If the motor didn’t have such a low-key sound, this constant operation could have been an issue, but at no point did the motor noise bother us. But gas pressure washers do have their place, due to their power. They’re considerably faster at cleaning—roughly twice as fast—than electric models. This difference is most noticeable when you’re cleaning large areas, such as a driveway or a big deck.
However this flow rate is standard for electric pressure washers of this size. For this 2021 update, our top pick for electric pressure washers is the Briggs & Stratton – , an affordable unit that’s well-engineered to tackle most cleaning jobs. We also recommend the portable Westinghouse – ePX3050, a compact pressure washer with a motor engineered to deliver an intense water stream. One of our previous top picks, the Ivation – IVA-9175L, is still an excellent choice, but it’s often out of stock.
This is a truly heavy-duty piece of equipment that’s designed for tough jobs. With a brushless 1800W induction motor allows it can run longer than consumer models, plus maintenance and on-the-fly pressure adjustments are much easier. It has the largest wheels we could find on any electric pressure washer, which make it very easy to use on an uneven lawn or up a patio step or curb. Even the end of the power cord is well thought out, with a design that makes it easier to use in a crowded outlet box. This gas pressure washer is significantly heavier than the electric models because of its metal frame and engine, but it makes up for it in quality. Everything from the frame, spray wand, spray tips, high-pressure hose and connections on this engine are noticeably higher quality than every electric model we tested.
We considered commonly referenced models like Karcher and Greenworks, but we ultimately decided to leave them off for reasons mentioned above. This unit has more than enough power for clean siding and large decks. It will speed up your cleaning time by at least three or four times compared to the electric models we tested. It can clean large and stubborn stained items, and it has less concentrated wand tips for light-duty jobs as well. If you can justify the slightly larger size and the price tag of this, it will pay off over the years since its definitely more fun and satisfying to clean with this higher-powered machine.
You’ll want to follow all of the maintenance and cleaning processes listed in the user manual to ensure that your gas pressure washer has a long life without issues. Mobility is not a problem with the Sun Joe SPX3500 electric pressure washer because it comes equipped with easy glide wheels which allows you to roll Champion Power Equipment it along with you if you have to. Overall, the Generac 6565 is a very good pressure washer, definitely one of the best you can choose from. It starts easily, got good appropriate nozzles for every kind of job, and its portability ensures you can get any job done anywhere provided you have gas in the engine.
It also offers easy storage for both the hose and cord, although it doesn’t give you as much room to work with in that regard as our larger main pick does. Like the other Ryobi pressure washers, it has a three-year warranty. For a less powerful but more portable option, we like the Ryobi RY1419MTVNM 1900 PSI Electric Pressure Washer. Although it has the same long hose and cord as our main pick, this Ryobi washer is much smaller, weighing around 20 pounds (as opposed to 50-ish pounds).
It’s the lowest-priced machine we tested, and it gets the job done, but its shortcomings became very obvious once we saw what the other machines had to offer. Not wanting to risk a fire or explosion, we called Simpson’s support for help. We were informed the engine on this pressure washer was made by Honda and that Simpson couldn’t provide help, and they didn’t seem particularly interested in customer satisfaction about it either.
Most manufacturers no longer give a horsepower rating, so engine displacement is now the only universal way to compare relative engine size. Most pressure washers can apply soap or detergent under low pressure. The easiest method is through an on-board tank where the soap or detergent can be stored. Another method includes the use of a bottle that is filled with the soap or detergent and attached to the end of the wand, making it heavier.