Our product experts start by analyzing the current marketplace to identify the pressure washer you’re most likely to find on store shelves and online. From there, we focus on the brands that have performed the best and proven the most reliable through years of pressure washer tests at the Good Housekeeping Institute. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
This is a significant difference, and it made the RY the easiest washer to maneuver around, especially when we traversed a lawn, hopped a curb, and bumped the washer up a set of patio steps. In fact, this was one of the few models we even bothered to roll across the lawn—most of the others we half dragged and half carried due to the total ineffectiveness of their smaller wheels. This Ryobi model also has a padded handle, which adds to the ease of rolling it around. Because water sprays from a washer’s nozzle with such intensity, it can lift up and remove dirt, mildew, and grime that a regular garden hose simply can’t handle. Pressure washers are most often useful for cleaning decks, driveways, yard tools, house siding, fences, cars, and patio furniture. Frequently, a pressure washer can produce dramatic results, as this photo gallery of wood decks at Kramar’s site shows.
The SPX3501 also has a unique safety feature wherein the pump is automatically turned off if you aren’t pulling the trigger. This ensures no accidental sprays on objects you don’t intend to get wet. It also preserves water and increases pump lifespan through decreased wear over time. Kärcher’s K3 Follow Me has an interesting four-wheel design that you can pull around behind you.
The Force and AR Blue didn’t have options for more concentrated cleaning tips, and when combined with their overall lower cleaning power, they were not as effective as the Ivation. Setting up the wand on this machine is straightforward, and it was better than the other models we tested. It shares the same press-and-twist action to connect the spray wand’s handle to an extension, but it’s simply better designed.
The spray wand that comes with it is pretty solid, and there’s a 25 feet length of flexible hose attached to the washer so you can reach your work easily. Or, you can squeeze the trigger on the spray wand when starting it. Squeezing the trigger also releases the pressure and makes it easy for you to start it.
Similar to the Briggs & Stratton model, the Westinghouse has a stainless-steel wand with brass connectors that easily and securely attach to the wand and four nozzle tips. It also has a 25-foot power cord and 35-foot inlet hose, which doesn’t get tangled up when moving around because it’s made of braided sun joe spx 3000 nylon. The Westinghouse does have a hard-plastic body, which accounts for its light weight, but it’s been equipped with a carbon-brush motor that delivers an intense pressure flow. Additionally, the RY is gas powered, and as with any gas model, a good deal of maintenance goes along with that.
Compact and lightweight at (16. 5″ High and 19 lbs.) / Easy to store and move around. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making Champion Power Equipment buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right . As a homeowner, you likely take great pride in the curb appeal of your home – no matter whether you’ve owned your house for just a few months or for many years.