In 1974 Kärcher began concentrating on high-pressure cleaning after a previous phase of diversification. During this phase the colour of the machines was changed from blue to the world-famous Kärcher yellow. In 1980 the company expanded its product line to include general cleaning products. Among the best names in the business, Karcher earned a reputation for manufacturing some of the most reliable high-quality pressure washers known. Karcher manufactures more pressure washers than any other company in the world.
Karcher provides a wide variety of electric pressure washers, ranging from the 1400 psi K 2.050 model to the great 2000 psi of the K 5.540, K 5.68 M, K 5.690 and the K 5.740 models. Majority of the models come with the Vario Power Spray wands, one-year limited warranty, and others offer extra features, such as an on-board hose reel, detergent injector or tank, and a bayonet trigger wand with child-safety lock. Their consumer gas-powered pressure washers all provide an impressive 2600 psi, and all come with their commercial-grade trigger gun with child-safety lock, a 25-foot high-pressure hose (most with quick-connect couplings), and an integrated hose, trigger gun and spray wand holder.
The company consistently uses technology acquired from their professional selection of pressure washers, enabling Karcher’s residential pressure washers to offer state-of-the-art designs at household prices. Their electric pressure washer line includes their patented DirtBlaster spray wands, and their gas-powered pressure washers offer pumps usually found only on more expensive commercial models. By giving special attention to ergonomics and excellent customer service, Karcher has gained recognition as a top manufacturer of quality pressure washers.
Karcher’s excellent performance stretches further than their quality products. The company demonstrates a passionate and sensitive environmental responsibility, by adopting policies that help maintain our natural resources. It matters to them where they purchase their raw materials, how they handle disposing of manufacturing waste, what they use to package their products, or even how they transport their goods, Karcher keeps environmental conservation at the pinnacle of their business decisions.
A good example is one of their main plants in Winnenden, Germany which is known for creating the largest solar power station in the Rems-Murr district in which it is located, providing environmentally-friendly electricity for the district. Karcher also applies green practices, such as planting grass and shrubs on the roofs of buildings, using heat recovery in the ventilation system, allowing no solvent emissions, installing improved insulation in many of its factories, and much more.
Karcher has taken on some very prominent cleaning projects. The first was cleaning the iconic Statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro in 1980, removing build-up caused by high pollution and humidity. In 1985, Karcher lent their high-pressure washers to the restoration team to clean the base of the Statue of Liberty. Projects like these instigated a company policy of lending equipment, as well as skilled labour and professional technical help to undertake large-scale cleaning projects worldwide. Their most famous recent project was the cleaning of Mount Rushmore in 2005, achieved using ecologically safe methods. These projects, are not only philanthropic gestures, but they also allowed Karcher engineers to be on the cutting edge of the future of cleaning systems.
Given the high standards, and environmentally conscious company policy, high-profile research, and every pressure washer designed and manufactured in accordance with the highest standards in the industry, Karcher has become a name consumers always look for and trust.
Gas pressure washers run on gas or petrol and are more powerful and versatile than the electric pressure washers in use in most homes. They do not need a power cord, so they can be used in places with no electricity supply making them suitable for rural locations.
The power output of gas pressure washers extends from about 2500 pounds per square inch (psi) to around 4000 psi, while the water flow rate range between 2.3 and 2.8 gallons per minute (GPM). The abundant power of gas washers enables more cleaning tasks to be accomplished with less time and effort spent by the user. They can tackle heavy-duty or large scale projects with ease. The extent of power is too high for most residential needs and more appropriate for industrial and farm demands.
Generally, the gas pressure washers are more difficult to use as it takes longer to set up before you start cleaning. They involve more routine maintenance and as they run on gasoline, they produce fumes making them unsuitable for indoor use. Compared to electric pressure washers, they produce much louder noise.
A gas pressure washer is more durable than an electric one so long as it is well maintained, which is an excellent benefit for the owner as it is much more expensive than the electrical ones.
Remember this vital tip when preparing to buy a gas pressure washer: select a machine with an overhead valve engine (OHV) and not a side valve (L-head) engine.
The overhead-valve engine design is the latest of the 2 engine designs. The new design features an improved engine with more power, less noise and more durable than the older, side-valve design. It is even confirmed that they use less quantity of gas, thereby making them overall the most economical selection.
Before you buy the gas machine, ensure that the overhead valve engine is a trusted high-quality model. The 2 most popular brands of pressure washer engines are Honda and Briggs and Stratton. Other brands with these engines are Karcher and DeWalt.
Normally a good gas pressure washer includes at least 4 different nozzles, stainless steel valves, and pumps that use ceramic parts. Owing to the heavy weight of a gas pressure washer, which can be 60 to 80 pounds, you must ensure that you select one with high-quality pneumatic tyres for better manoeuvrability.
Please note to budget for the cost of fuel before you buy the washer and if it will be idle for a few months without use, then use a fuel stabilizer in the tank. If you have heavy-duty cleaning tasks or want a pressure washer that is able to embark on any job while it has a long life span as well, then a gas-powered pressure is the solution for your problems.
Electric pressure washers are very handy for people with home cleaning needs. They are fitted with a motorized pump that blasts a powerful stream of water, which can remove caked-on dirt off surfaces in minutes rather than hours if scrubbed by hand. The washers are much less noisy, do not emit fumes as they don't use fuel and are therefore suitable for indoor use, more so in the garage or basement.
Electric pressure washers start with pressure output of about 1000 pounds per square inch (psi) up to a maximum of 2000 psi. The water flow rate range from 1.3 to about 1.6 gallons per minute (GPM) of water. The washers have the ability to tackle light and move on to heavy jobs without blasting too much water and damaging more delicate surfaces because the units have adjustable jet nozzles suitable for every type of surface.
The washers are easy to use as the homeowner simply requires access to an electrical outlet and a garden hose to start cleaning. This quality makes them a popular cleaning tool for residential users. They require very little maintenance, especially given the fact that they don’t need fuel to operate, making it possible for them to work indoors with no danger of fire breaking out. The units are lightweight; typically 16 to 32 pounds and the majority of them have wheels for easy mobility.
Apart from the quality of the electric pressure washers, there is one other aspect that is very popular with the typical residential user or homeowner; and that is the price. The prices vary from less than 100 dollars up to a few hundred dollars being the cost of the very powerful one. When it comes to the benefit gained by the user, the electric pressure washers offer more than the right amount of pressure for a very reasonable price.
Anytime you are ready to buy an electric pressure washer, you will need to consider various aspects before you make up your mind as to what type of washer is suitable for you, given your specific needs. The best approach is to begin by looking at the top brands, like Karcher, AR Blue Clean, Power washer, Husky, and Mi-T-M.
There are loads of electric pressure washers on the market, and the reason for starting with well-known brands is to save you time looking through all the brands including unknown or unproven ones. When we are looking to perform light cleaning; like washing off the dirt from the patio furniture, blowing leaves from the deck, or cleaning the car, we shall require a low psi. In the event of a heavy cleaning task, like cleaning a muddy and grimy yard, or blowing off moss from cobblestones, then we need a high psi to enable us to finish the job in the shortest time possible.
Remember to select an electric pressure washer that has proven pump quality and a high-performance motor. These two attributes combine to give your washer power. On the other hand, a poor quality, no name pump or motor will offer you poor, or short-lived performance.
There is another important feature of a motor that is worth considering when making your choice. Look for a model with a motor that turns off when you release the trigger, as this sort of automatic shut-off will save you from unnecessarily running down the motor as you move your pressure washer from one project to another.
You may wish to consider the attachments that come with the pressure washers. For instance, whether more than one spray wand is offered, or whether the spray wand is adjustable, as well as other small details can make a huge difference. Lastly, spend some time reading reviews on electric pressure washers, no doubt you will have a better idea on which category and model are the best for your specific needs.
Karcher K2 Car & Home Kit Electric Power Pressure Washer, 1600 PSI, 1.25 GPM
Karcher is among the most popular brands of pressure washers in the market. The German company, started by Alfred Karcher, uses advanced engineering, which makes their products attractive to many consumers.
Alfred Kärcher made his breakthrough into cleaning technology in 1950 with the development of the first European hot-water pressure washer (the DS 350 steam blaster). The pioneering water heating system developed then, by the company was so future-oriented that today it still serves as the basis for all of the burners.
They have a passion for philanthropy and are among leading companies known for implementing environmentally sound practices.
The Karcher K2 series is particularly popular with home consumers. The one model that is on hot demand is the Karcher K2 Car & Home Kit Electric Power Pressure Washer, 1600 PSI, 1.25 GPM.
- Cleaner. Quicker.
- 1600 PSI, 1.25 GPM Electric Pressure Washer
- 5 piece car and home kit included!
- Telescopic handle design – reduces bending and strain
- 20-foot high-pressure hose
- Vario Power Spray wand – easily adjust spray right from the wand
- Dirtblaster spray wand – tackles the hardest jobs in half the time
- N-COR pump – durable, non-corrosive and maintenance-free
This is a lightweight, home pressure-washer, which is suitable for most outdoor residential cleaning tasks. It is only 14 pounds, and therefore one of the lightest pressure washers available today. Many consumers have reported that this model is fun to use, given the lightweight and the small footprint, its easy to move around from task to task.
This unit includes a car care kit with the following accessories: a wheel rim brush for hard-to-reach areas, a bristle brush for targeting wheels and other non-painted surfaces, and a dual-purpose sponge with a soft side for cleaning painted surfaces and a rougher side for others. other accessories are soap packs designed specifically for cleaning cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles. The Karcher K 2 uses a siphon tube to measure the correct soap-to-water ratio always. The car care kit extras are loved by consumers, as these specifically target the difficult task of auto cleaning by making it a breeze. They achieve such a high level of cleaning, unavailable on most other pressure washers.
The Karcher range has Vario Power Spray (VPS) wand which enables the user to adjust the level of pressure being used, very essential when washing a car or other painted surface. The Karcher K 2 provides up to 1600 psi, which is almost 30 times the level of pressure given by your garden hose. The power can be adjusted to almost any level the user wishes, as confirmed by some users who have even used the unit to wash clay garden pots as well as other more delicate stuff that is normally difficult to clean. The direct-drive axial pump ensures that there is always plenty of power when you need it. So for the actually very dirty, grimy tasks, you can switch to the Dirt Blaster Spray wand to easily blast away grime.
This model is also supplied together with a bayonet wand having a child-safety lock, and is certified by CSA International. In the past, there was a concern raised by a consumer that this model tripped fuses. On investigation, the company established that this was the case for those who used an extension cord or power strip; and those who plugged the unit directly into the wall reported no such problems. This unit comes with an immaculate, 35-foot long power cord, so there is no need for an extension cord, and the 20-foot high-pressure hose making it easy to plug in and move from one job to the next. The capability of the machine to work from a fine mist to a power blasting spray makes the Karcher K 2 a versatile pressure washer that is able to any task, from the grease-stained driveway to the car's high-end paint job.
Briggs & Stratton 20680 Electric Pressure Washer 1800 PSI 1.2 GPM with 20-Foot High-Pressure Hose, Turbo Nozzle & Detergent Tank
This Briggs & Stratton Electric Pressure washer is among the best available on the market. Prepare for whatever unexpected impact that comes your way with a tough welded-steel frame that gives you added Protection.
Upgrade your cleaning potential in seconds by simply adding soap to the integrated detergent tank.
Reach higher with your cleaning potential, with 20 Feet of flexible hose that's built to endure hard work and high pressure.
Clean up to 40 per cent faster by quickly attaching our specialized, time-saving Turbo nozzle.
12 months Limited consumer Warranty.
All water pressure (PSI) & flow rate (GPM) claims were tested & verified by an independent lab, ensuring you Take Home the Power you were promised.
