Electric Pressure Washers

Best electric pressure washers overall

The best electric pressure washers use induction motors, which are quieter and more durable than the universal motors found on cheaper models. Don't let higher prices scare you away, either. In many cases, by paying more initially, you may actually save money compared with replacing a cheaper pressure washer every year or two. Higher-priced pressure washers also generally include more convenient features, such as adjustable water pressure (important for protecting finishes) and automatic overheating protection.

Among consumer-grade models, Karcher is one of the most common pressure washer brands. It offers its customers the advantage of a rapid-exchange program that expedites replacements during the warranty period. PressureWashersDirect.com recommends the Karcher K 5.93 M (*Est. $280), which is rated at 1,850 pounds per square inch (psi). Features include two detergent tanks for easy switching between cleaning solutions, a variable-pressure nozzle, an induction motor and an axial wobble pump. (Wobble pumps are cheaper, but can't be repaired when they fail.) The Karcher K 5.93 M pressure washer is powerful enough for most common homeowner tasks, such as cleaning decks or sidewalks or washing siding. The flow rate is slightly less than some comparable pressure washers, however, at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm).

Owner reviews of the Karcher K 5.93 M are mixed. At Amazon.com, some owners posting reviews are not happy with the fact that their defective units are replaced with rebuilt ones -- but that's the way the exchange program works. When the Karcher K 5.93 M was sold at Lowes.com and NorthernTool.com, owners gave it high ratings.

The less expensive 1,800-psi Karcher 3.48 M (*Est. $190), a top recommendation at PressureWashersDirect.com, has the same 1.5 gpm flow rate as the K 5.93 M pressure washer but only a single detergent tank. One owner reviewing this model notes that Karcher says these pressure washers are designed to be run for only about 20 minutes at a time. This is typical of pressure washers in this price range.

Karcher pressure washers have another advantage noted in a review by Popular Mechanics: they're designed to draw from standing water as well as from a faucet. With an optional accessory (*Est. $65) you can use the pressure washer as a water pump. Many other accessories are available as well, such as a rotating wash brush (*Est. $45) and -- to clean decks and patios without splashback -- a wide-area surface cleaner (*Est. $65).

Tests at CNNMoney.com give top ranking to the Campbell Hausfeld 1800 pressure washer, now sold as the Campbell Hausfeld PW181000AV (*Est. $230). Like the Karcher 5.93 M, it has two detergent tanks, a wobble pump and an induction motor. Testers like the way the Campbell Hausfield pressure washer's turbo nozzle boosts power from 1,800 psi to 2,050 psi. Its 1.6 gpm flow rate, common in this price range, is slightly higher than the Karcher pressure washers mentioned above. Owners reviewing the 1,800-psi Campbell Hausfeld pressure washer at PressureWashersDirect.com give it reasonably high ratings. At Amazon.com, however, it gets an unusually low average rating, with many complaints about quality control issues and difficulty getting repairs.

Faip is another major pressure washer manufacturer, making washers sold under its own name as well as under the Husky and PowerWasher brands. Although the specifications and features on these pressure washers look fine, we found lower average ratings from owners reviewing them. Warranty repairs are also reportedly problematic compared with the Karcher rapid exchange program.

Higher-quality components bring steeper prices

If purchasing the highest-quality pressure washer outweighs your cost concerns, experts recommend choosing a professional-grade electric pressure washer featuring a triplex pump with ceramic plungers and a brass head. Not only is this the most durable pump type, but it can also be repaired, unlike the cheaper wobble pumps in the consumer-level pressure washers detailed above.

Popular Mechanics editors praise the Italian-made Annovi Reverberi (AR) pressure washers, known for their top-quality pumps. The 15-amp AR610 Blue Clean 1,800-psi Hand Carry Electric Pressure Washer (*Est. $500) uses an AR triplex pump with ceramic plungers. Its 2.1-gpm flow rate speeds cleaning. Online retailer PressureWashersDirect.com reviews and recommends the even more expensive 19-amp Annovi Reverberi AR630 pressure washer (*Est. $700), whose pump utilizes a brass head.

If you have a 20-amp circuit available, the 20-amp Cam Spray 1500A (*Est. $675) is another pro-grade electric pressure washer that's recommended by Popular Mechanics for its triplex pump with ceramic plungers. PressureWashersDirect.com also recommends it because of its durable build quality and adjustable pressure. Cam Spray's five-year warranty is outstanding for an electric pressure washer; the one-year warranty on the Annovi Reverberi washers is more typical.

These professional-grade pressure washers are boxlike in shape and, while heavy (48 to 69 pounds), are designed to be carried. By contrast, most consumer-grade electric pressure washers stand about 20 inches high and can be wheeled around. They cost about half as much, too. The main trade-off is a shorter lifetime. Once the pump or motor gives out on a consumer-grade pressure washer after the one-year warranty is up, that's it -- no repairs, just replacement.

Light-duty portable electric pressure washers

For washing cars, toys, and patio furniture, experts say 1,300 psi to 1,400 psi is enough. Small, lightweight, handheld electric pressure washers in this range are inexpensive and portable. They're frustrating for all but the tiniest decks and patios, however.

Most of the smallest pressure washers use noisy universal motors with relatively short lifespans. The 1,400-psi Karcher K 2.93 pressure washer (*Est. $130) uses an induction motor and has a 1.3-gpm flow rate. Although it isn't the newest Karcher model, it's the top small pressure washer at specialty online retailer PressureWashersDirect.com. The Karcher K 2.93 includes the Karcher T50 horizontal surface cleaner, which makes it easy to clean decks and patios quickly and without getting wet.

Unfortunately Karcher's newest small pressure washers use noisier, less durable universal motors. For example, the Karcher K 2.93 is being replaced by the less expensive Karcher K 2.16 (*Est. $100). The wheeled, 1,500-psi Karcher K 2.26 pressure washer (*Est. $100) looks to be a real bargain, but also it, too, uses a cheaper universal motor. The Karcher K 2.26 more or less replaces the well-reviewed Karcher K 2.97 M pressure washer, which had the more desirable induction motor.

Small, light-duty Campbell Hausfeld pressure washers also employ universal electric motors. They don't fare as well in comparison tests measuring cleaning power, but they get generally good reviews from owners who use them for car washing. The 1,550-psi Campbell Hausfeld PW155000AV pressure washer (*Est. $130) lacks wheels but incorporates a tall handle for easier hand carrying. The Campbell Hausfeld PW155000AV's 1.5-gpm flow rate is higher than that of the Karcher models in this price range, and it has a longer 25-foot hose as well. It doesn't include a turbo nozzle, however, which is an option (called the dirt blaster) on the Karcher pressure washers.