Pressure Washers Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Pressure Washers. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Pressure Washers, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Pressure Washers. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Pressure Washers prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Pressure Washers Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Pressure Washers Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Pressure Washers: Quicker cleaning for less Editors of Consumer Reports July 2005, updated May 2006		This review ranks 15 pressure washers, only five of which are electric, using objective tests to rate each one for cleaning speed, ease of use and stain removal. The update notes that many of the models are now discontinued, but adds that similar ones are available. Among the negatives are that the few covered electric models are too dissimilar to make the rankings useful and that long-term reliability, which is a critical issue, is not discussed.
2. Money Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	The Pressure’s On: Five power washers vs. one really dirty patio Charles Passy Apr. 2007		This review compares five electric pressure washers by testing them on different parts of the same grimy patio. This is a pretty limited test, and the rankings are ultimately not that informative, since they rank washers with substantially different specifications. Still, the comments about each model are useful, and the review also gives enough details about the pros and cons of each pressure washer to clarify some buying guidelines that apply beyond these particular models.
3. Popular Mechanics >> Details/Subscribe	Under Pressure Thomas Klenck July 2003		Popular Mechanics rates six electric pressure washers, including three light-duty home units and three commercial-rated models, all ranging from 1250 to 1700 PSI. This review not only tests more electric pressure washers than Consumer Reports, but it also gives more details about each one. We'd rank this review higher if it were more current. Among the three less expensive pressure washers, top rating goes to the Annovi Reverberi Extreme 120. The runner-up is the Karcher K 1400, which has the advantage of drawing from standing water. For heavy-duty use, the review recommends the Cam Spray 1500A, which requires a 20-amp circuit and seems to be "the most rugged and capable."

Pressure Washers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Pressure Washers Ratings Comments on Reviews

4. The Power Washer Advisor	Do Power Washer Comparisons Like a Pro Editors of The Power Washer Advisor Not Dated		Since there are so many different brands and models available -- far more than any comparison review could cover -- this "do-it-yourself guide to evaluating models" is very helpful, though it doesn't rate or rank specific pressure washers. The manufacturer's warranty is a good clue as to quality, the article says. It also suggests researching the prices on pump rebuild kits and other repair parts when first selecting a model, to be sure they're reasonable. No ratings are included.
5. Amazon.com	Pressure Washers Contributors to Amazon.com As of June2007		Owners post reviews and ratings of pressure washers here, and quite a few available pressure washers have enough reviews for the average ratings to be credible. Readers can sort reviews by average rating. Quite a few owners note that pump and engine quality are crucial, preferring a pump with ceramic plungers. Most pressure washers get reasonably favorable reviews here, but a few are downrated for repair or reliability issues. One notable point is that last year, the Powerwasher 1600 received good scores, but in the last year, reliability complaints have been dragging down the overall rating.
6. PressureWashers Direct.com	Tellin' It Like It Is: Pressure Washers Direct Recommends Editors of PressureWashersDirect.com As of June 2007		This large online retailer offers useful buying advice and recommends, for each type and size, a "good," "better" and "best" pressure washer. Recommendations are based both on product knowledge and on customer comments and reviews, but there's also an emphasis on price. Customer reviews are also posted and provide a valuable second opinion. Note that some of the washers rated as good have not done as well at some other sites due to reliability issues. Karcher and Campbell Hausfeld pressure washers get higher ratings in general at this retail website.
7. Lowes.com	Pressure Washers Contributors to Lowes.com As of June 2007		Unlike some websites, customers here are allowed to rate pressure washers in areas such as features, value, quality, ease of use and more, but they cannot leave specific comments. One nice feature is that Lowe's gives useful estimates of the number of square feet each pressure washer can clean in 5 minutes, making it easy to compare models for speed of cleaning. Overall, site visitors give the Troy-Bilt 20295 the highest ratings.
8. Sears.com	Gas Pressure Washers Contributors to Sears.com As of June 2007		Sears publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of pressure washers, but reserves the right to label some as "Featured Reviews." So far, the only reviews selected for this honor that we saw are completely favorable, while other reviews of the same model include some negative comments, so it pays to dig deep here to get the full story. Gas pressure washers get quite a bit of feedback, but the lone electric pressure washer here is yet to be reviewed. This is about the only place to find reviews on Craftsman pressure washers.
9. HomeDepot.com	Pressure Washers Contributors to HomeDepot.com As of June 2007		Home Depot seems to be continually updating its website, with models coming and going on a regular basis. In addition, relatively few models are listed most of the time. Owners have the opportunity to leave reviews and ratings, but washers rarely have more than a handful of comments. If you're interested in a model that's available at Home Deport, it's worth a shot to check for reviews here, but there's really not much coverage.
10. Yesterday's Tractor Co.	Pressure Washers Editors of Yesterday’s Tractor Co. Not Dated		Part of a site about antique tractors, this review compares three pressure washers for cleaning caked mud off tractors -- a 1200 PSI electric, 1500 PSI gas washer and a 3000 PSI gas NorthStar with an 11-hp Honda engine. The 3000 PSI washer is recommended wholeheartedly. The two lesser-powered pressure washers just couldn't cope with washing mud off a tractor, but the NorthStar did fine. The article states that there are also many other uses for the rural homeowner, such as cleaning moss from metal roofs or preparing building and fence surfaces for painting.
11. Northerntool.com	Electric Cold Water Pressure Washers Contributors to Northern Tool As of June 2007		This retailer has started publishing owner-written reviews and ratings of pressure washers they sell, and reviews are accumulating rapidly. Some reviews reveal reliability problems that can take months or years to crop up. In addition to comments and ratings on a 5-point scale, the site posts how many owners would recommend this particular pressure washer to a friend. Site favorites are the Northstar 4000 PSI and 2700 PSI.
12. Environmental News Network	California to Limit Lawnmower Emissions Erica Werner, AP Dec. 12, 2006		This Associated Press (AP) article, which appears here and elsewhere on the Internet, notes that as of Jan. 1, the EPA has given California the right to impose its own emissions limits on small gasoline engines. This mandate covers engines used to power pressure washers and forces manufacturers to sell only these lower-polluting products in California.

Pressure Washers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Pressure Washers Ratings Comments on Reviews

13. Attention-to-Details.com	Husky Powerwasher - pressure washer experiences Johanna Hendrix, plus contributors to Attention to Details July 17 2004, plus updates		Johanna Hendrix of Attention to Details reports on her experience with the Husky 1800 electric pressure washer in a blog on her site. Owners of various Husky pressure washers add comments about their experiences -- detailing lots of breakdowns and problems -- with some suggestions on how to keep small inexpensive pressure washers going.
14. The Power Tool Geek	Pressure Washers - Selection and Uses Brian Mark May 17, 2006		This succinct article on pressure washers is written by a "power tool geek," who explains the technical terms very well. He recommends direct drive motors (with the pump directly mounted to the spindle of the motor) for their efficiency and longer life compared with belt drive motors. He also notes that it's important to make sure you'll be able to get parts when needed, which is where major brands have a definite edge. This blog is connected to a retail site called Toolbar.
15. Business Week >> Details/Subscribe	Cleaning is a Blast Larry Armstrong July 4, 2005		This review compares a 1500-PSI electric pressure washer with a 3,000-PSI gasoline pressure washer. Based on personal use, the author finds that even with the less powerful electric washer, it's easy to damage the finish of a car. Not surprisingly, the gas pressure washer has the power to reach second-story siding, and it cleans two or three times as fast. However, gas pressure washers are also harder to learn to use, so the author advises renting one first.
16. Reviewboard.com	Black & Decker PW1600 Review Contributors to Reviewboard.com Not Dated		This anonymous review of the Black & Decker PW1600 electric pressure washer is based on the author’s favorable experience with it. The author notes that initial setup is a bit awkward, but takes only about 15 minutes, and indicates that using the pressure washer is easy, especially for washing a car.
17. Epinions	Pressure Washers Contributors to Epinions As of June 2007		This is another site where users post reviews and ratings. Since you can sort the list of pressure washer models by average rating, this site is actually more convenient to use than some of the review sites we rank more highly. The problem is that although many pressure washers are listed, few have enough reviews to make the average ratings reliable; also, many models have been discontinued. It can still be worth checking reviews of models that interest you most, and there’s useful information here.
18. GardenWeb.com	Pressure Washer Selection Table Contributors to GardenWeb.com As of June 2007		This forum includes quite a few discussions of pressure washers, including selection, problems and repairs. It's also a good place to ask a question, and you can search for comments that have been posted about a specific pressure washer or brand. One thread discusses a chart comparing the specifications of nine current gas pressure washers from major brands.
19. Facts Facts	Small Pressure Washers Contributors to FactsFacts.com Not Dated		This article is a summary of messages posted by pressure-washer users, discussing the pros and cons of electric vs. gasoline models, with recommendations of specific models for specific uses. Although gasoline models are clearly faster and more powerful, many users say they're happy with their electric pressure washers.
20. NexTag.com	Pressure Washers Contributors to Nextag.com As of June 2007		This shopping site is convenient to browse, since the list of pressure washers shows the best price and average rating right on the page -- no extra clicks required. The list also shows the number of ratings on which the average is based. Unfortunately, few models have accumulated more than one or two ratings. Apparently anyone can make a quick anonymous rating, so the credibility of the system is low. However, some models at least get a rating here that aren't reviewed elsewhere, like the expensive Annovi Reverberi ProLiner electric pressure washer.
21. Mustang World	Craftsman 1300 PSI Electric Pressure washer system Editors of Mustang World Not Dated		While the power washer at the heart of this well-illustrated review is discontinued, the report is useful since it confirms that a 1300 PSI, 1.5 GPM pressure washer can be quite adequate for car washing. The review also notes that the rolling cart adds a lot of convenience and that electric pressure washers are quieter than gasoline models.

Pressure Washers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Pressure Washers Ratings Comments on Reviews

22. DooYoo	Pressure Washers Contributors to DooYoo As of June 2007		Users post ratings and reviews at this UK site. Some of the brands aren't available in the United States, and many of the pressure washers haven't been rated at all. The top-rated brand is Karcher, however, which is available here.