[Thank you everyone, i ordered] Hi gang need pressure washer to wash house

Hi gang, I need help picking pressure washer for washing siding. I was leaning toward electric, but it looks like you have to hold wand close to the surface for effective wash and it looks pretty slow. Sort of defeats the purpose. I could use sponge and rinse it off with regular hose afterwards in the same time period. Am I wrong?

Is gas overkill for washing house vinyl siding once or maybe twice a year? Not sure if I'll want to use the washer on cars.

Please, what are your thoughts? Thank you, gang.

 

Also, maybe a shed, and trailer. Sorry thank you.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/RYOBI...g43aSk7BbkMCsoT4iah4avg_2oo1uPcQaAgb6EALw_wcB
Works great for all my needs (house, car, driveway, pool deck) and pairs well with a foam cannon for quick washes on the big assed truck

 

Electric for cars, gas for house & driveways

 

After 2 electric washers, got this:

$349 Westinghouse WPX3400 Gas Pressure Washer, 3400 PSI and 2.6 Max GPM, Onboard Soap Tank, Spray Gun and Wand, 5 Nozzle Set, for Cars/Fences/Driveways/Homes/Patios/Furniture

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094DWHPDL And this to clean under the belly:

$36 RIDGE WASHER Pressure Washer Undercarriage Cleaner, 16" Undercarriage Washer, Pressure Washer Under Car Cleaner with Straight Extension Wand, 4000 PSI

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N47F8DK

Second electric washer failure was spectacular: a pressure hose tore, and I could not buy a replacement! It had a proprietary Chinese coupling, the hose was 1/2 the price of the washer, and impossible to order. Tried to modify a similar looking coupling and fit it in, but it was leaking, so the washer was sent to junk.

Can't be happier with the gas-powered washer I've got. Much more mobile, much more power, does not trip breakers, always starts and works.

 

I have an older gas powered pressure washer and I wouldn't be without it. Loud? Sure. Require maintenance? Yup. But it does everything I ask of it, every time, and it has never left me needing another tool. The nozzles make a huge difference, so make sure you are using the right one for the job and you are good to go. Mine is an 15yr old Troy Bilt with a good Briggs engine on it. Just take care of the pump! Keep the water flowing through it, and for 10-30 seconds after shutting it off, too, just to cool it down. The pump is as much as the entire machine to replace.

 

Can you please elaborate what it means to keep water running through it? No long pauses?

 

Oh, just take the handle off and let the water free flow through, or hold the trigger open for a while. Just to cool the pump/seals for a few seconds.

 

Thank you, gang. According to research, the pump of interest to me, has pressure relief(?) valve to prevent overheating. I am also reading that water gets recirculated through the pump and eventually heats everything up, therefore it is best to keep using the pump so you don't 'shock-cool' the components. (From my understanding).

Can someone give me a ballpark of duration of pauses that are reasonable to prevent pump degradation and wear? I would assume less than five minutes? I could be wrong, never owned one. Thank you.

Also, I've been reading that washers come with axial or triplex pumps. From my understanding, triplex pumps are the longer lasting alternatives, but typically would be found in much more expensive models. That is understandable.

So far, i believe my needs would benefit from a gas powred machine and I've narrowed myself down to something like this, as mentioned by I'm sorry, I've entered accidentally into different editing mode and can't see previous posts.



I deeply appreciate all feedback everyone here is providing on the matter.

 

$349 WPX3400 Gas Pressure Washer, 3400 PSI and 2.6 Max GPM, Onboard Soap Tank, Spray Gun and Wand, 5 Nozzle Set, for Cars/Fences/Driveways/Homes/Patios/Furniture

WPX3400 is what I have.

 

OP - I suffer from self-diagnosed OCD. I panic if I leave it idling for anymore than 30 seconds. Is that silly? IDK, but I've gotten a long life out of it and it lives in a shed in New England, so it's not like it's lived a perfect life. Your last post says you've become better versed in the product, so now it's time for you to make your own informed decision. Above 3000psi and you start to lose most opportunity for regret. 3200 vs 3400 isn't going to be a very noticeable difference to most general purpose users. That's just my .02, though. But for $20, and all things being equal (especially quality of engine), I mean... who doesn't want more power? LOL

 

You are right, Sir. Thank you.
Ordered 3,400gpm westinghouse from sams club.

 

Let's fire her up and see if she runs
or

One more before I fire

 

I had a gas one for many years and wanted something quieter and more compact so I got this.



Do kind of wish I kept the gas powered one.

What chemical are you guys using for house power washing? The stuff I got at Lowe’s doesn’t do anything.

 

I've used krud kutter in the past, as well as a bleach option I can't remember the name of, but it comes in big containers in a white jug (it's popular with RV roofs, too).

If you are putting in the time and plan to maintain it, no product and just water is also fine. Just depends on your situation. My white siding responds well to just a slow and methodical high pressure wash 1x year.