the size of the water stream. A wide jet would be perfect for the driveway, while a smaller fan of water is gentler on the siding.

For a gas model, make sure it has wheels and on board storage for all your attachments.

Our Pressure Washer Reviews

#1 – Sun Joe SPX3000 Pressure Joe Electric Pressure Washer

The Sun Joe SPX3000 is an electric pressure washer that connects to the garden hose via a female coupler. The water is then mixed with detergent, which can be selected with a convenient dial. There are two detergent tanks, offering double the grim fighting power with two detergents available at your beck and call.

The motor offers 14.5 amps of power at 1800 watts. Whatever you’re trying to clean will be cleaned in due time with that much power. A 34 inch extension spray wand offers more range to clean everything that needs to be cleaned.

Attached to the washer is a trigger gun and spray wand holder. This keeps them out of your way while transporting the washer to the area of use and keeps clutter to a minimum in the garage or shed. A total stop system button is installed to prolong pump life and save energy.

There are five nozzles for the washer that allow the pressure to be tailored to whatever is being washed. This allows two story buildings and even the underside of your vehicle to receive a cleaning that they deserve.

#2 – AR Blue Clean AR383 Electric Pressure Washer

The AR Blue Clean AR383 is an electric pressure washer that includes a hose reel, which keeps the hose out of your way while not using the 20 foot hose. A hand reel is installed to keep the hose reeled. Underneath it all is a two wheel trolley system that allows the washer to be moved quickly and easily to the next location.

The washer has 1900 PSI under its belt. The 1.5 GPM piston pump has three axials that offer the PSI pressure. The plate the motor is housed on swivels and wobbles to allow any angle needed in order for the cleaning to be done with ease.

Turning the washer on and off is simple. It’s set up to start and stop with the pull of the trigger. There is also a Total Stop System feature on the washer, stopping all activity when not in use. An attachable soap bottle allows the detergent of choice to be added to the water with ease.

A 30 foot power cord is included. This offers a larger range of angles for cleaning those higher up places. This pressure washer also uses 80 percent less water than a standard garden hose.

#3 – Simpson Cleaning MSH3125-S Gas Pressure Washer

The Simpson Cleaning MSH3125-S is a gas pressure washer that offers a pro-style steel spray wand. There are five quick connect tips: 0, 15, 25, and 40 degrees and a soap applicator.

A ceramic coated plunger pump provides higher pressure at the nozzle. This kind of pump gives a better cleaning than a typical pump.

The hose is kink-resistant and abrasion resistant. Easy connectors are hooked to the hose to make it even easier to use this pressure washer. The engine comes with an oil alert and runs smoothly. Engine oil is included. In our opinion, this is a quality engine that runs with ease.

#4 – Generac 7019 OneWash Gas Powered Pressure Washer

The Generac 7019 is a gas pressure washer that has one of the largest and most powerful engines in its class. The pressure control allows easy adjusting of the spray intensity. This lets you spray a large area with one simple command.

All the controls are located on a consolidated control panel. The handle also has a comfort-grip, which provides easy use. The hose is thirty inches long, which extends the range for better use. There are three nozzle tips: 0 degree, 25 degree and soap dispenser.

With eleven inch wheels, transport is effortless. The wheels take the brute force out of the equation that is sometimes needed with other pressure washers.