New Pressure washer needed

[Spark plug]

ok it's time I had a new pressure washer, so what to get? The little electric hobby hobbies are no good for the jobs I will be useing it for.

Are there decent electric ones at a reasonable price or should I just get a good used petrol/diesel one?

 

[the snooper]

I'd get diesel they kick out some power and you can use red diesel so cheaper running with no fuel duty

 

[123hotchef]

the petrol and desiel ones will heat the water too so u can powerwash hot

 

[Spark plug]

the petrol and desiel ones will heat the water too so u can powerwash hot

I'm not looking for a hot one, they are too big and heavy.

 

[armalites]

Depends on how much you want to spend, if you want cold water portable then get a Kranzle, built for all day usage but bottom end are £500+

In most petrol powered units they don't heat the water, the engine just runs the pump.

If you start getting in diesel powered units then you will be talking serious money, I have who uses a diesel unit when cleaning his pig units, 3000PSI, he said it will cut through a pallet. He only uses one because he doesn't have 3 phase and that is the only way he could get that kind of power

 

[the snooper]

the petrol and desiel ones will heat the water too so u can powerwash hot

The hot wash units are often electric powered and diesel only to heat the water

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

http://www.simpsons1979.co.uk/
Give this place a call, they will be able to advice what is good for you. They sometimes have other machins for sale. It is Only a phone call.
I have used them, so have a few of my friends.

 

[brightspark]

presumably your only using it for patio and cleaning mud of things . there not much use for removing oily stuff

 

[Turbo]

I was a service engineer for pressure washers and if you want a good pressure washer I would recommend something with an Interpump pump fitted. They are a really good quality pump, not too expensive, simple to work on and the service items are cheap and readily available. I have one of these.
http://cleantec.biz/tx12-100-240v-industrial-high-pressure-washer.html
It has been used regularly for over 20 years and apart from service items it hasn't needed any repairs. It's a testament to its quality that they are still selling the same model 20 years later.

If you fit it with one of these you will not believe how well it can clean concrete!
http://cleantec.biz/products/spare-parts-accessories/high-pressure-nozzles/turbo-nozzles.html
http://cleantec.biz/products/spare-parts-accessories/high-pressure-nozzles/turbo-nozzles.html
Avoid anything made by Karcher, they used to be the best but most of their stuff is now overpriced junk. There is another pump out there called Annovi Riverberi which is a copy of the Interpump - avoid it, our nickname for it was annovi sh1tty!

Another good pump is a Cat pump but they are quite expensive. If you are considering an engine driven one go for a diesel. It may cost more but you will very quickly reap the cost back in fuel savings. A 13hp honda engine running at full pelt drains the fuel tank rapidly!

 

[Spark plug]

presumably your only using it for patio and cleaning mud of things . there not much use for removing oily stuff

Mainly mud and stuff but also oily stuff after a generous helping of old diesel has been applied.

 

[brightspark]

Mainly mud and stuff but also oily stuff after a generous helping of old diesel has been applied.

mix some traffic film remover with it that helps

 

[carbon]

If going engine driven get one that has a gearbox between the engine and pump. Slower reving pumps suck water better than high speed pumps. Also a bypass that returns to the tank is the better option. Also what Turbo said.

 

[Chris Stevens]

I was a service engineer for pressure washers and if you want a good pressure washer I would recommend something with an Interpump pump fitted. They are a really good quality pump, not too expensive, simple to work on and the service items are cheap and readily available. I have one of these.
http://cleantec.biz/tx12-100-240v-industrial-high-pressure-washer.html
It has been used regularly for over 20 years and apart from service items it hasn't needed any repairs. It's a testament to its quality that they are still selling the same model 20 years later.

If you fit it with one of these you will not believe how well it can clean concrete!
http://cleantec.biz/products/spare-parts-accessories/high-pressure-nozzles/turbo-nozzles.html
Avoid anything made by Karcher, they used to be the best but most of their stuff is now overpriced junk. There is another pump out there called Annovi Riverberi which is a copy of the Interpump - avoid it, our nickname for it was annovi sh1tty!

Another good pump is a Cat pump but they are quite expensive. If you are considering an engine driven one go for a diesel. It may cost more but you will very quickly reap the cost back in fuel savings. A 13hp honda engine running at full pelt drains the fuel tank rapidly!

I have a couple of the old Kew power washers, both bought secondhand. Previously used one of these for 15 years no problem at all. For occasional use what would you think of a used Kew?

 

[brightspark]

I was a service engineer for pressure washers and if you want a good pressure washer I would recommend something with an Interpump pump fitted. They are a really good quality pump, not too expensive, simple to work on and the service items are cheap and readily available. I have one of these.
http://cleantec.biz/tx12-100-240v-industrial-high-pressure-washer.html
It has been used regularly for over 20 years and apart from service items it hasn't needed any repairs. It's a testament to its quality that they are still selling the same model 20 years later.

If you fit it with one of these you will not believe how well it can clean concrete!
http://cleantec.biz/products/spare-parts-accessories/high-pressure-nozzles/turbo-nozzles.html
Avoid anything made by Karcher, they used to be the best but most of their stuff is now overpriced junk. There is another pump out there called Annovi Riverberi which is a copy of the Interpump - avoid it, our nickname for it was annovi sh1tty!

Another good pump is a Cat pump but they are quite expensive. If you are considering an engine driven one go for a diesel. It may cost more but you will very quickly reap the cost back in fuel savings. A 13hp honda engine running at full pelt drains the fuel tank rapidly!

I have a Westley Richards hot water power washer. its fitted with an inter pump unit very reliable and long lasting

 

[Spark plug]

Some usefull advice to go on the search will continue.

I was looking at a Parmac unit powered by a yanmar diesel but it looks like they use a Annovi Riverberi pump so that out I think.

 

[the snooper]

I have a Westley Richards hot water power washer. its fitted with an inter pump unit very reliable and long lasting

I repaired a yannar / interpump washer a few months ago it had plenty of presure

 

[Migmac]

We have a diesel powered one at work, even when it's set for use on cars it's awesome. I'm sure if you held it long enough in one place it would cut a hole through the bodywork! It's got wheels but it's not one you would want to pushing about anywhere

 

[Turbo]

The yanmar diesel engines are a good unit, if I was building or buying an engine driven washer it would be my first choice of engine but make sure it has electric start, they are a pig to start manually. Onto that mount an interpump gearbox for all the reasons carbon said.
My choice of pump would be a interpump 15/200 with a suttner unloader valve. This is the pump used by 1000's of turkey & chicken farmers to clean out their houses between batches of fowl and it stands up very well to the abuse it gets. It's also the limit on what most mains supplies can feed, something you need to consider. There's no point in having a huge output pump if you have to keep stopping work to let the water supply catch up!

I'll take a photo later of the setup I have for my water supply tank.

As regards the Kew washers, it depends on which pump you have. They have one with 4 pistons radially driven and it's not a bad unit but service items like seals & valves are expensive. They also have a poor sealing system on the gearbox which allows water into the oil. Nearly every kew pump I saw had milky white oil, though the gearboxes rarely gave trouble.

 

[knighty]

as above, interpump are good

whatever you look at, google it, find out what pump it uses and then google/check the flow rate of the pump

1000/1500 psi is more than enough, chances are anything higher pressure than that is low flow

flow rate is pretty much king for cleaning away mud etc..

15litres/min minimum

18litres/min is much better

the difference between a lance that is easy to hold and one that kicks back in your hand as you pull the trigger and then makes you hold it to keep control of it is the flow rate

 

[carbon]

"1000/1500 psi is more than enough, chances are anything higher pressure than that is low flow"

Sorry but if the op is looking at a yanmar engine (10hp) then 200 bar (3000 psi) is easy to achieve at 15 l/m

But it is true with single phase electric machines due to the 13amp supply restriction