Electric Pressure Washers

farmallboy15 · Dec 21, 2020

Does anyone use an electric pressure washer to clean tractors and equipment? Do they have enough power to knock mud and grease off? What brands or models do you like?

I have an older Honda powered washer (maybe 15 years old) and nearly every time I use it I have issues to overcome to make it run/work... Thinking about just getting an electric one to avoid the frustration. Yesterday I didn't have spark. This spring the pull cord broke. Last year I had to tear the carb apart. Year before, a pressure hose busted. Few years before it needed a new pump...

Stephen Newell · Dec 21, 2020

I just use the cheap Harbor Freight washer. It only has 1750 psi but it's only 80 bucks.

BarnyardEngineering · Dec 21, 2020

I have never been impressed with the consumer grade electric pressure washers. Cheap plastic, nowhere near the pressure they advertise, half of them leak new out of the box, look at them crosseyed and they break...

If you're talking about a commercial electric pressure washer they are every bit as good as their gasoline powered counterparts.

GWIndy · Dec 21, 2020

Hotsey 220 volt, 2000+ psi. Can operate with hot or cold water. We have different diameter tips to adjust the output pressure. We use 3500# hydraulic hose for replacements.

davpal · Dec 21, 2020

Barnyard you hit the nail on the head.

37 chief · Dec 21, 2020

I have two gas powered. Neither one work now. I used my son-in-laws 110v big box store washer , and was impressed on what it did. I still like my 13 hp washer, it sat and collected water in the cylinder. Repairing it now. Honda small engine parts are fairly inexpensive compared to tractor parts. Stan

Mike M · Dec 21, 2020

Years ago I bought a new Hotsy hot water pressure washer. Works really good and has been a good unit. I went with the largest 110 volt one they made. I forget what pressure it has ? but it does really good. I did not want a 220 V one as if you want to go some where many times you don't have 220 avail.
Cleaning ability also has a lot to do with flow as well as pressure.

Rkh · Dec 21, 2020

I've had both. WATER & ELECTRICITY DON'T MATCH. Go with gas.

farmallboy15 · Dec 21, 2020

Did you get a tingling sensation?

Pete in Holland MI · Dec 21, 2020

It's not so much the PSI, but the GPM (gallons per minute) is where the work gets done. All pressure washers will do the job. Just depends how much time you want to spend doing it.

Using electric, make sure your extension cord is adequately sized. Long light gauge cords have been the death nell of a lot of good equipment. Look for the gauge, not color, of the cord. Recommend a 12 gauge cord.

fixerupper · Dec 21, 2020

I have both gas and electric. The gas has a Honda GX 390
4 gpm at 4000 PSI that has 20 hours on it washing hog buildings the owner sold it so cheap i kept watching the rear view mirror after i paid for it and loaded it up.

The electric is the same size and capacity but with a 7 1/2 HP motor. Got it for the price of the well used motor. The Honda in the gasser is as dependable as the day is long but it is a kicking sob when started hot. The electric is convenient but it needs all of strong 50 amp 220v service. I had to put a new pump and unloader on the electric but i got it cheap enough to make it worth it.

I also have a separate water heater that works with both washers and the combination of pressure washer, hot water and a rotary nozzle will take off all dried on grease.

Both of these washers are bigger than the average person needs but in hog confinement country where I live the smallest used pressure washers are 4000PSI 4 GPM minimum. 5 GPM and 8GPM used pressure washers can be found too but you need a strong physique to run one plus more electrical power than most shops panels can put out.

aFORDable · Dec 21, 2020

Same here.

Destroked 450 · Dec 21, 2020

Got tried of the issues with a small gas engine and purchased a electric pressure washer from Northern Tool

2hp 120 volt motor, needs a 20 amp circuit and good extension cords
Cat pump that's hot water capable
Doesn't have the flow of the bigger gas powers washers but it's held up well in the 12 years we've had it, and it gets a good workout cleaning equipment in our poultry barns.

Big plus for me is it's so much quieter than a gas pressure washer, especially inside the buildings.

Pitch · Dec 22, 2020

Look in the archives for my adventure with a "greenworks" pressure washer. For the hour the thing worked it was great. Took a month to get it replaces under warranty. New one was bad out of the box.

showcrop · Dec 22, 2020

So far as the pump goes, be sure that the housing is bronze and not aluminum. Bronze is good for thirty years aluminum is good for two.

504 · Dec 22, 2020

I have a unit that was a steam power washer.The boiler was gone when I got it but I want to set it up as a straight pressure washer. It has 5 hp, 220V, electric and a Cat pump,the generator will take care of the power in the field problem.

Tim in New York · Dec 23, 2020

I bought a Sun Joe electric a couple years ago and am really happy with it. I did not want one more gas engine to maintain. I bought a more expensive one, rather than the bottom of the line and it does everything I need. Does a decent job cleaning off the tractors and around the house - removing paint from siding, etc. Only problem I had was with an extension with a gooseneck I bought to clean the gutters. Worked fine the first time, but the next time I wanted to use it the thing leaked horribly. Never did figure out if I busted something or was putting it together wrong. I would buy another one if this one dies.
Tim

Electric Pressure Washers

farmallboy15

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Stephen Newell

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BarnyardEngineering

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GWIndy

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davpal

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37 chief

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Mike M

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Rkh

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farmallboy15

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Pete in Holland MI

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fixerupper

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aFORDable

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Destroked 450

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Pitch

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showcrop

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504

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Tim in New York

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